How To Fix America's Broken Food System | Senator Cory Booker

Our current food system is a national emergency. It’s intricately designed to confuse and mislead consumers, making healthy choices difficult and contributing to America’s chronic disease epidemic. In this episode, I sit down with Senator Cory Booker to delve into the systemic issues impacting our diet, food labeling, and the power of policy change.

In this episode, we discuss:

How food packaging is designed to confuse or mislead consumers

The link between the food system, chronic illness, and the unintended consequences of food policies that increase disease and healthcare costs

The harmful effects of ultra-processed foods

The negative impact of industrial farming practices on the environment, soil health, and the nutritional quality of food

The importance of personal health advocacy and broader public health initiatives to transform the food system, improve health outcomes, and reduce healthcare costs

This episode is brought to you by Rupa Health, Cozy Earth, Cymbiotika, and Purity Coffee.

[diamond-anniefergus]

It's easier than what people realize. 25 years ago I went on a whole foods diet and within 3 months I was off of all my medications. All my food I eat is organic and nothing is processed. If I'm craving a burrito I make it from whole foods and haven't consumed any seed oils in many years. We never eat at restaurants

[deborahmillette]

Can’t eat healthy food like I did 40 yrs ago. Food labels lie, and government allows food companies to lie on products that often require a dietitian or scientist to know what’s in their food.
As a child all foods were organic. In the 1960’s organic food was more affordable and processed food became popular for convenience poisoning Americans. When sellers market realized the public wanted to consume organic foods with zero to less sugar/salt they eliminated they make people pay more for less nutrition.
Food pantries are filled with empty calories and carbohydrates, weight gaining and cancer feeding starches . Thus you have obese starving Americans who eventually cost the medical industry millions, a vicious cycle just for greed of monetary lust.

[kristineandreatta]

I live in Ecuador and fresh veg is available in every neighborhood and meat is grass fed

[buffalo]

Americans are being channeled through the phood to pharma pipeline. It impresses me that Sen. Booker is focused on this.

[stfon]

Regenerative Farming is one huge solution to many problems. Soil is king 👑

[roblangsdorf]

30 years ago my brother was an endocrinologist. 40% of his patients were diabetes. He couldn't get them to change their dietary habits, so he switched to being a GP, and found it to be fun to do medicine again.

[disillusionedtruthseeker]

Shop the perimeter of the grocery store. Start cooking from scratch. Much cheaper and less chemicals. If our government would regulate the chemicals used on crops that would help everyone. To go a step further, grow a garden and learn to can your own food.

[Sandy-jklh]

Nice interview. Please do something about bad food subsidies! It should be criminal

[pjessence]

He was my college commencement speaker, and had made it a comical point how he is a vegan so he will make sure you know that, and honestly I think it was unsettling how forward veganism had become without public awareness about the supplementation requirements.

[sekamk]

Eat real food that doesn't need a nutrition label, whole real food not purchased in a big box type store, our great grandparents did not need it so we don't need it

[andiamoci]

michelle obama was criticized for promoting whole foods and exercise.

[daviddad]

If we do not fix the food system we will not financially and will collapse economically as a country. We cannot sustain this expense.

[kimboss]

School lunchs need to be looked at too! And because of that nursing homes also.

[karensummey]

I am so excited to see this great discussion! I focused on American food issues and food policy when I was doing doctoral research. I read book after book and numerous academic articles that corroborate what you talk about here. I had a glimmer of hope when Michelle Obama attempted to elevate gardening by having a White House food garden, but I was disappointed that food policy was not tackled at that time. I felt it was a missed opportunity. (And, truthfully, Mrs. Obama may have made an attempt and simply could not overcome major obstacles.) Perhaps now is the time! Senator Booker and Dr. Hyman, as you so aptly articulate, if we want to fix "healthcare" in America, which is in reality sick care, then we must fix food policy FIRST! All my hopes!

[teddydem]

Didn't know how much I needed a Cory Booker/Mark Hyman bromance. Also, the senator's face when Dr. Hyman mentioned the NAACP gets funding from Coke and Pepsi! AMEN

[donnawilson]

PS: The Amish will slice, say a tomato. Throw the slices on top of dirt and place the bucket in a storm ceiler, closet... Something dark and cool. I threw the inside mushy center of a cantalope on top of dirt. Now I have say 30-50 plants. Once they sprout, keep them in the house and water frequently for a few days than put them outside in shade. Keep watering. Place them in the sun, than transplant them.

[dande]

Flouride is also a driver of poor health amd mental health issues which needs to be addressed. The Flouride action network has been trying to get to court for years and the case date is continued again and again.

[torinostar]

Eat less meals, Eat real food not in boxes or bags and non GMos, eat real ingredients.

[damon-burton]

Powerful conversation about the broken food system. Senator Booker and Dr. Hyman highlight crucial issues. We need systemic change and individual action. Let's support policies that prioritize health, sustainability, and equity. This is a complex problem, but together, we can create a food system that nourishes both people and the planet.

[jenniferponder]

I recently visited a new doctor in a very small town practice and I asked him what he thought about functional medicine. He said “it’s quackery. I’ve seen people go to the Cleveland clinic and come back with a bunch of vitamins and then just get worse.” I was totally dismayed and actually disgusted. How can I address this lack of information and ignorance??