A Grain of Salt: The Science and Pseudoscience of What We Eat

by Joe Schwarcz

“This enlightening collection offers every reader something new to learn and marvel over.” ― Booklist Bestselling popular science author Dr. Joe Schwarcz debunks the baloney and serves up the raw facts in this appetizing collection about the things we eat Eating has become a confusing experience. Should we follow a keto diet? Is sugar the next tobacco? Does fermented cabbage juice cure disease? Are lectins toxic? Is drinking poppy seed tea risky? What’s with probiotics? Can packaging contaminate food? Should our nuts be activated? What is cockroach milk? We all have questions, and Dr. Joe Schwarcz has the answers, some of which will astonish you. This collection is guaranteed to satisfy your hunger for palatable and relevant scientific information as Dr. Joe separates fact from fiction with an assortment of new and updated articles about what to eat, what not to eat, and how to recognize the scientific basis of food chemistry.

Genres: Nonfiction, Science, Audiobook, Health, Food, Nutrition, School

312 pages, Paperback

Published October 8, 2019

About the author

Dr. Joe Schwarcz holds a PhD in chemistry and is host of the radio program The Dr. Joe Show, directo of McGill University's Office for Science & Society and the author of fourteen bestselling books. Well known for his informative and entertaining lectures, Dr. Schwarcz has received numerous awards for teaching and deciphering science for the public.

Reviews

[Carole · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Grain of Salt: The Science and Pseudoscience of What We Eat by Joe Schwartz was one of the best books on nutrition I have ever had the pleasure of reading. It is a collection of essays, which works well because the book jumps from subject to subject, without being boring or preachy. Old diets, new diets, what works, what doesn’t, which diets are ridiculous, what foods are healthy, what foods are fads, anything related to nutrition is discussed here, with some science and lots of humor. Highly recommended.

[Max · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great collection of short articles on some of the food and health claims you can see around in the media. It's easy to read, and I love how short the essays are, so you can just pick up the book and read one short essay in between doing things. The explanations are straightforward and easy to understand, although sometimes some difficult words from biology and medical sciences are used. The author writes with a little humor, which is fun.

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

The articles were really engaging and fun to read, as well as giving good information about how science works and what the aggregate of recent studies have really had to say about nutrition. The various essays did not really blend well into a cohesive whole even within chapters, but the individual pieces were very well done.

[JustEvan · Rating 2 out of 5]

A mixed bag, really. It's a collection of essays/articles. So, there's no continuity, what is said in one, can be contradicted in another. He'll criticize a type of study as being flawed, then use that study type to prove a point fifty pages later.

[Emily Van Coolput · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well, this wasn't bad and I learned a few things, but it won't be my favorite book of the year either. I would probably have enjoyed it more if it had been more structured, rather than a collection of tidbits. I was also somewhat annoyed by the contradictions that crop up here and there between chapters, and by the fact that the author sometimes dishes out advice out of the blue with little to no evidence to support it (in the sense that the studies he's just been mentioning on the subject actually say no such thing). Then again, I go through a lot of health information for work and might be a more critical reader than most.

[Pam · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really appreciated the format of this book, it included more information than I expected, and was presented in an unbiased and straightforward manner, with humour and lightheartedness thrown in for good measure! Even references to scientific studies were made in an easy to understand way.

It is set up with an impressive amount of sections, with everything from probiotics to chewing gum; olive oil to tilapia.

I was a bit wary of finding a hidden agenda or a push for some sort of ‘fad’ diet but this really is not the case. Instead I was left with a really good overview that I felt I could draw my own conclusions from.

Some of the questions that were answered or topics covered were things I hadn’t even considered, which I found very interesting.

This was a lot of info to take in at once but given each section is more of a mini reference, I can see myself coming back to it again and again.

I received an Advance Reading Copy of this book from ECW Press in exchange for my honest review.

[Carolyn Green · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars. Not for me, too scientific and granular In detail. Don’t come from a scientific background but if you know what an enzyme, compound and amino acid is.. perhaps you will appreciate this book more. There were some small takeaways and the author did debunk some food myths based on lack of evidence which was refreshing to read.

[Ingrid · Rating 2 out of 5]

Dnf
It's fascinating and fun to skim through, but eventually I got bored of the disconnected essays. Still, his passion for real science and the sheer ridiculousness of so many "health guru's" claims made what I did read hilarious.

[Matthew Jones · Rating 2 out of 5]

2 stars is "okay" at Good Reads and that's what this book was, just okay. I had similar feelings to several of the other reviewers.

