Book Club "In Defense of Food" – pt 2
Hello Healthy Town!
After the post V-day blog I realize just how big we are – YES! This electric town rules and within a few days we’ll being flying on swings in our village green! But until then it’s BOOK CLUB time.
Ya’ know why previous generations ate better for the most part? Because food was food. Food wasn’t a multi billion dollar industry driven by corporate greed, manipulation and government subsidies. The food business has been overtaken by the chemical companies. And their inbred cousins the pharmaceuticals are standing by ready to mop up the damage – all the way to the bank.
As King Pollan so eloquently says, we’ve entered “The Age of Nutritionism.” What the heck is that? In a walnut shell, this refers to all the nonsense on the spaghetti box. If products on the grocery shelves could speak, this is what you’d hear….
“Buy me, I have omega 3′s!”
“Oooh, pick me, I was injected with anti-oxidants! And I have less calories than the fiberless bee-atch next to me, I mean who does she think she is?”
“Oh yeah, well I’m fortified with calcium AND vitamin D, and I reduce cholesterol and toe fungus!”
“Big whoop, I’ve had the fat liposuctioned out of me and you Soccer Moms can too!” “Purchase me and you’ll have more sex ‘cause you’ll be skinner and happier, and then you’ll make more money and go to Paris and buy Gucci and meet Johnny Depp…and…and..” (the package is thinking)….”OH YEAH, (drum roll) and you’ll solve global warming because I’m in a green box! Screw Al Gore, BUY ME!”
In this age of nutritionism, we’ve lost sight of the forest for the trees – i.e., the kale for the vitamins. Scientists assume it’s the isolated elements of kale that matter. But what if it’s kale itself – in all it’s glorious complexity – that somehow works? What if we applied this dissection to people? What if I cut myself into pieces and sold you just my foot? Would that help you walk and navigate your cancer journey better? You need the whole thing, body/mind/spirit – your thoughts, your ideas, experiences; your eyes, your heart. We’re all greater than the sum of our parts – you, me, broccoli.
(watch I get an email, “Hi Kris, you are so awesome, I would like your foot, and please send ASAP. Best wishes, Flavs”. Oh, and treat cancer with my isolated, age of nutritionism, product – imiediently. :) *Shit, we’re gonna get hammered now! Sorry gang.
Here’s where we’re different from our grand folks: WE’RE LOST! Do I eat a tomato (assuming you can find a real one) or do I eat a partially hydrogenated hubcap with a hundred year life span? Well, I’m confused, because I read about a new study showing that the Hubcap has more lycopene! Whatever that is – more must be better!
Who the heck really knows how all these invisible ingredients work when they are isolated in a lab and then jammed into a noodle? They can glue some fiber to the jumbo sausage but that doesn’t mean it’s good for you. We’ve been brainwashed to believe that we no longer understand our bodies, they do.
Because it’s all so confusing and scientific, we need a master’s in nutrition to get through dinner. But who has time for that? Enter the EXPERTS – they’ll clear it all up and give us a trusty shopping list. Well, here we are with all this EXPERT help and where has this gotten us? Fat, sick, broke, unhappy, dying early, and screwing up the planet on our way out the door.
From Michael Pollan:
“All our uncertainties about nutrition should not obscure the plain fact that the chronic diseases that now kill most of us can be traced directly to the industrialization of our food; the rise in highly processed foods and refined grains; the use of chemicals to raise plants and animals in huge monocultures; the superabundance of cheap calories of sugar and fat produced by modern agriculture; and the narrowing of the biological diversity of the human diet to a tiny handful of staple crops, notably wheat, corn, and soy. These changes have given us the western diet that we take for granted: lots of processed foods and meat, lots of added fat and sugar, lots of everything- except vegetables, fruits and whole grains.”
Hope I don’t sound too negative, but follow the money…
…And I’m the dangerous one? Thank you all for your kick ass comments about that. I appreciate it.
Peace and broccoli,
K
128 Comments
Ahh, I messed up & posted this originally in the wrong place, so here it is again!
Hi there. I saw a commercial on TV tonite that epitamized the post that started this discussion thread..had to share it….
Diet Coke Plus -> Diet Coke with VITAMINS & MINERALS!!
Is that a joke or what?! It’s only one of the most acidic every day (for some) drinks around. How could any vitamins & minerals even survive in it?!
Tae,
I am so sorry to hear of your loss. I am sending mega heart energy your way, & wishing for you the grace & love showered upon you, to hold you tenderly & guide you thru this passage.
