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Posted 2/3/2012 8:34 PM (GMT 0)
I'm not into the 'whole food', gluten, etc drastic diets, and not even particularly interested in 'organically grown' this that and the other. However, once in a while something does really make you think about this stuff in a deeper, more important way. The link below is to a video that not only includes food & disease, but also how the economy and political situations play in the food arena. Robin O'Brien is now known as "Food's Erin Brockovich."

It's an engaging lecture we all might get something from.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=rixyrCNVVGA

Would love to hear your comments.

Post Edited (Lynnwood) : 2/3/2012 1:51:42 PM (GMT-7)

Posted 2/4/2012 5:04 PM (GMT 0)
Lynnwood,

Remarkable video.  I was in agribusiness (before the use of genetically modified seed) but food "factories" were producing increasingly questionable food many decades ago.  Cattle feedlots, poultry and hog farms of immense size, use of growth hormones, antibiotics, and more recently use of genetically modified seed and animals.

In the past 50 years there has been an unexplained increase in AI diseases except for RA.  Allergies on the increase.  Never heard of a peanut allergy growing up and I had many food allergies until I was older.

I am so impressed at Robyn's grasp of the overall problem: government subsidies, Monsanto patents on genetically modified seed (they also make the herbicide, roundup), and the fact that the rest of the world reject our food until proven safe.  This is the nightmare of large corporations pursuing profits without much, if any, oversight.  Lobby money (huge in agriculture) buys them subsidies and safety.  We have let the fox into the hen house.  In my business role in agribusiness and as head of international trade organizations I was privy to many of the things she spoke about.  It is much more pervasive today.

Robyn's approach is balanced and sane and not a diatribe about gluten (which we have been eating for 10000 years) or whatever the current food trend or villain is.

Thanks for posting this.  Everyone should listen to this after they hear the argument that government has no role in protecting us.  Right now government is being "bought" to subsidize and look the other way.  But that is another issue.

Bill

Posted 2/4/2012 5:07 PM (GMT 0)
If you haven't watched the movie Food, Inc you should.  Just watch it after eating.  Different approach but on the same subject.

http://www.foodincmovie.com/

Bill

Posted 2/4/2012 10:22 PM (GMT 0)
Yes, quite remarkable - thanks for posting Lynnwood!  And thanks for your post too, Bill.  I have been buying and growing, organic food whenever possible for several years, and at times, have felt the fool for it, but now I only feel foolish for not understanding the full scope of the problem, which Robin O'brien brings into focus with extraordinary simplicity.  I hope it becomes the long overdue alarm that actually wakes us up.  Like she said - "I can't unlearn it". 
Posted 2/4/2012 10:32 PM (GMT 0)
Lucy,

Robyn gave a good overview of the problem but there is so much more to it.  Rent the movie Food, Inc.  This is not made up stuff....it is real.  The relentless drumbeat to deregulate rings false when you understand the extent of problems in food, banking, energy...well, the list goes on and on.  If government doesn't stand up for us, who will?  Particularly when most products are dominated by large corporations where we do not have any real choices.

Bill

Posted 2/5/2012 12:31 AM (GMT 0)
I have to confess I've already seen Food Inc.   It's the reason my husband and I stopped buying commercial beef and chicken.  We didn't stop eating it, but buy it from a former veterinarian who started raising grass fed beef some years ago.  They are grass fed, raised ethically and butchered humanely.  We also get our chicken locally from our Farmer's Market.  We have a big freezer and do what we can to buy as little food commercially as possible.

 

But, you're right.  The problem is so much bigger than that.  It cannot begin to be solved on an individual basis.  I am awestruck at the viewpoint of those who feel government regulations are to blame for our multiple woes as a nation.  The "too big to fail" scenario is being played out in all sorts of arenas, and it's de-regulation that paved the way.   What is failing is the strength and health of the people.....But I'm tired of feeling helpless and confused and absent of choices.

So how do we insist that our government stand up for us?  How do we begin to exert some control over these issues?  One of the most startling bits of information from Robin, was the fact that so many other countries refuse the gentically modified, insecticide laden food, and are actually accommodated by Kraft, Walmart, etc.  What?! 

So from someone who has been on the "inside" - do you have any suggestions?  Clearly, money talks - as in consumerism,  but the big corporations have certainly covered their backsides from all sides.  I don't know - I need to think on this.......

And by the way, we may have been eating gluten for 10K years, and corn for however many - but I'd venture to say there is very little resemblance between the original forms and the current mutations.  Possibly why so many, myself included, are dealing with celiac, which is an AI disorder, and other types of food allergies, especially later in life.  Apparently the 1990's is when the chemical companies managed to turn the corner and abandon safe practices. 

Sorry - this has turned into a bit of a rant - and it wasn't my intention.  Would love to hear other's thoughts, too.  

Posted 2/5/2012 2:01 AM (GMT 0)
The fact that struck me with the most impact is the difference between the USA attitude "prove it's bad" vs. the rest of the world "prove it's good".

Many, many people are at all kinds of places with respect to organic vs non-organic etc etc, but how many more people would get involved with knowledge of the difference in how the USA thinks?

I've seen multiple videos/movies/articles/etc, all of which seem to have a particular agenda or slant to them -- lots of histrionics which minimize the message, at least that's how I've responded to them -- they never seemed as factual as their producers probably intended.

Robin O'Brien manages to convey multiple angles of the problem with simple analytical logic & precision, which is what is needed to persuade the average Joe that real problems exist.

