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Welcome
to the "Wise County and surrounding areas" Texas
Chapter of the Weston A. Price Foundation!
The Weston A. Price Foundation
is a nonprofit, tax-exempt charity founded in 1999 to disseminate the
research of nutrition pioneer Dr.
Weston Price, whose studies of isolated nonindustrialized peoples
established the parameters of human health and determined the optimum
characteristics of human diets. Dr. Price's research demonstrated that
humans achieve perfect physical form and perfect health generation
after generation only when they consume nutrient-dense whole foods and
the vital fat-soluble activators found exclusively in animal fats.
__________________________________
Where to
find local Whole Food Products in Wise County and Surrounding Areas:
__________________________________
Sally
Fallon's presentation on raw milk. LISTEN
HERE >>
About Dr. Weston A.
Price
 |
| Photo Copyright
© Price-Pottenger Nutrition Foundation®, All Rights
Reserved, www.ppnf.org |
In the early 1930s, a Cleveland dentist named
Weston A. Price (1870-1948) began a series of unique investigations.
For over ten years, he traveled to isolated parts of the globe to
study the health of populations untouched by western civilization. His
goal was to discover the factors responsible for good dental health.
His studies revealed that dental caries and deformed dental arches
resulting in crowded, crooked teeth are the result of nutritional
deficiencies, not inherited genetic defects.
The groups Price studied included sequestered
villages in Switzerland, Gaelic communities in the Outer Hebrides,
indigenous peoples of North and South America, Melanesian and
Polynesian South Sea Islanders, African tribes, Australian Aborigines
and New Zealand Maori. Wherever he went, Dr. Price found that
beautiful straight teeth, freedom from decay, good physiques,
resistance to disease and fine characters were typical of native
groups on their traditional diets, rich in essential nutrients.
When Dr. Price analyzed the foods used by
isolated peoples he found that, in comparison to the American diet of
his day, they provided at least four times the water-soluble vitamins,
calcium and other minerals, and at least TEN times the fat-soluble
vitamins, from animal foods such as butter, fish eggs, shellfish,
organ meats, eggs and animal fats--the very cholesterol-rich foods now
shunned by the American public as unhealthful. These healthy
traditional peoples knew instinctively what scientists of Dr. Price's
day had recently discovered--that these fat-soluble vitamins, vitamins
A and D, were vital to health because they acted as catalysts to
mineral absorption and protein utilization. Without them, we cannot
absorb minerals, no matter how abundant they may be in our food. Dr.
Price discovered an additional fat-soluble nutrient, which he labeled
Activator X, that is present in fish livers and shellfish, and organ
meats and butter from cows eating rapidly growing green grass in the
Spring and Fall. All primitive groups had a source of Activator
X, now thought to be vitamin K2, in their diets.
The isolated groups Dr. Price investigated
understood the importance of preconceptual nutrition for both parents.
Many tribes required a period of special feeding before conception, in
which nutrient-dense animal foods were given to young men and women.
These same foods were considered important for pregnant and lactating
women and growing children. Price discovered them to be particularly
rich in minerals and in the fat-soluble activators found only in
animal fats.
The isolated people Price photographed--with
their fine bodies, ease of reproduction, emotional stability and
freedom from degenerative ills--stand forth in sharp contrast to
civilized moderns subsisting on the "displacing foods of modern
commerce," including sugar, white flour, pasteurized milk, lowfat
foods, vegetable oils and convenience items filled with extenders and
additives.
The discoveries and conclusions of Dr. Price
are presented in his classic volume, Nutrition and Physical
Degeneration. The book contains striking photographs of handsome,
healthy primitive people and illustrates in an unforgettable way the
physical degeneration that occurs when human groups abandon nourishing
traditional diets in favor of modern convenience foods.
|
 
|
|
Photo
Copyright © Price-Pottenger Nutrition Foundation®, All
Rights Reserved, www.ppnf.org
The photographs of
Dr. Weston Price illustrate the difference in facial structure
between those on native diets and those whose parents had
adopted the "civilized" diets of devitalized
processed foods. The "primitive" Seminole (left) has
a wide, handsome face with plenty of room for the dental
arches. The "modernized" Seminole girl (right), born
to parents who had abandoned their traditional diets, has a
narrowed face, crowded teeth and a reduced immunity to
disease.
|
Characteristics
of Traditional Diets
- The diets of healthy, nonindustrialized
peoples contain no refined or denatured foods or ingredients, such
as refined sugar or high fructose corn syrup; white flour; canned
foods; pasteurized, homogenized, skim or lowfat milk; refined or
hydrogenated vegetable oils; protein powders; artificial vitamins;
or toxic additives and colorings.
- All traditional cultures consume some sort
of animal food, such as fish and shellfish; land and water fowl;
land and sea mammals; eggs; milk and milk products; reptiles; and
insects. The whole animal is consumed--muscle meat, organs, bones
and fat, with the organ meats and fats preferred.
