Food Rules: An Eater's Manual

by Michael Pollan

why in the world you have so many neurons—brain cells!—in your stomach, of all places.

The human gut is lined with more than 100 million nerve cells—it's practically a brain unto itself. And indeed, the gut actually talks to the brain, releasing hormones into the bloodstream that, over the course of about 10 minutes, tell us how hungry it is, or that we shouldn't have eaten an entire pizza. https://www.science.org/content/article/your-gut-directly-connected-your-brain-newly-discovered-neuron-circuit

Nutrition science, which after all only got started less than two hundred years ago, is today approximately where surgery was in the year 1650—very promising, and very interesting to watch, but are you ready to let them operate on you?

Food is more than the sum of its nutrients.

In one analysis, a typical American population that departed even modestly from the Western diet (and lifestyle) could reduce its chances of getting coronary heart disease by 80 percent, its chances of type 2 diabetes by 90 percent, and its chances of colon cancer by 70 percent.2

More data is needed. Example: how many people were in this study. What where their initial conditions? How long were they on the new diet/lifestyle? Ages of subjects? Gender?

especially when seventeen thousand new products show up in the supermarket each year,

I like that some of these products are for example, fruits and vegetables from other countries.

Shop the peripheries of the supermarket and stay out of the middle.

However, canned fruits and vegetables are processed and can also be good for you nutritionally.

And freezing does not significantly diminish the nutritional value of produce.

—lamb’s quarters and purslane—are

Foraging for wild plants is so scary and I would never do it. Too many plants are similar and I would probably end up poisoning myself. But take a look at this if you want to learn about at least two of them. Especially you Elaine since you live in a place where you could have these. https://youtu.be/SUuwDz_LEjU

Fortunately, a few of the most nutritious wild fish species, including mackerel, sardines, and anchovies, are well managed, and in some cases are even abundant.

How I love sardines!

fermented foods—foods that have been transformed by live microorganisms, such as yogurt, sauerkraut, soy sauce, kimchi, and sourdough bread.

small portions eaten at leisurely communal meals; no second helpings or snacking.

And how many of us have grandparents who talk of “leaving the table a little bit hungry”?

I have honestly never heard this. Most grandparents want to over feed their children. “Clean plate club”. They give you food and force it even when you say no thank you.

Many of us were told by our parents while growing up that we should always clean our plates—an

number 60).

Treat treats as treats.