Recently read a very nice book on Food "In defense of food" by Michael Pollan. It is a wonderful book. As the author says, I also had a confusion on what to eat. There were contradictory advises from different corners, for example, some say dont eat fatty food while some one else says fats are alright. This book gives a very good description of how to go about in choosing ones food. A very good read.
The following gives a summary of what he says. However, in order to understand these ideas properly, one should read the book.
The following gives a summary of what he says. However, in order to understand these ideas properly, one should read the book.
- Dont eat anything your great grandmother wont recognize as food.
- Avoid food products containing ingredients that are
- unfamiliar
- unpronounceable
- more than five in number
- in includes high fructose corn syrup
- Avoid food products that make health claims.
- Shop the peripheries of the super market and stay out of the middle.
- Eat mostly plants, especially leaves.
- Eat well grown food from healthy soils.
- Eat wild foods if you can.
- Take supplements.
- Eat like traditional Indians/French/Japanese/....
- Be careful about non traditional foods.
- Have a glass of wine with dinner.
- Consult your gut. I remember the Indian saying: Eat food half the stomach, fill one quarter with water and leave the rest empty.
- Eat slowly.
- Cook and plant a garden if you can.
I am sure, one has to read the book to make sense out of the above. I strongly recommend reading this book.