- The diets of healthy, nonindustrialized
peoples contain at least four times the minerals and water-soluble
vitamins, and TEN times the fat-soluble vitamins found in animal
fats (vitamin A, vitamin D and vitamin K2--Price's
"Activator X") as the average American diet.
- All traditional cultures cooked some of
their food but all consumed a portion of their animal foods raw.
- Primitive and traditional diets have a high
content of food enzymes and beneficial bacteria from lacto-fermented
vegetables, fruits, beverages, dairy products, meats and condiments.
- Seeds, grains and nuts are soaked, sprouted,
fermented or naturally leavened to neutralize naturally occurring
anti-nutrients such as enzyme inhibitors, tannins and phytic acid.
- Total fat content of traditional diets
varies from 30 percent to 80 percent of calories but only about 4
percent of calories come from polyunsaturated oils naturally
occurring in grains, legumes, nuts, fish, animal fats and
vegetables. The balance of fat calories is in the form of saturated
and monounsaturated fatty acids.
- Traditional diets contain nearly equal
amounts of omega-6 and omega-3 essential fatty acids.
- All traditional diets contain some salt.
- All traditional cultures make use of animal
bones, usually in the form of gelatin-rich bone broths.
- Traditional cultures make provisions for the
health of future generations by providing special nutrient-rich
animal foods for parents-to-be, pregnant women and growing children;
by proper spacing of children; and by teaching the principles of
right diet to the young.
Dietary Guidelines
- Eat whole, unprocessed foods.
- Eat beef, lamb, game, organ meats, poultry
and eggs from pasture-fed animals.
- Eat wild fish (not farm-raised) and
shellfish from unpolluted waters.
- Eat full-fat milk products from pasture-fed
cows, preferably raw and/or fermented, such as raw milk, whole
yogurt, kefir, cultured butter, whole raw cheeses and fresh and sour
cream. (Imported cheeses that say "milk" or "fresh
milk" on the label are raw.)
- Use animal fats, especially butter,
liberally.
- Use traditional vegetable oils only--extra
virgin olive oil, expeller-expressed sesame oil, small amounts of
expeller-expressed flax oil, and the tropical oils--coconut oil,
palm oil and palm kernel oil.
- Take cod liver oil regularly to provide at
least 10,000 IU vitamin A and 1,000 IU vitamin D per day.
- Eat fresh fruits and vegetables--preferably
organic--in salads and soups, or lightly steamed with butter.
- Use whole grains, legumes and nuts that have
been prepared by soaking, sprouting or sour leavening to neutralize
phytic acid, enzyme inhibitors and other anti-nutrients.
- Include enzyme-enhanced lacto-fermented
vegetables, fruits, beverages and condiments in your diet on a
regular basis.
- Prepare homemade meat stocks from the bones
of chicken, beef, lamb and fish and use liberally in soups, stews,
gravies and sauces.
- Use filtered water for cooking and drinking.
- Use unrefined salt and a variety of herbs
and spices for food interest and appetite stimulation.
- Make your own salad dressing using raw
vinegar, extra virgin olive oil and a small amount of
expeller-expressed flax oil.
- Use natural sweeteners in moderation, such
as raw honey, maple syrup, maple sugar, date sugar, dehydrated cane
sugar juice (sold as Rapadura) and stevia powder.
- Use only unpasteurized wine or beer in
strict moderation with meals.
- Cook only in stainless steel, cast iron,
glass or good quality enamel.
- Use only natural, food-based supplements.
- Get plenty of sleep, exercise and natural
light.
- Think positive thoughts and practice
forgiveness.
Dietary Dangers
- Do not eat commercially processed foods such
as cookies, cakes, crackers, TV dinners, soft drinks, packaged sauce
mixes, etc. Read labels!
- Avoid all refined sweeteners such as sugar,
dextrose, glucose, high fructose corn syrup and fruit juices.
- Avoid white flour, white flour products and
white rice.
- Avoid all hydrogenated or partially
hydrogenated fats and oils.
- Avoid all refined liquid vegetable oils made
from soy, corn, safflower, canola or cottonseed.
- Do not use polyunsaturated oils for cooking,
sautéing or baking.
- Avoid foods fried in polyunsaturated oils or
partially hydrogenated vegetable oils.
- Do not practice veganism. Animal products
provide vital nutrients not found in plant foods.
- Avoid products containing protein powders as
they usually contain carcinogens formed during processing; and
consumption of protein without the cofactors occurring in nature can
lead to deficiencies, especially of vitamin A.
- Avoid processed, pasteurized milk; do not
consume ultrapasteurized milk products, lowfat milk, skim milk,
powdered milk or imitation milk products.
- Avoid factory-farmed eggs, meats and fish.
- Avoid highly processed luncheon meats and
sausage.
- Avoid rancid and improperly prepared seeds,
nuts and grains found in granolas, quick rise breads and extruded
breakfast cereals, as they block mineral absorption and cause
intestinal distress.
- Avoid canned, sprayed, waxed and irradiated
fruits and vegetables. Avoid genetically modified foods (found in
most soy, canola and corn products).
