Random Thoughts...Food
As I said, food may be a greater passion for me than
gardening.
It's a fact that what is considered healthy differs from person to person.
There are so many 'fad' eating trends and so many 'scientific studies'
showing dangers lurking here and there. I suppose it's to be expected.
In every aspect of our humanity, we each come to our value system based
on our own experiences
and level of understanding. For me the path has been through my mother who is diabetic (Type 2)
- because of her health issues and my own dairy
allergy. I have studied food and diet for many years. I'velearned about
dairy alternatives and the myths about dairy products being healthy. I've also learned quite a bit about something
known as the Glycemic Index and how the body handles glucose.
Basically, I've spent a fair amount of my spare time over the past ten years
studying agriculture concepts and processes, food and
health along with the relationships between them. Although we personally eat a diet
heavy with vegetables and a fair number of vegetarian meals, we are not vegetarian.
On the other hand, after reading Schlossers Fast Food Nation when it came out, our animal
consumption has changed significantly. We rarely eat beef and our primary
meat source has shifted to lamb. We eat a fair amount of fish, but 'some
people around here' aren't all that fond of it, so we're not quite as far
down that path as we will eventually move.
Poultry production is responsible for significant polution to the
degree of destroying wetlands and indigenous species in heavily producing
areas. It is also one of the most inhumanely raised animal products. While
that should be a sufficient reason to alter eating habits, some people
still feel it's a healthy choice. If polution doesn't concern you,
consider the fact that poultry is fed antibiotics as a matter of course
due to the unsanitary 'growing'
conditions of the birds (I won't go into details - look into it yourself
if you are unsure). I almost never order chicken when eating out and
only purchase organic chicken when shopping for food I will prepare at
home. I've even started buying whole organic chickens and cutting them up
for pieces myself. It's really pretty easy to do, and so much more
affordable! I believe there is
no other humane or healthy option.
I don't think any american is unaware of how our dependence on crude oil
has adversely affected all our lives. We know the consequences of what
this persistence on transportation dependent on oil has cost the planet.
For that reason alone, it becomes difficult to justify the purchase of food products
that are trucked across the country or shipped from foreign countries. There are also those large
unmentionable warehouse type stores that transport food items across seas
and continents so they can sell them to us at cheaper prices. Yes, I know
...food is expensive and sometimes you have no alternative but to consider
the purchase price. I'm just suggesting we all spend more time considering
the true cost. The only way
it ends is when we stop making those choices. The obvious solution is to
buy as many local products as circumstances allow. Yeah - it's more work, but it will
prove to be a sound long-range approach. So, when you can make a choice -
do make the choice.
Did you know that many family owned farms have been forced to sell-out to
larger corporations or failed altogether because they can't compete in the
food distribution chain in this country? You can make a difference in the
simplest things...
Some very influential reading material
Other notable reading:
May All Be Fed, by John Robbins - not well written, but there are some
fascinating statistics and info
Eat Yourself Slim-Adapted for North America, by Michel Montignac
- In 1999, Professor W. Willett of
Harvard University released the results of a 12 year scientific
study, which confirmed the absolute validity of Montignac's
methods.
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