Research
Essential Question: How does good nutrition allow individuals to function st an optimal level and how does current society prevent this from occurring?
Focus areas:
Source 1: Frassetto, L. A., M. Schloetter, M. Mietus-Synder, R. C. Morris, and A. Sebastian. "Metabolic and Physiologic Improvements from Consuming a Paleolithic, Hunter-gatherer Type Diet." European Journal of Clinical Nutrition 63.8 (2009): 947-55. Web.
Notes:
Source 2: Finnegan, John. "Generational Consequences of Deficiency." The Facts about Fats: A Consumer's Guide to Good Oils. Berkeley, CA: Celestial Arts, 1993. N. pag. Nutritiondepotforcharity.com. Web. 5 Nov. 2014.
Health of Native Americans/Hunter-gatherers
FAT FAT FAT!
Eating the WHOLE ANIMAL
Sacred Foods
Fat-Soluble Nutrients
Plant Foods
Fermented Foods
Conclusion
Proof of Negative Impact of Americanized Diet
Source #4:
Enig, Mary G. "Health and nutritional benefits from coconut oil: an important functional food for the 21st century." AVOC Lauric Oils Symposium, Ho Chi Min City, Vietnam. Vol. 25. 1996.
Source of Fat/Heart Hypothesis
Source #5:
Fallon, Sally. "Ancient dietary wisdom for tomorrow's children." Weston A. Price Foundation. http://WwW. Westonaprice. org/traditional_diets/ancient_dietary_ Wisdom. html (1999).
Weston A. Price
Source #6: Loucks, Anne B. "Low energy availability in the marathon and other endurance sports." Sports Medicine 37.4-5 (2007): 348-352.
Energy Availability
Source #7:
Warren, M. P., and N. E. Perlroth. "The effects of intense exercise on the female reproductive system." Journal of Endocrinology 170.1 (2001): 3-11.
Intro
Source #8:
Holly Hartley--Sanford School District Food Coordinator
Interview Questions:
Governmental Standards Questions
Meal Specific Questions
Health Video Outline:
Discuss what Native Diets look/ed like
Health of Native Americans/Hunter-gatherers
FAT FAT FAT!
Sacred Foods
Fat-Soluble Nutrients
Plant Foods
Fermented Foods
Conclusion
Proof of Negative Impact of Americanized Diet
Health of Native Americans/Hunter-gatherers no too decay/dental problemsno arthritis/bone problemsno TB'easy' childbirthrarity of malignant diseases primitive Eskimos and Native Americans v.s modernized ones= many more operations necessary on internal organs (remedy is to revert back to primitive lifestyle) (Dr. Roming)First explorers made clear natives were large, strong, tough FAT FAT FAT!
Briefly discuss the low-fat, low-calorie epidemic and reasons for its arrival + persistence
Implications for a low-fat diet/low-calorie diet
Solutions and Suggestions
Photos/Video
Foods:
Butter
Olive oil
Coconut oil
Avocado
Nuts, seeds, + Coconut
Meat/example meals
+Bad foods
Video:
Running girl; zoom for different topics
Pulling into One Earth
Other:
Advertisements for weight loss/ "health foods"
*Old advertisements
*Current advertisements
Focus areas:
- Importance of nutrition in athletic performance
- Importance and function of the three major macronutrients
- Muscle building process
- Impact of poor/Americanized diet
- History of how food had evolved over time, particularly in the U.S. and in schools (in relation to how we grow, produce, and obtain food/implications of this evolution)
Source 1: Frassetto, L. A., M. Schloetter, M. Mietus-Synder, R. C. Morris, and A. Sebastian. "Metabolic and Physiologic Improvements from Consuming a Paleolithic, Hunter-gatherer Type Diet." European Journal of Clinical Nutrition 63.8 (2009): 947-55. Web.
Notes:
- (Intro) anthropologists Eaton and Konner presented the idea if Paleolithic nutrition to medicine in 1985
- Paleolithic=time period starting over 2 millions years ago until approximately 10,000 years ago; genus homo
- Ended when humans started growing their own crops (primarily cereal grains) and domesticating animals during the Neolithic period
- Paleolithic era: homo species, such as the human race's ancestors Homo sapiens, were hunter-gatherers who lived on wild game meats (lean meats, organs, bone marrow) and wild growing plants (fruits, vegetables, nuts); they did not eat grains, legumes, or dairy
- The Neolithic period has only been going on for 1% of the time we have been around; means humans could not possibly have gone through the necessary evolutionary changes to adapt to the 'new' diet; therefore, it seems feasible that human metabolism and body function would be improved if diet simulated that of our ancestor's
- Other differences result of industrial and fast food revolutions; both have brought foods into the human diet that would have been nonexistent to our ancestors: refined cereal grains, nonhuman mammalian milk, nutrient-deprived and high-energy foods (refined carbohydrates, isolated fats/oils); has additionally made staples of the Paleolithic diet un-appealing (fruits and vegetables); decreased eating of lean animal-source protein as well as potassium salts of organic acids, while rising in consumption of sodium chloride
- The shift in human diet has been accredited with causing "the diseases of civilization:" atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, insulin resistance, Type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome, age-related sarcopenia, osteoporosis, hypertensions, a few kinds of cancer, among other diseases
- A study (Lindberg et al) done on the effect of diet on glucose tolerance/type 2 diabetes mellitus in individuals with ischemic heart disease; the paleo diet caused a "'marked improvement of glucose tolerance in IHD patients who had increased blood sugar glucose or diabetes after advice to follow a Paleolithic diet compared with a healthy western diet.'" It was also concluded "'...that avoiding Western foods is more important than counting calories, fat, carbohydrate, or protein'" when it comes to bettering glucose metabolism
- Another study (Osterdahl et al) that tested impacts of the the paleo diet over a short time frame on healthy individuals concluded that the diet caused individuals to make gains in improving blood pressure and weight loss, though not causing any positive changes in lipid or carbohydrate metabolism
- Study being done: measuring the effects of typical diet against effects of paleo diet by testing for several body functions: glucose tolerance, insulin sensitivity, blood lipid profiles, BP, vascular reactivity, electrolyte excretion rates; subjects are "normal" American individuals over age 18
- Materials and Methods:
- Subjects: healthy weight, females and males, from San Francisco Bay region, little routine exercise; only used if at or below fitness exercise standards expected for their gender and age; declined participation if had medical problems, were on a medication; expected to take part in their normal lives throughout the experiment
