Page 8 - Fall2011

Letters

thriving, he was just existing. Also, one The Buganda tribe had become be a poster boy for the Weston A. Price
of the foods he really enjoys right now wealthy by producing and exporting Foundation. He advocates eating satu-
is liver, something I never would have plantain bananas. This was also their rated fat (page 147), eating eggs (page
fed my son if I hadn’t searched on the staple food. They could afford to buy a 90), consuming grass-fed, hormone and
WAPF site. variety of foods, but for their children, antibiotic-free beef, taking vitamin D
3
I drive three hours round trip each feeding them plantain seemed enough. and eating fermented cod-liver oil and
Friday evening to buy this milk, and I That led to strange situations, such as butterfat (page 258). Ferriss describes
will continue to do so until our family Mercedes-driving parents seeking medi- the Pottenger study comparing the
has our own acreage and cow. I would cal help for their children afflicted with consumption of raw milk and raw meat
like to encourage everyone with young kwashiorkor. And I thought that was a (page 537) and he discourages the con-
children to find a source of real, healthy disease of poverty! sumption of soy. Yes, he may be a bit
milk—there is no other supplement or The Crawfords did various studies overstimulated, but at least he is honest
food that has made such a radical change showing both grazing and carnivore about his addiction to Diet Coke.
in the health of any of my children. animals had a more varied diet than we I think this book introduces people
Owning a cow will be a major respon- might have guessed. The authors used to the practical dietary principles
sibility and change for us, but weighing evidence from lions, antelope, primates encouraged by the Weston A. Price
the options, it is a no-brainer. This is and others to show the need for variety Foundation in a positive way. In addi-
necessary, not optional for us. in diet, with the necessity of protein and tion, his emphasis on simple exercises
Name Withheld “structural” fats. Fats are needed for provides a much-needed element for an
Alberta, Canada cell structure and other functions, but overall healthy lifestyle, which includes
the authors saw less need for saturated those dietary principles; the sedentary
AN INTERESTING BOOK fat, and lamented the excess found in lifestyle of so many of our modern so-
Recently, when given a copy of modern grain-fed meats. ciety simply does not make appropriate
What We Eat Today, by Michael and Uffe Ravnskov’s new book Ig- use of the calories consumed in a diet
Sheilagh Crawford (1972), which some- nore the Awkward explains how the rich in fat. Isolated populations eating
one had picked up from library discards, cholesterol myths are kept alive. Some the WAPF diet were engaged in hard
I was fascinated. Here were more ac- history of that is shown by how easily physical labor. The lack of information
counts of primitive African tribes like the Crawfords accepted Ancel Keys’ about food preparation should not be
those Dr. Price studied. For example, the condemnation of saturated fats and considered an omission as this is not a
Hadza were isolated hunters and gather- cholesterol as a cause of heart disease. cookbook—hence the title. Had he ad-
ers who were in good health when other, They even denounced coconut oil. Few vocated a sedentary life of eating butter
less isolated tribes were suffering fam- of that generation (or now) were properly and cheese I don’t think this book would
ine. Other tribes were described with wary. be as wildly popular.
nutritional problems. The bow-legged Ira Edwards I am recommending this book with
El Molo people lived almost entirely on Medford, Oregon wild enthusiasm to my patients.
fish. They had severe calcium deficiency Carol Hopson, DC
complicated by excess phosphorus. The SURPRISED Washington, DC
fish bones were not used. Generations I was quite surprised that John and
before, they had access to other foods Jessica Moody gave a “thumbs down” CELL PHONE RADIATION
by trading, but aggressive neighbors had review to Timothy Ferriss' book, The It is a very old saying that a person
restricted them to an isolated shore of an Four Hour Body: An Uncommon Guide who is willing to be admonished will
alkaline lake. to Incredible Sex and Becoming Super become wise. I am not overly good at
human. Quite frankly I think he should being admonished myself. However,
8 Wise Traditions FALL 2011 FALL 2011 Wise Traditions

82725_WAPF_Txt.indd 8 9/20/11 10:31 AM