Book review: the crazy makers

The Crazy Makers by Carol Simontacchi
Hoffman Center Staff

Beginning with the Delany Clause that was implemented to protect our food supply from potentially harmful ingredients, and explaining its demise, Carol Simontacchi removes the wool that has been covering the eyes of the American public, with regard to the role the food industry is playing in destroying our brains and the emotional and mental health of our children. Over the course of 300 pages, The Crazy Markers, by Carol Simontacchi, carefully illustrates the effect these artificial products have on our brains in every stage of our lives.

In the chapters Building The Infant Brain, Nourishing a Baby's Brain, and Feeding Your Child's Brain, Carol begins with thorough attention placed on the most critical time of brain development, gestation. She explains how the diets of the mother and growing infant are of fundamental importance to the mental health of the child throughout his or her life. A listing of specific nutrients are provided, as well as the role processed foods play during this important brain development stage. Having equal importance, Carol reveals what effect breast milk and formulas have on the growing brain. An interesting section on the marketing of infant formulas provides insight as to why they are in ubiquitous use. However, as Carol explains, this wide spread use may answer many questions regarding the poor emotional and mental health of our children as they age. Attention is also placed on the additives and pesticides that are found in traditional baby food. When addressing feeding children, it is here that she introduces dietary allergens, and the role they play in emotional well-being and cognitive function.

To reiterate the difficult task of being a parent, adolescence forges with unique challenges. Nutrition that was once fully controlled by the loving parent, now falls victim to marketing, school lunches, vending machines, fast foods restaurants, and peer pressure. A wise parent might ask the question, what effect does my growing teen's poor nutritional habits have on his or her mental and emotional health? Carol provides a direct relationship between unruly behavior, the emotional roller coaster ride some teens face, and their diet, in the chapter Feeding the Adolescent Brain.

In the chapter Feeding the Adult Brain, special attention is placed on additives in the diet, caffeine, packaged meals, and other habits of the busy adult lifestyle. Carol explains why such behaviors are not prudent as we approach our senior years, and offers a solution to nourish our brains throughout all the stages of life. She includes a step-by-step guide to implementing changes in eating behaviors, providing recipes for every generation to enjoy.

The Crazy Makers provides individuals with the tools needed to confront and turn their backs on American consumer "foods". This book is highly recommended for all those interested in obtaining accurate nutritional information on the negative effect such foods have on our mental health, throughout all the stages of life.