- Procedure: 1. (Days -2 to 0) consumed normal diet; baseline 24-h urine collection; electrolyte content in blood samples; glucose lipid profiles; blood pressure; 2-h oral glucose tolerance test; diet analysis by nutritionist with Food Processor SQL (version 10.0.0) nutrition software. 2. (Intervention phase days 1-3) paleo foods incorporated into subjects diet by incremental steps each day to prevent shock from the increased potassium and fiber intake; called Ramp 1, 2, 3 diets; each diet created by ProNutra nutrition software. 3. (Day 4) Paleo diet fully incorporated: (foods included in ramp and paleo diet: meat, fish, poultry, eggs, vegetables, tree nuts, canola oil, mayonnaise, and honey; foods excluded: dairy products, legumes, cereal grains, potatoes, foods containing potassium chloride); paleo diet consisted of three meals as well as three snacks--each produced by the clinical research center's kitchen staff; one meal consumed at research center, rest at home; caloric and energy requirements determined individually by weight and exercise level, (changes in weight (+ or -3 lb) called for according changes in intake; controlled for weight loss; 24-h urinary sodium and potassium excretion utilized to indicate food requirements; bioimpedance spectroscopy relied on to deter main tosl body and intracellular water content; measurement of blood pressure, brachial artery diameter, and blood flow were also taken. Each of the baseline tests were done on days 15 to 17; measurement means on days -2 to 0 and 15 to 17 were calculated
- Experiment non paleo diet= 18% protein, 44% carb, 38% fat; .6 + or - .3 K/Na ratio
- Experiment paleo diet= 30% protein, 38% carb, 32% mainly unsaturated fat; 4.3 K/Na ratio
- Control: did experiment with just one subject first to determine how large the sample size should be; findings: 32% decrease in cholesterol, 39% decrease in low-density lipoprotein (LDL) , decrease in mean arterial pressure; concluded 10 subjects were needed
- Subjects: nine total; six men, three women; age 38+ or - 12; bmi= 27.8 + or - 2.4 kg/m^2
- Findings:
- little to no alteration of weight, intracellular water content, or mean creatinine clearance
- decrease in urinary sodium content (89 + or - 73 mmol/day)
- decrease in chloride content (76 + or - 64 mmol/day)
- increase in urinary potassium content (71 + or - 54 mmol/day)--in 8/9 of subjects
- increase in ration of urinary potassium to sodium excretion (.5 + or - .1 rose to 2.2 + or - .6 )--in 9/9 subjects
- decrease in urinary calcium/creatinine excretion (10 + or - 5 mmol Ca/88400 mmol Cr/day)--in 9/9 subjects
- no major increase or decrease in urine ph
- 16% decrease in cholesterol (8/9 subjects)
- 22% decrease in LDL cholesterol (8/9 subjects)
- 35% decrease in very low density lipoproteins (VLDL) (9/9 subjects)
- 35% decrease in triglycerides (9/9 subjects)
- no major increase or decrease in high-density lipoprotein (HDL)
- 5% decrease in mean fasting glucose (not meaningful)
- 68% decrease in fasting insulin
- 39% decrease in insulin AUC (8/9 subjects)
- 20 + or - 10 to 12 + or - 9 mg/M decrease in ratio of plasma insulin AUC to plasma glucose AUC (9/9 subjects)
- Decrease in Resting Blood Pressure:
- Systolic BP (mm Hg) -2.6 + - 5.1
- Diastolic BP (mm Hg) -3.4 + - 2.7
- MAP (mm Hg) -3.1 + - 2.9
- Brachial artery diameter at baseline (BAD, mm) +3.98 + - .85
- Peak brachial artery diameter during hyperemia (pkFMD; mm) +4. 35 + - .73
- Absolute difference (pkFMD-BAD, mm) +.371 + or - .158
Source 2: Finnegan, John. "Generational Consequences of Deficiency." The Facts about Fats: A Consumer's Guide to Good Oils. Berkeley, CA: Celestial Arts, 1993. N. pag. Nutritiondepotforcharity.com. Web. 5 Nov. 2014.
- Omega-3 fats are critical to for proper brain development in the months of pregnancy as well as in the initial 24 months
- deficiency in omega-3 fats and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) in mother and fetus/infant=inhibits immune system development, induce various emotion, learning, immune system disorders
(Think of the prevalence of such disorders)- 60-70% two-month old infants=bottle fed formula; 75-80% four month old infants=bottle fed formula; no powdered baby formulas have omega-3 fatty acids; generally produced using commercially processes oils that have large concentrations of trans fats among more harmful substances
- No proper replacement for mother's milk (assuming the mother has a healthy diet); mother's milk offers essential fatty acid, long chained fats, and antibodies
- Breast milk has... (v.s. formula)
- 5 times arachindonic acid
- 2.5 times EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid)
- 30 times DHA
- more selenium and biotin
- *Note: American breast milk less nutritious due to consumption of large amounts of trans fat and little amounts of omega-3; Nigerian mothers produce breast milk that has 5 to 10 times more Omega-3 fatty acids
- Major causation factor: promotion of weight loss in America's media; promote not eating fats; since refined oils were developed (three generations ago), most of North America's people have been deprived of the proper fats necessary for proper brain development
- Omega-3 impact capability to learn, anxiety, depression, hearing, seeing; help in maintaining autoimmune system; increasing amount of kids who have allergies, colic, skin disorders
- Evidence that omega-3 fats are important to brain function, immune system function, and growth during childhood and into the teenage years; ex. taking omega-3 supplements caused growth in an underdeveloped seven year old
- Lack of omega-3 and omega-6 fats makes breast milk sparse and causes breast engorgement; however, flax seed oil can improve the amount of milk produced and rid of breast engorgement; pregnant/nursing women should eat fatty fish multiple times a week (2-3 times) and even incorporate flax seed oil
- Nourished mother's breast milk has a wealth of essential fatty acids, GLA, plus more forms of prostaglandins; cows milk does not have as many of these essential fatty acids=not a good replacement; formula should not be a replacement either: little omega-3 combined with lots of omega-6; imbalance causes harm to the immune system and even deem the baby to develop cancer or heart trouble in future years; recommended babies are also fed flax seed oil
- Social and Economic impacts:
- prevalence of depression in youth
- rise in suicide and murder in youth
- rise in drug/alcohol use
- increase in immune diseases (Epstein Barr, Candid, allergies, chronic sinus infections, chronic ear infections, digestive disorders)
- decrease in academic success for students
- decrease in quality of products made by American companies
- each generation is becoming less healthy than the last
- when other cultures move toward consuming modern, westernized foods, results detrimental
Source #3: Fallon, Sally, and M. Enig. "Guts and grease: The diet of Native Americans."Wise Traditions (2001): 40-47. - 60-70% two-month old infants=bottle fed formula; 75-80% four month old infants=bottle fed formula; no powdered baby formulas have omega-3 fatty acids; generally produced using commercially processes oils that have large concentrations of trans fats among more harmful substances
- deficiency in omega-3 fats and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) in mother and fetus/infant=inhibits immune system development, induce various emotion, learning, immune system disorders
Health of Native Americans/Hunter-gatherers
- no too decay/dental problems
- no arthritis/bone problems
- no TB
- 'easy' childbirth
- rarity of malignant diseases
- primitive Eskimos and Native Americans v.s modernized ones= many more operations necessary on internal organs (remedy is to revert back to primitive lifestyle) (Dr. Roming)
- First explorers made clear natives were large, strong, tough
FAT FAT FAT!
