I’ve just finished reading “In Defense of Food” by Michael Pollan (lent to me by an American work colleague). I have to say that this is one of the most thought-provoking books that I have ever read, making me question almost every aspect of my relationship with food. The book contains a really short and simple summary of its message which is “Eat Food. Not Too Much. Mostly Plants” – short, snappy and nice and easy to remember. There is lots of interesting material about how the growth of nutritionism (focusing on the nutrients within food rather than the food itself) and food science (which has replaced much of the food we used to eat with highly processed food substitutes). By pushing for ever highly yields we are now supplied with “food” that is high in calories but low in micro-nutrients and evidently this combination fails to suppress hunger (because the body still craves the micronutrients that it is not getting) and causes to eat more and take in more calories. There’s so many interesting insights and suggestions in the book that all I can really say is that you should get hold of a copy and read it for yourself. I think it is time well spent.
Tim O'Hare 