I would like to see Robin produce a follow-up action list outlining different types of actions so each individual can participate & leverage the full extent of their personal & professional spheres of influence.
Posted 2/5/2012 5:03 AM (GMT 0)
There will be no significant change in this country until the political system is reformed and most of the money wrung out.  Unfortunately, that is unlikely to happen.  Any move to reform campaign finance or term limits will prompt massive amounts of money to denouce it as curtailing free speech.  The Supreme Court has ******ized the constitution and given corporations equal status with people and equated money with freedom of speech.  How sad and ridiculous.

We have the best government money can buy in America.

Bill

Posted 2/5/2012 5:10 AM (GMT 0)
I'm afraid that USA attitude is bought and sold.  I agree that a follow up action list would be helpful.  Going organic is a start, but the agriculture lobbyists have their finger in that pie, too and have been busy (for years) trying to "mainstream" the certification, diluting the requirements and allowing mega-corporate agriculture in via less stringent standards.

Robin has published a book - The Unhealthy Truth (I've not read it) and she also has a website (I found tonight) with contact information and encourages emails.  I don't need further convincing about the depth of the problem - but guidance as to concrete ways to affect a change for the larger whole would be great.

Lynnwood said:

"I would like to see Robin produce a follow-up action list outlining different types of actions so each individual can participate & leverage the full extent of their personal & professional spheres of influence."

 

Exactly!

Posted 2/5/2012 5:16 AM (GMT 0)
Bill, I agree with you, and think we are indeed in a very sorry and scary situation. But I also have to hold out some hope that Margaret Meade knew what she was talking about. I don't remember the exact quote, but something to the effect of "never doubt that a small group of people can bring about great change, in fact it's all that ever really has....." or something like that. Unlikely yes, but impossible, no.
Posted 2/5/2012 5:27 AM (GMT 0)
Sappy, but "it only takes a seed, to start a flower growing..."
Posted 2/5/2012 3:25 PM (GMT 0)
Hope you are both right.

Bill

Posted 2/5/2012 7:20 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks for the video Lynnwood. My daughter who is a chef rarely buys processed food, but she certainly can't afford organic. This video proves how inescapable it is to eat healthy food, especially if you don't have money to buy organic and live in a place with little space to grow food.

The video certainly makes one think. Love ya. Donna

Posted 2/5/2012 8:36 PM (GMT 0)
I just started to eat healthier ( new years resolution). I eat pretty much all organic or natural. The eggs, cheese, milk, butter taste so much better. I buy the eggs organic and cage free. I also buy all my meat vegetarian grass fed witho zero antibiotics and hormone treatment. I also been enjoying organic bread, peanut butter, pasta, cookies ( yes cookies!) ect.

Now I'm not going to be one of those organic eaters who scold others for not eating organic claiming it doesn't cost more because I am now spending twice as much on food a week
however i do recomend eating dairy, meat and veggies/ fruit with skin ypu eat if you can swing it.

As far as if its making me feel better I don't know. I have been particularly crappy feeling but I think that's because I am currently in a stressful situation with neighbors from hell who live above me making sleep and rest impossible! I am currently on a waiting list for a top floor apartment. Can't happen fast enough.

Post Edited (LAWCHICK) : 2/5/2012 1:40:44 PM (GMT-7)

Posted 2/5/2012 9:22 PM (GMT 0)
So sorry, elephants on the ceiling can be *so* annoying! Been there, done that!
Posted 2/6/2012 5:02 PM (GMT 0)
Yes its a awful situation. The man who moved in above me has a walker and it sounds like my cieling is on the verge of caving in all morning and when I am home during day when I have off. I was shown an apartment but the hall smells like smoke where you come in due to smokers(these are considered "luxury" apartments) . I am looking at the apartment soon as I was told you cant smell the smoke in the actual unit. I hope it works out because I am at wits end with my upstairs neighbor I mean I understand its not his fault but that doesnt mean I have to sit there and listen to it day, morning and night!
Posted 2/6/2012 5:47 PM (GMT 0)
Lawchick, I feel so bad for you.

I believe it was my upstairs neighbor from **** that started my awful sleep habits. She had teenagers, their boyfriends and a 10 year old that stayed up till 2, sometimes 3 or 4 in the morning and then she would get up at 5 to get herself ready for work. It sounded like they were moving furniture, jumping off the furniture and slammed doors constantly. They even vacuumed the floors at those hours! Christmas eve, or should I say Christmas morning at 3 am I had to go up and tell them to be quiet or I was going to call the police and the apartment manager. They basically told me to go to ****. Before the month was out, we were in a new, top floor apartment. And, just a few months later they were evicted. Good riddance I say.

We are going to be moving soon but we are going to a townhouse because there is no way I am doing the apartment thing again. I cannot take the chance on living with terrible neighbors above my head and I cannot climb to the top floor anymore. And, I also have a problem with the smoking just outside the entrances. The place we are moving has smoking areas, people are fined if they smoke outside them.

Hope you get this resolved soon.

take care,
Posted 2/6/2012 7:56 PM (GMT 0)
^ Thank you so much. Sorry to hear about your expierence. Its hard enough to deal with fatigue from being sick but to have to deal with not being able to rest makes it worse. My health has gone down so much. Top floor is really the only way to go with apartment living and even then you can have issues. Its really been a nightmare. The sad part is that I really loved my home before these people moved above me. I actually looked at a town house but the building and location wasnt really up to par with what I like im am horribly fussy I know this. Where I live now is suppose to be the nicest apartments in the area and I do love the layout. The one im looking at has a foyer, balcony, screen in porch and all new appliances I just hope I can get out of the apartment im in now ASAP!

Sorry Lynwood didnt mean to hijack your post!

Post Edited (LAWCHICK) : 2/6/2012 1:29:35 PM (GMT-7)

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