- diet consisted of variety of animal foods: deer, buffalo, wild sheep, wild goat, antelope, mouse, elk, caribou, bear, peccary, beaver, rabbit, squirrel, skunk, muskrat, racoon, snakes, lizards, turtles, alligators, fish, shellfish, ducks, geese, sea mammals, locus, spiders, lice, dogs
- game meats hunted with a strategy to obtain the most amount of fat; the older the animal, the more fat (specifically on the back of the animal; back fat=40-50 pounds, 20-30 of which is saturated fat
- fat made up a mere 80% of calorie intake for Northern Native Americans
- loved BEAVER, particularly the fatty tail; leaner, smaller animals hunted as last resort as a result of their low fat content; during extended times of fatty meat scarcity, "Rabbit-Starvation" or the lack of fat would cause diarrhea, headache, lassitude, discomfort, and hunger not satisfied
Eating the WHOLE ANIMAL
- entire animal consumed, instead of just eating the muscle meats like we do today; fat, lean meat, ribs, heart, kidneys, liver, lungs, intestines, brains, tripe, teats/udders, unborn young, tongue, hooves, blood, second stomach, end of the colon, guts, marrow, everything eaten!
- occasionally, just saved the fat of the animal and disposed of the rest
- parts of the animal reserved for women and men; men ate male organs and the ribs; women ate a part of the intestine that was claimed to help their pregnancy
Sacred Foods
- "sacred" foods as well as foods vital to reproduction=were animal foods high in fat content
- ex. bear (fat=most prized part), pemmican, boiled tongue, blood soup
Fat-Soluble Nutrients
- Coastal Native Americans ate lots of fish (again the entire fish) and shellfish
- Animal fats, organ meats, fatty fish provide fat soluble vitamins A + D = "basis of healthy primitive diets." (Weston Price); catalyst for the formation of protein and minerals, if not present, minerals are wasted while the body can't build muscle
- Some fatty glands of game animals have vitamin C that aided Native Americans during the brutal winters; Price also found that Native Americans believed a moose's adrenal glands warded of scurvy; moose's second stomach walls consumed to ward of disease
Plant Foods
- Consumed several types of plant foods alongside meats
- Major plant foods were corn (temperate), wild rice (Great Lakes); preparation of corn was vital for the release of vitamin B3; beans; if consumption of corn became too high, individuals paid with their health: tooth decay, bone conditions
- Tubers (ex. Jerusalem artichoke ), wild onions, nuts, acorns, pecans, cactus, wild potatoes
- Fruits dried, wild mint=seasoned fat, fish, meat
- Maple sugar, pine sugar, agave plant=sweeteners (too much agave=teeth problems)
Fermented Foods
- Fermented foods prevalent
- ex. Cherokee "bread" was fermented for two weeks after being made of corn leaves; Manzanita berries, among more plant foods, additionally fermented; even fermented game meats an example is the tribe called The Coalhuitecans of south Texas that fermented fish for over a weak "until larvae and other insects had developed in the rotting flesh
- evidence suggests broth as well as herbed drinks were more popular than water; leaves twigs, Sassafras, corn silk, dried pumpkin blossom, lemonade berries, fermented corn porridge all used to make drinks
Conclusion
- We cant obtain optimal health by consuming low fat diets; the whole premise of the Native American diet was "guts and grease"
- Conversion from eating their traditional diets to Americanized diets has been highly detrimental to Native American health; tooth decay, tuberculosis, arthritis, etc.
- Obviously, we have lost our ancient taste for many of the foods Native Americans consumed; however, whole, raw milk from grass-fed cows is a good alternative; healthy fats (butter, tallow, lard); liver/organ meats at least once a week; consume cod liver daily; eat lost of meat as well as seafood; add lots of plant foods and even some fermented ones; minimize consumption of sugar and white flour; do not follow government nutrition suggestions!!
Proof of Negative Impact of Americanized Diet
- Thousands of Native Americans reliant on FDPIR (Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations) for food; the food they are sent are high in carbohydrates, low in protein, and low in fat; the main type of fat is trans fat; the food is inexpensive; multinational food companies have lawyers as well as lobbyists that solidify where the government is purchasing the food; number fed by government each day: 53 million
- Nutritional Monitoring and Related Research Act of 1990 (Public Law 101-445) requires federal agencies to encourage modern American Dietary Recommendations in all government food, nutrition, and health related programs; must follow the USDA Food Pyramid
- Native Americans have been greatly harmed by this, particularly since their diet consisted of the hunter-gatherer approach just a couple generations ago; today, a great majority of Native Americans reliant on government foods are overweight, have diabetes, heart disease, addiction
- Change in law is necessary; basically providing the most in need people with a "recipe for death"
Source #4:
Enig, Mary G. "Health and nutritional benefits from coconut oil: an important functional food for the 21st century." AVOC Lauric Oils Symposium, Ho Chi Min City, Vietnam. Vol. 25. 1996.
Source of Fat/Heart Hypothesis
- Widely accepted disease studies tend to blame Coronary Heart Disease (CHD) on increased serum cholesterol from consumption of saturated fats plus cholesterol
- Evidence for this has been misunderstood and not correctly represented
- Ancel Keys initiated anti-fat fad in U.S. (1953-1957): "All fats raise serum cholesterol; Nearly half of total fat comes from vegetable fats and oils; No difference in animal and vegetable fats in effect on CHD (1953); Type of fat makes no difference; Need to reduce margarine and shortening (1956); All fats are comparable; Saturated fats raise polyunsaturated lower serum cholesterol; Hydrogenated vegetable fats are the problem; Animal fats are the problem (1957-1959)." =very contradictory statements!!!
