The Omnivore's Dilemma

[WhatsHisNuts]

The question is "What should I eat?", and author Michael Pollan spent time on different farms (industrial, organic, and sustainable) and feedlots to try and answer that question in his book "The Omnivore's Dilemma".

I don't know if any of you guys have read it, but I highly recommend it. I've had the book for awhile but didn't start reading it until 2 weeks ago. I was turned off initially by its length (411 pgs) and the secondary title "A Natural History of Four Meals" (not exactly an exciting line and turns out to be very misleading). Anyway, I'm happy to report that this book has had a serious impact on me and the way that I eat.

I'm about 15lbs heavier than I should be, so I've been looking for someone or something to give me a reason to make a positive dietary change, and this book did it. I've decided that I'm going to limit my meat intake to fish, and I will only eat farm raised meat from grass-fed animals (which would pretty much eliminate the opportunity to eat meat other than fish). I will also eliminate as many processed foods (mainly stuff that won't rot) from my grocery cart as possible, trying to keep things as natural as can be.

I learned a lot about how the industrial food system works, and it has changed the way I think about food. In an effort to drive prices down, today's farms have screwed up our food chain, and I'm going to opt out of a couple different chains. This doesn't mean I'll be shopping only at Whole Foods, or only buying "organic" foods, it just means that I'm going to take what I learned about the industrial food chain and act accordingly.

The things that stand out from the book are:
-The diet of our cattle goes against their nature and is causing a lot of our health problems. Essentially, it is screwing up the ratio of Omega 3 and Omega 6 fats that we ingest, which leads to heart disease.
-"Organic" is pretty much a BS term and a waste of money.
-What is considered a "Free Range Chicken" is a joke.
-"Sustainable" farms produce better quality food products, and it is worth the extra money.

Michael Pollan does a really good job of presenting info without necessarily trying to change you. This book is not "preachy" in any way. Pollan makes a case for eating McDonald's (albeit once a year) and even tried vegetarianism, only to go back to being a meat eater 2 weeks later.

-Gary

 

[CryBoy]

Joey Chestnut needs to read this book.

 

[WhatsHisNuts]

Joey Chestnut needs to read this book.

Anybody that is concerned about the quality of the food they eat should read it....whether they eat 2 hotdogs at a ballgame or 52 in 12 minutes.

 

[IntenseOperator]

Surprised Agent hasn't chimed in on this topic. I believe he knows a thing or two on this subject.

Is the book just about meat or does it have something on bread/fruit/ etc?

 

[WhatsHisNuts]

Surprised Agent hasn't chimed in on this topic. I believe he knows a thing or two on this subject.

Is the book just about meat or does it have something on bread/fruit/ etc?

Actually, the meat part is tied throughout the book to the central theme, which is natural food vs industrialized food products. It doesn't have much on fruit or bread, but he spends a lot of time talking about corn and how it is in EVERYTHING. Since we have a huge surplus of corn (he explains why), food scientists are finding new ways to use/process it into what we eat....which includes feeding it to animals that we eat (which aren't designed to digest corn).

One thing that was refreshing to hear was someone railing on the recent diet trends (anti-carbs, etc.). When people are telling us not to eat potatos, something's amiss.

I know this probably doesn't sound like the most exciting thing to read about, but you'd be surprised.

 

[CryBoy]

Since we're on a health conscious topic... what do yoiu know about coffee? I drink a cup each morning with coffee creamer and sugar. The caffeine has no effect on me. When I say no effect, I mean it doesn't wake me up or lull me to sleep. I can drink a cup before bedtime and still doze off in 10 minutes.

 

[IntenseOperator]

I asked cuz I heard a story off NPR scared yeah I listen to that station quite a bit) about farm raised talapia (sp?) being bad for you. Something about omega 6 content which I guess is bad. Omega 3 I guess is good. I often eat fish when I go out.

Also have heard of bread companies actually putting real wood pulp in their wheat products and passing it as part of the fiber content.:shrug:

 

[CryBoy]

Also have heard of bread companies actually putting real wood pulp in their wheat products and passing it as part of the fiber content.:shrug:

I know they do this shit in asian countries. They even put a small trace of formaldehyde in their noodles to keep them on the shelves longer.

