FINAL DRAFT: Writing Project #2: The Synthesis Essay - Joining Conversation

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Summary and Respond to Michael Pollan”Escape From The Western Diet”

The Undertow of Nutritionism is Powerful

Marvellous S Surajudeen

Department of English, ivytech community college

English 111 OFH

Proffesior Scott A Cook

February 10th 2021

Summary and Respond to Michael Pollan “Escape From The Western Diet”

The Undertow of Nutritionism is Powerful

In “Escape from the Western Diet” by Michael Pollan, the author summarizes that much nutrition science qualifies as reductionist science, focusing as it does on individual nutrient rather than whole food or dietary pattern. The author further explained clearly that the effort of the reductionist science is the right measure to try to figure out what Is wrong with the western diet. He describes insightfully that using this sort to try to figure out what is wrong with the western diet is totally unavoidable but he complains stingingly that such measures is however imperfect. Pollan mention that such acts satisfy our hunger for simple, one nutrient explanation and he warned not to mistake them for the whole truth or to let any one of them dictate the way you eat.(Pollan,2008,p.624)

The author contends shrewdly that the lipid hypothesis cannot be reconcile with the carbohydrate hypothesis and that a deficiency of omega-3 fatty acids and this often results to for many chronic illness and theory that refines carbohydrates are the keys.

Furthermore the author added that while everyone can agree that the flood of refined carbohydrate has pushed important micronutrients out of the modern diet.

He further explains that the scientist that blame our health problem on deficiency of this micronutrient are not the same scientist who see a sugar-soaked diet leading to metabolic syndrome and from there to diabetes and cancer. Pollan raised a good point on such critics of the lipid hypothesis embracing the carbohydrate hypothesis with the same absolutist zeal that they ones condemned in the Fat Boys. He mention what he did during the courses of his research, he mention that he was warned by the scientist allied with the carbohydrate camp not to “fall under the spell of omega-3 cult” (Pollan,2008,p.625) cult? He added that there are a lot more religion science than you might expect.

To Denis Burkett, the English doctor stationed to Africa during World War II who gave the western diseases their name explain insightfully that the answer seemed straightforward, if daunting “The only way we’re going to reduces diseases “ he said is to go backwards to the lifestyle of our ancestors”(Pollan,2008.p.627).

Furthermore he added that the we should not worrying about nutrients but we should avoid sort of food that have been processed to such an extent, he opined that it is more of the product of the industry than that of nature. Consequently Gyorgy Scrinis, who coined the term “Nutrionism” explains clearly that the most important part of any food is not its nutrient content but its degree of processing (Pollan,2008,p.625).

Pollan’s explains that to plot our way out of western diet is not going to easy, but he’s so sure it can be done only if we follow the rule. He explains clearly in the course of his research he developed some straightforward rules of thumb,and personal eating policies that can point us in the right direction but he elucidates respectfully that he wasn’t trying to dictates anyone’s menu but he wants us to eat healthy and when we think about Food and Health we will think about nutritionist terms -about our personal physical health and how the ingestion of this particular nutrients or rejection of that affect it.(Pollan,2008.p.628).

“The undertow of Nutrionism is powerful”(Pollan,2008,p.624). The author describes insightfully how nutrition and nutritionist are to be cheaply blame for all the chronic illness and diseases among the western people and he states the hypothesis at which is based upon. He opined that in the Walter Willet responded to the critics who asked him why Nurses’ health study didn’t study the benefits of more alternate diets, he responded that “people don’t want to go there”(Pollan,2008,p.625). He furthermore describes that then we’ll know things has changed when doctors kick the fast food franchised out of the hospital.

[I’d like to propose a toast] thee rules- “Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants”(Pollan,2008,p.631). Pollan’s proposed some practical ways to separate, and defend, real from the cascade of foodlike product that now surround and confound us mostly the supermarket. He affirm and specifically dwell on “Mostly Plants” so as help us sort which product to avoid and the best type of food we should all eat which is mostly fruits and vegetables and shift the focus from this to “Not too Much” he suggested that how often do you eat them and the manner, mores and habits that goes along with eating healthy.

The essay by Michael Pollan titled “Escaped From The Western Diet” is interesting and insightful to read, and I found most of the point raised resonated with my own experiences and made me think of his idea for several days giving me insight about how I could have better responded when I got to eat when I checked mostly food items bought at the supermarket.