- edible oil industry took advantage of the studies and lobbied for polyunsaturates; Government nutrition guidelines (food pyramid) followed the ani-fat/anti-saturated fat movement;even other countries adopted this point of view; believed that consuming saturated fats was the source of heart disease
- created horrendous reputation for healthy fats, like coconut oil; anti-fat movement has only worsened throughout the decades in the 1900s
- "the focus of dietary recommendations is usually a reduction of saturated fat intake, no relation between saturated fat intake and risk of CHD was observed in the most informative prospective study to date." ~Harvard's Walter Willet, M.D.
- "In Framingham, Mass, the more saturated fat one ate, the more cholesterol one ate, the more calories one ate, the lower the person's serum cholesterol...the opposite of what the equations provided by Hedgsted et all (1965) and Keys et all (1957) would predict." ~ Farmingham's William P. Castelli
- "In Farmingham, for example, we found that the people who ate the most cholesterol, at the most saturated fat, ate the most calories, weighed the least, and were the most physically active."
- Studies have proven that coconut oil does not cause heart disease; is a "neutral fat in terms of aherogenicity"
- Misguided experiment has led to coconut oil's bad rep:
- 4o years ago; scientists had animals consume trans fat (hydrogenated coconut oil) intentionally produced to lack essential fatty acids; having this as their single fat source, the resulting became fatty acid deficient and their serum cholesterol levels rose; it is widely accepted that a fatty acid deficiency causes such a change as well as "atherosclerotic indices;" same observation has occurred when animals are fed hydrogenated oil like cottonseed, soybean, corn oil; Therefore, it is the trans fat and fat-deficiency causing the increase in cholesterol, not the coconut oil
- Hostmark et al (1980): tested the differences in lipoprotein distribution of male Wistar rats whose diets were either 10% coconut oil or 10% safflower oil; results: coconut oil-fed rats had far less less pre-beta lipoproteins and much more alpah-lipoproteins as opposed to safflower oil-fed rats
- Awad (1981): did similar experiment comparing results of diets consisting of 14% coconut oil, 14% safflower oil, and a 5% control oil; result: total tissue cholesterol accumulation for coconut oil rats 1/6 of safflower fed rats
- animals that consume regular doses of coconut oil tend to have a smaller amount of cholesterol stored inside their livers among other areas of their bodies
- population research clearly indicates coconut oil is not a cause of raised serum cholesterol and is not a cause of coronary heart disease
- Experiments have also demonstrated that moving away from a coconut oil rich diet serves to be very detrimental; Prior et al (19810 collected data that showed islanders consuming lots of coconut oil did not impact them in any negative way; however, when such islanders moved to New Zealand and reduced consumption of coconut oil, total cholesterol as well as LDL cholesterol increased, while HDL cholesterol decreased
- Hashim and his team (1959) demonstrates that having hypercholesterolemics consume a fat supplement that was 50% coconut oil greatly decreases total serum cholesterol ; has been supported on multiple occasions (ex. Ahrens and his team in 1957; bierenbaum et al in 1967; Sundram et al in 1994; Tholstrup et al (1994); Ng et al A(1991))
- Increase in coconut oil is not associated with increases in cholesterol, though it sometimes has been proven to decrease cholesterol
- disease fighting; animicrobial
- In previous four decades, changes in American foods have included alterations in fats and oils; increase in trans-fat vegetable oils; reduction in lauric acid oils; impacted fatty acids Americans have to perform metabolic functions
- From the beginning of the 20th century to the mid-2oth century, a majority of Americans ate heavy cream as well as high fat milk; this supplied them with about three grams lauric acid daily; dessicated coconut was a common food in baking and commercial baked goods,1 tablespoon provide 1 gram of lauric acid (also coconut oil based shortenings); commercially produced popcorn oil was coconut oi l; 3 cups of popcorn=6 grams lauric acid; a few baby formulas even had better sources of lauric acid; today, a single US manufactured enteral formula has lauric acid (Impact7); generally utilized by hospitals during tube feeding; *****Common enteral formulas (Ensure7, Nutren7) are produced with partially hyrdorgenated oils instead of lauric oils
- Today, there are a few known sweets in the US produced using palm kernel oil or coconut oil/dessicated coconut; offer some lauric acid
- Macaroons baked with dessicated coconut=6 grams lauric acid; cookies in U.S. rarely produced using coconut oil shortenings, used to be that cookies were 35% lauric acid
- Ice cream and crackers also used to be produced with coconut oil
- Goal amount for children adults=10-20 grams; babies=.3 to 1 grams/pound
Source #5:
Fallon, Sally. "Ancient dietary wisdom for tomorrow's children." Weston A. Price Foundation. http://WwW. Westonaprice. org/traditional_diets/ancient_dietary_ Wisdom. html (1999).
Weston A. Price
- Cleveland dentist
- intrigued and concerned by what he found in his patients; (adults) tooth decay, arthritis, osteoporosis, diabetes, intestinal complaints, chronic fatigue, (children) crowded/crooked teeth, overbites, narrowed faces, underdeveloped noses, unapparent cheekbones, 'pinched' nostrils, susceptibility to infection, allergies, asthma, anemia, bad eyesight, poor coordination, fatigue, behavioral disorders
- Decided this was not what "God" intended
- Decided to visit different secluded areas around the globe in which individuals lacked "modernization" in order to collect research on such individuals health
- Compiled his findings into a book called Nutrition and Physical Degeneration, however, countless of today's doctors and adults have no knowledge of this book's existence
- Summary of findings: every secluded area traveled to revealed inhabitants in nearly perfect health and physical development; tooth decay not common, no crooked/crowded teeth, little disease
- By comparing secluded groups to groups that were similar but had been modernized and adopted westernized food sources, Price came across tooth decay, infections, degenerative diseases, crowded/crooked teeth , narrowed faces, bone structure deformities, lack of immunity to diseases
- Parents consuming westernized diet gave rise to children with physical degeneration, while those parents eating native diets had children with wider faces with straight teeth
- Diet=nutritious dairy products (raw milk, butter, cream, cheese), rye bread, some meat, bone broth soups, some vegetables grown in the summer
- Oral hygiene not practiced by children; teeth coated in green slime; nonetheless, a slim 1% of teeth had decay
- Childhood diseases and infections did not occur
- TB never occurred
- Diet=no dairy, fish, oats; special dish=oat and liver-stuffed fish heads (thought to be vital to particularly children)
- Diet=fish, fish roe, marine animals, sea oil, blubber
- Mothers able to produce offspring and not fall victim to any health issues; also, no tooth decay
- Diet=game animals (organ meats, glands, blood, marrow, adrenal glands), various grains, tubers, vegetables, fruits
- African cattle-raising tribes (ex. Masai)=no plant foods, only meat, blood, milk
- Diet=wide variety; fish, shark, octopus, shellfish, sea worms, pork meat and fat, several plant foods--coconut, manioc, fruit
- If sea food available, all secluded people ate it
- Ex. Indian tribes of the Andes; valued fish roe--which was dried in order to be accessible in isolated Andean villages
- Insects commonly consumed (excluding the Arctic)
- Commonality between diets=whole, natural food; fatty meats, organ means, unpasteurized whole milk dairy, fish, insect, whole grains, tubers, vegetables, fruits
- After his trips, brought home food samples and examined them
- Discovered that the American diet (of his time) had less than 1/4 the minerals and water soluble vitamins than native diets; the lack of nutrients in American diet has most likely only decreased since then
- Native diets incorporated grains and tubers into their diet in a way that maximized their nutritional value; soaking, fermenting, sprouting, sour leavening improved their vitamin content as well as making it easier to absorb minerals
- Fat soluble vitamins--one tenth of vitamin A and vitamin D in American diet as opposed to native diets; such vitamins are located exclusively in animal fats: butter, lard, egg yokes, fish oil, liver, organ meats, fish eggs, shell fish
- Fat soluble vitamins crucial to the absorption of any other nutrient: protein, minerals, vitamins--otherwise go to waste!
