The Hundred-Year Lie: How to Protect Yourself from the Chemicals That Are Destroying Your Health
Posted by bobodod on 6 April, 2008
The Hundred-Year Lie: How to Protect Yourself from the Chemicals That Are Destroying Your Health From Publishers Weekly: This provocative and frightening look at the synthetic chemicals used by the processed foods, pharmaceutical and chemical industries delivers an excellent, up-to-date summary of “what is really in our food, water, vitamins, prescription drugs, childhood vaccines, cosmetics, and in our homes.” Former Wall Street Journal investigative journalist Fitzgerald (Mugged by the State) takes aim at the belief that “lab-created synthetics are as benign as—and more effective than—naturally occurring foods and medicines.” The “hundred-year lie” dates from 1906, the year Congress enacted the Pure Food and Drug Act. Utilizing a range of articles from science journals and government reports, along with interviews with scientists and environmentalists, Fitzgerald looks at synthetic chemicals—from artificial sweeteners to antidepressants—that are diminishing our health. Throughout, Fitzgerald explodes various myths such as that one right dose of a particular drug works for everyone and that all food additives have been tested for safety. Still, Fitzgerald’s faith in Eastern and other natural healing processes will not convince everyone. The author concludes with practical steps for “choosing a diet of pure foods and a lifestyle free of synthetics.”
4 May, 2008 at 00:16
Yeah, let us never forget Dupont’s slogan from the ’30s to the ’80s: “Better Things for Better Living… Through Chemistry”. After the publication of “Silent Spring” (DDT) and revelations about the dangers of many man-made chemicals they stopped using the “through chemistry” part - but kept making and selling a myriad of dangerous chemicals. They also continued to export chemicals which were outlawed in North America. After all, our brown brothers were going to lead short and brutish lives anyway, right?
The problem with eating synthetics should really not be a surprise. In an evolutionary sense the synthetics have been with us for a few generations, as opposed to the millions of years of our co-evolution with the natural environment. Common sense would dictate that we eat natural (i.e., organic), and eat local, as much as possible. It’s not about some carbon-footprint greenie ideal (though that’s not a bad thing): it’s about your health, and the health of your children.
David