Defense…

Americans born after the year 2000 have a one in three chance of developing diabetes in their lifetime according to author Michael Pollan in his book titled, In Defense of Food. Here are his conclusions.

Eat FOOD, not too much, mostly plants.

That’s the book in a sentence. Sounds easy, but it’s NOT. Most of what you and I find at Whole Foods even, is not whole FOOD. Here’s his other big hitters:

Stop eating a “western diet.” Lot’s of meat, sugar, processed food, and fat. The western diet has some very bad unintended consequences indeed. The western diet is the leading cause of disease not just in America but around the world. The western diet may benefit the four big food companies in the land of the free but it’s killing YOU and me.

Start eating vegetables, fruits, and whole grains. Eat more leaves than seeds. Did you know that rich green leaves have as much omega 3 oils as salmon? They do. The salmon only carry the omega 3 oils if they’re eating algae and not farm fed corn just like our American cows.

Drink. Just not heavily. One glass of wine for women, two for men.

Don’t eat ANYTHING incapable of rotting!!

Avoid food products with more than 5 ingredients.

Avoid food products that make health claims.

Shake the hand that feeds you. Buy from the farmers market as much as possible.

Embrace the Okinawan saying…”hara haci bu” It means eat until you’re 80% full.

Eat slowly like the French…it takes the brain 20 minutes to get the word that the stomach is FULL. Bummer there aren’t more neural networks in our bellies.

Eat like the omnivore that you are. We are meant to eat thousands of different foods but in America, most of our FOOD is processed from CORN to such an extent that we look like 80% corn flakes. Even bigger bummer.

The more I read about our health problems in America, the more convinced I am that the food we eat is a HUGE part of the problem. I am really trying to do a better job of eating “green.” My system has been programed by high fructose corn syrup just as yours has. We have to de-program the American way if we are to live a healthy, physical life.

Eat FOOD, not too much, mostly plants. That’s good advice Michael. Thanks.

If you want to hear more from Mike check out his books The Botany of Desire and The Omnivore’s Dilemma.

Are you building a healthy, physical life?

Are you eating yourself toward disease?

Are you taking the pill and swallowing it whole?

Are you pushing back and working out?

Why? Why? Why?