My Not-So-Excellent New York Times Adventure
Last week, Tara Parker Pope - one of the most fair minded and intelligent science and health reporters in America- published a blog that quoted liberally from a piece I had written on healthy foods. The article- entitled "The 11 Best Foods You Aren't Eating"- was the NY Times most e-mailed article for the week and generated over 800 comments (and counting).
The purpose of the article was simple: to suggest some foods that you might be overlooking that were great for you for a host of reasons. It was lighthearted and fun, and used popular terms like "superfoods" in the same way we use the term "superstars" or "supermodels"- not as a scientific category, but more as a colloquial way of talking.
It clearly pointed out that these were not the only 11 great foods on the planet, but rather, some of the ones you might not have thought of that deserved a look. It was kind of akin to suggesting some new exercises to try at the gym that might be a good alternative to the bench press.
Now in fairness to the Times readers, about 99% of the comments were highly favorable and complementary.
Some were not.
Somewhere around comment 600, I was being accused of claiming that sardines cure cancer.
I had mentioned beets, which have 148 mcg of folic acid, a rather small quantity of this all-important birth defect preventing, homocysteine lowering B vitamin. Comment: "Doesn't Bowden know folic acid causes cancer?"
Later, a smarmy comment: "Who is Bowden anyway? Is he a Registered Dietitian?" implying that without this credential nothing I said should be taken seriously. This is like questioning the knowledge base of an expert on religion by asking to see his Taliban credentials.
Another dismissed my information on nutrition because I'm not a medical doctor, which is like dismissing a tennis pro's information on tennis rackets because he's not an accountant.
Poster 536 suggested everyone disregard this list because it was all processed food (there wasn't a processed food on it unless you count the processing necessary to stuff pumpkin into a can or fresh blueberries into a bag)
So what's the take home?
Perhaps the Times readers would have preferred me to say: "There's absolutely no provable scientific evidence for the health benefits of any foods or supplements, and I've got a doctor right here to back me up, right next to the PhD who says there's no such thing as global warming. So don't worry, be happy and keep eating your McDonald's. Enjoy and good luck.
The article and comments are still going strong.
You can read and/or comment on The 11 Best Foods You Aren't Eating at NYTimes.com
The purpose of the article was simple: to suggest some foods that you might be overlooking that were great for you for a host of reasons. It was lighthearted and fun, and used popular terms like "superfoods" in the same way we use the term "superstars" or "supermodels"- not as a scientific category, but more as a colloquial way of talking.
It clearly pointed out that these were not the only 11 great foods on the planet, but rather, some of the ones you might not have thought of that deserved a look. It was kind of akin to suggesting some new exercises to try at the gym that might be a good alternative to the bench press.
Now in fairness to the Times readers, about 99% of the comments were highly favorable and complementary.
Some were not.
Somewhere around comment 600, I was being accused of claiming that sardines cure cancer.
I had mentioned beets, which have 148 mcg of folic acid, a rather small quantity of this all-important birth defect preventing, homocysteine lowering B vitamin. Comment: "Doesn't Bowden know folic acid causes cancer?"
Later, a smarmy comment: "Who is Bowden anyway? Is he a Registered Dietitian?" implying that without this credential nothing I said should be taken seriously. This is like questioning the knowledge base of an expert on religion by asking to see his Taliban credentials.
Another dismissed my information on nutrition because I'm not a medical doctor, which is like dismissing a tennis pro's information on tennis rackets because he's not an accountant.
Poster 536 suggested everyone disregard this list because it was all processed food (there wasn't a processed food on it unless you count the processing necessary to stuff pumpkin into a can or fresh blueberries into a bag)
So what's the take home?
Perhaps the Times readers would have preferred me to say: "There's absolutely no provable scientific evidence for the health benefits of any foods or supplements, and I've got a doctor right here to back me up, right next to the PhD who says there's no such thing as global warming. So don't worry, be happy and keep eating your McDonald's. Enjoy and good luck.
The article and comments are still going strong.
You can read and/or comment on The 11 Best Foods You Aren't Eating at NYTimes.com
Jonny Bowden, PhD, C.N.S. is a nationally known expert on weight loss, nutrition and health and is the author of several best-selling books.
Great NYT article, Jonny.
As you well know, everyone - especially affluent, "educated" NY Times readers - has an opinion about most things nutrition-related. And, of course, everyone thinks they're right. Even when they (usually) aren't.
Some readers also carry the train of thought that if an M.D. hasn't penned the article or made the recommendation, it must not be valid advice. I don't have to mention how wrong that notion is, but there it is for some people.
Finally, blog comments can spin way out of control, where commenter number 500 or whatever is playing "telephone" and writing about something completely unrelated to the article.
So global warming is a myth and McDonald's low-fat menu is health food. Ignorance is most definitely not bliss.
I really want to go into this profession and help people live healthier, happier lives. I'm also fast learning that it takes a very thick skin to call oneself a nutritionist.
Keep up the brilliant, thought-provoking work!
Jason
I had to respond to your NY Times ordeal.
I just finished reading your 150 Healthiest Foods on Earth and wanted to read more.
One could look at any page in that book as say "Jonny said you can cure high blood pressure by eating celery".
Or say something similar regarding any other condition for any of the other 149 foods in the text.
But what the reader should appreciate after reading your article or books is not that any one food is going to cure a given disease, rather changing your lifestyle and eating a variety of healthful foods will cause your body to work as it was designed, as it has evolved and as it has adapted over the course of a 100 million years of evolution.
Rather than eating commercially available ca-ca and then once you find out you have some disease process, expect "A" given food is going to cure you if you eat enough of it.