- Discovered the "X-factor" or vitamin K2; most effective activator of nutrient assimilation; all healthy native diets contained this vitamin in "sacred" foods; cod liver oil, fish eggs, organ meats, dark yellow butter of the Spring and Fall
- combined nutritious butter with cod liver oil to improve osteoporosis, tooth decay, arthritis, rickets, child disorders; it worked!
- Others have followed suit; treating respiratory diseases like TB, asthma, allergies, emphysema (Ex. Francis Pottenger)
- Price also recognized that those who consumed lots of protein and fats were more happy
- Fed one group of cats raw milk and raw meat/healthily cooked meat; other fed pasteurized milk and cooked meat
- Raw-group survived adrenalectomy; maintained good health over the course of generations; good bone structure, no parasites/vermin, no difficulty during pregnancies, good demeanors
- Cooked-group did not survive adrenalectomy; facial deformities such as narrowed faces, crowded jaws, weak bones, weak ligaments, parasites, diseases, hard pregnancies, grumpy girl cats; meek boy cats; following three generations of poor diets, cats died prematurely
- "The implications for western civilization--obsessed as it is with refined, highly sweetened convenience foods and low-fat items--is profound." Extinction will approach if poor diet continues
- Price's work basically ignored
- Vitamin A: prevents birth defects, maturation, immune system, glands
- We know that vitamin A can't be assimilated by most people from carotenes due to the lack of fat in our diet; yet a low fat, no animal food diet continues to be suggested
- Vitamin D: bones, maturation, colon cancer, MS, reproductive problem
- Cod liver oil=Vitamin D, EPA, DHA; EPA=prevent blood clots, maintaining various biochemical functions; DHA=vital to brain and nervous system development, development of retina in developing baby, in breast milk, prevention of child learning disorders; cod liver oil, liver, egg yoke essential to fetus development
- Butter=Vitamin A, vitamin D, conjugated linoleic acid (anti-cancer), glycospingolipids (digestion), x-factor
- Saturated Fats from animal foods=essential to formation of cell membrane, important to immune system, aid absorption of essential fatty acids, brain development, nervous system development; some act as a fast supply of energy while also being antimicrobial or give energy for the heart to utilize
- Cholesterol=brain development, nervous system development, (ex. Mother's milk even has lots of cholesterol and enzymes that help its absorption), "repair substance" of the body (ex. damaged arteries fixed by cholesterol and stop aneurysms), antioxidant (anti-cancer), produces adrenal hormones (stress response/sex hormones)
- Polyunsaturated Vegetable Oils=very bad!: raise boy's Vitamin E/antioxidant needs (ex. Canola Oil), harm reproductive organs, harm lungs, reduce learning abilities, toxic to liver, break down immune system, inhibit development of babies, raise uric acid in blood, unhealthy fatty acid profiles in adipose tissues; mental degradation/chromosomal damage, aging, risk of cancer, heart disease, weight gain, overabundance of localized tissue hormones=autoimmune diseases, sterility, PMS; vegetable oils particularly bad if heated; become "varnish" in intestines; more wrinkles; hydrogenated to produce margarine/shortening=raises chances of cancer, reproductive difficulties, learning difficulties (children), developmental problems (children)
- Price's work remains largely unacknowledged because acceptance of it would mean the termination of the food processing industry, along with refined sweeteners, white flower, and vegetable oils; this industry uses the "lipid hypothesis" to buttress its claim that saturated fats/cholesterol lead to heart disease as well as cancer; stats strongly disprove this claim; ex. butter consumption has decreased significantly from 18 pounds/per person/per year to 4 pounds/per person/per year since the beginning of the century; meanwhile, vegetable oil consumption has increased alongside the prevalence of cancer and heart disease
- Studies indicate refined carbohydrates and vegetable oils are to blame; lead to blood imbalances at cellular level, increasing to risk of blood clots, which cause myocardial infarction=a variation of heart disease that remained basically nonexistent as late at 1900, while today it is an epidemic; the accumulation of solidified plaque within the artery walls, a condition called Atherosclerosis, is not the result of cholesterol and saturated fats. An insignificant percentage of plaque is cholesterol, while just shy of 75% is made up of unsaturated fats, most likely derived from vegetable oils
- Our society has been seasoned to subconsciously accept that our native foods--butter, cream, eggs, liver, meat, fish, eggs--are not healthy choices; several strategies utilized to achieve this; ex. "National Cholesterol Education Program" used tax dollars so cholesterol and heart disease "educational" packets could be distributed to physicians throughout the U.S; American Pharmaceutical Association was an integral part of the execution of this program; as a result, packet taught physicians how to 1. test serum cholesterol levels 2. drugs for those with "at risk" cholesterol levels (200 mg/dl, which is where most individuals fall) 3. Taught to instruct patients to take on "prudent diet" with little saturated fat and cholesterol (research indicates this does not prove to majorly to reduce chance of heart disease, but instead makes individuals susceptible to cancer, intestinal diseases, accidents, suicide, stroke. 4. Even suggested to replace butter with margarine!!
