The Michael Pollan Lecture

On Saturday night I went to hear Michael Pollan speak at Benaroya hall.  My friend Christina and I both thought it was a really great lecture.  Pollan was not only informative, but witty and inspiring as well.  Here is a rundown of what he had to say.

Food vs Nutrients:

Instead of being so concerned with the nutrients in food we need to get back to focusing on the food itself.  A food can have lots of nutrients that are essential to a healthy diet and still not be very healthy for us.  An example would be cereals and cereal bars.  On the package for these foods you can see they have vitamins, minerals and fiber but are highly processed and full of sugar. Then look at a piece of fruit, it also has vitamins, minerals and fiber but isn't processed or refined and has much less sugar.  Being more concerned with eating natural whole foods, rather than with the specific nutrients we are eating, can actually help us have a healthier diet overall.  

The Western Diet

Americans are the most diet obsessed people in the world and yet we have the highest rates of obesity and obesity related diseases.  How is this possible?  Many researchers believe it is due to what they call the Western Diet.  This diet is one full of highly processed foods full of sugar and starch and low in natural whole foods.  Even though we have hundreds of diet foods and low-fat foods most of them are still not good for us.  Many of the low-fat foods are full of sugar that is used to replace the fat and the diet foods are made with refined flours.   The problem is not with the amount of fat or meat we eat but with the fact that we are eating foods that are not natural.  Some populations eat tons of fat and meat but are still healthy because they are eating what nature, not a processing plant or science lab, has provided them.  We need to get back to eating like our ancestors used to, or at least like our great grandmother.  Eat some butter instead of margarine, oatmeal instead of Trix, an apple instead of fruit snacks!

Other Tips and Interesting Facts:

• We spend 500 billion dollars a year in health care for Obesity related diseases 
• Many of the healthiest populations eat only until they are no longer hungry not until they are full (or stuffed!) 
• Its not just what you eat but how you eat it.  Don't eat your food in the car! Sit down at the table, savor and enjoy your food.  Make your meal important. 
• Think about food quality instead of food quantity. Don't eat a ton of something that tastes bland (think rice cakes) just because its low fat or calorie.  Eat a smaller portion of something delicious and savor it. 
• Many low fat products have twice the sugar and sometime more calories than the full fat options.  Read the label and be aware of what your are buying
• Help out farmers by returning to whole foods and buying your food at farmers markets