- Avoid artificial food additives, especially
MSG, hydrolyzed vegetable protein and aspartame, which are
neurotoxins. Most soups, sauce and broth mixes and most commercial
condiments contain MSG, even if not indicated on the label.
- Individuals sensitive to caffeine and
related substances should avoid coffee, tea and chocolate.
- Avoid aluminum-containing foods such as
commercial salt, baking powder and antacids. Do not use aluminum
cookware or deodorants containing aluminum.
- Do not drink fluoridated water.
- Avoid synthetic vitamins and foods
containing them.
- Avoid distilled liquors.
- Do not use a microwave oven.
Confused About Fats?
The following nutrient-rich traditional fats
have nourished healthy population groups for thousands of years:
For Cooking
- Butter
- Tallow and suet from beef and lamb
- Lard from pigs
- Chicken, goose and duck fat
- Coconut, palm and palm kernel oils
For Salads
- Extra virgin olive oil (also OK for cooking)
- Expeller-expressed sesame and peanut oils
- Expeller-expressed flax oil (in small
amounts)
For Fat-Soluble Vitamins
- Fish liver oils such as cod liver oil
(preferable to fish oils, which do not provide fat-soluble vitamins,
can cause an overdose of unsaturated fatty acids and usually come
from farmed fish.)
The following newfangled fats can cause cancer,
heart disease, immune system dysfunction, sterility, learning
disabilities, growth problems and osteoporosis:
- All hydrogenated and partially hydrogenated
oils
- Industrially processed liquid oils such as
soy, corn, safflower, cottonseed and canola
- Fats and oils (especially vegetable oils)
heated to very high temperatures in processing and frying.
The Many Roles of
Saturated Fat
Saturated fats, such as butter, meat fats,
coconut oil and palm oil, tend to be solid at room temperature.
According to conventional nutritional dogma, these traditional fats are
to blame for most of our modern diseases--heart disease, cancer,
obesity, diabetes, malfunction of cell membranes and even nervous
disorders like multiple sclerosis. However, many scientific studies
indicate that it is processed liquid vegetable oil--which is laden with
free radicals formed during processing--and artificially hardened
vegetable oil--called trans fat--that are the culprits in these modern
conditions, not natural saturated fats.
Humans need saturated fats because we are warm
blooded. Our bodies do not function at room temperature, but at a
tropical temperature. Saturated fats provide the appropriate stiffness
and structure to our cell membranes and tissues. When we consume a lot
of liquid unsaturated oils, our cell membranes do not have structural
integrity to function properly, they become too "floppy," and
when we consume a lot of trans fat, which is not as soft as saturated
fats at body temperature, our cell membranes become too
"stiff."
Contrary to the accepted view, which is not
scientifically based, saturated fats do not clog arteries or cause heart
disease. In fact, the preferred food for the heart is saturated fat; and
saturated fats lower a substance called Lp(a), which is a very accurate
marker for proneness to heart disease.
Saturated fats play many important roles in the
body chemistry. They strengthen the immune system and are involved in
inter-cellular communication, which means they protect us against
cancer. They help the receptors on our cell membranes work properly,
including receptors for insulin, thereby protecting us against diabetes.
The lungs cannot function without saturated fats, which is why children
given butter and full-fat milk have much less asthma than children given
reduced-fat milk and margarine. Saturated fats are also involved in
kidney function and hormone production.
Saturated fats are required for the nervous
system to function properly, and over half the fat in the brain is
saturated. Saturated fats also help suppress inflammation. Finally,
saturated animal fats carry the vital fat-soluble vitamins A, D and K2,
which we need in large amounts to be healthy.
Human beings have been consuming saturated fats
from animals products, milk products and the tropical oils for thousands
of years; it is the advent of modern processed vegetable oil that is
associated with the epidemic of modern degenerative disease, not the
consumption of saturated fats.
The Fat-Soluble
Activators
The crux of Dr. Price's research has to do with
what he called the "fat-soluble activators," vitamins found in
the fats and organ meats of grass-fed animals and in certain seafoods,
such as fish eggs, shellfish, oily fish and fish liver oil. The three
fat-soluble activators are vitamin A, vitamin D and a nutrient he
referred to as Activator X, now considered to be vitamin K2,
the animal form of vitamin K. In traditional diets, levels of these key
nutrients were about ten times higher than levels in diets based on the
foods of modern commerce, containing sugar, white flour and vegetable
oil. Dr. Price referred to these vitamins as activators because they
serve as the catalysts for mineral absorption. Without them, minerals
cannot by used by the body, no matter how plentiful they may be in the
diet.
Modern research completely validates the
findings of Dr. Price. We now know that vitamin A is vital for mineral
and protein metabolism, the prevention of birth defects, the optimum
development of infants and children, protection against infection, the
production of stress and sex hormones, thyroid function, and healthy
eyes, skin and bones. Vitamin A is depleted by stress, infection, fever,
heavy exercise, exposure to pesticides and industrial chemicals, and
excess protein consumption (hence our warnings against the consumption
of excess protein in the form of lean meat, lowfat milk and protein
powders.)
