Well, we're all alert (or at least awake) when we eat. So what the heck does it mean to dine "with conscience?" Fox claims that it means to do whatever we can to change our "self-destructive" ways into practices that sustain our world. What's it require? It means that you need to do what you can to alter the methods of growing food, and of how you choose what you eat. After you read this book, you'll just may think twice about gulping down milk and Twinkies.
First, Fox clues us in on exactly what takes place in factory farming. It's not a pretty picture and he's a very graphic artist. You'll learn about outrageously overcrowded conditions, in which chickens collapse from stress-related heart attacks and baby pigs die before they can even be weaned. So much for enjoying fried chicken or bacon and eggs.
Then there's the issue of what chemicals go into the foods that we eat, not to mention the food wrappings. Maybe you're thinking that you're safe - the only forms of protein you eat are fish, tofu, and an occasional piece of cheese or glass of milk. Before you start feeling smug, check out Fox's theories about the relationship between dairy cow diseases and recombinant bovine growth hormones. And then there's what he calls the "hastening (of) fish extinction" from the current practices of aquaculture. Well, there goes the tuna sandwich you were going to have for lunch.
So what's the answer? Fox is thorough in his reply (and don't worry, he's not talking organic fruit juice and brown rice as the only safe foods). The remedy, says the author, is multifaceted. Organic farming is one solution, which requires several bioethical principles that he describes in detail. As a consumer, you can eat "with conscience" by following some of his numerous suggestions for taking action, such as writing letters in support of organic practices, becoming a vegetarian (and being careful about the foods that you purchase and where you purchase them), and planting a tree.
Bye, bye, Twinkies and milk; hello, tofu ice cream.
'Tis the season for resolutions, so here's a tempting notion - how about a plan to make you more svelte - and live longer, too?
Set aside that bag of potato chips and can of soda that have become your constant computer companions, and listen up. (Unless, of course, you prefer to weigh more and/or live a shorter life, in which case you might add a box of doughnuts to your list of essential PC accessories.) Dr. Aronne specializes in weight control via changing both your diet and exercise habits. Nothing surprising there - experts have been preaching that dual regime for years.
What is distinctive about this book is that he doesn't claim that a one-diet-fits-all remedy is possible. The good doctor contends that different plans are needed for different personalities. Some people, for example, do best with a very rigid, structured, food plan, while others need a more flexible approach. In a similar vein, you'll learn how to design an exercise plan that's right for you.
If the idea of achieving "a healthier, saner life" in '98 sounds good to you, consider this motivating quote as your new mantra: "Losing weight now and keeping it off for good are two of the best things you can do to maintain or improve your health."