Evil Nutrition

Today in America, we have lost touch with the food that we are eating. Food is no longer seen as food. They are seen as specific nutrients and vitamins that our body needs to survive. However, this has caused us to lose our relationship with food. This notion can be very clearly seen in the two articles, “Unhappy Meals” by Pollan and “Angels and Vegetables” by Du Puis. In Pollan’s article he discusses how we have changed from eating food to eating nutrients. He discusses the problem that nutritionism poses to America. This idea of focusing on the nutrition is too complicated for scientists to understand. Food is so complex and dynamic that it is impossible to break it down into perfect separate components that have no effect on one another. This can be seen with the ever-changing dietary advice that is provided to the general public. One day you are told that you need less trans-fat. Another day it’s more omega-3s. This focus on the nutrition behind the food is what is causing Americans to eat so unhealthily. According to Pollan we should go back to focusing on the food that we are eating.

                This view by Pollan is shared by Du Puis in her article. Du Puis focuses on how Americans have to come to depend on scientists to share information on what “invisible” vitamins and nutrients that we need. This dependence on nutrients has become too focused so that we no longer eat healthy food, just healthy nutrients. Du Puis does compare this to how nutrition was viewed a few hundred years ago. Nutrition was a religion based idea. Health advice was given by the angels to their followers. One of the easiest ways to become good was through a good diet. Both authors give interesting views on how the idea of nutrition has destroyed health in America. It’s a difficult idea to process. By concentrating so hard on eating healthy, we have become even more unhealthy. America needs to go back to basics. Eating food that looks healthy, not just trusting the promises of healthier heart or stomach on the box. Nutrients have to no longer be the focus of a diet. Science can no longer be the champion of a healthy diet.