Wrong... it doesn't work that way...but unfortunately, our society is used to living high on the hog and then only dealing with our health when crisis occurs.
That's why those readers made those comments. They just don't get the premise.
The just don't "get it".
So out of 800 comments, you've gotten a few negative ones.
Don't worry about it Jonny. Don't worry about it.
Those few can go ask their MD or RD for help when its too late.
Or, they can read your works and not just live until they're 100, but get their with zest and zeal and a fully functioning body.
in my "natural sports medicine" practice, I've noticed all of my geriatric patients who always ate healthy, exercised and took their suppliments are very happy, helathy, ACTIVE and energetic seniors. Those who didn't, well, those are the one holding onto a cain, walker or are in a wheelchair.
Continue on your current path buddy, let "them" catch up to you if they can.
Remember, Linus Pauling outlived ALL of his critics.
Kudos to you and the work that you do.
Dr. T
Miami Beach, FL
PS, there's no reason to post this. If you would like to communicate, feel free to email me personally at: Todd@NaturalSportsMedicine.com
I'm not looking for any recognition, I just wanted to show you tat in spite of the nay sayers, there are many of us who are educated and really appreciate you and your work.
Healthfully....
T
Dear Dr. Jonny,
I fully agree with your proposed foods. But I also have a question:
Under Beets you wrote: Heating decreases the antioxidant power.
So why do you then propose sauteing Swiss chard in olive oil or roasting pumpkin seeds? Olive oil is unsaturated and very unstable, even to light, not to mention heat. We should not ever cook in olive oil, we should only add it later when the dish is not hot anymore. Otherwise you are paying in vain for all that "extra virgin" and "cold pressed" stuff only to destroy it in your pan. Pumpkin seeds can be eaten raw in a variety of ways - you can grind them and then sprinkle them on your salads, soups, yoghurt, eggs ... I even regularly give them to my dogs because they protect against parasites and other pests (among other things).
Thank you.
Hey Johnny, im a big follower in your work. I live in liverpool, England and well, i have heard of you. I am a personal trainer and totally beleive in and love your work and knowledge. Im always preaching to my clients about healthy foods and why to have them and its great to have your book to back it all up. As for the McDonalds, i mean whats wrong with it, have you seen the new ads. They use 'real' beef, Free range chicken breast and quality potatoes! There for it must be good for you! ahh but then they forgot to mention that they fry it all in nice healthy hydrogenated fatty oils and the beef is pink because it may be 100% beef but about 60% is fat!.
Anyway keep up the good work, i respect what you do alot and you help people like me gain new knowledge in improving peoples lifes. Kind regards John Wright PT.
Still amazes me that people believe that doctors are nutrition experts. Typically, M.D.'s take no more than 8 hours nutrition education during their entire time in school. I've done more than that during the past week reading Jonny's books!
Visit any sick care facility & see the unhealthy, overweight staff. Do YOU want to receive YOUR health info from these folks?
Nutrition is the key to good health, whether our broken, pharma backed medical system wants to admit it or not. Someday, this era in western medicine will be looked at as a dark time in health history.
Jonny, ignore the uneducated naysayers & keep being a visionary. We will have an awakening among the masses one day soon!
Jonny,
Here's some info I got from Judy Phillips at Jash Botanicals regarding Agave Nectar.
I hope this helps your research...
Doc T
Physical and Chemical
Brix 75.1-75.7
pH 5-5.1
Moisture (%) 22.6-22.9
Protein (g/100g) 0.07
Dry Matter (%) 77.1-77.4
Density (g/ml) 1.38
Sodium (ppm) 8.8-13.2
Cholesterol (%) 0
Total Carbohydrates (%dm) 99.9
Fructose (% dry matter) 71.8-72.5
Dextrose (% dry matter) 23.2-24.3
Other Sugars (% dry matter) 3.2-4.89
Inulin (g/100g) 0.67
Calories (/100g) 314
Calcium (mg/100g) 1
Iron (mg/100g) 0.05
Sodium (mg/100g) 1
Niacin (mg/100g) <.03
Panothenic Acid-B5 (mg/100g) <.04
Riboflavin-B2 (mg/100g) 0.01
Vitamin B6 (mg/100g) <.001
Vitamin E (mg/100g) <.5
Vitamin C (mg/100g) 1
Ash (% dry matter) .06-.1
Fat (%) 0
Conductivity (uS) 14.1-14.6
Microbiological
Total Aerobic Plate Count (CFU/g) 27-35
Yeast and Mold Count (CFU/g) 10
Total Coliforms (CFU/g) 0
E. Coli (CFU/g) 0
Staphylococcus Aureus (CFU/g) 0
Bacilus Cereus (CFU/g) 0
Salmonella (CFU/g) 0
Listeria (CFU/g) 0
*analysis conducted by Warren Analytical Laboratories, Inc.
Thanks to all for the great support!
RE: the olive oil question- you make an excellent point, and I'm looking into it. Generally, the smoke point for olive oil is given as a fairly high number, and it's omega-9's are not as fragile as the omega-3's in flaxseed which should never be cooked with. I've so far found that there is quite a lot of variance in the smoke point given by different manufacturers, and some of the better oils are indeed quite low (in the 200's). I will continue looking into this. Great point. Thanks for pointing it out.
Dr. Todd thanks as always not only for the support but for the great information
warmly
jb
Hi doc,
I have heard of you and I live in Poland, Eastern Europe :)
I got you on my RSS feeds list and check regularly for new entries.
As for negative or hostile comments, you have to have a thick skin if you write in the net, you may think of it this way: dozens of thousands people read you, 800 commented this and just a few boors were rude.
Post a Comment
Links to this post:
Create a Link
<< Home