Nutritionism
June 26, 2009
My development studies professor asked us to read and reflect on this:
http://services.inquirer.net/print/print.php?article_id=151481
After reading the articles, I immediately looked for a copy of the book In Defense of Food (and I got one). Pollan argues that what we consume as “food” is no longer food – they are edible food-like substances. Though Pollan discusses more about the evils of contemporary Western diet, his arguments are somehow applicable in the rest of the world; after all, even diets tend to follow the Western lead anywhere (globalization of diet?)
The book’s title implies that food is under attack and that it needs defending. Who’s the attacker? According to Pollan, food is under attack from the Nutrition Industrial Complex (probably a play from the well-established Military-Industrial Complex of the US), scientists and food marketers eager to exploit every shift in the nutrition consensus. The Nutrition Industrial Complex has constructed an ideology of nutrition that has reduced eating into (1) the ingestion of nutrients, (2) an affair guided by “experts” in nutrition, and, (3) a tool for the latest concept of physical health.
What is nutritionism?
Pollan devotes a chapter on the definition of nutritionism, which, by the way, isn’t his. The word was coined by Gyorgy Scrinis, an Australian sociologist. It is an ideology, and as far as all ideologies go, it is unscientific. The key assumption of nutritionism is that food is the sum of its nutrient parts. Eating, therefore, becomes the practice of ingesting nutrients. However, nutrients are chemicals that most people don’t understand or have no way of identifying; people need “experts” to guide them into ingesting the nutrients. Thus the establishment of very powerful and paternalistic nutrition-food science-food marketing institutions that dictate what people should eat for the purpose of health promotion.
The history of nutritionism is bloody. Generally there are three macronutrients: proteins, carbohydrates and fats. It is to the nutritionist’ interests to see them all three in a war against each other. Because of the vastness of the domains of each of the three macronutrients, civil wars flame within their own empires (animal protein versus plant protein, saturated fats versus unsaturated fats, refined carbohydrates versus fiber). What results is confusion among the people. And where there is confusion there is fear and an opportunity for deceit. Nutritionists feed, if not the physical body, the public’s need for order and assurance. Nutritionists choose their side (the Good) and wage a holy war against the other (the Bad) and lead the people to a crusade to save their bodies from the evils of unscientific and “unbalanced’ eating.
I think this belief, that there are “good” and “bad” nutrients, is based on Western culture’s destructive way of analyzing things. Western thought is very simplistic (reductionist in Pollan’s terms) and tends to break complex things into simpler ones at the expense of losing the whole picture. We mistake the trees (nutrients) for the forest (food). The whole is greater than the sum of its parts. Eating 6 units of nutrient X and 5 units of nutrient Y extracted from Food A is not as good as eating Food A, whole and unprocessed. Sadly, this is not the view nutritionists take. As long as industrial and artificial products designed to be “food” have the same nutritional value as the real food they are modeled after, they are the same. No, not the same. Better. Better for them and for the food industry hell-bent on making money, regardless if it makes us sick, and the medical profession and pharmaceutical industry more focused on reversing the damage (for those who can afford it) than preventing it in the first place.
Escaping nutritionism
Escaping nutritionism is hard since most of the foods we have today is processed. Going back to nature – living in thatched huts and hunting game isn’t an appealing or practical prospect for most of us. But we can turn back from the Western diet, a diet characterized by the predominance of industrial products. Pollan tells of an algorithm that is informed of ecological and social relationships that should guide us towards healthier eating. Broadly summarized: Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants.
A Law of Attraction
June 25, 2009I came across this passage while I was studying for my Communication III class:
Some scholars have argued that we are most attracted to people who confirm our identity. This confirmation can come in different forms, depending on the self-image of the communicator. People with relatively high self-esteem seek out others who confirm their value and, as much as possible, avoid those who treat them poorly. Conversely, people who regard themselves as unworthy may look for relationships in which others treat them badly. This principle offers one explanation for why some people maintain damaging or unsuccessful relationships. If you view yourself as a loser, you may associate with others who will confirm that self-perception. Of course, relationships can change a communicator’s identity as well as confirm it. Supportive relationships can transform feelings of inadequacy into self-respect, and damaging ones can lower self-esteem (Adler & Roman, 2006, p. 10).
So that’s why!
Came down with flu
June 19, 2009Even the best-laid plans are destroyed by a simple cold.
I’m just glad I’m certain that it is not the dreaded traveler’s disease, A (H1N1). I don’t want to magnet attention to our dear University, which, fortunately, does not have a victim yet.
My only symptom is a runny nose. None of these:
Of course, I went home as early as I can as soon as my runny nose became conspicuous.It is the hallmark of civility to keep your infection to yourself, and, as much as possible, recover quickly.
Click here for a rough way to know if you’re coming down with the swine flu.