Modern research has also revealed the many
roles played by vitamin D, which is needed for mineral metabolism,
healthy bones and nervous system, muscle tone, reproductive health,
insulin production, protection against depression, and protection
against chronic diseases like cancer and heart disease.
Vitamin K plays an important role in growth and
facial development, normal reproduction, development of healthy bones
and teeth, protection against calcification and inflammation of the
arteries, myelin synthesis and learning capacity.
Modern health literature is rife with
misinformation about the fat-soluble vitamins. Many health writers claim
that humans can obtain adequate vitamin A from plant foods. But the
carotenes in plant foods are not true vitamin A. Instead, they serve as
precursors that are converted into vitamin A in the small intestine.
Human beings are not good converters of vitamin A, especially as infants
or when they suffer from diabetes, thyroid problems or intestinal
disorders. Thus, for optimal health, humans require animal foods
containing liberal amounts of vitamin A. Similarly, many claim that
adequate vitamin D can be obtained from a short daily exposure to
sunlight. But the body only makes vitamin D when the sun is directly
overhead, that is, in the summer months, during midday. For most of the
year (and even in the summer for those who do not make a practice of
sunbathing), humans must obtain vitamin D from foods. As for vitamin K,
most health books mention only its role in blood clotting, without
recognizing the many other vital roles played by this nutrient.
Vitamins A, D and K work synergistically.
Vitamins A and D tell cells to make certain proteins; after the cellular
enzymes make these proteins, they are activated by vitamin K. This
synergy explains reports of toxicity from taking vitamins A, D or K in
isolation. All three of these nutrients must come together in the diet
or the body will develop deficiencies in the missing activators.
The vital roles of these fat-soluble vitamins
and the high levels found in the diets of healthy traditional peoples
confirm the importance of pasture-feeding livestock. If domestic animals
are not consuming green grass, vitamins A and K will be largely missing
from their fat, organ meats, butterfat and egg yolks; if the animals are
not raised in the sunlight, vitamin D will be largely missing from these
foods.
Because it is so difficult to obtain adequate
fat-soluble activators in the modern diet, Dr. Price recommended cod
liver oil to provide vitamins A and D, along with a source of vitamin K,
such as butter from grass-fed animals or what he called high-vitamin
butter oil, made by low-temperature centrifuging of butter from cows
eating rapidly growing grass. Consumed in liberal amounts during
pregnancy, lactation and the period of growth, these nutrients ensure
the optimal physical and mental development of children; consumed by
adults, these nutrients protect against acute and chronic disease.
It is important to choose cod liver oil with
care as many brands contain very little vitamin D, with potential
toxicity of vitamin A. Click
here for an over view of cod liver oil and our brand recommendations.
What's Wrong With
"Politically Correct" Nutrition?
"Avoid saturated fats."
Saturated fats play many important roles in the body. They provide
integrity to the cell wall, promote the body's use of essential fatty
acids, enhance the immune system, protect the liver and contribute to
strong bones. The lungs and the kidneys cannot work without saturated
fat. Saturated fats do not cause heart disease. In fact, saturated fats
are the preferred food for the heart. Because your body needs saturated
fats, it makes them out of carbohydrates and excess protein when there
are not enough in the diet.
"Limit cholesterol."
Dietary cholesterol contributes to the strength of the intestinal wall
and helps babies and children develop a healthy brain and nervous
system. Foods that contain cholesterol also provide many other important
nutrients. Only oxidized cholesterol, found in most powdered milk and
powdered eggs, contributes to heart disease. Powdered milk is added to
1% and 2% milk.
"Use more polyunsaturated
oils."
Polyunsaturates in more than small amounts contribute to cancer, heart
disease, autoimmune diseases, learning disabilities, intestinal problems
and premature aging. Large amounts of polyunsaturated fats are new to
the human diet, due to the modern use of commercial liquid vegetable
oils. Even olive oil, a monounsaturated fat considered to be healthy,
can cause imbalances at the cellular level if consumed in large amounts.
"Avoid red meat."
Red meat is a rich source of nutrients that protect the heart and
nervous system; these include vitamins B12 and B6, zinc, phosphorus,
carnitine and coenzyme-Q10.
"Cut back on eggs."
Eggs are nature's perfect food, providing excellent protein, the gamut
of vitamins and important fatty acids that contribute to the health of
the brain and nervous system. Americans had less heart disease when they
ate more eggs. Egg substitutes cause rapid death in test animals.
"Restrict salt."
Salt is crucial to digestion and assimilation. Salt is also necessary
for the development and function of the nervous system.
"Eat lean meat and drink lowfat
milk."
Lean meat and lowfat milk lack fat-soluble vitamins needed to assimilate
the protein and minerals in meat and milk. Consumption of lowfat foods
can lead to depletion of vitamin A and D reserves.
"Limit fat consumption to 30
percent of calories."
Thirty percent calories as fat is too low for most people, leading to
low blood sugar and fatigue. Traditional diets contained 30 percent to
80 percent of calories as healthy fats, mostly of animal origin.
