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A review by leighnonymous
Whole: Rethinking the Science of Nutrition by T. Colin Campbell
3.0
I think this book was maybe a little too technical for me. I enjoyed the overall message and the points it made were dead-on: clearly, nutrition science has become too reductionist, vitamins and supplements cannot compensate for eating "real" foods, and large medical organizations focus too much on pills and synthetic treatment rather than nutrition as a preventative and/or treatment.
My problem was that the science behind it (never let it be said that Campbell doesn't back up his words with proof) bored me a little. I especially liked the chapter nailing the AMA and the ACS (yes, the American Cancer Society). His point about intentions and well-intentioned people simply putting their energies into misdirected causes wowed me - he's brave to take that on. But considering his histories with those organizations I can see why he feels that way. They scoff at nutrition, don't take it seriously, and don't give adequate nutrition training in medical school.
I think modern medicine is astounding, don't get me wrong; but I also think it wouldn't hurt to take a step back from the microscope every once in a while and say, "Hmmm…vitamin A looks tastier in carrot form than it does in synthetic form." I'm not convinced that nutrition is the cure to all ailments (reminder: none of us are getting out of here alive) but I do think it's ignorant to say it's not important and that whole foods can be replaced with pills and supplements. Better living through chemicals? Yep! As long as they're the chemicals contained in pure, whole foods.
My problem was that the science behind it (never let it be said that Campbell doesn't back up his words with proof) bored me a little. I especially liked the chapter nailing the AMA and the ACS (yes, the American Cancer Society). His point about intentions and well-intentioned people simply putting their energies into misdirected causes wowed me - he's brave to take that on. But considering his histories with those organizations I can see why he feels that way. They scoff at nutrition, don't take it seriously, and don't give adequate nutrition training in medical school.
I think modern medicine is astounding, don't get me wrong; but I also think it wouldn't hurt to take a step back from the microscope every once in a while and say, "Hmmm…vitamin A looks tastier in carrot form than it does in synthetic form." I'm not convinced that nutrition is the cure to all ailments (reminder: none of us are getting out of here alive) but I do think it's ignorant to say it's not important and that whole foods can be replaced with pills and supplements. Better living through chemicals? Yep! As long as they're the chemicals contained in pure, whole foods.