I finally had a little time to sit down and read this very interesting thread.
I am so glad I did. Such interesting stuff.
For the most part I am on the same page with everything said. I am pleased that everyone is on the same page regarding the disinfo perpetuated by the AMA on cholesterol and heart disease. A book that really brings these studies into the light of day and the corresponding politics is Good Calories, Bad Calories by Gary Taubes. It is really an entertaining read if a bit dense in places. Taubes is a correspondent for Science magazine and the only print jounrnalist to have won three Science in Society Journalism awards, given by the National Association of Science Writers.
a quote from the inside cover says:
One of my favorite chapter is chapter fourteen, The Mythology of Obesity.
quote:
In the chapter he details the ongoing rise in obesity in American society and then uses the Pima Indians as an illustrative case. The Pima have the highest rate of obesity and diabetes in the US and possibly the world. This condition concurrent with reservation life and dietary changes. IN 1845 the surgeon general John Griffin who was traveling with the Army Battalion passing through Pima lands described them as "sprightly" and in "fine health". He noted that they had "the greatest abundance of food, and take care of it well, as we saw many of their storehouses full of pumpkins, melons, corn etc."
He then uses the Sioux and the people of the West Indies and more illustrative cases. Despite arduous activity they get fatter and fatter once "Western" foods are introduced i.e. white flour, sugar, coffee, canned fruit etc.
By the 1950's obesity is rampant. "Hess noted that the Pima diet of the mid 1950's was remarkably consistent from family to family and consisted of 'mainly beans, tortillas, chili peppers and coffee, while oatmeal and eggs are occasionally eaten for breakfast. Meat and vegetables are eaten only once or twice a week." ....Hess concluded that 24 percent of the calories consumed by the Pima were from fat, which is certainly low by modern standards."
hmmmm, gee isn't that what we are all told we should be eating. Isn't that representative of the 'food pyramid'??
In the book he also goes into detail around the role of inflammation and the host of "Western" diseases and makes the dietary link.
It's a good read.
On a personal note, when we have been poorest we have eaten Pima style, with a bit more in the way of vegetables. And I'll tell you I certainly don't lose weight. Even though at the time I was eating ...oh ...I'm sure less than 1000 calories a day.
As has been said, fat does not make fat. I am eating a lot more 'calories' now and losing some weight. This morning I made smoothies with blueberries, peaches and banana and coconut water, raw coconut oil and cod liver oil and flax seeds. It had to be 1000 calories.
I also wanted to add something about flax seed oil. Flax seed oil is a very fragile oil and should never be heated. It should be kept cool and refrigerated as it is prone to rancidity. Good flax seed oil tastes delicious. It does not have a strong taste at all. If anything it reminds me of butter and I frequently pour it on hot cereal and pancakes instead of butter. I also add it to hummus. BTW delicious hummus can be made from chick peas that are simply soaked overnight until slightly sprouted. This increases their digestibility enormously. I have made this for parties and no one can tell the difference, it's very popular.
I am a little concerned that equine flax oil may be rancid or approaching rancidity if it tastes very strong. I remember giving that to my horses and it would frequently be rancid. I finally stopped buying it for my livestock and simply added flax seed meal that I ground myself. ( I kept horses, cows, sheep and goats on pasture following organic methods)
I like the idea of the elimination diet and should probably do one. I have been a proponent of coffee enemas for a long time. It was part of my mom's cancer treatment over 20 years ago. I have a sluggish liver so I should probably get back on track with that too.
The one thing I am really struggling with is the wheat issue.... with kids this just seems really challenging. No crackers, no sandwiches, no pasta. As it is I really limit it and buy organic, sprouted and frequently spelt. But I know my oldest probably has a gluten issue. sigh.... Okay so today I am off to buy some kind of gluten free recipe book. I do use a lot of buckwheat for pancakes and hot cereal. I like the idea of chickpea flour.
So that will be the next thing I try.
