What's Up With What We Eat?

One of our readers, Amy Remondi wrote in and suggested a book, "What To Eat" by Marion Nestle. Amy says the book, "is all about what we are actually eating as opposed to what we think we are eating. What the marketing tells us we're eating, and what the label says versus what it all really means."

Right on. Sounds like a book worth featuring this week. We've written blogs that cover many of these topics in bite-sized segments, but this is a hearty read if you're looking to devour all of the information at once.

So here's what's up with what we eat according to Marion Nestle. Tidbits of tasty truths summarized from her book:

WHAT'S UP WITH ORGANICS?
It's all about politics and labeling. Like everything else in life.

Did you know organic farms have been shown to be more energy efficient, are just as productive as non-organic farms and leave soils healthier?

Certified organic means: The food is organic and complies with organic standards and the grower has been inspected. The PLU code on the label will start with a 9 (as in, 9XXXX).

Organic standards mean: No synthetic pesticides, herbicides, or fertilizers, no genetically modified seeds, no fertilizer derived from sewage sludge, no irradiation, and with recode of everything to show the inspector.

If the label says "organic" but does not have the CERTIFIED ORGANIC label, then it's an issue of trust because only certified organic is certified to have had its farming methods inspected.

If the label says, "Made with Organic Ingredients," it's 74% - 94% organic and can list 3 organic ingredients on the label.

If you can't afford to buy organic at least buy your apples organic. They have the highest pesticide content, as they are very popular with bugs and easy to ruin so farmers spray the crap out of them! If you can't buy organic apples, don't eat the skin, however the skin has 5 times more antioxidants and nutrients than the apple inside.

WHAT'S UP WITH GENETICALLY MODIFIED FOODS (GMO)?
In America, GM foods do NOT have to be labeled as such because the FDA feels if they are labeled GM, you probably won't buy them.

WHAT'S UP WITH MILK?
Farmers have doubled the amount of milk obtained from cows using a genetically engineered growth hormone. This hormone is specific to cows and won't make you grow. Cows with growth hormones produce more milk, but overusing the udders means they are more likely to become infected and treated with antibiotics. Also the injection sites often become infected and need antibiotics. You drink these antibodies, blood, pus, mucus...gross, huh? Crowded conditions also means bacteria spreads easily between cows.

The dairy industry is VERY powerful. It makes 21 billion a year. They donate money to congress, electoral campaigns, fund the FDA and other government administrations. Because of this political power, dairy producers are protected by a system of government price supports, meaning we pay for milk three times: 1. At the supermarket. 2. Indirectly through taxes that support subsidies to farmers who raise dairy cows. 3. Indirectly through tax supported subsidies to the producers of corn and soybeans used for cattle feed.

Dairy producers have banned together to form a milk cartel. They donate 15 cents for every 100 pounds of milk sold. Last year this generated $160 million for advertising to get you to drink more milk.

The thing is, calcium is not even easily absorbed from milk!! Your body gets more calcium from green leafy veggies and even sesame seeds, because it is a different type of calcium. Cows have lots of calcium and what do they eat—grass, not milk!

And did you know, most people after the age of 5 can no longer tolerate lactose because the body stops making the enzyme needed to break it down? Many people can't tolerate milk but can eat yogurt and cheese—this is because the friendly bacteria in these foods have already broken down most of the lactose for you.

It is currently being researched if the proteins in milk could lead to autoimmune disorders.

Conclusion: drink goats milk, almond milk or at least organic milk, or if you can find it, raw milk. And don't listen to Susan Sarandon—Milk's newest high-paid marketing spokeswoman.

WHAT'S UP WITH SOY?
Soy is the most genetically modified and chemically changed food we eat.

Soybeans have unique phytochemicals called isoflavones that behave in the body like estrogen.

Asians eat soy and they are healthy, but most of us are not Asian. We don't have the same digestive genes as they do.

Soy tastes bad, so it often contains additives to hide the taste, and because it's marketed as a superior, functional food, you will be more likely to buy it for its superpowers.

How did soy gets its said superpowers? Here we go, it's totally logical:

1. Asians have low rates of heart disease, or menopausal, or other health problems.
2. Asians eat soybeans.
3. Soybeans contains proteins, fiber and isoflavones.
4. These soy proteins, fiber and isoflavones must be responsible for the health of the Asians.

Sou companies produce about 25 billion pounds of soy and oil every year for your use, much of it federally subsidized, and they are eager for you to buy it. Plus they all have a program just like dairy that generates $45 million a year, which goes to "research and education"—which is a fancy term for marketing to get you to buy soy.

WHAT'S UP WITH WATER?

The EPA website reports the quality of the tap water in your city. Bottled water is often much less regulated than the tap water which is routinely tested.

The water brands Dasani and Aquafina are actually distilled TAP WATER! Bottled water is terrible for the environment. Don't buy it unless your water isn't safe to drink.

WHAT'S UP WITH BREAD?

Whole wheat bread is often white bread with little cracked piece of wheat, and when it's cracked, it's no longer a whole grain. Look on the label for "100% WHOLE GRAIN." Whole wheat flour will be the first ingredient, it will have 2g of fiber per oz, and the heart disease claim on the label. Everything else is white bread with some whole grains added.

That's what's up.

Marion Nestle also has a website if you'd like to read more: www.foodpolitics.com.