First it's a collection of short articles, totally unrelated like they came from a magazine series or a blog. He also tries to be a little bit clever or whimsical. I was looking for information and it's a little weak in that area. It's also very disjointed.

As others pointed out he criticizes studies and but then uses that same logic in other places to justify his point. He also tends to admit that something like organic food might be slightly better in some area but then says it's too insignificant to matter. I was a little put off by some of this. He just puts out random information and then draws what sometimes seems to be a pretty flippant conclusion. He does even try to build a strong case.

Also this is a book of "there is nothing new here." Basically he says that traditional nutrition information stance is still valid. Low fat, complex carbs lots of fiber, no sugar. He doesn't recommend supplements but acknowledges that there are studies that say it may help. He doesn't really like Paleo but thinks it and Atkins were on to something with reducing sugar. He doesn't like saturated fat.

I'm not at sure what the point of this book was, since the conclusion was nothing has changed in the last 30 years. He is also pretty clear that scientists really don't know what's best.

[Daniel Cuthbert · Rating 4 out of 5]

In a series of interconnected short articles, Dr. Joe Schwarcz gives the skinny on a wide variety of food and diet-related myths and must follows. With passages on such topics as probiotics, Keto and alkaline diets, as well as on the titular item salt, Dr. Schwarcz writes in a very easy to follow style that makes it pretty easy to pick up the book, find the article or articles that you need, and set it back down again. Having several friends of mine on keto diets, it was very interesting to get his perspectives on it. What I really appreciated was that there was no real agenda that I could see after reading this book, as information was presented factually and seemingly non-biased. This really came across like a nice little non-technical reference to utilize, especially if you are looking to have a healthier lifestyle.

(I received a copy from ECW in return for an honest review.)

[Deborah · Rating 5 out of 5]

In his new book A Grain of Salt: The Science and Pseudoscience of What We Eat Dr. Joe Schwarcz demystifies the truth behind all those questions of is it true? His answer: take that with a grain of salt. In his book he gives you a comprehensive answer to the latest fade diet, Probiotics, Splenda, Gluten, Pesticide Problems and a whole lot more. The book is formatted that you can easily pick and choose which article or articles that you need and revisit it when you want.
Each chapter is straightforward and sprinkled with the usual Dr. Joe with humour. Although he sites scientific studies you do not get lost in the jargon.
This book answers the question you may have been asking and then some.

[Mina · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a pretty interesting read. Dr. Joe Schwarcz breaks down the science on a very large variety of nutritional topics in a down-to-earth and relatable way. With each bite-sized topic, he presents the scientific facts as well as his cool rationale on what it all means. He's no nonsense and pretty unbiased in his approach (...unless we're talking about smoked meat).

My take-aways: Make sure you get enough fruits and vegetables. Eat more fiber, specifically oats. Keep things varied and moderated. And take everything else you hear about food with a grain of salt.

[Kelly Martin · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book tries to debunk all of the food trends in the last 20 or so years. I suggest to take this book with a LARGE grain if salt too. At the end of the chapter "It's in the Can" he proclaimes that because there are people in the world without clean and safe food that we in advanced nations should not worry about trace chemicals, that might be causing such high cancer, in our food!
Sense his proclamation is so ludicrous, I have to assume that the rest of this book is an attempt to undermine others with his own pseudo science. Read with a grain of salt.

[Pam Hurd · Rating 3 out of 5]

We are told to take the conclusions drawn and claims of various food studies and with a grain of salt. Studies contradict studies. Advertised diets and miracle foods are touted for profits' sake. Sugar is bad, highly processed food is bad, etc. I do fear that some of these data is a bit dated and not 100% correct. If I had noticed the date this was published I probably would not have chosen it. Most just drives home what I already believed.

[Lukas · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved the book. I consider the scientific knowledge of general population very low, and reading books such as this one is extremely important to raise it. Yes, science is messy, often contradictory, but has rules - and taking everything with a grain of salt helps (unless 100 studies point literally to the same thing).

[Sophie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this for school. Finishing the book was optional, but because I had already read almost all of it, i decided to finish. Pretty good. I found it very informative on all sorts of different subjects. (I probably wouldn't have just picked it up and read it if it hadn't been assigned for school though lol).

[Rachel · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book should be taken with a grain of salt...

[Craig Amason · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is loaded with information about nutrition, probably the most complete book of its kind I have ever read. It isn't a manual as much as it is a collection of essays (or podcasts? Schwarcz is a radio host) that are designed to entertain and educate the reader. The text is light, humorous, and a bit snarky, but there is plenty of hard science to support the conclusions. The real strength of the book for me is the author's intent to bust a bunch of myths about what we eat, from all the false claims about the dangers of "chemicals" in our food to the very real poisons that are often overlooked, like an abundance of sugars in our diet.