I learned this in the 4th grade (1976)... You are what you eat.

 

[WhatsHisNuts]

I know they do this shit in asian countries. They even put a small trace of formaldehyde in their noodles to keep them on the shelves longer.

I learned this in the 4th grade (1976)... You are what you eat.

And they use trace amounts of lighter fluid to help preserve some meat products (example from this book is Chicken McNuggets). Deadly chemicals are allowed to be used by the USDA, as long as they are in small doses....pretty crazy, but apparently, it is very acceptable.

 

[CANADA MAN]

May I recommend another book you will certainly enjoy. It's excellent! I will look for the one you read - sounds interesting. I'm starting to think about changing the diet to more natural and less processed foods.

The book is called "The Crazy Makers"
The Author is Carol Simontacchi

Here is a description from Amazon.com:

From Amazon.com
We already worry that our food makes us fat, dull, disease-prone, and sleepy. Now we have to worry that it also makes us crazy. According to certified clinical nutritionist Carol Simontacchi, the food industries that give us packaged, processed, artificially flavored, chemical-ridden, artificially colored, nutrient-stripped pseudo foods such as sodas, processed soups, sugared cereals, and fiberless bread "wantonly destroy our bodies and our brains, all in the name of profit." We Americans (adults and children) eat 200 pounds of sugar and artificial sweeteners each year. Our children's test scores and grades drop. We become violent, illogical, moody, depressed, drug-addicted, and crazy. The reason, according to the author, who is pursuing a doctorate in brain nutrition, is that we're starving our brains with lack of nutrition.
This isn't a process that begins when teenagers start snacking on sodas, chips, and ice cream. Rather, this nutrition deprivation starts in the womb: mom doesn't get the right nutrition (essential fatty acids, high-quality protein, unrefined carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals, and water), so baby is born already brain-nutrient deficient, says the author. Infant formulas, processed baby food, and sugared cereals exacerbate the problem through the stages of childhood, with kids not getting the nutrition their growing brains need. Simontacchi also skewers prepared foods, additives, over-processed grains, school vending machines, and fast-food chains.

This book isn't only about children. Starbucks and its ilk get a "Crazy Maker Award" for "encouraging us to self-medicate with stimulating beverages that mask the symptoms of nervous system and adrenal exhaustion." We adults are genuinely fatigued, but instead of getting the sleep and rest we need, we succumb to the "marketing hype of sophisticated companies that convinces us that self-medicating with an addictive substance is the answer to our energy crisis." You may not accept all Simontacchi's views, but once you've read this book, you won't reach for a caf? latte or feed your kids sugar-frosted cereal with the same complacency. --Joan Price

 

[WhatsHisNuts]

Since we're on a health conscious topic... what do yoiu know about coffee? I drink a cup each morning with coffee creamer and sugar. The caffeine has no effect on me. When I say no effect, I mean it doesn't wake me up or lull me to sleep. I can drink a cup before bedtime and still doze off in 10 minutes.

I hope someone else on here can answer this, because I drink a lot of coffee with Splenda. I know that too much of anything (caffeine in large doses can be fatal....like a lot of things, I suppose) is a problem, but I'm more interested in the difference between "real" sugar and sweetners. I'm relatively certain that it is healthier to get the calories that come with sugar than to ingest the calorie free alternative, but I would like to learn more.

PS - I have the same ability to sleep just fine after ingesting caffeine. My wife can't sleep if she has any within 8 hours or so of bedtime.

 

[WhatsHisNuts]

I asked cuz I heard a story off NPR scared yeah I listen to that station quite a bit) about farm raised talapia (sp?) being bad for you. Something about omega 6 content which I guess is bad. Omega 3 I guess is good. I often eat fish when I go out.

Also have heard of bread companies actually putting real wood pulp in their wheat products and passing it as part of the fiber content.:shrug:

I listen to NPR nearly every day, brother....you better watch out, GW is going to classify you as a MoonBat. I am thinking about writing a letter in protest to their long blocks devoted to classical music, lol.

