Re:Why Is the American Diet So Deadly?
by sonofhans on Friday February 20, 2026 @12:44PM
(#47091208)
Avoiding “ultra-processed foods” is like trying to stay healthy by avoiding ultra-processed uranium — excellent idea, but not enough.
Michael Pollan offers [1] guidelines: “Eat food, not too much, mostly plants.” This doesn’t talk about avoiding anything, instead chasing after known good things — food. Carrots. Steak. Wheat. Things you see in a children’s book labelled “food.” If it grows in the sun and the rain then it’s food.
Thinking in terms of “ultra-processed” still leaves you captive to industry. Buy some rice and beans and forget about it.
Michael Pollan offers [1] guidelines: “Eat food, not too much, mostly plants.” This doesn’t talk about avoiding anything, instead chasing after known good things — food. Carrots. Steak. Wheat. Things you see in a children’s book labelled “food.” If it grows in the sun and the rain then it’s food.
Thinking in terms of “ultra-processed” still leaves you captive to industry. Buy some rice and beans and forget about it.
1. https://michaelpollan.com/books/in-defense-of-food/