Two
news stories in the past two days caught my eye, reinforcing my belief that you
are what you eat. The benefits of the Mediterranean diet have been widely
touted but now there is good statistical evidence that a diet rich in olive
oil, fruits, vegetables, beans and nuts will reduce the risk of heart disease
and strokes. The merits are there even if one doesn’t lose weight and adds to
the benefits of taking medications to lower blood pressure and cholesterol. The
participants in the study avoided commercial cookies and pastries and limited
their intake of red meat and dairy products. Wine could be enjoyed with meals.
Gluten
intolerance, once rare, is now becoming almost commonplace. There is a growing
body of evidence that manufactured food given to infants and small children may
play a role. Breast-feeding beyond six months seems to convey life-long
protection from celiac disease along with many, many other benefits. It appears
that sticking with simple grains that are minimally processed is a good idea
for people of all ages.
In
my opinion, food comes out of the ground. What emerges from a factory wrapped
in plastic is not food. Animals should be treated with respect. If you choose
to eat meat/fish/chicken, those animals should be well-fed, be allowed exercise
and slaughtered humanely.
Michael Pollan: "Eat food. Not
too much. Mostly plants."
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