In Defense of Food: An Eater's Manifesto
English
According to Allan Bloom, "Nature should be the standard by which we judge our own lives and the lives of peoples."
After the phenomenal response of Pollan book, “The Omnivores Dilemma” most readers asked one single question what should we eat? To this Michael Pollan responded in his book,” In Defense of Food: An Eater's Manifesto” EAT FOOD, NOT TOO MUCH. BUT MOSTLY PLANTS. The central idea of the book revolves around the interference of science in the food. The introduction of science in food systems had propagated the culture of intake of supplements and protein shakes. Recommendations like use of Hydrogenated oils rather than saturated fats have done more harm to the people than any benefit. The nutritional science adheres to the concept of nutritionism i.e. food can be understood by studying its nutrients. He explains that nutritionism is rooted in the idea that foods are “decidedly unscientific things” (19) and that studying individual nutrients is “the only thing [nutritional scientists] can do” (62). The advent of the food industry, culture of western diets, overconsumption of fast food and processed food has given rise to many problems ranging from serious health issues like obesity, heart attack, diabetes, cancer to environmental damage and significantly contributed towards poverty.
Traditional people used to eat home cooked meals and were dependent on agriculture produce. People used to work tirelessly in their fields and accommodate according to their culture and natural resources available. They used to invent new ways to sustain by inventing new diets to be healthy and survive with whatever food was available. But with the introduction of the western diet that included lots of sugars, lots of fats damaged the traditional way of cooking home cooked food. United States and Europe spread its western diets quickly to other continents and introduced processed foods, this disrupted their traditional diets and consumption of processed food with high calorie; sugar and salts invited host of health problems.
21ST Century Scientists invented a new term called Nutrition and advocated consumption of nutrients rather than food. Since ages, the only source of food was Mothers. Whatever mothers cooked was considered healthy and was eaten with relish. But with the advent of the new concept of Nutrition the whole concept of Food was made scientific. As Pollan says in his book,” We know how to break down a kernel of corn or grain of wheat into its chemical parts, but we have no idea how to put it back together again.,” Nutritional Scientists have introduced monosaturated foods or processed foods that make the dream come true and relieves from eating vegetables and fresh fruits, but in reality processed foods are loaded with calories and refined sugars. Even though, the scientists are constantly trying to break food according to its nutrients and find the recipe of healthy food, still they could not identify all the parts of food. The introduction of genetically modified food, industrial farming and culture of meat eating has made people all the more inactive, obese and addicted to high fructose corn syrup, soft drinks with high sugar content and meat rich in carbohydrates and fats. Pollan in his book disagrees with the scientists and says,” nutrition science remarkably reliable in its ability to find a health benefit in whatever food it has been commissioned to study.” According to him, nutrition scientists confuse the general public rather than shedding the light on the fragments of food. People get confused between side effects of Omega 3 and Omega 6. Pollan strongly advocates that,’ “Thirty years of nutritional advice have left us fatter, sicker, and more poorly nourished.” And in order to live a healthy and disease free life it’s essential to unlearn the rules of nutritionism. Essentially it involves getting back to basics, our roots and do not eat food that our grandmother will not recognize i.e. No Protein Shakes, No meal substitutes, No Fast foods or processed foods. It is essential to know the portion of proteins, vitamins required by the person but it’s not healthy to fulfill the requirement of nutrients with intake of meal supplements or protein shakes. Pollan promotes gardening and buying farm fresh products from farmer markets, community supported agriculture rather than from supermarket. It will not only lead to the healthier lifestyle but will also eliminate poverty of farmers and support the economy.
Michael Pollan considers his book as eaters manifesto and he wants to generate mass awareness about the side effects of the processed foods. He wants to create revolution and wants that young minds who are educated and are the future of the country should work for the betterment of the less privileged ones. He calls his book a manifesto because he wants to link it up with other revolutionary statements like Kropotkin's "An Appeal to the Young."As Kropotkin in his article, “An Appeal to the Young “addresses to the youth of the country and awakens them to the plea of underprivileged class, similarly Pollan is awakening the country especially the youth and suggests them ways to overcome health issues, political and economic issues by generating mass awareness.
Kropotkin addresses Doctors in his article and asks what you would prescribe a sick woman who is economically very poor and not able to have handful meal and fresh air? He asks Scientists,” What you seek devoting yourself to science?” Is it mere pleasure or for humanity? He asks the scientists how his services will be helpful for the poverty stricken workers. He asks similar question to Lawyers that how can they demand justice for poor and downtrodden? He asks similar questions to Engineers, Artists and Teachers. What benefit will society have from their services? What can you do for the laborers because they are the ones adversely affected by the industrial advances? Rich are becoming richer and poor are becoming poorer. Kropotkin gives two course of action.”Either tampers forever with your conscious or join the ranks of socialists and work for complete transformation of society.”
Just like Kropokin is constantly thinking on what should be done to alleviate poverty and make the life of poverty stricken people worth living, Similarly Pollan also writes a revolutionary statement because he cares about people’s health, and he sees corruption and wants to call people’s attention. He calls his book a revolution because he wants us to possibly make a political revolution and make necessary changes in America’s food culture, landscape and in the lifestyle of the people. He urges through his book to all the youngsters to open their eyes and see the reality of western diets and rather than mindlessly following them, take actions to prevent the profit makers to play with their Health.
Work Cited
Berrout, John . "In Defense of Food: An Eater's Manifesto." . prairie fire, 1 Feb. 2009. Web. 30 May 2014. <http://www.prairiefirenewspaper.com/2009/02/book-review-in-defense-of-food>.
Millman, China . "In Defense of Food: An Eater’s Manifesto." . Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 20 Jan. 2008. Web. 30 May 2014. <http://michaelpollan.com/reviews/in-defense-of-food-an-eaters-manifesto-2/>.
Seligman, Craig . "Michael Pollan’s manifesto on eating well ." . Salon, 8 Jan. 2008. Web. 30 May 2014. <http://www.salon.com/2008/01/08/pollan/>.
MASLIN, JANET . "Obsessed With Nutrition? That’s an Eating Disorder." . The New York Times, 3 Jan. 2008. Web. 30 May 2014. <http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/03/books/03masl.html?_r=0>.
Kropotkin, Peter . "An Appeal to the Young." . Anarchy Archives, n.d. Web. 30 May 2014. <http://dwardmac.pitzer.edu/anarchist_archives/kropotkin/appealtoyoung.html>.
