In Defense of Food: An Eater's Manifesto by Michael Pollan
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Book Reviews of In Defense of Food: An Eater's Manifesto
Book Review: A great case for changing the way we eat, and entertaining too
Summary: 5 Stars
As someone who already buys organic, avoids the center aisles of the grocery store and heads to the farmer's market whenever possible, I wondered whether I would really gain anything from this book. While Michael Pollan's overall message is not new to me, many of the reasons Michael puts forth to support this message are.
For instance, I never realized that organic produce is not just chemical-free, it's also higher in most measured micronutrients PLUS some of the plants own defenses against pests (polyphenols and carotenoids) also help the human body fight inflammation and aging. Naturally, when we spray plants with pesticides, they need, and therefore produce, fewer of these compounds.
Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants. This philosophy is based on good science, logic and the clear empirical evidence that our diet is making us sick. Michael build a strong case, and then provides some clea, concise rules of thumb to help us get back to old ways of eating without selling our house and moving back to the farm. Along the way, he's full of tongue-in-cheek remarks that had me laughing out loud (like another good rule of thumb for how to distinguish between food and the thousands of other foodlike substances sold in the supermarket - "Never eat food that's incapable of rotting")
Book Review: Everyone who eats should read this book
Summary: 5 Stars
First, our food is processed and many of the nutrients are removed. Then artificial colors, flavors, and textures are added back in. Then nutrients are added. But are they the natural nutrients with all the known and unknown phytonutrients, some of which haven't even been discovered yet? Do these manufactured foods supply all the nutrition that our bodies need? What's lacking? Now it takes scientists and nutritionists to tell us what we need to supplement in order to remain healthy. Should we eliminate fats? Natural sugars? Add fiber? Add vitamins? It's become incomprehensible to the average person.
What's wrong with this picture? Why not just go back to eating food in it's natural form with all it's natural nutrients and fiber like people did for millions of years before the "food revolution" when foods became over processed? This is what Michael Pollan discusses in his book. This is a good, down to earth, common sense book about the way we eat, the way we look at food and a few very simple rules that he proposes to make eating and nutrition a lot simpler. "Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants." This is an excellent book, succinct and to the point, that will change the way you think about food. Two thumbs up!
Book Review: Read This. Every Last Word. Preferably Now.
Summary: 5 Stars
Undoubtedly, this book will be hailed as one of the most influential books of our time. In just 200 pages, Pollan demystifies the 30+ years of confusion, contractions, and chaos created by the food industry and nutritional science. The cover of the book introduces his holy trinity of healthful eating: "Eat Food. Not Too Much. Mostly Plants." And the rest of the book anchors the roots of this simply ingenious (and indigenous to many traditional cultures, it turns out) approach to eating. In essence, Pollan shows that the way for us to move forward in our health is to step back into tradition.
On one level, the book traces how the industrialization of food (or more accurately "edible food-like products" which have made our nation sicker than ever) has shifted the focus of eating from whole, complex, quality, culture-centric foods to those that are refined, simple, abundant, and science-ified. But, the overarching message of the book is that our return to health depends our returning to our evolutionary, biological, cultural, and ecological roots where eating is not just fuel for life but the way of life.
Perhaps this book should be required reading for anyone who eats!
Book Review: Great information about nutrition!
Summary: 5 Stars
Short but pithy review of current knowledge about nutrition.I've always known that eating the actual fruit or vegetable was better than simply taking a specific supplement, but Pollan's book has reinforced the need to eat the food. I was ready for a little reinforcement of the rules for eating right.
By the way, I read these other books and I must recommend you read them too:
Arthritis: The Cure: The Last Book You'Ll Ever Need On Arthritis
Dare To Be Healthy: The Light of Physical Regeneration
Delicious, Healthy And Easy - Tom's Vegetarian Cookbook: Easy Yummy And Nutritional Vegan Recipes
Eating For Youth And Beauty
Here's How To Be Healthy
Book Review: This book may change (and lengthen) our lives!
Summary: 5 Stars
Other reviewers have eloquently described and praised this book. I should just like to add my voice to theirs. The book is well written, delightful to read - and seriously frightening. The message, convincingly set out, is simple: Although we still don't really understand all the reasons why, unprocessed foods, grown on good soil, cooked in traditional ways, keep us healthy, we now know that processed foods, grown on deteriorating soils kept fertile only by applications of synthetic N-P-K, adulterated by remedial additions of various "nutrients" (some of which themselves may be hazardous to our health!), and laced with corn syrup, are resulting in a population that is in appalling shape. The government, industrialized agriculture, and many nutritionists are unindicted co-conspirators in this. Our progress in medicine has to some extent disguised the fact that our "Western diet" is killing us. This book made me confront some of my less desirable habits. If you are like me, and if you value your health and your life, now would be a good time to follow his simple recommendations and change your lifestyle.