WHO ARE THE REAL FOOD FADDISTS?

They may not be whom you think.

THE BROWN RICE, KELP AND SPRING WATER CROWD

Do you eat brown rice and whole grains? Some call this faddish, but I say it is not. These staple foods have been around for thousands of years, long before the word 'faddism' was ever coined. The faddists are those that favor white bread - a relatively new food, bleached white for good looks. It is promoted on appearance and 'fluffiness'. It is 'enriched' for our health. The label fails to mention that 40 or so nutrients have been removed, and only four nutrients replaced. The label also doesn't say that white bread is enriched by law, because the FDA found it to be dangerously deficient in vital nutrients.

I have found that the best use for white flour is for paper mache. The mushy concoction known as white bread is great for mopping up messes on the floor, or for blowing your nose if you don't have a Kleenex.

Kelp is a seaweed that is widely used as food in the orient.  It is extremely rich in minerals, contains substances called alginates that assist detoxification, and it is inexpensive.  It comes from ocean waters and is not high in toxic metals.  Some do not like its fishy taste, but it can be obtained in tablet form.  It is an excellent mineral supplement.  Most people today are low in vital minerals from eating denatured food.

         Most city water supplies are not high quality water, no matter what the health department says.  Most often the water contains traces of pesticides, heavy metals and other toxins.  In addition, most cities add chlorine and aluminum to the water to treat it.  Many add chemical fluorides that are actually derived from smokestack waste of fertilizer factories.  This product, called hydrofluosilicic acid, also contains toxic metals, kerosene, radiation and other things that have no business in the water.  I say, what is wrong with wanting to drink clean water?    

ALL-NATURAL, NO-ARTIFICIAL-ANYTHING

Some argue that the 'all-natural' trend is a fad. And surely there are abuses of the phrase. It is true that lead and arsenic are totally natural. Some argue that everything that is manufactured must be natural or we couldn't make it. But this is playing with words. In fact, the idea of eating natural foods is not a bad one.

The faddists, in my opinion, are the folks who gobble up the synthetic foods - margarine, cola drinks, artificial sweeteners, and thousands of other chemical foods. They often look and taste good, but contain little or no nutrition. I suggest that cola drinks are good for cleaning the terminals on your car battery, and that margarine will substitute for bicycle grease if needed. But they are not for eating.

Those cute, sugar-covered, multi-colored cold cereals would make good packing material or possibly decent wall insulation. However, don't feed them to your children unless you enjoy hyperactive behavior and learning problems. As for chemical additives, the faddists are those who don't mind eating the several thousand chemical additives that have not been thoroughly tested. This is why they are on the Food and Drug Administration's 'GRAS' list - "generally regarded as safe". That is about all that can be said about them. Combine 20 or thirty in one meal, as often happens today, and you are definitely playing guinea-pig for the food chemistry industry.

THE 'ORGANICALLY GROWN' FOLKS

'Organically grown' is a trade term for food grown without chemical pesticides and herbicides. In California it carries a legal definition. This was the only method of agriculture used for thousands of years. So is this faddism? The movement to obtain organically grown food is only common sense. Who wants food laced with chemicals so deadly that they have decimated entire animal species? Rachel Carson and others have pointed out that pesticides have the same gene-altering effects as atomic radiation. We can also thank pesticides for the contamination of most ground water supplies, topsoil erosion, and even contamination of the oceans.

No, the faddists are the chemical advocates - duped into believing that we will starve without the toxic chemicals, or have to live like Asian peasants. The truth is quite the opposite. In a recent California drought, the organic farmers fared better, and their crops are more pest-resistant as well. Organic produce lasts longer on the shelf, and tastes better. If you don't agree, your taste buds are probably numb from years of eating over-sweetened, over-salted food.

HOW ABOUT OAT BRAN, BLACK STRAP MOLASSES, NUTRITIONAL YEAST AND COD LIVER OIL?

Surely, you say, this is faddism. But wait. These are foods that have been analyzed and found to be rich in nutrients that are often missing from modern diets. Bran is the fiber-rich part of the grain, without which many people develop constipation and other digestive problems. Kelp is a mineral-packed sea vegetable that has been eaten by humans for thousands of years.

Molasses is the mineral-rich 'leftover' of the sugar milling process. It is fed to cows, who become well-nourished and strong. Meanwhile, scientists wonder why humans who eat only the sugar develop tooth decay, diabetes, and 100 other disorders. Nutritional yeast is a specially grown yeast that is rich in protein, B vitamins, selenium, chromium and other nutrients. Cod liver oil is one of the best sources of vitamin A and D, besides containing valuable oils.

The food faddists are the ones who are content with food stuffs that look, taste and feel good, but contain little or no nutrition. The Ding-Dong, Twinkie and microwave brownie crowd - you are the faddists, I say.

HERBS AND VITAMIN PILLS

Herbs can hardly be called faddish. They have been around for a long time. Herbs have been part of every culture in recorded history. While some caution should be exercised, on the whole herbs are safe, tasty and nutritious.

Vitamins and minerals are essential food components that have been thoroughly researched for over 80 years. Today, soils are depleted of nutrients, food is often refined, and stress and toxic chemicals in the environment and in prescription medication deplete nutrients. In view of this, taking supplementary nutrients is probably a wise idea. Perhaps that is why at least 40% of Americans take nutritional supplements, even if the surgeon general doesn't approve.

WHAT ABOUT DESIGNER WATER?

While public health authorities glibly deny any problem with our water supply, the news is filled with stories regarding hazards found in tap water, from chlorine, lead and mercury to twenty or more different pesticides or toxic chemicals. Of course, more studies are needed...

Pure water is not a fad. It is common sense. It was the 'normal' state until short-sighted policies, corrupt legislators and callous individuals allowed various industrial and agricultural chemicals and heavy metals to seep into the water, destroying the purity of the water supply for generations to come.

Heavy metals and toxic chemicals are not the only problem. Methods of purification of the water are also outdated. Aluminum, chlorine, copper, and often fluoride are added to municipal water supplies. All of these can be harmful to human health. If municipal water is so great, why does it often smell and taste awful?

Perhaps the Perrier and Evian crowd are a bit faddish. But I say, the chemically treated water is also a passing fad. Ozone and other newer treatment methods can make for delicious and safe tap water. Until then, I prefer the flavor and purity of filtered, bottled or spring water.

In summary, there are plenty of foods and diets that are faddish, but often they are not the ones we think. So let's not go nuts over the food nuts. They may have something to offer.

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