In Defense of Food
Synopsis: We're all about healthy eating here in America - but you'd never know it by looking at our med charts. Food activist and UC Berkeley journalism prof Michael Pollan takes on health advisors, the food industry, and scientists in his latest book, which takes eating back to basics and might just make you change your diet.
About the author: Michael Pollan, winner of the James Beard Award, is the author of The Omnivore's Dilemma (named one of the 10 best books of 2006 by both the New York Times and the Washington Post), as well as several other books. Pollan is in the documentary film Food, Inc. that just hit theaters this June, and this fall PBS will air a doc based on his other best-selling book, The Botany of Desire, giving us a "plant's-eye view" of the world.
About the author: Michael Pollan, winner of the James Beard Award, is the author of The Omnivore's Dilemma (named one of the 10 best books of 2006 by both the New York Times and the Washington Post), as well as several other books. Pollan is in the documentary film Food, Inc. that just hit theaters this June, and this fall PBS will air a doc based on his other best-selling book, The Botany of Desire, giving us a "plant's-eye view" of the world.
Reading Selection Week 1:(July 6-12) Intro through Part 1, Ch. 6; 53 pages.
Your "No Way!" Moment
So as we wrap up the first set of reading for In Defense of Food, we've learned quite a bit I'd say. Pollan's got all sorts of great facts and theories scattered throughout this book thus far.
For me, I'd say hearing about the McGovern panel report was pretty stunning, but this little nugget blew my mind: The father of the lipid hypothesis was saying that hydrogenated veggie oil (trans fats) might be responsible for the rise in coronary heart disease way back in 1956. 1956! We trusted him enough for upend our entire way of eating once, but then it took us like 50 years to heed him again. Wild.
What tidbit has surprised you the most in the first 53 pages?
For me, I'd say hearing about the McGovern panel report was pretty stunning, but this little nugget blew my mind: The father of the lipid hypothesis was saying that hydrogenated veggie oil (trans fats) might be responsible for the rise in coronary heart disease way back in 1956. 1956! We trusted him enough for upend our entire way of eating once, but then it took us like 50 years to heed him again. Wild.
What tidbit has surprised you the most in the first 53 pages?
Submitted by mkrolak on Thu, 07/09/2009 - 11:00pm.
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