- By 1990, the National Cholesterol Education Program encouraged a "prudent diet" to be eaten by anyone older that two years of age in order to lessen the chance of heart disease; there is little evidence for this linkage; no to mention, low fat diets/vegetable oil diets prevent proper development of children leading to learning disabilities, low immune system, behavioral disorders; teenage girls in particular risk harming their reproductive system; even risk infertility or having a low birth weight child, or child with birth defects
- Prior to conception, women and men consumed specific foods
- While pregnant and breastfeeding, women again given specific foods
- Developing/maturing children fed specific foods
- Ex. liver, shellfish, organ meats, butter; high in "fat-soluble activators:" vitamin A, vitamin D, X Factor
- Grains were soaked to enhance mineral content (millet, quinoa); given to breastfeeding women to help with milk supply
- Time between pregnancies was significant (minimum of three years) in order to enable the woman's body to restore her nutrients stores
- Children educated in nutrition in order to pass on dietary practices from generation to generation, and thereby promote the success of the tribe
Source #6: Loucks, Anne B. "Low energy availability in the marathon and other endurance sports." Sports Medicine 37.4-5 (2007): 348-352.
Energy Availability
- Marathon running/endurance sports require a lot of energy, reducing the energy available for metabolic functions
- Energy Availability=caloric intake-calories burned=quantity of energy left for metabolic functions following a workout
- For healthy adult women, reproductive system is easily knocked out of whack when intake is restricted, exercise increased to high levels, or intake fails to match output
- Luteinising Hormone (LH) Pulsatility (gonadal function relies on) can be suppressed if energy availability falls below 30 kilocalories per kilogram of fat-free mass per day (kcal/kgFFM/day) as opposed to the balanced level of 45 kcal/kgFFM/day
- Suppression of LH causes hypothalamic amenorrhoea; estradiol as well as progesterone disrupted
- menstrual cycles return only when energy availability is increased over 30 kcal/kgFFM/day
- A few women who maintain their menstrual cycles may have energy availability below 20 kcal/kgFFm/dat, but 80% demonstrate other ovarian disorders, such as progesterone disruption and risk of infertility
- reconstruction of bone in order to respond to "mechanical loads" is reliant on energy availability; bone deterioration/resorption is accelerated when women have such low energy availability that estradiol levels fall; tends to take place from 20 to 30 kcal/kgFFM/day; continuance of this restriction may result in permanent bone density loss
- low bone density=risk of stress fractures, risk of fractures after menopause
- In women who maintain regularized hormones usually have normal bone density that improves with exercise
- However, bone density of what is expected from a 60 year old women have been seen in a quantity of amenorrheic athletes
- =energy intake take away total energy spent; total quantity of energy contributed to or used from energy stores following all physiological system have been carried out; output of physiological systems; remaining energy
- low energy availability=disruption of metabolic processes=energy balance increases
- Quantifying energy expenditure with conventional tools does not adequately estimate the undernourished athlete's energy needs
- solution=raising caloric intake not increasing workout routine
- women/girl athletes eat 30% fewer calories and carbohydrate (per kilogram body weight) as compared to their male counterparts
- "under-reporting" may explain some of the discrepancies, however, female endurance athletes still fail to carbohydrate-load as well, reproductive orders more prevalent among them, wide variety of endocrine indicators of chronic energy deficiency
- attempt better athletic ability by reducing body size, or altering body composition and energy stores
- develop eating disorders; deaths have occurred; however, reproductive function can be affected with or without an eating disorder
- undernourished; "no strong biological drive to match energy intake to activity-induced expenditure;" the energy deficit caused by exercise is impossible to replace by intuitive eating alone
- ad libium undernutrition increases when fueled by a low fat, high carb food regimen
- Raising dietary fat from 17% to 31% rose ad libitum energy consumption/availability 30% (carbohydrate intake not altered); 18% raise maximal oxygen uptake; no raise in weight nor body fat
- Overall, "appetite is not a reliable indicator of energy requirements in endurance athletes
- Unrelated to athletics: double the amount of women throughout the world think they are overweight; as BMI decreases, likelihood of this belief increase; nearly nine times as thin women as thin men are attempting to loose pounds
- nutritionists, coaches
- consume 30 to 45 kcal/kgFFM/day (weight/fat loss); 45 kcal/kgFFM/day otherwise
- most female athletes should raise their caloric consumption by 50%
Source #7:
Warren, M. P., and N. E. Perlroth. "The effects of intense exercise on the female reproductive system." Journal of Endocrinology 170.1 (2001): 3-11.