Michalene
Tae,
I’m sorry to hear of your brother-in-law’s passing. What a magnificent gift you each gave to one another. Everyone should be as blessed as Dave was, having you & your husband standing by him, not leaving him alone. Many people don’t have anyone who is willing to endure all that it takes to stay steadfast until the end, God bless you, your husband, and Dave. May peace be with all of you now.
Sue
Tae – I’m so sorry for your loss. your BIL was lucky to have you, and you him. I will hold you in my heart and prayers as you grieve. Blessings…
becky b,
My son is in 3rd grade, and earlier this year, one of his classmate’s father died. The teacher sent home a letter and asked for donations to be sent in so that one of the mother’s from the class could make a quilt (one of those knot quilts). So much money was sent in that it covered the cost of the material for the quilt and then the rest was used to buy a gift card for our local grocery store.
Jennifer
An article/interview of interest:
Becky B
First thing, run to the bookstore and get the family a copy of crazysexy cancer tips. Perhaps the donations could go to buying a good juicer and high speed blender so they can go more raw. Even if it does not “cure” him he will have improved quality of life and it may give the family hope for their future.
Also get them “The Anatomy of Hope” by Jerome Groopman…it will helps so much.
Hope that helps…keep focused on support of their health and peace of mind.
deb
Hey Gang,
My FIL has asked me to go with him to his oncologist appointment tomarrow. It is for a consultation regarding starting up the chemo again. The last couple of days have been really tough. Last night I had to witness his last will and testimate. It was a very uncomfortable sickening feeling to be planning his death. His oncologist scheduled him for more chemo without him even consenting to it. I’m very nervous about going with him because while it seems out of everyone in the family I have done the most research, and I don’t know if that is true, it just seems like I’m the only one speaking up about alternative treatments, I can be a real flake when I’m nervous! My brother and sisters-in-law are all very supportive and loving. I don’t mean to sound smug. But even they joked last night that I’m the “medical person” We all agree that chemo is not the answer for him. It didn’t work the first time, and now he supposedly only has 6 months left, so why would we do it again, and possibly, probably, ruin the last 6 months of his life?! I want him to try other things like ozone, nutrition, intravenious vitamin C, intravenious nutritional therapy, juicing, IPT therapy…….Anything that will stimulate his immune system. I just read this morning that chemotherapy is only 2% effective in treating late-stage cancers. I know that his oncologist doesn’t support these complementory treatments. He has confiscated the vitamins that my FIL had at the nursing home. He has been told not to eat many vegetables, but lots of fruit. How can I effectively , intelligently, articulate my doubts and fear of traditional chemo and argue that supporting and strengthening his immune system is crucial to him fighting cancer?! I need to make a list of questions and statements or clinical studies to support my argument. If anyone has any ammunition for me to use tomarrow, I would greatly appreciate it. I’m not good under pressure, and I feel like I’ve done all this talking and now I have to back it up. What if I’m wrong! I don’t want to be responsible for hurting any chance my FIL has in fighting this. I’m panicking.
Jennifer
Tae,
thanks for sharing yourself with us and I am sincerely sorry for your loss. I can only imagine what you are going through. You are strong and loving and that will help you and those around you. Be true to yourself, let yourself grieve and hold onto us and those around you that love you.
Dee, thank you for your encouraging words. I know that I have to be okay with my inner self and be healthy from that direction. It is just so difficult when I work so hard to be so healthy on a cellular level with no real visable results. In addition to my doctor at the Dana Farber, I am seeing a fabulous doctor who is medically trained as a western doctor, but all about integrative medicine, Asian medicine, organic, all raw foods, etc, etc. I do feel like I have the best of both worlds as I live in this beautifully small town an have this doctor at my finger tips, but also the Dana Farber. My local doctor is really treating my whole body and in ways that agrees with all we are trying to do here. It is so refreshing to have that and I do feel so lucky to have him. I have an appointment with him on Monday for full blood-work up, a 24hour urine scope and he is going to investigate my blood under a microscope. If anyone is in the Ct/NY area he is really worth a visit. Let me know and I can help you get in touch.
Heres to green juices….I am off to make mine!
AHHH. I am kicking myself for not opening a page of the book yet!!! I love the passage you quoted from the text…so true! And I don’t think you sound negative in the least…you sound 100% honest & truthfully, that’s what we need — the brutal, honest truth. We need to be the one’s micromanaging what goes in our bodies — not the industries that are pushing loads of crap at us. I’ll be diving into this book soon & jumping on the bandwagon with discussion. Keep spreading the news about green superfoods!!!
