Scinis

In this assignment I will be describing the characteristics of nutrients and the benefits to the body.

He probes them to learn the what, where, and how of dinner – knowing what is going into the body, knowing where that food came from, and knowing how that food was made. By first knowing what is being consumed, people can make better informed decisions about their purchases. Nutrition, or lack thereof, is a key component in the battle against obesity. Food giants are hoping to hide the often unnecessary filler present in their products by use of dodgy claims and socially engineered advertisements. In general, most consumers probably couldn’t say where their food came from. This usually boils down to the fact that shoppers typically don’t think about it. Breaking this reliance on mass-grown foods is the second part of Pollan’s proposition. The third and equally important element is how the food is produced. More specifically, Pollan is concerned whether or not the food has been produced in a sustainable manner. Preserving the biodiversity of food, maintaining fertile land for future generations, and ensuring consumers receive food that does not compromise health are all factors of sustainability. Without informed consumers, what, where, and how will continue to be unanswered questions. Whether it is for nutritional or ethical choices, a particular food’s history is something that needs to once again become common

In the book In Defense Of Food: An Eater's Manifesto, the first three chapters; "From Foods To Nutrients", "Nutritionism Defined" and "Nutritionism Comes To Markets" author Michael Pollan discusses how scientists views on foods have changed, the definition of Nutritionism and how Nutritionism moved to markets. In the first chapter,"From Foods To Nutrients" Pollan discusses how scientists have changed their view on whole foods over the 1980's as well as years through World War II and instead focuses more on macronutrients; protein, fat, and carbohydrates. Since vitamins helped in 1912, this contributed to the changing view about whole foods. Chapter two,"Nutritionism Defined" Pollan introduces the definition of Nutritionism as an ideology and

To address what distinguishes the food of a western diet, Pollan compares whole foods and processed foods. He quotes Gyorgy Scrinis and concludes to himself “instead of worrying about nutrients, we should simply avoid any food that has been processed to such an extent that it is more the product of industry than nature (Pollan, 438). Pollan agrees with Scrinis for avoiding processed foods, but he complicates it by mentioning that all whole foods are taken over by industrial processes. Again Pollan reminds the reader that escaping the western diet will not be simple,

Michael Pollan's In Defense of Food: An Eater's Manifesto is an eye-opening analysis of the American food industry and the fear driven relationship many of us have with food. He talks in depth about all the little scientific studies, misconceptions and confusions that have gathered over the past fifty years. In the end provide us with a piece of advice that should be obvious but somehow is not, "Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants." He follows the history of nutritionism and the industrialization of food, in hopes to answer one question….. how and when "mom" ceded control of our food choices to nutritionists, food marketers and the government.

The influences of underlying health conditions can result in the need for specific nutrients as well as influencing what people are or aren’t able to eat.

1. First, find out what nutrients Janine and Mitchell are talking about. Using a biology textbook and the resources listed, describe what the following molecules are and what they are used for in the human body. List some specific examples of each. Also list major dietary sources of each.

First off, in regards to a better diet, what would be considered “healthy” in the perspective of these authors? Explicitly stated by Pollan, “the most important fact about any food is not its nutritional content but its degree of processing” (Pollan 423). With this in mind, it can be determined that contrary to popular belief, how healthy something is does not depend on the nutritional facts printed on the package, but rather the amount of times the food has been processed before reaching the hands of a customer. Moreover, Pollan does not stand-alone in this belief. Zinczenko expresses that “complicating the lack of [alternative food suppliers] is the lack of information about what, exactly, we’re consuming” (Zinczenko 463).

In reality this movement, while for the time being, is considered a ‘trend’ the movement is growing into a way of life. As stated by Anthony Flaccavento “These are ordinary, middle-income folks who have become really engaged in food and really care where their food comes from.” (Source E) This interest in where food comes from does not mean that they are attempting to be, as Flaccavento so beautifully put it, a “fringe foodie culture”. It is a group of ordinary people that are invested in the origin and the nutritional value of their own food. While for some people just knowing the story of their food makes them more comfortable with what they’re putting into their bodies rather than having to wonder what the food was grown in and what happened to it in the long trip from crop fields to factories to super

“The solution, in his view, is to replace Big Food’s engineered, edible evil—through public education and regulation—with fresh, unprocessed, local, seasonal, real food.” (Freedman). Pollan has increased spite for “nutritionism,” which is the idea behind packing healthier ingredients into processed foods which is what Freedman is advocating for. Pollan’s view is much the same as some scientists, food activists, nutritionists, and celebrity chefs. He has had such an influence that the Silicon Valley caters to the wholefoods movement and the progression to familiarizing the masses with simpler eating habits (Freedman). However, being an area full of technological endeavors, the Silicon Valley sees technology as the culprit as well. The New York Times Magazine’s food writer, Mark Bittman also shares views with Pollan. In fact, Bittman has even written a cookbook on how to eat better. While most are more wholesome there are still few recipes that are high in fat. One of his recipes consists of corn being sautéed in bacon fat and then topped with bacon (Freedman).

. First, find out what nutrients Janine and Mitchell are talking about. Using a biology textbook and the resources listed, describe what the following molecules are and what they are used for in the human body. List some specific examples of each. Also list major dietary sources of each.

(a) Good nutrition culminates in good health which means ‘a state of complete social as well as mental well-being and not merely absence of infirmity or disease”. Though health and nutrition are not synonymous, the best health condition cannot be achieved without good nutrition. (b) poverty and under-nutrition have detrimental effect on work capacity. Improvement from poverty and under-nutrition (i.e. good nutrition) obviously will have a positive effect and will enhance work capacity. A direct nutrition supplements may have a tell-tale impact on reducing under-nutrition than an increase in income which is not so obvious but indirect. (c) the gains which are achieved from reducing both protein-energy malnutrition and micronutrient deficiencies can result in cost reduction (say, by reducing the costs linked to mortality and morbity) and result in enhanced productivity.

In the documentary, Food Inc., we get an inside look at the secrets and horrors of the food industry. The director, Robert Kenner, argues that most Americans have no idea where their food comes from or what happens to it before they put it in their bodies. To him, this is a major issue and a great danger to society as a whole. One of the conclusions of this documentary is that we should not blindly trust the food companies, and we should ultimately be more concerned with what we are eating and feeding to our children. Through his investigations, he hopes to lift the veil from the hidden world of food.

8. What is the purpose of nutrient media? What is the difference between a simple (or defined) medium and a complex medium?

I chose this article because it provides an intriguing perspective regarding food programs in developing countries. The article practically highlights the fact that it is essential to add significant vitamins to everyday foods, as this apparently reduces the frequency of life-threatening diseases that are common in these territories. I believe that this is an important topic in the contemporary society and that more individuals need to become acquainted with the importance of introducing fortification strategies in developing countries, as ignorance can lead to catastrophic results as long as