I haven't heard the story about Tilapia farms, but I did see the crappy (literally) conditions that they live within on "Dirty Jobs". I now avoid that type of fish, even though I'm sure every farm-raised fish lives in the same conditions.

What I know about Omega-3 (blood thinner) vs Omega-6 (blood clotter) is very limited, but the way Michael Pollan explains it is that one comes from the leaf of vegitation, the other comes from the stalk/root. Ideally, the ratio should be close to 1/1. They are not bad for you (actually a necessity), but it is important to get them in equal amounts. Since our farm animals are eating diets heavy in Omega-6, so are we. I think the new push towards Omega-3 advertising is in response to this. It's not that 3 is better, it's that we tend to ingest too much of 6.

 

[WhatsHisNuts]

May I recommend another book you will certainly enjoy. It's excellent! I will look for the one you read - sounds interesting. I'm starting to think about changing the diet to more natural and less processed foods.

The book is called "The Crazy Makers"
The Author is Carol Simontacchi

Here is a description from Amazon.com:

From Amazon.com
We already worry that our food makes us fat, dull, disease-prone, and sleepy. Now we have to worry that it also makes us crazy. According to certified clinical nutritionist Carol Simontacchi, the food industries that give us packaged, processed, artificially flavored, chemical-ridden, artificially colored, nutrient-stripped pseudo foods such as sodas, processed soups, sugared cereals, and fiberless bread "wantonly destroy our bodies and our brains, all in the name of profit." We Americans (adults and children) eat 200 pounds of sugar and artificial sweeteners each year. Our children's test scores and grades drop. We become violent, illogical, moody, depressed, drug-addicted, and crazy. The reason, according to the author, who is pursuing a doctorate in brain nutrition, is that we're starving our brains with lack of nutrition.
This isn't a process that begins when teenagers start snacking on sodas, chips, and ice cream. Rather, this nutrition deprivation starts in the womb: mom doesn't get the right nutrition (essential fatty acids, high-quality protein, unrefined carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals, and water), so baby is born already brain-nutrient deficient, says the author. Infant formulas, processed baby food, and sugared cereals exacerbate the problem through the stages of childhood, with kids not getting the nutrition their growing brains need. Simontacchi also skewers prepared foods, additives, over-processed grains, school vending machines, and fast-food chains.

This book isn't only about children. Starbucks and its ilk get a "Crazy Maker Award" for "encouraging us to self-medicate with stimulating beverages that mask the symptoms of nervous system and adrenal exhaustion." We adults are genuinely fatigued, but instead of getting the sleep and rest we need, we succumb to the "marketing hype of sophisticated companies that convinces us that self-medicating with an addictive substance is the answer to our energy crisis." You may not accept all Simontacchi's views, but once you've read this book, you won't reach for a caf? latte or feed your kids sugar-frosted cereal with the same complacency. --Joan Price

Thanks for the tip, CM. I'll put this on my list. I have a rather long list in my queue, but I think this sounds like something worth reading.....whether today, or next year.

 

[Ravenous]

I'm almost done reading The Omnivore's Dilemma. It is certainly an eye-opening read. I would recommend it to anyone. By the end you will be concerned about our food supply system.

I chided my kids for consuming too much high fructose corn syrup. My wife stepped in, and suggested that I start cooking for them if I don't like the way she's doing it. I find myself eating parallel meals --something different from them but at the same time-- most of the time.

EDIT: I'm going to read Pollan's In Defense of Food next. http://www.michaelpollan.com/indefense.php

 

[IntenseOperator]

the "high fructose sugar" thing is the latest craze in the grocery biz

You will see more and more items labeled "no high fructose sugars"

 

[WhatsHisNuts]

I don't know if anyone saw the Tony Gonzalez article today on Yahoo Sports, but it talks about his new vegan diet. He is raving about how much better he feels and makes a couple digs about the meat people eat. I was convinced he was going to mention the Omnivore's Dilemma, but it turns out he's basing it on a different book: The China Study. Anyone read it? I posted the link below, pretty interesting. Talks about protein and how the western high protein diet is tied to cancer, heart disease, etc.

http://www.thechinastudy.com/about.html

 

[dunclock]

damn Gary and I got me a pretty filet laid out tonight:mj07: