Authors@Google: Michael Pollan

A compelling talk from Michael Pollan, author of The Omnivore’s Dilemma at Authors@Google.

A few key points that Pollan makes:

Don’t get your food where your car does.

Gas stations have become processed corn vendors. High fructose corn syrup packed snacks on the inside, Ethanol for you car on the outside. Don’t be eating from the same food chain as your car.

If your Great Grandmother couldn’t tell you what it is, it’s probably not food.

Does anyone really know what is in a Twinkie? If your great grandmother (or you for that matter) read a label on a food product, and couldn’t tell you what all of the ingredients were; probably not good for you.

Nutritionism has lead people down a path of self delusion.

Since when can you taste a nutrient, smell a nutrient, feel a nutrient? Our Western culture has become so scientific about our food, and the tiny chemical properties that compose it, that they have lost sight of the bigger picture. Many foods must be eaten whole in order for us to imbibe the nutrients they contain.

Real food has a shelf-life!

Decomposition is a natural process of an organic organism. If what your eating doesn’t rot, what is it made of?

For much more information, please watch the full video. The question period at the end is especially good.

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