Page 6 - Fall2013

Letters

entire premise of the paleo diet obsolete? diet, I would like to share a story with feeding. My son’s first foods were egg
Or, better said, wrong? you. I am extremely sensitive to gluten, yolk and liver; he gets his cod liver oil
How can you declare foods that no doubt because I was introduced every day; and he drinks only raw milk.
are staples for some cultures to be bad to extruded grains as an infant, and All these foods help build a strong, im-
for human beings? These paleo-banned also because for a period of my life I pervious gut. In addition, I withheld all
staples would include corn (Mexico), consumed a lot of whole wheat bagels grains to the age of one and one-half.
beans (Mexico and all over the world), without any cream cheese or butter on I can announce with great joy that
potatoes (Ireland and South America), them. It is difficult to live in this society my son tolerates all grains—he loves his
and grains (almost everywhere). unable to consume wheat—you have soaked oatmeal, brown rice cooked in
As recently as a year ago, Wolf to be so careful in restaurants, always broth and sourdough bread. And there is
would tell you that a paleo no danger if he occasion-
diet “works for everyone.” ally eats some improperly
Then he and Chris Kresser prepared wheat, as when
admitted that about 30 per- we go to a restaurant or
cent of those who adopt the he visits friends. So he
paleo diet do not do well on can live in this world fully
it. Now they are market- enjoying all foods. I don’t
ing a gimmick called the always have to say no to
Paleologix Total Transfor- him about what he eats.
mation Program, with all The interesting thing
sorts of charts and meal is that I don’t have to say
plans. I fail to see how no about junk food either.
this will correct the basic He is just not interested
shortcomings of the diet. in it. Recently he went to
Also, none of the pa- a birthday party where
leo teachers I've followed they had a horrible cake
or talked to exhibit the with icing colored with
simplest levels of holis- food dye. He immedi-
tic nutrition and holistic ately announced, “I don’t
health insight. They have like cake.” But a piece
never internalized it, and they lay out asking whether something has wheat was forced on him. I stood back and
some real clinkers when it comes to in it. I have to be a real pill when we watched. He took a couple of bites and
understanding why natural foods are eat at friends’ houses. And I just plain then pushed it away, announcing once
healthy and processed versions may not miss some wonderful foods that contain more, “I don’t like cake.”
be healthy. Plus, they think that only wheat. Thank you WAPF for providing the
cranks wouldn't use a microwave! Their When I got pregnant, I was deter- dietary guidelines that result in truly
take on pastured foods―good if you can mined that my child would not follow healthy children, children who can live
afford it—misses the point completely. in my path and have to live his life with fully in the world without being tempted
Allan Balliett, Fresh and Local CSA a wheat intolerance. So I followed the by its excesses.
Shepardstown, West Virginia WAPF principles, eating lots of butter Susan Gregory
and other good fats, eating liver, tak- Alameda, California
THE GIFT OF GRAINS ing cod liver oil and drinking raw milk
Regarding the debate on the paleo throughout my pregnancy and breast-
4 Wise Traditions FALL 2013 FALL 2013 Wise Traditions

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