The Real Food Revolution: Healthy Eating, Green Groceries, and the Return of the American Family Farm

by Tim Ryan Congressma

Overview

We Americans love our food. It's part of what has made this nation great. Our fertile farmlands and the abundance and variety of our agricultural output are the envy of the world. For most of our history, we lived close to the land, food was accessed locally, and we processed it in our own kitchens. But as our population and economy has boomed in the last century and we concentrated in cities, we industrialized our food system--with food coming far from home and processed multiple times. As foods rich in natural taste declined, we relied on high amounts of added sugar, fat, and salt to entice our palates. And it has taken a toll: our soil is polluted, our practices are unsustainable, and our health problems, including everything from allergy-related disease to obesity, are on the rise. This has all contributed to historic levels of heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and other causes of preventable death.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781401946401
Publisher:	Hay House Inc.
Publication date:	10/13/2015
Edition description:	Reprint
Pages:	240
Product dimensions:	5.20(w) x 8.20(h) x 0.70(d)

About the Author

Tim Ryan was first elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2002, at the age of 29, and is currently serving in his fifth term representing Ohio's 17th Congressional District. He maintains a strong commitment to the economic and social well-being of his constituents in northeast Ohio. He serves as a member of the House Armed Services Committee, as well as its Subcommittees on Readiness and on Emerging Threats and Capabilities. He also serves as a member of the House Budget Committee and co-chairman of the Congressional Manufacturing Caucus. Congressman Ryan has a daily mindfulness meditation practice. He has been an outspoken advocate for promoting mindfulness practice as an aid to dealing with the variety of complex problems facing the nation. During his tenure in the House, he has helped to get mindfulness and social and emotional learning programs established in several schools in his district. He also spearheaded a conference at a medical school in his district on Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction. Before being elected to Congress, Ryan served in the Ohio State Senate, as president of the Trumbull County Young Democrats, as chairman of Earning by Learning in Warren, Ohio, and as a congressional aide. Learn more at timryan.house.gov.

Table of Contents

Foreword Kris Can xiii

Preface Mark Hyman xvii

Introduction: Welcome to the Revolution xxi

Part I The Problem

Chapter 1 Our Failing Health 3

Chapter 2 Our Broken Environment 17

Chapter 3 The Power of Government and Big Business 29

Chapter 4 Costs and Access 43

Part II The Fix

Chapter 5 A New View of Nutrition 53

Chapter 6 Policy Advocacy 71

Chapter 7 The Farm-to-Table Movement 95

Chapter 8 An Urban Food Revival 117

Chapter 9 Educating the Next Generation 137

Conclusion: A New Vision for America 155

Resources 171

Bibliography 180

Acknowledgments 203

About the Author 207

Editorial Reviews

Congressman Tim Ryan isn’t afraid to take on a challenge, and he’s gearing up for one of America’s biggest—our health. In The Real Food Revolution, he delivers a straightforward and much-needed prescription to help transform our country’s food systems and improve our well-being.”
—President Bill Clinton

“In The Real Food Revolution, Congressman Tim Ryan not only puts a spotlight on everything wrong with our current food system, he also lays out a bold but realistic plan to give every American access to fresh, whole foods, and gives specific steps we all can take to join the food revolution that is happening now across America.”
—Arianna Huffington, editor-in-chief of the Huffington Post and author of Thrive

“It’s wonderful that Congressman Tim Ryan cares about the way food affects the health of Americans. I just wish more members of Congress cared about these issues, too.”
—Marion Nestle, professor of nutrition, food studies, and public health at New York University and author of Food Politics

“As someone who’s been on the frontlines of medicine, I’ve seen the health of our population take a negative turn—and one of the key reasons for this is our less-than-optimal food supply. That’s why The Real Food Revolution is so important. It gives you the background to understand what’s wrong and concrete things you can do to fix the problem. It’s time to take back our health and Congressman Ryan is leading the way.”
—Andrew Weil, M.D., New York Times best-selling author of True Food and Spontaneous Happiness

“Congressman Tim Ryan reminds us of the old Irish saying, ‘Is this a private fight, or can anyone get in?’ He wants all of America—through our shopping, gardening, advocacy, and voting—to force a better farm bill, a more responsible food industry, and better diets and health for all of us.”
—United States Senator Sherrod Brown, member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry

“The Real Food Revolution addresses the most significant problem we face today. We are what we eat, and what we eat is being tampered with in a gigantic way. Our very survival is at stake, but we finally have a courageous voice in the halls of congress who is willing to say ‘enough is enough’ and offer constructive ways to avert a potential disaster if we fail to act now. I wholeheartedly encourage everyone to read this book and take action.”
—Dr. Wayne W. Dyer, New York Times best-selling author of I Can See Clearly Now and The Power of Intention

“The Real Food Revolution is a big breath of fresh air and common sense. Its message is urgent and accurate. And written in plain English by a very courageous congressman. Read it.”
—Christiane Northrup, M.D., ob/gyn, physician, and author of the New York Times bestsellers Women’s Bodies, Women’s Wisdom and The Wisdom of Menopause

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