Also, I have a quick question about my Breville Compact Juicer –> I had planned on using the Elite but the one I got was the compact. Can I use this juicer to make green drinks? Or is it too fast/powerful to get a good yield of more fragile greens (lettuce, spinach…etc)??
If you’re into juicing (I drink 11 fresh juices a day) check out the Norwalk Juicer created by Norman Walker. Huge % of living enzymes in every juice! Check it out: http://bertscholl.blogspot.com/2007/07/
update_25.html
And if it ain’t organic, I shudder to think what it has in it. Painfully true…
Goony
I am so sorry that the world seems to be on your shoulders right now…just know that we all have your back, bolstering you through this journey.
I guess my only advice would be to get your “team” on your side, be polite and politely, refuse the chemo for your FIL and calmly take him to the alt. dr, chinese medicine place or wherever your gut tells you to go. His Onc cannot force him to do chemo, but especially for older folks, dr=god and your FIL may be afraid to refuse..you and your team may have to help him. Trying the educate the doc now would probably just waste your precious time.
I feel your pain…please make sure to make some Goony time too…
love and prayers for a good appt
deb
Tae,
Oh how sorry I am that your Brother In Law passed aways. It is so sad. I know you will be fine. But I know how much you are hurting. I think it is so true what Kris explained dying like. One room after another until you get to the VIP room. I know he is at peace. It is both a horrid day and a blessed one when the suffering ends. When Dave began to talk last week and open up he began opening the door that allowed him to move on. I am praying fo much for you and your family. Please keep in mind that your family has been thru an enormous event and it will take time to heal but joy is waiting on the otherside of the pain and so is the joyful and fully restored Dave. I will keep you all in my prayers. Much love and My deepest sympathies. Callie and Duncan
Tae – All I can say is that I love you.
New post later or tomorrow gang. Promise! xo
Jenn I am calling you at noon. I have marked off time. I hope you are home. Listen you have a lot of questions about the dr. Listen it is not my bus. but before you let the dr. run the show. have this first interview with him and take a yellow legal pad with all the questions. After you get what should be done for him medically out of the way the interview him on the whole juicing and suplements idea.. Bring some research you are paying to be thee. Be non confrontational and then tell him to give you and FIL a day to think about if he is the man for you. Make a few questions on that list that are important like, who will show up when FIL isin crisis, how open and communicative will the relationship be. Tell him what kind of relationship you are wanting from your oncologist. Most onco. Are very sensitive.. So just see if he fits. He is not the only guy in the bucket you know. Let them know you want to be a patner in this process and not just be told how and when. Just talk. But if you have 100 questions it is ok..write them out and go. If it is not the dr. you need find another. It will all work out. Donn’t be scared about wills and things.. everyone should do that even if you haven’t got cancer. I also think I am addind a little freaky voodoo into my world doing that paper work each year. Knocking on wood all the time. But it is the normal course of things and FIL is very ill. So he is thinking about you and the rest of his family alot right now. I am glad you found a dr. It will go well. Relax precious one. Ok. Talk to you soon. Hugs callie
Well Debbie is right about trying to educate the dr. now. Just take your time. If you feel chemo is right fine.. If you dont just say no. Depends on how your FIL wants to spend the next six months. He should talk to the dr. about that for sure. The Dr. should certainly understand. Dr.s are trained to save life at all cost preserve it no matter what. Sometimes it is better to begin to let go and enjoy life. You decide and keep in the back of your mind if you get that staph down and you get his quality of life up and his immune system up he may not live longer but he may live better. Just dont fill like this is your only option. Both are important if this chemo can save his life.. fine.. I would ask.. point blank.. if not.. then you know. Keep fighting chickadee. Love ya. Callie
Gooney-
Maybe it is time to nudge your FIL to get a second, third and/or fourth opinion on his best options. There are so many paths he could walk regards to his treatment, he has to decide what treatment option speaks to him. If chemo is not what he wants and his doctor keeps pushing him towards it…time to find a new doctor.
Need ammo for your visit tomorrow? Bring Kris, Callie, and the countless other stories of success through alternative treatments with you. You have to listen to your gut and encourage your FIL to have a little heart to heart with his gut.
Good luck! We’re here!
Tae
everyone and all
I love you all so much…thank you guys for the support and warm words.
One day at a time!
lyb — Laura,
Can you please give me info of that great western doctor you know. I am in NJ area and have been looking for a doctor like that for a long time and spent quite alot of money on really lousy ones.
