“Doctors: Kale, Lemon Water, Juicing n’ Smoothies = Bad for You.”
0Number one most-read article on the New York Times? “Kale? Juicing? Trouble Ahead.”
In other news, the international yoga community has lapsed into a state of bewilderment, rage and deep sadness.
It’s an Opinion Article, not journalism. Nevertheless, it makes some wowza points. Read it in its entirety, here.
Imagine my shock, then, at my last physical, when my doctor told me I had hypothyroidism, common in women over 40. When I got home I looked up the condition on the Internet and found a list of foods to avoid. Kale, which I juiced every morning, tops the list, followed by broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, Brussels sprouts and collard greens — the cruciferous vegetables I consumed in large quantities because they are thought to prevent cancer, which runs in my family. And flax — as in the seeds — high in omega 3’s, that I sprinkled on cereal and blended in strawberry almond milk smoothies. Also forbidden: almonds and strawberries, not to mention soy, peaches, peanuts, corn, radishes, rutabaga and spinach.
And then, as if my world was not sufficiently rocked, I went to the dentist, who said I had five cavities and asked if I snacked on candy and sodas all day long. I was insulted. Indignant. What did he take me for? No, I answered. I don’t eat sugar and drink only fresh vegetable juices — no longer kale, of course, but carrot and celery, which I’m still allowed. And filtered water with lemon.
“You’d be better off with chocolate and cola,” he said. Apparently the natural sugars in fruit and vegetable juices can cause decay, and lemon, though high in vitamin C and bioflavonoids which may prevent cancer, had eroded the enamel that protected my teeth.
I argued that I always brushed afterward. “Worst thing you can do,” he said….
Read the rest, it gets worse (smiley face emoticon).
My review: The ending ruined it for me. Seems reasonable, interesting, balanced…then, twinkies? I know it’s meant to be cute, but…yes, a lot of this is about moderation, common sense. Drink fruit sugar every day, lemons on your teeth, etc? Get smart. Doesn’t mean we have to give up real food for effing twinkies…which have beef in them (ingredient list here, it’s amazing).
I thought it was fascinating, to be clear, for 90% of it-—there’s a reason it’s #1 on the site.
I don’t care if folks want to eat disgusting yummy food, free country and all that. I just didn’t like that it turned her point from: “you can eat too much of a good thing, be mindful and smart” to “f*ck healthy food, I’m gonna eat crap after 30 years of leading the way” in the minds of many readers. It was a “cute”, weak writer’s moment.
Via Waylon Lewis
