The World's Best Book Summaries
Why is there so much E. coli in beef? How does this affect food quality at fast food restaurants? E. coli is common in beef products, particularly in mass production and factory farming. Cows get sick and in turn, pass along diseases to humans. Read more about E. coli in beef and why it’s commonly found in fast food.
What is the lipid hypothesis? How did the lipid hypothesis change dietary guidelines in the United States? Was there any evidence to corroborate it? The lipid hypothesis is a medical theory that postulates an association between the intake of saturated fat and the risk of developing cardiovascular disease. This hypothesis motivated the McGovern committee to create the Dietary Goals for the U.S. report which advised Americans to limit their consumption of red meat and dairy even though the evidence was weak. Keep reading to learn about the health implications of the lipid hypothesis.
How common is McDonald’s food poisoning? Why is McDonald’s food so susceptible to contamination and disease? McDonald’s food poisoning often consists of bacterial illnesses like E. coli. Factory farming and unsanitary conditions in restaurants can lead to food poisoning issues. Read more about McDonald’s food poisoning and the conditions that make this possible.
What is real food? How can you tell which foods are real, that is, unprocessed and unadulterated by chemicals? Food is all around us, but according to Michael Pollan, the author of In Defense of Food, most of it is not real. But, what exactly is real is food? According to Pollan, there are three criteria that can help you tell which foods are real and which ones are not. The following three rules can help you determine what food is real.
Is there fast food regulation in the industry? What kinds of government restrictions are put in place? In reality, when it comes to fast food regulation, big businesses are in control. Even regulatory agencies like OHSA have little power to act independently. Read more about fast food regulation and the fast food lobbyists that control it.
What is nutritionism? How has the ideology of nutritionism changed the way we determine the health value of food products? Popularized by Michael Pollan in his book In Defense of Food, nutritionism refers to a paradigm which states that the value of food is determined solely by its constituent nutrients. Pollan argues that the ideology of nutritionism has distorted our understanding of healthy eating, such that even processed foods are believed to be healthy because they contain certain nutrients. Keep reading to learn about the rise of nutritionism.
What dangers do meat packing workers face? Why is this job so dangerous? After over a hundred years since the publication of The Jungle, meat packing workers still struggle with poor working conditions. Meat packing workers are unsafe, underpaid, and exploited. Read more about meat packing workers and the struggles they face—including death on the job.
Why are so many Americans sick and obese given their obsession with healthy eating? What is it about the American diet that’s sent the health of the population into a tailspin? Studies show that albeit the concern for healthy eating, American rates of diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and cancer are going up. According to Michael Pollan, the author of In Defense of Food, the problem with the American diet is that it places too much focus on food’s nutritional content. Here is what’s wrong with the American diet, according to Michael Pollan.
What are the top healthy eating myths that most people believe? And how did we come to believe them, especially when information is so freely available? With so much healthy eating information floating around on the web, it can be hard to sift out the truth. According to Michael Pollan, the three most prominent healthy eating myths the public tends to believe are 1) nutrients are more important than food type, 2) nutrition is complex and requires scientific explanations, and 3) eating is simply a means to a healthy body. Here are top three healthy eating myths that the food
Why do we have allergies? Why haven’t humans evolved past them? Why are allergies becoming more common than ever before? The lack of parasites, the decrease in breastfeeding, and the increase in urban pollutants are all factors that lead to allergies. Why we have allergies is unclear but scientists have developed many theories as to why allergies exist. Keep reading to learn more about why we have allergies.