Page 57 - Winter2009

All Thumbs Book Reviews

dense food the logical choice. Einstein, that everything important cannot be
Kendrick explains how the population of Roseto, Pennsylvania is measured and everything that can be measured
protected from heart disease with the same argument that was made is not necessarily important. That is a bit glib for
in Malcolm Gladwell’s book Outliers. Misreading the Roseto evidence the reality of clinical practice.
seems to be a cottage industry among these authors. Residents of Roseto Cortisol levels barely rate a mention and
immigrated from Roseto Valfortore, Sicily in a surprisingly coherent pat- even then in the most general way. Taking a utili-
tern. Yes, there was relatively little social disruption but that also included tarian approach, cortisol levels can and should
continuation of the Mediterranean diet. As Sally Fallon Morell and Mary be measured, but not by standard blood tests.
Enig pointed out in a previous Caustic Commentary, there sure was a Salivary cortisol testing is acceptable according
whole lot of lard consumed in that town, but why let that fact conflict with to the Massachusetts General Hospital Hand-
Kendrick’s good story? book. The best way to measure it is in multiple
Many well-intentioned medical doctors have been jaded by the medi- readings from when one wakes up until when
cal system and have become nihilistic. To their credit, they are against one goes to sleep. The readings should be taken
the excesses in “Medicine,” but they never commit themselves to healthy with concomitant DHEA levels, which should be
alternatives. They need to become proponents for lifestyle choices that an inverse proportion. Finally, a healthy cortisol
can actually make a difference. It is easier to be professional when you are level should be highest in the morning, waking
against something than taking a stand for a practice that present research one up, and lowest at night so you can go to
may not completely support. It is sad; many physicians fear appearing silly sleep. Unfortunately, too many people have this
more than they embrace getting excited about improving patients’ lives. reversed, and can’t wake up in the morning or
Kendrick talks of diabetes being a risk factor for heart disease but get to sleep at night.
never mentions sugar avoidance and consumption of nutritionally dense This is an excellent book to debunk the cult
foods as an antidote—hardly a quantum leap. Anyone who has studied of cholesterol bashing and its bogus treatment,
diabetes knows that nutrition is paramount but Kendrick avoids the sub- but it never transcends itself to help create health.
ject. I know he is writing to a broad audience and his main priority is to As I advise my patients, read the first eight
sell books and slam statins, but is that enough? In my own practice I’ve chapters but feel free to skip the last three and
seen patients with uncontrolled diabetes on insulin handle their disease replace it with all of Eat Fat, Lose Fat. The Great
so well dietetically that they were able to get off all medication and keep Cholesterol Con gets a conditional thumbs up.
their blood sugar in a healthy range through food choices alone.
Another concern is his discussion of stress levels. Obviously stress Review by Dr. Steven Lativan, who is a chiropractor, licensed
acupuncturist, and nutritionist in Teaneck, NJ.
is difficult to measure. He repeats a quote, often attributed to Albert

Milk, Continued from page 53.
may be produced differently but I just visited an organic creamery at a age city-dweller might think.
very opportune time. A calf had just been born hours earlier. When the There is another problem. If we gullibly
calf reached the ripe old age of about four hours a farm hand came along, accept the premise that organic is identical to
grabbed the calf and unceremoniously dumped it on an ATV and started commercial, that implies that the grand solution
to drive it away. Momma cow was understandably upset and tried to fol- amounts to essentially re-labeling the milk to ap-
low, only to be smacked in the head a few times and physically blocked peal to a more upscale customer. I can’t say I’m
from following. It was quite disturbing to watch. This was done because impressed with the integrity of that position.
the creamery was more interested in getting all the milk they could from In many ways, the book is good, but these
the cows rather than in the well-being of the animals. The point is, even fatal flaws force me to give it a thumbs down.
organic is not always as humane and environmentally friendly as the aver- Review by Tim Boyd

WINTER 2009 Wise Traditions 55