I and my family would really appreciate if you could share his info. We have quite a bit of health issues in our family especially severe food allergies.
Thank you very much
love and blessings
–Iffat
iffat
The doctor is Dr. Brad Harding in Kent, Connecticut.(860) 927-1855. His practice is called Progressive Medicine and he is FABULOUS, the real deal! I have known him for years. Where in New Jersey do you live? I used to live in Bergen County. Check him out and let me know if you have any questions etc.
-green cheers!
Hi Laura,
Thank you very much for giving me Doc’s info. I will make an appointment with him. I used to live in Clifton, NJ. Now we are in central NJ (North Brunswick).
Does this Doc check the blood under microscope like Dr. Young in San Diego, CA?
Thanks again.
Love and blessings
–Iffat
Becky B,
I think you are most of the way there because your heart is obviously in the right place! My son was in pre-school and kindergarten when his dad was diagnosed and then went through a year of treatment. And we had just moved across the country to a brand new area just six months earlier! The best things for him and all of us included the kindness that these “strangers” showed us, the PTA organized meals to be brought to the house, people asked how the kids and I were doing. Most importantly, my kids were loved and even though they knew everything that was going on, everyone also tried to keep things as normal as possible for them. The only thing I didn’t appreciate was that my son’s kindergarten teacher held back concerns about his reading progress because she thought I had “enough on my plate”. No no no no no… Gently keep your student on track and talk to the parents about how he/she is doing in class, emotionally and educationally. That family is lucky to have you in their lives…
Jennifer I absolutely loved talking to you today.. Girl do you have an accent… HAHAHHAAHHAHA I am looking forward to hearing that the visit to the dr. went well and all is great. I think Tae has a point… time to take control but he has no worries with you helping him along. Just remember you can only love him into joy and peace and that is healing.
Good luck tomorrow.
Tae I have you and hubby in my prayers constantly.. now come healing and peace there too.. I hope you know we love you.
Clint I re-read eat love pray and you have got to read it and read about Richard from Texas it is you.. besides you would just love the lessons.. although you probley know them .
Well someone let me know if the forum is up and how it looks love you guys, callie
I was wondering ..did you change the post? I thought I had read that your oncologist said ‘you were dangerous’ somewhere.
I don’t think your dangerous but what is dangerous is anyone claiming that you can cure cancer with organic greens.
Chemo is not fun. I’m a young bc survivor and did six months of the stuff.
If my diet in the past has had a hand in my cancer diagnoses..i just don’t think that starting to eat all organic now is going to be a miracle cure.
I know many girls with metastatic breast cancer who died no matter how much greens they ate..
Maybe, just maybe if you ate whatever you wanted you would still be here and be stable?
I think you are taking your disease seriously and making changes, and doing what you think is right but you going organic and you not progressing don’t exactly mean one caused the other.
There are so many variables.
So maybe what the dr meant was that the message can be dangerous to those who need chemo and to those that chemo has showed to help prevent a recurrence.
just my thoughts..
Kristi Collins
Callie:
Ok… you must be doing some some powerful manifesting miss Callie. Just today, I talked to a friend of mine that I lent a book to a few weeks back, and she out of the blue had offered to let me borrow the ‘Eat, Love, Pray’ book. Your scarrrrrring me ! ;-)
Guess I’m supposed to read it.
Jennifer:
I hope your hanging in there, and breathing thru the difficult parts…
Big hug to you my dear !
Clint
Wow, the support and love in this blog is AMAZING. I just wanted to mention the book: The China Study by T. Colin Campbell. It is a great companion to In Defense of Food. It is packed with information on the relationship between diet and disease. Campbell has a similar perspective to Pollan, but Campbell has hands on experience with the research leading to the findings that are talked about in this community. The China Study has helped me answer questions about diet and nutrition that I hadn’t yet been able to figure out.
ps-Did anyone else see the video filmed by the humane society that triggered the beef recall? If that doesn’t make someone want to be a vegetarian, I don’t know what will. If you decide to check it out, please know that it is VERY disturbing. Hopefully it will open the eyes of Americans that are unaware of the reality of animal treatment in the meat industry.
Amen to that! I have a friend who moved to Europe and she says it’s better over there.
Hopefully the next president will make some reforms in food processing policies. Banning high frutose corn syrup would be a good start.
Tae, I’m with you girl. You are not alone. Thanks for sharing. You’re in my heart.
February 20, 2008