Page 44 - Winter2009

High levels of on the WAPF diet is known to be associated with imbalance is known to facilitate inflammatory

saturated fats reduced risk of cardiovascular disease, which is biochemistry.
the number one chronic disease as well as the
Second, it should be pointed out that the
in the diet most fatal disease of our times. In addition, a WAPF diets contained levels of saturated fatty
seem to have longer blood coagulation time is associated with acids greatly exceeding the amounts recom-
a protective decreased biochemical inflammation throughout mended in official government dietary guide-
the body. Decreased inflammation is generally lines. A higher level of chylomicrons, lipid
effect on the associated with reduced risk of chronic degen- carriers in the blood, was seen for those on the
RBCs and to erative disease overall. That is, the results are WAPF diet, which is consistent with the higher
inhibit the consistent with a possible reduced risk of cardio- saturated fat intake. Saturated fats are said to
vascular disease, cancer, autoimmune disorders, cause the deposition of plaque and to provoke
expression of arthritis, and other chronic degenerative diseases inflammation, leading to cardiovascular disease.

inflammation. for the WAPF group. However, this preliminary study indicates that
It must be pointed out that rapid onset of the consumption of large amounts of saturated
blood coagulation and clotting in fresh blood fat does not adversely affect blood cell integrity
draws are generally associated with increased in- and clotting or inflammation factors. In fact,
flammation. Activation of the immune response we observed just the opposite, namely, that high
activates the inflammatory biochemical cascade, levels of saturated fats in the diet seem to have a
which produces blood clotting, presumably to protective effect on the RBCs and to inhibit the
wall off an invading entity, such as a microbe, expression of inflammation.
virus, or cancer cell. Once this process is initi- Third, the WAPF diet does not contain any
ated, then blood coagulation with fibrin deposits processed foods such as soy milk or pasteurized
promotes even further inflammation. milk with denatured components that may act to
However, inflammation is a double-edged promote inflammation in the body. There are no
sword. Whereas it is desirable to wall off and trans fats and no genetically modified organisms
destroy invading entities, it is undesirable to have in natural unprocessed organic foods.
a state of chronic inflammation throughout the Fourth, almost all of the WAPF subjects
body. In fact, exaggerated and chronic inflamma- consumed cod liver oil regularly, which provides
tion contributes to chronic disease in numerous vitamins A and D, known to provide anti-inflam-
ways. For example, a blood clot on a ruptured ath- matory and other beneficial effects.
erosclerotic plaque may lead to arterial blockage, Fifth, the WAPF diet is low carbohydrate,
which directly causes the thrombosis responsible with a large part of the carbohydrate content
for a heart attack or stroke. As another example, coming from soaked or partly fermented grains,
coagulation with fibrin formation in synovial the bulk of calories coming from clean saturated
joint fluid is implicated in inflammatory types of fats without pesticide or herbicide contamination,
arthritis that may lead to permanent joint dam- which may be the least toxic and most efficient
age. As a third example, repeated inflammation means of obtaining calories.
of tissue is a causal factor in cancer. As a fourth Finally, the high probiotic content in the
example, chronic inflammation, whereby one WAPF diet due to the frequent consumption of
makes antibodies against and fights one’s own freshly prepared fermented foods with living
DNA, lies at the root of autoimmune disease. microbes assures a healthy digestive system with
How might long-term consumption of the no leaky gut syndrome. Therefore, no antigenic
WAPF diet contribute to reduced blood coagula- substances are leaking into the bloodstream
tion and chronic inflammation? One important causing an immune response activating the
factor in the WAPF diet is the proper ratio of inflammatory cascade.
omega-3 fatty acids to omega-6 fatty acids, with The study has some limitations. It involved
small amounts of each type. By contrast, the a small number of subjects (N=14) who were
conventional modern diet typically contains too each measured only once. Live blood analysis
high a level of omega-6 fatty acids while lacking is not a conventional blood test accepted by the
a sufficient level of omega-3 fatty acids. This mainstream, even though it reveals important
42 Wise Traditions WINTER 2009