(Video) Michael Pollan On The High Cost Of Cheap Food

Earlier this week, food journalist and author Michael Pollan appeared on the Daily Show to promote his latest book “Food Rules,” a straightforward set of guidelines for helping us navigate the increasingly complex question of “What should you eat?” In discussing the book, Pollan points to the hidden costs of cheap food on both the health of ourselves and the environment. Pollan cites a staggering statistic, noting that the average American receives 20 percent of their annual calories from high fructose corn syrup, a figure that explains the high incidences of preventable diseases such as type II diabetes.

But in spite of these numbers, Pollan remains optimistic, particularly with the pending passage of the U.S. healthcare bill, a situation that he believes will hold healthcare providers more accountable in actively managing people’s lifestyle choices, given that individuals will no longer be denied coverage on the basis of preexisting conditions. As a result, managing expenses will hinge on utilizing more of the cost effective solutions offered by preventative care – a healthier diet chief among them. The full clip of Pollan’s Daily Show interview follows below:

[via Treehugger]

[image via Pink Sherbet Photography on Flickr]