Skip to content

Food Quote by Michael Pollan

“People have been dealing with health long before there was science, certainly before nutrition science. We're constantly reading about scientific studies that support old wives' tales.” quote by Michael Pollan
Download Open image
“People have been dealing with health long before there was science, certainly before nutrition science. We're constantly reading about scientific studies that support old wives' tales.”

Michael Pollan

About This Quote

Source Interview: The New York Times, 2018

Humans have long used traditional health practices before modern science validated them, yet contemporary research often confirms these old beliefs.

In simple terms: Old health wisdom often matches modern science.

Key Takeaway

Consider traditional practices alongside new research.

Themes

tradition science health knowledge

Mood

curious reflective

Type

informative analytical

When to use this quote

  • dietary choices
  • herbal remedies
  • public health policy
  • personal health decisions

Key Concepts

folk medicine evidence based medicine cultural continuity

Questions to Reflect On

  • Which traditional health practice could benefit from modern study?
  • How do we balance respect for tradition with scientific skepticism?
A Different Perspective

Scientific validation can be slow, and not all traditional claims hold up under rigorous testing.

2.5 out of 5 (7 ratings)

More by Michael Pollan

Explore all 584 Michael Pollan quotes

More Food quotes

Browse all 34,190 Food quotes