Intro
- in recent years, women's athletics has increased significantly
- though this has obvious benefits, intense exercising is linked to disruption of the female reproductive system, which is very susceptible to physiological stress
- disorders include delayed menarche, primary/secondary amenorrhea, oligomenorrhea (effect 6-79% of female athletes depending on intensity of sport)
- problems rooted in hypothalamic dysfunction and disruption of gonadotropin-releasing homrone (GnRH); long term effects include infertility and permanent bone density loss
- hormone levels of females taking part in sports associated with low weight (ballet, distance running, figure skating, gymnastics) associated with hypoestrogenism due to disturbance of hypothalmic-pituitary-ovarian axis; supresses release of GnRH, restricting release of luteinizing hormone (LH) as well as follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH); lengthened follicular phase, little LH/estradiol surge half way through cycle cause temporary loss of menstrual cylce
- Excessively low LH postpones menarche or causes primary/second amenorrhea
- Major cause of GnRH suppression is inadequate caloric intake to match energy output
- "Body composition hypothesis" includes menarch takes place when females body fat reaches 17%; if body fat falls below 22%, menstrual cycle goes away; however theory only based on "correlation rather than experimental evidence"
- On the contrary, body composition is not very different between menstruating and non-menstruating female athletes
- Some theorize that reproductive dysfunction is a neuro-endocrine adaption resulting from restriction of energy consumption
- Leptin="protein product of the obesity gene;" secreted by adipocyte; metabolic rate regulator; theorized that it is component in reproductive system; depending on fat stores, leptin levels are higher or lower; higher bmi=more leptin; greatly decreased during fasting; also "diurnal rhythm of leptin concentration" interrupted as a result of little caloric consumption; rodents in experiments have repeatedly indicated that without adequate leptin, amenhorrheia and infertility are likely
- More research suggests a minimum leptin level required for menstruation to take place
- Leptin is theorized to contributing to the signaling of low every availability to the female reproductive system; mammals divide energy into five groups: cellular maintenance, themoregulation, locomotion, growth, reproduction; thus, shutting down the reproductive system gives more energy to the other groups
- Irregular eating and net calorie deficits typical for females who participate in sports in which low body weight is desired
- However, energy drain theory cannot explain why women in other sports may become amenhoreic; those which promote muscle, like swimming or rowing, are not often correlated to underweight or eating disorders; still, such women still susceptible to reproductive problems; ex. higher LH/FSH levels and hyperandrogenism, damage follicular development=amenorrhea/anovulation
- BUT; it must be considered that athletic ability is chose by body type; the sport doesn't choose the body type in all cases; ex. hyperandrogenism means greater muscle mass
- =postponed menarche, change in pubertal progression
- delayed menarche common, especially for specific sports
- ex. ballet dancers: little gonadtropin (LH, FSH) secretion, litle thelarche (breast development); associated with exercise/energy availability; times of rest mean pubertal progression
- Leptin possibly vital to onset of puberty
- Extended hypogonadism related to long-bone development, causing shorten upper-lower body ratio, longer wing-span; yet could just be genetic differences that help the athlete
- =Amenorrhea
- =Infertility
- problems including a lacking luteal phase, anovulation, oligomenorrhea occur more prevalently in athletes
- even eumenorrheic athletes have underlying menstrual problems
- ex. in a study, in a "test month," 50% of runners ovulated while 83% of controls did
- =Skeletal problems
- osteopenia and osteoporosis likely if bone's are unable to obtain their pinnacle mass point+loss in bone +no weight-bearing bone mineralizes
- Also raises change of scoliosis + bone fracture
- loss of bone denisty
- 48% skeletal bone mass developed in adolescence; development subsides after age 30
- Bone mass development hindered in girls who develop later
- low bone mineral density common to athletes who are hypestrogenic amenhoreaic
- likely to never obtain "peak bone mass" causing them to enter menopause at a greater disadvantage
- risk of injury; weakened bone due to osteopenia
- association of scoliosis + stress fractures with menstrual problems
- Ex. dancers and runners
- nutritional deficiencies play a role; ex. hormones T3 (3,5,3'-tri-iodothryronine) and IGF-I (insulin-like growth factor) are nutritional markers; if suppressed, may inhibit bone development; Also, leptin receptors have even been located in bones
- Weight lifting known to improve bone density, yet not enough
- weight gain 1-2 kg or decrease workout regimen by 10%
- Nutritional guidance
- Induce ovulation using clomiphene or GnRH (for those hoping to achieve pregnancy)
- Oral contraceptives used for regularization
- in diagnosis, look for nutritional deficiencies and adjust accordingly
- HTR hormonal replacement therapy to limit further decrease in bone density (should not be used until bone growth has finished in younger patients)
- Recently, studies have shown that using increase amounts of oral contraceptives could stop bone loss
- Diet that includes adequate calcium and vitamin D; supplements
- The length of amenhorrhea dictates amount of damage; permanent damage
- Vital to get period back to prevent bone loss and other issues caused by osteopenia and osteoporosis
Source #8:
Holly Hartley--Sanford School District Food Coordinator
Interview Questions:
Governmental Standards Questions
- What qualifications did you have to acquire in order to obtain your job? No minimum standard to become a Nutritionist Coordinator; USDA is in the process of proposing making Associates Degree required; Holly Hartley has a Bachelor degree in Family Consumer Science
- What are frustrations or difficulties you face regarding school lunches as a whole? What would you say is the most difficult part of your job? Creating understanding of the menu pattern and what must be on the tray; students have difficulty understanding why they must take certain items, such as 1/2 cup fruit or vegetables; finding the right items that kids are willing to eat.
- What percentage of the food served is pre-decided by the government? Is there any lee-way for deciding what foods the school receives? Is there another food program the Sanford School District could be taking on? Can you explain the finance system under which food is payed for? Because we use government funding for our school's food, we must follow the USDA meal pattern precisely; food can be bought from any place, as long as it is domestic (U.S. grown), with a few exceptions such as Pineapple. To save money, Sanford does co-ops with other schools from various companies, such as Hood and a primary grocery provider. The USDA also provides foods; USDA buys excess food from farmers and supplies it to school. Such foods may be processed into products, such as the cheese on Pizza; pizza is then at a discounted price
- Does you nutritionist background cause you to agree or disagree with the standards set forth by the USDA (in regards to school lunches/food items)? The USDA has looked through many standards to come up with standards; the standards have been approved by the Institute of Medicine. Is viable; it is difficult to regulate health and peoples choices; you can only influence them.
- Based on USDA standards, there are calorie, sodium, fat, and sugar limits for school lunches and snacks. However, there is no minimum standard. When under-nutrition is just as severe a problem as over consumption of food (if not more severe), then why is this not addressed? There are minimum standards for meals, just not smart snacks; target calories including min and max for three different age groups (k-5, 6-8, and 9-12); there are also min and max for fruits and veggies; however there is only a min for grains and protein.
- Also, do you feel there should be a carbohydrate limit as well? What (average) percentage of a school meal is made up of carbohydrates? 55% or greater; must provide 2 grain equivalents in every meal
- Are you aware that the biggest predictor of obesity is poverty? Do you believe this irony places some blame on school lunches and government food as a whole? School meals addressed by free or reduced lunch; no one entity responsible; many facets go beyond school; the lunch room is essentially a "Giant Classroom" for learning about nutrition; there is little other nutritional and meal preparation guidance other places in schools
- What macro-nutrient do you feel is the most important to feed students? What food types do you believe should be limited? Which are biggest culprits to blame for obesity? All should be balanced and moderate; all necessary for energy, growth, and development.