I am so glad I did. Such interesting stuff.
For the most part I am on the same page with everything said. I am pleased that everyone is on the same page regarding the disinfo perpetuated by the AMA on cholesterol and heart disease. A book that really brings these studies into the light of day and the corresponding politics is Good Calories, Bad Calories by Gary Taubes. It is really an entertaining read if a bit dense in places. Taubes is a correspondent for Science magazine and the only print jounrnalist to have won three Science in Society Journalism awards, given by the National Association of Science Writers.
a quote from the inside cover says:
One of my favorite chapter is chapter fourteen, The Mythology of Obesity.
quote:
In the chapter he details the ongoing rise in obesity in American society and then uses the Pima Indians as an illustrative case. The Pima have the highest rate of obesity and diabetes in the US and possibly the world. This condition concurrent with reservation life and dietary changes. IN 1845 the surgeon general John Griffin who was traveling with the Army Battalion passing through Pima lands described them as "sprightly" and in "fine health". He noted that they had "the greatest abundance of food, and take care of it well, as we saw many of their storehouses full of pumpkins, melons, corn etc."
He then uses the Sioux and the people of the West Indies and more illustrative cases. Despite arduous activity they get fatter and fatter once "Western" foods are introduced i.e. white flour, sugar, coffee, canned fruit etc.
By the 1950's obesity is rampant. "Hess noted that the Pima diet of the mid 1950's was remarkably consistent from family to family and consisted of 'mainly beans, tortillas, chili peppers and coffee, while oatmeal and eggs are occasionally eaten for breakfast. Meat and vegetables are eaten only once or twice a week." ....Hess concluded that 24 percent of the calories consumed by the Pima were from fat, which is certainly low by modern standards."
hmmmm, gee isn't that what we are all told we should be eating. Isn't that representative of the 'food pyramid'??
In the book he also goes into detail around the role of inflammation and the host of "Western" diseases and makes the dietary link.
It's a good read.
On a personal note, when we have been poorest we have eaten Pima style, with a bit more in the way of vegetables. And I'll tell you I certainly don't lose weight. Even though at the time I was eating ...oh ...I'm sure less than 1000 calories a day.
As has been said, fat does not make fat. I am eating a lot more 'calories' now and losing some weight. This morning I made smoothies with blueberries, peaches and banana and coconut water, raw coconut oil and cod liver oil and flax seeds. It had to be 1000 calories.
I also wanted to add something about flax seed oil. Flax seed oil is a very fragile oil and should never be heated. It should be kept cool and refrigerated as it is prone to rancidity. Good flax seed oil tastes delicious. It does not have a strong taste at all. If anything it reminds me of butter and I frequently pour it on hot cereal and pancakes instead of butter. I also add it to hummus. BTW delicious hummus can be made from chick peas that are simply soaked overnight until slightly sprouted. This increases their digestibility enormously. I have made this for parties and no one can tell the difference, it's very popular.
I am a little concerned that equine flax oil may be rancid or approaching rancidity if it tastes very strong. I remember giving that to my horses and it would frequently be rancid. I finally stopped buying it for my livestock and simply added flax seed meal that I ground myself. ( I kept horses, cows, sheep and goats on pasture following organic methods)
I like the idea of the elimination diet and should probably do one. I have been a proponent of coffee enemas for a long time. It was part of my mom's cancer treatment over 20 years ago. I have a sluggish liver so I should probably get back on track with that too.
The one thing I am really struggling with is the wheat issue.... with kids this just seems really challenging. No crackers, no sandwiches, no pasta. As it is I really limit it and buy organic, sprouted and frequently spelt. But I know my oldest probably has a gluten issue. sigh.... Okay so today I am off to buy some kind of gluten free recipe book. I do use a lot of buckwheat for pancakes and hot cereal. I like the idea of chickpea flour.
So that will be the next thing I try.
, the liquid does not want to stay inside. 
