yesterday i read an article about how mexico is now the 2nd most obese country in the world. (the US is #1...don't you just love how americans are so competitive? always gotta be #1 in everything we can be!) in another 10 years, if this "growth" (such an unfortunate word to use here) continues, mexico will surpass the US in holding this most dubious distinction.
this author writes about how in 1989, fewer than 10% of mexicans were obese, but with the growing popularity of cheap soft drinks (in some areas it's easier to get a glass of soda than it is to get a glass of clean drinking water) and fast food, studies show now about 66% of men and 71% of women are now obese. mexicans are eating more fat and processed foods, and fewer whole grains and vegetables. diabetes is now the leading cause of death in mexico. 25% of Mexican children ages 5 to 11 are too heavy, which is a 40% increase since 2000.
pretty scary stuff. at any rate, this "epidemic" in mexico mirrors pretty much exactly the trends michael pollan details in both Omnivore's Dilemma and In Defense of Food, when native cultures move away from eating their traditional diets and adopt the western diet.
so guess what i did? i forwarded the article to michael pollan. and then guess what? he wrote back!!!!!
"Thanks-- amazing story. M"
ok, so, yeah, he wrote back only 3 words...and who knows who "M" actually is. (maybe it was an aunt maude, who he's put in charge of answering all his fan mail?), but i was thrilled to hear back, nevetheless. yes, i've now crossed over into new territory. some people write fan letters to justin timberlake or jessica alba. i write fan letters to someone who looks like larry david. (hey, i'm sure he has a GREAT personality. michael pollan, that is. *not* larry david.)
while you mull that over (listen, the dude wrote the book that changed my life, ok? what do you want from me?), below is the link to the article. it's definitely, uh, FOOD for thought. (get it?! :) and if you haven't read it, give a think about reading Omnivore's Dilemma. it's pretty powerful. (and, no, i don't work on any sort of commission. :P)
http://www.mcclatchydc.com/homepage/story/31267.html
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
i am officially a michael pollan groupie!
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Wow, that is just terrible. I did a study on the Traditional Navajo diet after I came back from living on the reservation. It is the same deal there - their aquifers are being used to move coal through slurry lines all over the SW and so their crops are suffering in return, which means many rely on government food - which is horrible stuff - processed canned meats and milk, plastic cheese, you name it. Many of them suffer from obesity, heart problems and diabetes as well.
It is terrible how people suffer in the name of "helping the poor".
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