Michael+Pollan+Article+-DF+Notes

=Michael Pollan Article= =Why is our diet important?= To prevent cancer, obesity, heart disease, diabetes Pleasure, it tastes good (this could be dangerous -- if addictive to food) "Let food be thy medicine" Energy source, building blocks of cells =Why is it confusing to know what to eat?= focused on nutrients (chemicals) instead of whole foods. but this focus ignores the interaction between foods in real life new foods so much information, weak evidence =Who benefits from our confusion?= scientists, fast food, dieting programs, food industry =Popular but probably wrong diets.= cut down on red meat and dairy eat more plants (too controversial for the food industry) //low fat diet was what they said.// with low fat diet, replaced the fat with carbs. (skyrocketing diabetes) =Why should we like the French or Greeks or Italians?= CULTURE SHOULD BE THE GUIDE They have a good food culture. Let culture be your guide, not science. Also look at what they do not just what they eat. Lifestyle: no seconds, no snacks, communal eating =What is wrong with the science and nutritionism?= Too complicated. (ignores how the nutrient interacts with diet and lifestyle) Nutrient by nutrient science is not helpful. antioxidants, fiber, beta carotene, omega fatty acids information from surveys that are really inaccurate: lie about what they eat No way they could maintain their weights on what they report =Eat food.= unprocessed food, like your great great grandmother would eat examples: unprocessed (foods with five or less ingredients or you know what the ingredient is or can pronounce it) plants (fruits and vegetables) fish, examples of NOT FOOD: processed, anything that claims to be nutritious (shocking that the heart association will be paid to put sticker on the food) =Mostly Plants.= Leaves: lettuce, celery, spinach, cabbage, okra, =Not so much.= Hara hachi bu: eat until you are 80% full focus on quality of food instead of quantity Whole Foods (Whole Paycheck) =OTHER ADVICE= variety of foods