Eat Food

[Zen]

a somewhat lengthy article in the NY Times about nutrition.
It's written in straightforward, easy to understand language and full of plain science (and interesting trivia) so the length doesn't seem so bad.

Here's a sample-
...people don’t eat nutrients, they eat foods, and foods can behave very differently than the nutrients they contain. Researchers have long believed, based on epidemiological comparisons of different populations, that a diet high in fruits and vegetables confers some protection against cancer. So naturally they ask, What nutrients in those plant foods are responsible for that effect? One hypothesis is that the antioxidants in fresh produce — compounds like beta carotene, lycopene, vitamin E, etc. — are the X factor. It makes good sense: these molecules (which plants produce to protect themselves from the highly reactive oxygen atoms produced in photosynthesis) vanquish the free radicals in our bodies, which can damage DNA and initiate cancers. At least that’s how it seems to work in the test tube. Yet as soon as you remove these useful molecules from the context of the whole foods they’re found in, as we’ve done in creating antioxidant supplements, they don’t work at all. Indeed, in the case of beta carotene ingested as a supplement, scientists have discovered that it actually increases the risk of certain cancers. Big oops.

[OakLeaf]

Oh, I love Michael Pollan.

Didn't read the article yet - have to go get ready for my ride - but I'm sure it will be good. Thanks for the link, Zen!

"He that breaks a thing to find out what it is has left the path of wisdom." - Gandalf

[Thorn]

Excellent article. Thanks! Long, but worth the read.

[firenze11]

This was a really great article. A lot of the info was really fascinating. It's so hard sometimes to wade through all the health information out there and make sense of it. I think (well, I hope) deep down we all know that we should be eating real, whole, unprocessed, honest-to-goodness food. I think I will make this part of my New Year's resolution: no "diet," eat food, eat well.

[margo49]

I have thought for many years that you can't go far wrong eating like the peasants. I'm into good, fresh, home-prepared food eaten at a set table.
'Course I got cancer *anyway* but I reckon I woulda been in a much worse condition if I dint have a healthy life-style and nutrition

[jobob]

Thanks for posting this, Zen!

[salsabike]

Yes, very commonsensical. Always good to see something like that on this topic, which seems to be subject to more heat than light, sometimes.

[OakLeaf]

I blew my MIL's mind the other day. She knows me to be health-minded, so she offered me some of the vitamins she was taking. "Want some folic acid?" "No thanks, I had a big plate of spinach for dinner." "Want some Vitamin D?" No thanks, I was out running in the sunshine this morning."

You could almost see her head explode.

[anakiwa]

For anyone interested in these issues I'd highly recommend reading Omnivore's Dilemma (by Michael Pollen the author of the article) or Animal, Vegetable, Miracle (by Barbara Kingsolver). They've changed the way I eat.

[Dianyla]

Another Michael Pollan fan, checking in! Loved his book "The Omnivore's Dilemma". Thanks for the link to the article.

[firenze11]

I blew my MIL's mind the other day. She knows me to be health-minded, so she offered me some of the vitamins she was taking. "Want some folic acid?" "No thanks, I had a big plate of spinach for dinner." "Want some Vitamin D?" No thanks, I was out running in the sunshine this morning."

You could almost see her head explode.

That's so funny. Last year I had some blood taken and my folic acid came back really high. My doctor said "Wow, you must eat a lot of leafy greens." At the time I did (I need to eat more now). Later I saw my neurologist and told him about those results and he couldn't handle it. He kept saying I needed a folic acid supplement b/c I was a woman of child-bearing age. But mine was already really high just from what I was eating. I think I saw his head explode a bit too

[tulip]

Pollan's newest book is "Eat Food. Not Too Much. Mostly Plants."

That about says it all.

[shootingstar]

will read article after my coffee here at lunch...

I guess there are exceptions where some cyclists take in protein powders, etc. (I don't....)

What I have found is that I've eaten certain veggies for many years, knew vaguely there was some nutritional value but not sure what until there has been published research that is nominally understood by layperson.

lycopene- found in tomatoes.... but also found in bitter melon, a veggie that grows in Asia. And yea, it is bitter after cooked. This is something one can eat with meat. Then it amazed me it's being sold as a powder. I dunno. The fibre (which becomes soft like cucumber) is good for you also.

http://www.rain-tree.com/bittermelon-tech.pdf

http://www.pr-usa.net/index.php?opti...0323&Itemid=33

[SadieKate]

Wow, Zen, without even reading it I know I'll be sending it to my mother who thinks that supplements will solve everything, and that it is everyone else' fault that she overeats and doesn't exercise.

And have I ever told you how I was sick nearly every morning of my young life because she'd make me take an entire handful of supplements? I get nauseous to this day just thinking about supplements. Yeesh.

[mimitabby]

thanks for this article!