The Food Industry – The Unhealthy Truth

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I am passionate about getting out of debt and about real, healthy, sustainable, ecologically sound food.  The latter passion is what I focus on here at diyNatural, and today am sharing a very informative video to help educate and inspire you.

The food industry

If you’ve watched any of the popular foodie movies in the last few years you should have some idea of the mind-blowing issues related to the food you eat.  If you haven’t then I highly recommend watching any of the following movies:

There are other good movies – and books – on the topic, but this list will more than get you started.

Thanks to the information in these movies, along with several books, websites, and just sheer common sense… Betsy and I stopped eating “normal” a few years ago.  Nowadays rather than shopping for food at our local grocery store, we go see our local farmers or hit local farmer’s markets.

The profit driven motives of the US food industry have forced us to find alternative, local sources for the foods we eat every day.  And I’m happy to say that we’ve made a heck of a lot of progress over the last few years.

The unhealthy truth

Today I stumbled across an awesome YouTube video that I simply had to share with you.

The video is 18 minutes long and features an incredible speech from a woman named Robyn O’Brien.  Here is a short bio on Robyn:

A Texas native raised on Twinkies and PoBoys, Robyn O’Brien is a critically-acclaimed author, researcher and mother of four who has leveraged her experience as a food industry analyst to uncover how one of life’s most basic activities – eating – has become a risk to our health.  Her work has been praised by Ted Turner, Dr. Oz, Erin Brockovich and seen in the New York Times, on CNN, the Today Show and other media.

Robyn wrote a book titled The Unhealthy Truth and has a website of her own that I’m honored to share with you.  Please read her book and visit her site to better educate yourself on these topics.

Here is the video, please enjoy it, and do not hesitate to leave your passionate comments below.

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About Matt Jabs

Matt loves to inspire others to save money and live more sustainably. He is passionate about eating local, living simply, and doing more things himself. Connect with him on Facebook and Twitter.

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Comments

  1. Avatar photoPatty says

    That was a great video by Robyn O’Brien. I was absolutely blown away by what she presented. Thank you so much for sharing it. Just so you know, I liked your FB page and also I really like your website. I’ll be a frequent visitor!

  2. Avatar photoStacy @Stacy Makes Cents says

    We first read this book at the beginning of the year. It changed how we shop AND eat. Everyone should read it. It’s an eye opener.

    • Avatar photoMatt Jabs says

      I love this new food movement that has taken root, it makes me smile every time I think of it… so let’s keep pushing until real food is mainstream again.

  3. Avatar photoAshley says

    Thank you for posting about the facts of food today. Last year about this time we had no clue about the food we were eating and how they affected our bodies. We started questioning what we ate when my daughter was underweight, I was having health issues, and we were sick at least 1-2 times a month. I just felt like we weren’t normal. I grew up on a farm eating fresh produce, so I knew what feeling healthy was like. I would go outside to eat my lunch straight from the garden. I realized my kids didn’t have this choice anymore and what we were feeding them was obviously not helping them. We kicked a lot of meat and dairy to the curb, and focused on eating vegetables. We are not Vegan or Vegetarian, we try to eat a balanced plant based diet. We also grow first, buy local second, third buy organic, and if we must we try to way the risk with the stuff in the grocery store. The good news is, I am feeling normal again! My kids or no longer underweight…which is huge when not eating meat or dairy everyday, we have to ignore our own doctor on that one! We also don’t get sick every month, I can’t even remember the last time we were really sick, but when we are it is shorter and less severe. We will never go back and are willing to change our lives/careers to make a difference in the food we have today. It is that important to change this!!! Thanks Matt!

    • Avatar photoMatt Jabs says

      It’s encouraging comments like this that help to remind us how important it is to continue sharing this information. God bless you and your family Ashely, we’re so happy you’re rediscovering the wonderful world of real food! Your path sounds a lot like ours… keep up the good work!

  4. Avatar photoMercedes says

    To add to list of movies you have I’d also recommend checking out “The Future of Food” which talks about genetically modified foods and how the biotechnology and big business are affecting agriculture and “Forks Over Knives” which examines the consequences of processed food diets on people’s health.