Do not YM at work
It’s not nice fooling people. It’s not nice that you pretend to be this or that. There are things that you shouldn’t take or assume ownership of.
Like identity.
One day you’ll get what you deserve.
Whoever you are, I’m not talking to you ever again.
Commitment to a Dream
June 18, 2009
I have decided. I am going to attend the CERULEAN event tomorrow.
CERULEAN, based on their only bulletin post I have read, is a Filipino-Chinese organization here in the University. It’s such a pity that my possible contributions to the organization, if I ever join, will be limited by the fact that I would only stay in the University for this semester.
But I must take advantage of the opportunity, shouldn’t I? The organization might be my first stepping stone to the greater Chinese world. I might find new friends or acquaintances that can help me with my bad Mandarin Chinese. They might bring me closer to people or resources who can help me achieve my dreams. Of course, I must give something in return; to have a friend is to become one.
It’s going to be a tiring wait (my class ends 11:30 am and the event starts 5 in the afternoon) but I hope it’s going to be worth it.
***
Related to that, I am going to step up my Chinese self-study. It’s tough with two highly-toxic subjects and the fact that none of the subjects I am taking will find any China-related knowledge relevant. But then, life was much, much tougher the last two years, wasn’t it? I’m doing myself a favor, I’m adding something I enjoy (and hope to reap fruits from soon) and I’m doing them at my own pace.
Hardcore Study
It’s a given. I’m always reading a nonfiction book, and since January, I have added nonfiction, China-related books, to my to-read list.
Mandarin Chinese
It’s still a long way. Knowledge of 40 characters is not enough. I can only string a few basic sentences (and with much struggle at that). Because I get overly conscious with the tones, my sentences sound oratorical.
Mastery at the level I am aiming is to be able to present myself in Mandarin Chinese clearly and get to read the most basic Chinese texts. It’s not even fluency – maybe just enough to impress a Chinese acquaintance and convince her/him that formal instruction in the language will be fruitful (given the dedication and effort I gave in mastering the most basic).
The second level is literacy and, as much as possible, near-fluency in Mandarin Chinese. I’m sure I can’t attain this level with all the self-study in the world alone.
I’m not yet decided on which Chinese language school to attend. It’s expensive for a person like me. Plus, I want a recommendation from someone I know. It’s already hard for me to find the money; it’s much harder for me to part from it. For sure I’m going to attend one after I have graduated and have a stable, well-paying job.
Literature
There are several translated books on Chinese poetry, mythology and folklore, and classic novels available at the CAS Library (at the P area, along with books on Indian literature and works of Dostoevsky). The first book I borrowed is the first volume of the famous Chinese novel Journey to the West by Wu Cheng’en (1500-82; also Ruzhong and Mountain Man of Sheyang), published by the Foreign Languages Press of the Chinese Government in 1990. The novel has around 100 chapters and is divided into four volumes of 25 chapters each. It is a mythological novel based on traditional Chinese folktales. The novel relates the adventure of the priest Sanzang and his three disciples, Monkey, Pig and Friar Sand, as they travel west for the Buddhist Sutra.
It’s going to take long but I’m dedicating myself in finishing Journey to the West and the Romance of the Three Kingdoms before October. Also in line, but probably next year, are two more Chinese classics: The Dream of the Red Mansion and The Water Margin. All of them are going to be great undertakings on my part because all of them are quite lengthy.
Music
I’m not yet into really traditional music. For one thing, other than the Twelve Girls Band, I don’t know of any well-known expert on Chinese traditional instruments, much less Chinese traditional music.
For now it’s still all Wang Lee Hom, Jay Chou, Jolin Tsai, F.I.R., S.H.E. and JJ Lin. By the way, I found out (rather belatedly) that Wang Lee Hom and Jay Chou had both launched their new albums for 2009. Lee Hom’s is Xin Tiao or Heart Beat. Jay Chou is Capricorn. I have both copies (although, as always, taken the illegal way). Here are my favorites:
- Jay Chou (Capricorn, 2009) - 從新愛 (Cóng Xīn Ài; In A New Love)
- Jay Chou (Capricorn, 2009) - 東方之殿 (Dōngfāng Zhī Diàn; Palace of the Oriental)
- Jay Chou (Capricorn, 2009) - 魔杰座 (Mó Jié Zuò; Capricorn)
Films
I’m finished with Red Cliff 2! It’s a period film alright.
I also watched another recent Chinese film, Forever Enthralled, starring Leon Lai and Zhang Ziyi. It has a lot to teach about Peking Opera. Honestly, I like Peking Opera, despite the convoluted notes, rapidly changing rhythms, and the high-pitched voices of the performers. But then it might be an acquired taste. I like Chinese culture so much to begin with.
I’m going Korean next week. My sister and I are craving for a Lee Dong Wook movie.
