Page 23 - Winter2009

Caustic Commentary

certain foods including ice cream and burgers goes straight is specifically toxic to cells with metabolic defects, such as
to the brain and tells you to eat more, new research reveals,” cancer cells. However, in surreal situations like this experi-
screamed one headline. “Saturated Fats May Override Ap- ment, palmitate accumulated in healthy cells and provided
petite-Suppressing Signals,” said another. However, this Dr. Clegg with the hammer she needed to bash saturated fats
study did not look at the fate of fats that the rats and mice and further her career.
actually ate. Instead, rodents were exposed to different fatty
acids by direct injection into the brain, by infusion through FATS FOR THE BRAIN
the carotid artery or by oral gavage into the stomach—not While the cholesterol theory pushers try to make the case
exactly a real life situation. The researchers found that pal- that cholesterol reduction can ward off dementia, the military
mitic acid—a saturated fatty acid found in meat fats, butter has funded a study to really find out which foods are best for
and palm oil—was associated with impaired insulin and leptin pilots—since the military has a lot invested in pilots, they
signaling, both mechanisms involved in appetite regulation. wanted to find the truth. The University of North Dakota re-
According to the head researcher, Dr. Deborah Clegg, the ef- searchers found that forty-five pilots who ate the fattiest foods,
fect of the palmitate lasted for about three days in the rodents, such as butter or gravy, had the quickest response times in
which “might explain why people are hungrier than normal mental tests and made fewer mistakes when flying in tricky
on Monday morning following a weekend of over-indulgence cloud conditions. Surprisingly, after those on the high-fat diet,
on fatty foods” (Daily Mail, September 16, 2009). Palmitate is those on the high-carbohydrate diet performed best, with the
toxic when it accumulates in the cells. However, ordinarily it worst performance from those on the high-protein diet (den-
does not accumulate because it is effectively stored or burned verpost.com, October 7, 2009). WAPF has consistently pointed
for energy; what’s more, in ordinary situations, palmitate out that a high-protein, lowfat diet is very unhealthy.

WISE TRADITIONS 2009 BANQUET

Misty Frank (left) and Liz Pitfield (right) present a surprise Keynote speaker David Gumpert signs a copy of his new book,
book of testimonials to WAPF president Sally Fallon Morell The Raw Milk Revolution.
to commerate the tenth year anniversary of WAPF.

WINTER 2009 Wise Traditions 21