    I have yet to see a few of the movies you mentioned and will have to check them out! as well at the youtube video.

    I am trying to incorporate all of what I am learning about healthy eating and a more healthy lifestyle into my daily life and site like yours definitely are helping me along the way!

    • Avatar photoMatt Jabs says

      Good job Mercedes, keep it up. We saw Forks Over Knives after writing this article, it is great – basically says to avoid processed foods and to limit animal proteins to 5% of your diet.

  5. Avatar photoChrysta says

    I am new to this lifestyle and am still in the researching and compiling information stages. I stumbled upon this site purely by accident (or maybe fate) and am excited (and a little disgusted) by what I’m learning. My hubby is no so on board with the changes that I’m researching and since I tend to need a little practice before things really get set in motion, I’m going to be using the next year (while he is in Kuwait) to get all my amateur mistakes out of the way!
    My plan is to have everything already in motion and already be in the routine by the time he returns. His diet and lifestyle will be so different over there, so any changes I make here will still be a welcomed sight in comparison to the hell he is about to enter.

    • Avatar photoMatt Jabs says

      I understand Chrysta, it is such a blessing to have Betsy on board with the changes I’ve been making… but it wasn’t always that way. The best way to convince a spouse of these changes is to approach it lovingly. I would always explain how much these changes met to me before I should her information about what I had learned, then I would show her. It took a good couple years but with the help of movies like Food, Inc. Betsy finally came on board and is now very passionate about it. Try to find a common ground that is being compromised, like your children if you have any, by the food industry and their practices… that can help put your husband into hero/action mode to protect them and give them what’s best. Good luck and thanks to your husband for his service! God bless.

  6. Avatar photoRob says

    LOL. I was sitting here looking at title of this article “The Unhealthy Truth” and thinking….”Where have I heard this title before?” So I looked down and my wife had the book on my desk, and this woman is from the same area I live in!! Small world!

      • Avatar photoRob says

        She loves it! It all started when I just happened to search the ingredients in some soap we bought (i think the site was called cosmeticdatabase.org or something like that) and like the first seven ingredients were known to cause cancer and we were lathering that crap on ourselves and kids every…night…of…the…week! She bought that book and our entire lives/home has been changed overnight. So amazing what is in our food and other things man.

        • Avatar photoMatt Jabs says

          I’m so glad to hear you’re both uncovering the truth – AND (most importantly) – taking steps to create change. I love it Rob… thanks for sharing man.

  7. Avatar photoMichelle says

    Thank you for sharing this video! I’ve been doing quite a bit of web trawling for information like this. I’ve also wondered lately if we are seeing all these food allergies in children because their bodies just don’t need wheat and milk and soy. I came across this video series called the BIg Fat Fiasco here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=exi7O1li_wA (it’s fairly long & I haven’t watched all of it yet) and I’m starting to question our diet and making changes to it so thank you for giving me more food for thought.

    PS I’m here after I Googled “homemade dry laundry detergent”. I’ve bought all the ingredients and I’m making it today after reading everyone’s rave reviews. So now I’m also looking into changing what I clean with too.

  8. Avatar photoCortney says

    Very moving…. my son also suffers from allergies (including egg like her child). I feel empowered to learn more and do what I can. I’ve requested the book from the library and look forward to reading it.

  9. Avatar photoTasha says

    Wow. I did NOT know about some of those things. I’ve heard a lot of people talking about food these days, and made a lot of changes to our diet and our home cleaning products (I use a lot of your recipes!!), but I think many more need to happen. Thank you for sharing! That video was fantastic! 🙂

    • Avatar photoMatt Jabs says

      Glad you found it useful Tasha… I know I did. All the inside info coming out on the food industry over the last few years has been terribly eye opening. It just motivates me further to do more myself.

  10. Avatar photoHeather says

    Thank you for sharing that! I knew some of what she spoke about already, but I learned a lot as well!