"Eat 6-11 servings of grains per
day."
Most grain products are made from white flour, which is devoid of
nutrients. Additives in white flour can cause vitamin deficiencies.
Whole grain products can cause mineral deficiencies and intestinal
problems unless properly prepared.
"Eat at least 5 servings of fruits
and vegetables per day."
Fruits and vegetables receive an average of 10 applications of
pesticides, from seed to storage. Consumers should seek out organic
produce. Quality counts!
"Eat more soy foods."
Modern soy foods block mineral absorption, inhibit protein digestion,
depress thyroid function and contain potent carcinogens.

Photo
Copyright © Price-Pottenger Nutrition Foundation®, All Rights
Reserved, www.ppnf.org
Dr. Price consistently found
that healthy isolated peoples, whose diets contained adequate nutrients
from animal protein and fat, not only enjoyed excellent health but also
had a cheerful, positive attitude to life. He noted that most prison and
asylum inmates have facial deformities indicative of prenatal
nutritional deficiencies.
Traditional Versus
Modern Diets
| Traditional
Diets Maximized Nutrients |
Modern
Diets Minimize Nutrients |
| Foods from
fertile soil |
Foods from
depleted soil |
| Organ meats
preferred over muscle meats |
Muscle meats
preferred, few organ meats |
| Natural animal
fats |
Processed
vegetable oils |
| Animals on
pasture |
Animals in
confinement |
| Dairy products
raw and/or fermented |
Dairy products
pasteurized or ultrapasteurized |
|
Grains and legumes soaked and/or
fermented
|
Grains refined,
and/or extruded |
| Soy foods given
long fermentation, consumed in small amounts |
Soy foods
industrially processed, consumed in large amounts |
| Bone broths |
MSG, artificial
flavorings |
| Unrefined
sweeteners |
Refined
sweeteners |
| Lacto-fermented
vegetables |
Processed,
pasteurized pickles |
| Lacto-fermented
beverages |
Modern soft
drinks |
| Unrefined salt |
Refined salt |
| Natural
vitamins occurring in foods |
Synthetic
vitamins taken alone or added to foods |
| Traditional
cooking |
Microwave, Irradiation
|
| Tradition
seeds, open pollination |
Hybrid seeds,
GMO seeds |
Myths and Truths
About Nutrition
Myth: Heart disease in America
is caused by consumption of cholesterol and saturated fat from animal
products.
Truth: During the period of rapid increase in heart
disease (1920-1960), American consumption of animal fats declined but
consumption of hydrogenated and industrially processed vegetable fats
increased dramatically (USDA-HNIS).
Myth: Saturated fat clogs
arteries.
Truth: The fatty acids found in artery clogs are mostly
unsaturated (74%) of which 41% are polyunsaturated (Lancet 1994
344:1195).
Myth: Vegetarians live longer.
Truth: The annual all-cause death rate of vegetarian
men is slightly more than that of non-vegetarian men (.93% vs .89%); the
annual all-cause death rate of vegetarian women is significantly more
than that of non-vegetarian women (.86% vs .54%) (Wise Traditions
2000 1:4:16-17).
Myth: Vitamin B12 can be
obtained from certain plant sources such as blue-green algae and
fermented soy products.
Truth: Vitamin B12 is not absorbed from plant sources.
Modern soy products actually increase the body's need for B12 (Soybeans:
Chemistry & Technology
Vol 1 1972).
Myth: For good health, serum
cholesterol should be less than 180 mg/dl.
Truth: The all-cause death rate is higher in
individuals with cholesterol levels lower than 180 mg/dl (Circulation
1992 86:3).
Myth: Animal fats cause cancer
and heart disease.
Truth: Animal fats contain many nutrients that protect
against cancer and heart disease; elevated rates of cancer and heart
disease are associated with consumption of large amounts of vegetable
oil (Federation Proceedings July 1978 37:2215).
Myth: Children benefit from a
lowfat diet.
Truth: Children on lowfat diets suffer from growth
problems, failure to thrive and learning disabilities (Am J Dis
Child 1989 May;143(5):537-42).
Myth: A lowfat diet will make
you "feel better...and increase your joy of living."
Truth: Lowfat diets are associated with increased rates
of depression, psychological problems, fatigue, violence and suicide (Br
J Nutr 1998 Jan;79(1)23-30).
Myth: To avoid heart disease,
we should use margarine instead of butter.
Truth: Margarine eaters have twice the rate of heart
disease as butter eaters (Nutrition Week 3/22/91 21:12).
Myth: Americans do not consume
enough essential fatty acids (EFAs).
Truth: Americans consume far too much of one kind of
EFA (omega-6 EFAs found in most polyunsaturated vegetable oils) but not
enough of another kind of EFA (omega-3 EFAs found in fish, fish oils,
eggs from pasture-fed chickens, dark green vegetables and herbs, and
oils from certain seeds such as flax and chia, nuts such as walnuts and
in small amounts in all whole grains) (American Journal of Clinical
Nutrition 1991 54:438-63).