Schwarcz gets down to the nitty gritty with controversial topics like GMOs, organic fruits and vegetables, herbicides, miracle foods, vitamins, and so much more. He brings balance to hyperbolic claims and warnings (think antioxidants and cholesterol) and emphasizes the health benefits of a diet rich in stuff that comes out of the ground. He is not so much a purist, and he does appreciate the occasional indulgence. However, he really stresses the harm of sugary sodas and snacks, which come close to being a pet peeves for him.

Perhaps some readers will think Schwarcz comes off sounding a bit condescending, and when it comes to false claims about nutrition and health, he can be downright castigating. He has no patience with people who present themselves as authorities with absolutely no scientific evidence to support their often ridiculous claims. And he is correct in saying they are not exactly harmless when they convince loads of people to choose unhealthy or even dangerous approaches to eating and drinking. Overall, I enjoyed this book and would recommend it to anyone looking for a science-based analysis of a well-balanced diet.

[Cassie Thompson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was great, and Schwarcz is a really funny dude. Even some of his cheesy dad jokes got a giggle. I like that he skewers the most ridiculous assumptions about the threats or benefits of specific foods (or what they contain). He also points out that most scientific studies can be used to support just about any conclusion. It's all about cherry picking.
He is very no-nonsense when it comes to making false claims, which is great. We need more honest opinions, less snake-oil.
But that's important to note too: these are his opinions and the jury is still out on a lot of things. I think he seems fair and balanced, therefore pretty trustworthy. I don't think he's trying to pull the wool over anyone's eyes, but rather is trying to show us that most things are not entirely clear cut, and we have to do our best to figure out what is what for our health.

[Sarah S · Rating 3 out of 5]

A collection of essays by "Dr. Joe', Director of McGill University’s Office for Science and Society. They're short and accessible and basically tell you that most headlines about the latest superfood are hype. That's because saying that when a handful of specially-bred rats consumed a massive amount of blueberry powder and lived a little longer isn't as catchy as saying blueberries increase longevity.

He also literally performs magic tricks! Not your average TED speaker?

[Lester · Rating 5 out of 5]

Whoa..the things we do not know!!
Definitely a book that I will read again..flip through..and share with many.
Just what the hell is our food wrapped in? Ewww..chemically enhanced papers and boxes to keep us from getting 'greasy hands'..oh noooo!!
A package of burger in the store..just why is the burger 'red' around the outside, yet the inside is brown..hmmnn..what is it wrapped in.
Little treasures and nuggets of useful knowledge. Written well.

[Amy Schell · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great deep dive into all the of the health claims popularized by social media over the last decade such as: celery juice, matcha, cholesterol in eggs, food dyes, ginkgo balboa, BPA, nitrosamines, nutraceuticals, organic ect. And the actual evidence and scientific consensus on these subjects. As a dietitian I loved this deep dips into the research and nutritional science but it might be too much science for the general population.

[Beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well, written with some practical information and no patience for untested medical claims, but unquestionably from a hard science/allopathic medical point of view with no respect for complementary medicine, the importance of organic foods to both health and the environment and so on. Useful for those who want to know what the majority (in most cases) of scientific and medical research has to say about 'alternative' health claims.

[Theresa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short essays on nutrition that inform people of the flaws in research and, in particularly, in news reporting of nutrition research. Schwarcz's books are a good reminder to be critical of food hype and to just follow a basic eating plan, especially those fruits and veggies!

[Siddhartha Gupta · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's more of a collection of essays and topics than a complete book. And that poses the major problem: this book lacks the continuity despite having all the necessary ingredients necessary to be an excellent book.

[Dani · Rating 5 out of 5]

Balanced, concise, informal, and comfortable in complexity. This book had the irritated fervour of a grandparent telling me to eat my fruits and vegetables with the nerdy tone of a chemist who just doesn't buy the hype.

[Little House · Rating 2 out of 5]

A book that debunks all things food related.

The author’s main thoughts are that if something has been approved by the FDA, then it is safe and people who don’t believe it are silly. Trust the science and the scientist, they know what they are doing.

[Kate Laird · Rating 3 out of 5]

Compartmentalized chapters which is good for reading, but I don’t feel like you learn anything useful. It is more like a book an anecdotes than a book with useful food strategies. While you can pull out some nuggets they are more common and often contradicted.

[Jean · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting and attractively laid out making it easy to read. The topics, listed in the index, are brief, informative and written with a touch of humour.

[Marianne Tighe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing.