Summary Of Escape From The Western Diet

Despite the increase in organic buyers, the majority of people do not know how to merely interpret what the word organic even entails. The United States Department of Agriculture enforces and regulates the labeling of organic products, namely food products (cornucopia.org). In addition to the elusiveness of organic foods, organics are apt to be more expensive than conventional food; this is because instead of a huge manufacturing plant, one would be receiving their food products from a small farm (where a small amount of food is being grown and harvested). People choose to argue that organic food is far better for you than conventional or natural food; however, there are only minute differences between the two. Stephanie Watson, an executive editor of Harvard’s Women Health Watch, states:“The researchers discovered very little difference in nutritional content, aside from slightly higher phosphorous levels in many organic foods, and a higher omega-3 fatty acid content in organic milk and chicken” (Harvard.edu).

In Michael Pollan’s essay “Escape from the Western Diet,” he directly to Americans about the western diet and why he believes they need to escape from it. The reason Americans should escape the western diet is to avoid the harmful effects associated with it such as “western diseases” (Pollan, 420). To support his view on the issue, Pollan describes factors of the western diet that dictate what Americans believe they should eat. These factors include scientists with their theories of nutritionist, the food industry supporting the theories by making products, and the health industry making medication to support those same theories. Overall, Pollan feels that in order to escape this diet, people need to get the idea of it out of their heads.

He suggested that the nutrient content does not matter, if the food is unprocessed and coming directly from farm then it is healthy for consumption. Pollan suggested that to solve the problem we should go to its root cause. The food grew in the farm should be healthy. If the land is healthy and free from harmful chemicals then it will produce a healthy food. That food should not be processed and can be consumed wholesomely.

Within the movie In Defense of Food, Michael Pollan attempts to tackle the question of what we “should” eat. As simple as he can, Pollan examines that question in depth, trying to push through the supermarket, good industry, diet industry, and another place people go to find and choose the food they eat. I wouldn't say its a guide on specific foods that will increase your health but more towards the line of philosophic view on what “food” has become in the united states and also comparing it to other countries around the world. Pollan feels that us complicating the food around us is not benefiting us, but hurting us. When I say complicated food I'm referring to the center of grocery stores with the all processed food or diet “healthy” food.

In the modern world, making healthy food choices isn’t always easy. We’re constantly told different things about how to eat, when to eat, what to eat, and more. Today, I’ll be looking at a few food rules set by Michael Pollan. His rules are: eat food, mostly plants, and not too much. On the whole, these rules are okay, but they require closer inspection.

“Michael Pollan’s ‘ The Consumer- A Republic of Fat analysis” Michael Pollan is an established writer who has, in fact, won many awards. He has written several books, including The Omnivore’s Dilemma (2006), as well as, In Defense of Food: An Eater’s Manifesto (2008).

In “How Junk Food Can End Obesity,” by David H. Freedman, he claims that processed foods can help fix the obesity crisis in a more realistic manner, rather than whole-some foods. The popular opinion emphasizes whole-some foods because they aren’t informed about the similitude between processed and unprocessed foods. The essence of the essay is that people believe processed foods are bad and unhealthy for us, therefore whole-some foods are highly recommended for the health of an individual. Freedman mentions many prominent authors who wrote books on food processing, but the most influential voice in the food culture Freedman makes a point of is, American journalist, Michael Pollan. The media and Michael Pollan indicate that everything should be replaced with real, fresh, and unprocessed foods, instead of engineering in as much sugar, salt, and fat as possible into industrialized foods.

Even though there are same products on the shop shelves, people prefer to buy the food that has the labels of low fat or more nutrition. But these labels can be a big factor that causes people to live in an unhealthy way. According to the study published in Food Quality and Preference, it claims that people are more easily influenced by the labeling highlighted on the front of food packaging, particularly nutrition claims. For example, the obese people prefer the low-fat coke rather than other coke with regular sugar. This kind of nutrition claims gives people psychological comfort that makes them eat without worrying about being obese and unhealthy.

In the article written on April 14, 2006, NPR’s Ira Flatow talks with Michael Pollan about his book, Omnivore's Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals. Omnivore's Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals is a nonfiction book issued in 2006. In his book, Pollan asks a sincere question of what people should eat for their dinner.

Michael Pollan’s Escape from the Western Diet connects well with what Mary Maxfield says in her article. Both Pollan and Maxfield talk about the ways that dieting is taking over American people’s healths and causing them to become even unhealthier. In Mary Maxfield’s argument she talks about how people believe everything that diet industries say, even though they know that the information they give you is false. This connects really well with what Michael Pollan talks about in his article, which is that people know that these theories that are used for the Western diet are not accurate, but yet they still decide to use the Western diet to help them become healthier.

“Are you really putting in what’s right for your body?” “Ingesting pesticides can inhibit brain development.” “Only organic foods can keep you safe.” Catch cries such as these seem to plague the media. However, consumers do not need to constantly worry about eating a strictly organic diet.

Are the pricey organic foods actually healthier than the conventional foods produced without the extra requirements from the U.S. Department of Agriculture? People have been paying extra for healthier foods that claim to have added health benefits, but after multiple experiments and studies scientists have come up with few actual benefits. Not the mention that the prices of some of these organic foods can be outrageously higher than conventional foods. Organic foods are said the be produced healthier than the non-organic foods, regardless of the high prices and scientists denying any true health benefits. Many studies have found that foods claiming to be organic and better for you actually have no major difference between them and the regular

Organic products are sold at an increased price compared to the common conventional fruits and vegetables sold in stores around the world. However, most people don’t think they deserve to be priced any higher than those ordinary conventional products. There isn’t even that much of a difference between the two. Organic foods are not worth it because there isn’t any difference in quality, the markup on them is way too high, and there are only small differences in nutritional value.

Is it worth spending money on something that might not be 100% true about the nutrition that are in products that people are buying. When customers are shopping they spend a majority of their money on organic foods. People purchase these foods because they think that it is healthier for the human to consume. When people are purchasing items they should not have to buy something that costs more money then the other product that is cheaper and is about the same quality. Many reviews proved that organic food and conventional food taste the same and nutrition wise they are about the same.

Although people think organic foods are a waste of money, organic foods avoid chemicals. Instead of chemicals, organic food contains fruits, along with nutrients which provide a better taste. Organic foods can lead to a better and healthy environment. Therefore organic foods are the way to go. Although expensive, organic foods stand out as the healthiest and most nutritious and benefit the environment.