Myth: The "cave man
diet" was low in fat.
Truth: Throughout the world, primitive peoples sought
out and consumed fat from fish and shellfish, water fowl, sea mammals,
land birds, insects, reptiles, rodents, bears, dogs, pigs, cattle,
sheep, goats, game, eggs, nuts and milk products (Abrams, Food &
Evolution 1987).
Myth: A vegetarian diet will
protect you against atherosclerosis.
Truth: The International Atherosclerosis Project found
that vegetarians had just as much atherosclerosis as meat eaters (Laboratory
Investigations 1968 18:498).
Myth: Lowfat diets prevent
breast cancer.
Truth: A recent study found that women on very lowfat
diets (less than 20%) had the same rate of breast cancer as women who
consumed large amounts of fat (New England Journal of Medicine 2/8/96).
Myth: Coconut oil causes heart
disease.
Truth: When coconut oil was fed as 7% of energy to
patients recovering from heart attacks, the patients had greater
improvement compared to untreated controls, and no difference compared
to patients treated with corn or safflower oils. Populations that
consume coconut oil have low rates of heart disease. Coconut oil may
also be one of the most useful oils to prevent heart disease because of
its antiviral and antimicrobial characteristics (Journal of the
American Medical Association 1967 202:1119-1123; American
Journal of Clinical Nutrition 1981 34:1552).
Myth: Saturated fats inhibit
production of anti-inflammatory prostaglandins.
Truth: Saturated fats actually improve the production
of all prostaglandins by facilitating the conversion of essential fatty
acids ("Tripping
Lightly Down the Prostaglindin Pathways," westonaprice.org).
Myth: Arachidonic acid in
foods like liver, butter and egg yolks causes production of
"bad" inflammatory prostaglandins.
Truth: Series 2 prostaglandins that the body makes from
arachidonic acid both encourage and inhibit inflammation under
appropriate circumstances. Arachidonic acid is vital for the function of
the brain and nervous system (Ibid).
Myth: Beef causes colon cancer
Truth: Argentina, with higher beef consumption, has
lower rates of colon cancer than the US. Mormons have lower rates of
colon cancer than vegetarian Seventh Day Adventists (Cancer Research
1975 35:3513).
Myths and
Truths About Soy
Myth: Use of soy as a food
dates back many thousands of years.
Truth: Soy was first used as a food during the late
Chou dynasty (1134-246 BC) only after the Chinese learned to ferment soy
beans to make foods like tempeh, natto and tamari.
Myth: Asians consume large
amounts of soy foods.
Truth: Average consumption of soy foods in China is 10
grams (about 2 teaspoons) per day and up to 60 grams in parts of Japan.
Asians consume soy foods in small amounts as a condiment, and not as a
replacement for animal foods.
Myth: Modern soy foods confer
the same health benefits as traditionally fermented soy foods.
Truth: Most modern soy foods are not fermented to
neutralize toxins in soybeans, and are processed in a way that denatures
proteins and increases levels of carcinogens.
Myth: Soy foods provide
complete protein.
Truth: Like all legumes, soybeans are deficient in
sulfur-containing amino acids methionine and cystine. In addition,
modern processing denatures fragile lysine.
Myth: Fermented soy foods can
provide vitamin B12 in vegetarian diets.
Truth: The compound that resembles vitamin B12 in soy
cannot be used by the human body; in fact, soy foods cause the body to
require more B12.
Myth: Soy formula is safe for
infants.
Truth: Soy foods contain trypsin inhibitors that
inhibit protein digestion and affect pancreatic function. In test
animals, diets high in trypsin inhibitors led to stunted growth and
pancreatic disorders. Soy foods increase the body's requirement for
vitamin D, needed for strong bones and normal growth. Phytic acid in soy
foods results in reduced bioavailabilty of iron and zinc which are
required for the health and development of the brain and nervous system.
Soy also lacks cholesterol, likewise essential for the development of
the brain and nervous system. Megadoses of phytoestrogens in soy formula
have been implicated in the current trend toward increasingly premature
sexual development in girls and delayed or retarded sexual development
in boys.
Myth: Soy foods can prevent
osteoporosis.
Truth: Soy foods can cause deficiencies in calcium and
vitamin D, both needed for healthy bones. Calcium from bone broths and
vitamin D from seafood, lard and organ meats prevent osteoporosis in
Asian countries--not soy foods.
Myth: Modern soy foods protect
against many types of cancer.
Truth: A British government report concluded that there
is little evidence that soy foods protect against breast cancer or any
other forms of cancer. In fact, soy foods may result in an increased
risk of cancer.
Myth: Soy foods protect
against heart disease.
Truth: In some people, consumption of soy foods will
lower cholesterol, but there is no evidence that lowering cholesterol
lowers one's risk of developing heart disease.
Myth: Soy estrogens (isoflavones)
are good for you.
Truth: Soy isoflavones are phyto-endocrine disrupters.
