The Omnivore's Dilemma

If you've ever thought that you need to revamp your relationship with food; then read this book. Food has become one of those things that we don't really need to think about. Michael Pollan does a good job in forcing you to assess the origin of your food. If you had a hamburger for lunch today, have you thought about where the beef really came from and how it got to your plate? The story, told in this book, is quite disturbing. He dissects the origin of much of our "food" and starts with the story of corn. He interviews farmers who farm on an industrial scale, and those that work hard to preserve the land and therefore, improve the quality of their product.

Pollan is a great writer. He brings you into the experience of food so much that you'll never see your dinner plate the same again. I've always said that eating is one of the most intimate things you can possibly do. You are literally inviting the outside world into your body with every bite you take. Pollan expands that concept and beautifully describes eating in terms of our relationship with nature.

One of the best books I've read- highly recommended.

What's in Your Bottle?

Earlier this year, the FDA released a statement that Bisphenol A (BPA), a chemical commonly contained in plastics, was safe. This statement was not made casually, but after careful consideration of the best evidence available.

Now, the National Toxicology Program, which falls under the large umbrella of the National Institutes of Health, disagrees. Their own assessment released last week determined that there is some concern for effects on the brain, prostate and behavior of fetuses, infants and children at typical levels of exposure.

Interestingly, rather than accepting this as a cause for legitimate concern, the American Chemical Society’s weekly magazine proudly claims, “Bisphenol A Called Mostly Safe.”

From the article itself:
“The findings in NTP's draft report provide reassurance that consumers can continue to use products made from bisphenol A,” said Steven G. Hentges of the American Chemistry Council's Polycarbonate/BPA Global Group.

That must be the most sensational piece of political spin I’ve ever heard! Most rational individuals understand that health risks ought to be avoided even when they are only risks- not guarantees. Scientists agree that bisphenol A is an endocrine disruptor although the minimum amount required to be significant is unknown. Shall we wait until enough brains, prostates and behaviors are disrupted so that we have undisputed evidence that BPA is bad? Walmart, Nalgene, Toys R Us say no. All 3 are clearing their shelves of products containing BPA.

The FDA says it is safe. The National Toxicology Program says it is not safe. Let’s err on the side of safety and avoid BPA containing products.

Alabama's Fat Tax

Obese state employees may soon have to pay an additional $25 in health insurance per month. Some argue that it asks the people most likely to consume health care resources to invest in it now. Others cite discrimination and unfair policies toward the overweight.

I’m not going to comment on the delicate politics of this situation, but it does give us food for thought.

Chronic disease, (not car accidents, trauma, gunshot wounds etc.)… chronic disease which is often preventable, has the potential to bankrupt our health care system. When 1 in 4 Americans has a blood sugar disorder, what will happen to their health 20 years from now? If we don’t wake up now, then 20 years will pass and our hearts will be sick, our brains will be on fire and ours organs will fail. What can any doctor, even the world’s best doctor, do at that point? From an economic standpoint, these sick people will continue to consume healthcare resources for problems that could have largely been prevented.

Check out this article from the Canadian Diabetes Association. It states that the health care system can pay $2000-5000 per year now to properly care for a diabetic or pay $50,000 a year to care for a diabetic who has progressed to kidney failure.

This article was published in the Mississippi Business Journal in 2006. In it, Dr. Marshall Bouldin, Director of the Diabetes and Metabolism Program at the University of Mississippi Medical Center, said, “The burden of both type 2 diabetes and obesity is rapidly increasing and shows no sign of stopping. If our society does not change this, diabetes alone will bankrupt our medical system.”

A “tax on the fat” appears to be one proposed method to prevent this. But the more important message seems to be; to save our health care system, we must first save ourselves.

There are a lot of mysteries surrounding the cause of many chronic diseases. We aren’t even close to having all the answers. Genetic predispositions, single nucleotide polymorphisms, prenatal environment, environmental toxicants, phthalates, BPA’s, heavy metal load etc.à all these things may be relevant and it is easy to feel out of control.

But the one thing we can all do to significantly decrease our risk of most chronic disease: eat better, exercise more, reduce stress and carefully regulate our blood sugar. These things, in our control, usually outweigh the many things beyond our control. For government employees in Alabama, it will also save $300 per year.