NY Times writer Jim Windolf wrote an entertaining and refreshing article recently. In it, he reflected upon why it seems like everything we eat is bad for us.
The classic childhood lunch of a white bread, bologna and American cheese sandwich, paired with Pringles, and washed down with a Tang or Coke would now be considered near fatal.
Now we’re told that people who eat processed meat tend to die of heart disease or cancer, processed cheese is held together by emulsifiers that may lead to kidney problems, and that white bread has almost zero nutritional value, and that soft drinks are sludge, and that Pringles may not qualify as potato chips.
RELATED: How processed meats may affect male fertility
Additionally, this is what we know about meats: Too much red meat may lead to stroke, cancer and heart disease; chicken sold in supermarkets may have included arsenic; small amounts of pork, when undercooked, can give you trichinellosis; and fish that live high on the food chain, like king mackerel and tuna, may contain mercury.
RELATED: What you should know about tilapia
And fruits are veggies are no less deadly: The ones that are commercially grown may include pesticides linked to attention deficit hyperactivity disorder; the organic variety may be no better, according to a Stanford study that found “little evidence of health benefits” for those with an organic diet.
Even water (water!) has become a target: Drinking eight glasses per day, is now apparently a fool’s game, and that too much water can kill you.
RELATED: How water can save your skin
On the flipside, in an exhaustive report, the United Nations is recommending eating dung beetles, caterpillars and locusts, among other critters, in order to survive on this overpopulated planet wracked with climate change.
In fact, Cooks.com, is jumping on the bandwagon, offering a recipe for a protein-rich dish, earthworm chow.
While Windolf ends his article overwhelmed, vowing to go back to just eating bologna and cheese sandwiches; we at ForMen are taking a less defeatist attitude. We take the “everything in moderation” approach, and believe in eating healthy and exercising when you can, but ultimately doing what makes you happy—even if that means eating earthworms.
Curated article and photo credit from NY Times
