Something like a recipe
I have too much time in waiting rooms where I am exposed to some advertising that causes me to wonder about the future of humanity.
So apparently gluten is the source of all that will destroy the world. For people who are affected by celiac and related issues, it is a problem, but for the rest of us, it’s not. Just to sum up quickly, gluten is a complex of proteins found in wheat, barley and rye. In a simplistic approach, if a food contains wheat, barley or rye, then there is a likelihood that it will also contain gluten. Notable exceptions are alcohols (spirits), because protein molecules are not volatile and therefore are not captured in the distillation process. Foods that do not have wheat, barley and rye are naturally gluten-free, like rice, vegetables, fruit and meat. So when, this week, I saw an advertisement for “whole grain, gluten-free” popcorn, I had to ask — what on earth is that? Technically, it’s accurate, since popcorn is a whole grain, and it’s gluten-free, but it’s not a new product so, why? Someone commented that if it was a whole grain, then it had gluten; upon being told that corn does not contain gluten, they replied, “then it must be a GMO.” (Another false flag that gets more hysteria than necessary.)
Here’s another one... an email circulating claims that pigs have a “sewage line to their feet.” This is accompanied by comments of “That’s why you shouldn’t eat pork! It’s poison!” Or the newly-converted vegan who considers milk to be “disgusting.” Here’s the thing, if you want to eat (or not) something, go ahead. There’s no need for the histrionics and the attempts to make the food seem revolting. That suggests that you’re trying to justify something to yourself.
Or how about coconut oil pills? Or turmeric pills? Or garlic pills? Someone said to me that the pills are better than the food because, and I quote, “you don’t get the benefits from the food.” When I hear nonsense like this, I wonder what passes for education.
Part of me appreciates that people want to do what’s best for themselves, to stay healthy and to have a long life. There is, too, a lot of conflicting information about food. I also understand that there is a level of mistrust in the system, in the organizations that manage foods and medications, and in the people in authority. The search for easy answers is all too human, and it makes people intellectually lazy if they are offered a quick fix. The irony, to me, is that these same people will insist that you “do the research” on the quackery that they’re promoting, whether it’s organic fat or the latest diet fad. Dangerously, the partial truths that form part of the explanation (people with celiac conditions cannot eat gluten) are only used to warp the rest of the message (newly gluten-free popcorn).
Look, if you don’t enjoy a food, don’t eat it. But don’t make up horror stories and share half-truths. And please, please, do your research on sites that actually use the scientific method, including replicable results, and not trendy celebrity-endorsed marketing. To my friends who do have dietary challenges, you know that I will make the necessary accommodations to ensure that you can share in our outings. But to the posers, you are cast into the outer darkness where there is weeping and grinding of teeth.
So apparently gluten is the source of all that will destroy the world. For people who are affected by celiac and related issues, it is a problem, but for the rest of us, it’s not. Just to sum up quickly, gluten is a complex of proteins found in wheat, barley and rye. In a simplistic approach, if a food contains wheat, barley or rye, then there is a likelihood that it will also contain gluten. Notable exceptions are alcohols (spirits), because protein molecules are not volatile and therefore are not captured in the distillation process. Foods that do not have wheat, barley and rye are naturally gluten-free, like rice, vegetables, fruit and meat. So when, this week, I saw an advertisement for “whole grain, gluten-free” popcorn, I had to ask — what on earth is that? Technically, it’s accurate, since popcorn is a whole grain, and it’s gluten-free, but it’s not a new product so, why? Someone commented that if it was a whole grain, then it had gluten; upon being told that corn does not contain gluten, they replied, “then it must be a GMO.” (Another false flag that gets more hysteria than necessary.)
Here’s another one... an email circulating claims that pigs have a “sewage line to their feet.” This is accompanied by comments of “That’s why you shouldn’t eat pork! It’s poison!” Or the newly-converted vegan who considers milk to be “disgusting.” Here’s the thing, if you want to eat (or not) something, go ahead. There’s no need for the histrionics and the attempts to make the food seem revolting. That suggests that you’re trying to justify something to yourself.
Or how about coconut oil pills? Or turmeric pills? Or garlic pills? Someone said to me that the pills are better than the food because, and I quote, “you don’t get the benefits from the food.” When I hear nonsense like this, I wonder what passes for education.
Part of me appreciates that people want to do what’s best for themselves, to stay healthy and to have a long life. There is, too, a lot of conflicting information about food. I also understand that there is a level of mistrust in the system, in the organizations that manage foods and medications, and in the people in authority. The search for easy answers is all too human, and it makes people intellectually lazy if they are offered a quick fix. The irony, to me, is that these same people will insist that you “do the research” on the quackery that they’re promoting, whether it’s organic fat or the latest diet fad. Dangerously, the partial truths that form part of the explanation (people with celiac conditions cannot eat gluten) are only used to warp the rest of the message (newly gluten-free popcorn).
Look, if you don’t enjoy a food, don’t eat it. But don’t make up horror stories and share half-truths. And please, please, do your research on sites that actually use the scientific method, including replicable results, and not trendy celebrity-endorsed marketing. To my friends who do have dietary challenges, you know that I will make the necessary accommodations to ensure that you can share in our outings. But to the posers, you are cast into the outer darkness where there is weeping and grinding of teeth.
Comments
Post a Comment