My philosophy, which I believe many healthy eaters share, is that consuming organic, whole foods is more nutritious, lower in chemical residues, and better for the environment. But two studies have recently come into the mainstream media that contradict at least the claim that organic foods are more healthy than "conventionally raised" foods. The first to cause a stir was a study conducted by Stanford University. I actually did my first (practice) news brief on this study. The second study just came out the other day in the journal Pediatrics. It confirms what the Stanford study says - that basically little is known about the health effects of organic food and what is known is usually presented as conflicting information.
I'd like to approach this from a different angle than what I've seen so far in the mass media. I'd like to analyze the science that's out there and then talk to perhaps any number of people - organic farmers, doctors, scientists and try to get at the truth, rather than the sensationalism, of what is known and not known about organic food.
I think this is super-timely and certainly relevant. And I think it would be a pretty interesting thing to research and share. Based on the timeliness and the broad appeal, I think it would be a piece that could go into something as prolific as a Newsweek (which is now only online) or a TIME. I'm not saying that I could get published, just that I think a piece like this could/would be appropriate and have the broad audience that I think this piece could appeal to.
I don't know, I think maybe it would be fun, too, to try to imitate that style.
I'd love to hear what y'all think and any suggestions.
That does sound like a fun project. If you haven't read it, and you probably have, the book, "In Defense of Food: An Eater's Manifesto" by Michael Pollan has some really intricate pro-organic (or at least pro-whole foods) points of view (it gets into the science a little bit too). I wonder if you could get an email answer from someone like him?
ReplyDeleteGood idea Kelly! Yes, I read one of his books. I think it was the sequel (or prequel) to IDF. There's some great documentaries out there too. Of course, that only whips me up into a Vegetarian rage, forcing me to toss broccoli bombs at meat eaters. I'm going to have to work on the whole bias thing. :)
ReplyDeletePBS did a documentary on where our food comes from, and it was cool, yet disgusting at the same time. I will see if I can get you the link to it, so you can possibly use it for information. In my NAS Food Science class we have been talking about how as humans, we have become dis-connected to our food. Most people just seem to think our food comes from the grocery stores. Nobody really seems to wonder where it is actually coming from, until children die from viruses in the contaminated food. With all the GMO that we ingest everyday, what are these doing to our bodies? Nobody knows or does anyone actually care? Is it food for the public or just another way for politicians and big companies to make money and thin out the herd at the same time?
ReplyDeleteThe ideas you have on the evolution, would be another cool topic that would be neat to watch manifest into a published work of art. You should take that picture and photoshop Romney into the extreme right (would fit him to a 'T'). LOL