At dietary levels, they can prevent ovulation and stimulate the growth
of cancer cells. Eating as little as 30 mg isoflavones (from about 30 g
soy protein) per day can result in hypothyroidism with symptoms of
lethargy, constipation, weight gain and fatigue.
Myth: Soy foods are safe and
beneficial for women to use in their postmenopausal years.
Truth: Soy foods can stimulate the growth of
estrogen-dependent tumors and cause thyroid problems. Low thyroid
function is associated with difficulties in menopause.
Myth: Phytoestrogens in soy
foods can enhance mental ability.
Truth: A recent study found that women with the highest
levels of estrogen in their blood had the lowest levels of cognitive
function; in Japanese Americans, tofu consumption in mid-life is
associated with the occurrence of Alzheimer's disease in later life.
Myth: Soy isoflavones and soy
protein isolate have GRAS (Generally Recognized as Safe) status.
Truth: Archer Daniels Midland (ADM) recently withdrew
its application to the FDA for GRAS status for soy isoflavones following
an outpouring of protest from the scientific community. The FDA never
approved GRAS status for soy protein isolate because of concern
regarding the presence of toxins and carcinogens in processed soy.
Myth: Soy foods are good for
your sex life.
Truth: Numerous animal studies show that soy foods
cause infertility in animals. Soy consumption lowers testosterone levels
in men. Tofu was consumed by Buddhist monks to reduce libido.
Myth: Soybeans are good for
the environment.
Truth: Most soybeans grown throughout the world are
genetically engineered to allow farmers to use large amounts of
herbicides, creating toxic runoff.
Myth: Soybeans are good for
developing nations.
Truth: In third world countries, soybeans replace
traditional crops and transfer the value-added of processing from the
local population to multinational corporations.
Soy Infant Formula:
Birth Control Pills for Babies
Babies fed soy-based formula have 13,000 to
22,000 times more estrogen compounds in their blood than babies fed
milk-based formula. Infants exclusively fed soy formula receive the
estrogenic equivalent (based on body weight) of at least five birth
control pills per day.
Male infants undergo a "testosterone
surge" during the first few months of life, when testosterone
levels may be as high as those of an adult male. During this period,
baby boys are programmed to express male characteristics after puberty,
not only in the development of their sexual organs and other masculine
physical traits, but also in setting patterns in the brain
characteristic of male behavior.
In animals, soy feeding indicates that
phytoestrogens in soy are powerful endocrine disrupters. Soy infant
feeding reduces testosterone levels in male marmoset monkeys as much as
70% and cannot be ignored as a possible cause of disrupted development
patterns in boys, including learning disabilities and attention deficit
disorder. Male children exposed to DES, a synthetic estrogen, had testes
smaller than normal on maturation.
Almost 15 percent of white girls and 50 percent
of African-American girls show signs of puberty, such as breast
development and pubic hair, before the age of eight. Some girls are
showing sexual development before the age of three. Premature
development of girls has been linked to the use of soy formula and
exposure to environmental estrogen-mimickers such as PCBs and DDE.
Animal studies indicate that consumption of
more than minimal amounts of phytoestrogens during pregnancy may have
adverse affects on the developing fetus, the timing of puberty later in
life, and thinking and behavior patterns, especially in male offspring.
For a full list of references and further
information on the dangers of modern soy products visit our Soy
Alert! section or go to www.soyonlineservice.co.nz.
Coronary Heart Disease:
What the Experts Say
"In Framingham, Massachusetts, the more
saturated fat one ate, the more cholesterol one ate, the more calories
one ate, the lower people's serum cholesterol. . . we found that the
people who ate the most cholesterol, ate the most saturated fat, ate the
most calories weighed the least and were the most physically
active."
--William Castelli, MD, Director, The Framingham Study
"The diet-heart hypothesis has been
repeatedly shown to be wrong, and yet, for complicated reasons of pride,
profit and prejudice, the hypothesis continues to be exploited by
scientists, fund-raising enterprises, food companies and even
governmental agencies. The public is being deceived by the greatest
health scam of the century."
--George Mann, ScD, MD, Former Co-Director, The Framingham Study
"An analysis of cholesterol values . . .
in 1,700 patients with atherosclerotic disease revealed no definite
correlation between serum cholesterol levels and the nature and extent
of atherosclerotic disease."
--Michael DeBakey, MD, Famous Heart Surgeon
"The relevant literature [on CHD] is
permeated with fraudulent material that is designed to convert negative
evidence into positive evidence with respect to the lipid hypothesis.
That fraud is relatively easy to detect."
--Russell L. Smith, PhD
"Whatever causes coronary heart disease,
it is not primarily a high intake of saturated fat."
--Michael Gurr, PhD, Renowned Lipid Chemist, Author of authoritative
study on CHD
The Weston A. Price Foundation is supported
solely by membership contributions and private donations and does not
accept funding from the meat or dairy industries.
