
I had the opportunity to read this book while we were in the states and thoroughly enjoyed it. Michael Barbee's well-researched and captivating book did an excellent job of exposing the myths regarding our most popular & unpopular foods and our most ingrained health assumptions. This book is a "must read" for everyone, even if you believe you are practicing good nutrition.
These days it is up to us to do our homework before making big health decisions. This book will help anyone sort through the confusion and options before making decisions. After reading this fascinating book, you will not be tricked into believing that your fluoridated water, soy foods, aspartame or green tea are as safe as their advocates claim.
If you have seen Food, Inc (which I haven't, but have heard a lot about it), this book is an excellent next step to healthy awareness and making healthier choices. Michael uses solid research from two non-profit organizations (and other sources too), the Weston A. Price Foundation (WAPF) and the Institute of Educational Therapy (IET). I have grown to appreciate WAPF as they are a wealth knowledge and my all-time favorite cookbook "Nourishing Traditions" is from that foundation.
Here's an overview of what Michael covers in this highly alluring book:
- Green Tea: A Cup of Contaminants
- Soy: No Wonder Food
- Cholesterol: Some Good News
- Conjugated Linoleic Acid: Can Beef and Butter Keep You Thin?
- Fluoridation: The Poisoning of America, Part 1
- Aspartame: The Poisoning of America, Part 2
- Osteoporosis: More Than Just Calcium
- Bovine Growth Hormone: (Some) Milk is Not Good for Anybody
- Eggs: More Good Cholesterol News
- Plastics & Microwaves: What Have We Done to Our Food?
- Vitamin C: Too Much of a Good Thing?
- Food Irradiation: The Public as Guinea Pigs
- Vegetarianism: Ethical and Dietary Considerations
- The Nonpyramid Food Guide
When I picked this book up to read... I didn't know what to expect, but I am extremely pleased with how well Michael covered everything promptly and to the point. I really enjoyed the honesty and passion that flows out of his of research and writing.
There are two things I liked and didn't like in the last chapter. I liked how he plainly stated that there is no "best diet"... no "one diet fits all" approach that is so common in USA, but I didn't like (and don't agree with) his "evolutional" lean about the human development. That's just my personal opinion, BUT overall this book is very well-written and refreshing. Next time you go to the library... check this out OR simply order it from Amazon for less than $11.
Sound bites from the Preface:"...There is much confusion in the minds of many. And much fear. We have been told that a great number of cancer can be directly tied to the foods we eat - or don't eat. We want to be healthy. We want to do the right thing, but the overload of information and advice is causing many simply to throw up their hands in disgust, despair or resignation......It is easy to see the signs of a public out of tune with food: high rates of heart disease, osteoporosis, cancer, and the almost epidemic rates of obesity, diabetes, and hypothyroidism. If we continue to hide our heads in the sand about nutrition, or on the other hand, if we quickly jump on any new diet bandwagon without giving a close look at the science behind it, we will continue to fight a losing battle......This is no surprise, I'm sure. This is not news. But the extent to which the safety of what we eat and drink is affected by corporate influences and greed may come as a surprise. In fact, we should be outraged. Our health is at stake as we are poisoned daily with what should never be in our foods, and we are also poisoned with bad advise. Some of that advise is well-intentioned, but much of it is based on old, unscientific information. Some of it is based on myth. And some of that information is actually misinformation designed to keep the public ignorant while the food companies reap enormous profits..."
Happy Reading!

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