Principles of Holistic
Dentistry
In addition to his work on nutrition, Dr. Price
conducted extensive research into the destructive effects of root
canals, detailed in his two-volume work Dental Infections Oral &
Systemic and Dental Infections & the Degenerative Diseases. His
conclusions, ignored by the orthodox dental establishment for over 50
years, are gaining renewed acceptance as holistic practitioners are
discovering that the first step to recovery from degenerative disease
often involves removal of all root canals in the patient's mouth. The
principles of holistic dentistry, based on the research of Weston Price,
are as follows:
- Eat nutrient-dense whole foods, properly
grow and prepared.
- Avoid root canals. If you have root canals
and suspect that they are causing disease, have them removed by a
knowledgeable dentist.
- Avoid mercury (amalgam) fillings. If you
have amalgam fillings and suspect they are contributing to health
problems, have them removed by a holistic dentist who specializes in
mercury filling replacement.
- Orthodontics should include measures to
widen the palate.
- When it is necessary to extract teeth, do so
in such a way as to avoid leaving the jaw bone with cavitations,
which can become focal points of infection.
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Photo
Copyright © Price-Pottenger Nutrition Foundation®, All Rights
Reserved, www.ppnf.org
Good dental health
begins with the diet of both parents. The "primitive"
Samoan girl (left) was born to parents who ate nutrient-rich
native foods. The "civilized" Samoan boy (right) was
born to parents who had abandoned their traditional diet. He has
crowded dental arches and will be more susceptible to dental
decay and chronic illness.
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The Weston A. Price Foundation
The Weston A. Price Foundation is a nonprofit,
tax-exempt charity founded in 1999 to disseminate the research of
nutrition pioneer Dr. Weston Price, whose studies of isolated
nonindustrialized peoples established the parameters of human health and
determined the optimum characteristics of human diets.
The Foundation is dedicated to restoring
nutrient-dense foods to the American diet through education, research
and activism and supports a number of movements that contribute to this
objective including accurate nutrition instruction, organic and
biodynamic farming, pasture-feeding of livestock, community-supported
farms, honest and informative labeling, prepared parenting and nurturing
therapies. Specific goals include establishment of universal access to
clean, certified raw milk through A Campaign for RealMilk (www.realmilk.com)
and a ban on the use of soy formula for infants through its Soy Alert!
project.
The Foundation seeks to establish a laboratory
to test nutrient content of foods, particularly butter produced under
various conditions; to conduct research into the "X" Factor,
discovered by Dr. Price; and to determine the effects of traditional
preparation methods on nutrient content and availability in whole foods.
The board and membership of the Weston A. Price
Foundation stand united in the belief that modern technology should be
harnessed as a servant to the wise and nurturing traditions of our
ancestors rather than used as a force that is destructive to the
environment and human health; and that science and knowledge can
validate those traditions.
The Foundation's quarterly magazine, Wise
Traditions in Food, Farming and the Healing Arts, is dedicated to
exploring the scientific validation of dietary, agricultural and medical
traditions throughout the world. It features illuminating and
thought-provoking articles on current scientific research; human diets;
nontoxic agriculture; and holistic therapies. In addition, it serves as
a source for foods that have been conscientiously grown and processed.
An extensive system of local
chapters also helps consumers find healthy foods available in their
communities..
Become a Member of
the Weston A. Price Foundation
Membership in The Weston A. Price Foundation®
is your opportunity to receive our informative quarterly magazine WiseTraditions
in Food, Farming and the Healing Arts and support our projects and
objectives, including:
- Nutrient-Dense Foods
- Traditional Fats
- Lacto-Fermentation
- Broth Is Beautiful
- A Campaign for Real Milk
- Truth in Labeling
- Prepared Parenting
- Soy Alert!
- Life-Giving Water
- Non-Toxic Farming
- Pasture-Fed Livstock
- Nuturing Therapies
- Community-Supported Agriculture
"I challenge anyone to find a more
cutting-edge, transformative and provocative health magazine than Wise
Traditions. With every issue I am awestruck at the no-holds-barred
shattering of myths and distortions foisted on us by both mainstream and
alternative sources."
--MB, Nicasio, CA
"Wise Traditions appeals to people of all
backgrounds. People with virtually no health or scientific training find
this journal easy to comprehend and highly practical for making positive
and often dramatic changes in their health. And some of the most
advanced health practitioners tell me that they continually discover
information in Wise Traditions that has increased their efficacy as they
practice the healing arts."
--CC, Milwaukee, WI
"When Wise Traditions arrives, we stop
everything and read every page."
--RP, Baltimore, MD
Click
here to read more of our basic brochures on topics such as cancer, trans
fats, and cholesterol.
You teach, you teach, you teach!
--Last words of Dr. Weston A. Price, June 23, 1948
Copyright: © 1999 The Weston
A. Price Foundation. All Rights Reserved.
Share your local food experiences, recipes and
health tips. We are also looking for leaders in the area to help
us plan and organize events. Please
contact us to help build this community.
__________________________________
Contact
Wise County and surrounding areas, Texas chapter leader at:
418
County Road 2788
Sunset,
Texas 76270
phone:
940-427-2609
email
us at WAPF
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