- Native diets throughout the globe never limit fat consumption. In fact, Native Americans consumed a diet that was about 60-80% fat. However, school lunches must be made up of less than 35% total fat, and less than 10% saturated fat. How do you account for this discrepancy when fat is obviously an important to body function? Meals only limit saturated fat (cannot be more than 10% saturated fat); it all comes back to the number of calories that make up a meal; there is no lee-way in the USDA standards--it is a specific prescription and there is no changing. Ex. two grain equivalents, min 2 ounces protein, full cup of vegetables and fruits, cup fat-free or lowfat milk; High schools and private schools could follow any standard they choose if not reliant on government funding
- Despite America's obesity epidemic, the general population is "fat deprived," or, in other words, has a diet devoid of healthy saturated and unsaturated fats. This can lead to a myriad of problems, including improper brain development and learning disabilities. For kids lacking support at home, do you believe there is a way for them to receive adequate nutrients at school? Do you see how failure to do so sets such students up for failure? What changes can be made to prevent this? Change menu items, such as adding more nut butters, recipes that include seeds or other fats; current sources of fat includes animal fat, "cooking oils" (vegetable oil), pasta sauce with olive oil base, nut butters, soy butter, olives, avocado
Meal Specific Questions
- How have school lunches evolved over time? Where do you think they are headed? Have evolved immensely just from the 1990s; USDA foods even required butter to be on the tray; now "leaner productts;" ground beef made with cherries as a filler, required fresh fruits and vegetables, USDA syrups from "light" to "extra light," whole milk required now fat-free or lowfat
- Are you aware of where the meat and animal products served at Sanford Schools originate from and how they are produced? Are you aware of where "fresh" vegetables and fruits served come from and how they are produced? United States sourced; meat produced in big meat producing factories; with the exception that a couple times a year, typically in September, beef is locally sourced; it is much more expensive at $4 a pound to $2.30 a pound; produce somewhat "local:" within a 150 mile radius; Maine apples, backyard tomatoes
Health Video Outline:
Discuss what Native Diets look/ed like
Health of Native Americans/Hunter-gatherers
- no too decay/dental problems
- no arthritis/bone problems
- no TB
- 'easy' childbirth
- rarity of malignant diseases
- primitive Eskimos and Native Americans v.s modernized ones= many more operations necessary on internal organs (remedy is to revert back to primitive lifestyle) (Dr. Roming)
- First explorers made clear natives were large, strong, tough
FAT FAT FAT!
- diet consisted of variety of animal foods: deer, buffalo, wild sheep, wild goat, antelope, mouse, elk, caribou, bear, peccary, beaver, rabbit, squirrel, skunk, muskrat, racoon, snakes, lizards, turtles, alligators, fish, shellfish, ducks, geese, sea mammals, locus, spiders, lice, dogs
- game meats hunted with a strategy to obtain the most amount of fat; the older the animal, the more fat (specifically on the back of the animal; back fat=40-50 pounds, 20-30 of which is saturated fat
- fat made up a mere 80% of calorie intake for Northern Native Americans
- loved BEAVER, particularly the fatty tail; leaner, smaller animals hunted as last resort as a result of their low fat content; during extended times of fatty meat scarcity, "Rabbit-Starvation" or the lack of fat would cause diarrhea, headache, lassitude, discomfort, and hunger not satisfied
- Eating the WHOLE ANIMALentire animal consumed, instead of just eating the muscle meats like we do today; fat, lean meat, ribs, heart, kidneys, liver, lungs, intestines, brains, tripe, teats/udders, unborn young, tongue, hooves, blood, second stomach, end of the colon, guts, marrow, everything eaten! occasionally, just saved the fat of the animal and disposed of the rest parts of the animal reserved for women and men; men ate male organs and the ribs; women ate a part of the intestine that was claimed to help their pregnancySacred Foods "sacred" foods as well as foods vital to reproduction=were animal foods high in fat contentex. bear (fat=most prized part), pemmican, boiled tongue, blood soup Fat-Soluble Nutrients Coastal Native Americans ate lots of fish (again the entire fish) and shellfish Animal fats, organ meats, fatty fish provide fat soluble vitamins A + D = "basis of healthy primitive diets." (Weston Price); catalyst for the formation of protein and minerals, if not present, minerals are wasted while the body can't build muscleSome fatty glands of game animals have vitamin C that aided Native Americans during the brutal winters; Price also found that Native Americans believed a moose's adrenal glands warded of scurvy; moose's second stomach walls consumed to ward of disease Plant FoodsConsumed several types of plant foods alongside meatsMajor plant foods were corn (temperate), wild rice (Great Lakes); preparation of corn was vital for the release of vitamin B3; beans; if consumption of corn became too high, individuals paid with their health: tooth decay, bone conditionsTubers (ex. Jerusalem artichoke ), wild onions, nuts, acorns, pecans, cactus, wild potatoes Fruits dried, wild mint=seasoned fat, fish, meatMaple sugar, pine sugar, agave plant=sweeteners (too much agave=teeth problems)Fermented FoodsFermented foods prevalentex. Cherokee "bread" was fermented for two weeks after being made of corn leaves; Manzanita berries, among more plant foods, additionally fermented; even fermented game meats an example is the tribe called The Coalhuitecans of south Texas that fermented fish for over a weak "until larvae and other insects had developed in the rotting fleshevidence suggests broth as well as herbed drinks were more popular than water; leaves twigs, Sassafras, corn silk, dried pumpkin blossom, lemonade berries, fermented corn porridge all used to make drinksConclusionWe cant obtain optimal health by consuming low fat diets; the whole premise of the Native American diet was "guts and grease" Conversion from eating their traditional diets to Americanized diets has been highly detrimental to Native American health; tooth decay, tuberculosis, arthritis, etc. Obviously, we have lost our ancient taste for many of the foods Native Americans consumed; however, whole, raw milk from grass-fed cows is a good alternative; healthy fats (butter, tallow, lard); liver/organ meats at least once a week; consume cod liver daily; eat lost of meat as well as seafood; add lots of plant foods and even some fermented ones; minimize consumption of sugar and white flour; do not follow government nutrition suggestions!!Proof of Negative Impact of Americanized DietThousands of Native Americans reliant on FDPIR (Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations) for food; the food they are sent are high in carbohydrates, low in protein, and low in fat; the main type of fat is trans fat; the food is inexpensive; multinational food companies have lawyers as well as lobbyists that solidify where the government is purchasing the food; number fed by government each day: 53 millionNutritional Monitoring and Related Research Act of 1990 (Public Law 101-445) requires federal agencies to encourage modern American Dietary Recommendations in all government food, nutrition, and health related programs; must follow the USDA Food Pyramid Native Americans have been greatly harmed by this, particularly since their diet consisted of the hunter-gatherer approach just a couple generations ago; today, a great majority of Native Americans reliant on government foods are overweight, have diabetes, heart disease, addiction Change in law is necessary; basically providing the most in need people with a "recipe for death"
- entire animal consumed, instead of just eating the muscle meats like we do today; fat, lean meat, ribs, heart, kidneys, liver, lungs, intestines, brains, tripe, teats/udders, unborn young, tongue, hooves, blood, second stomach, end of the colon, guts, marrow, everything eaten!
- occasionally, just saved the fat of the animal and disposed of the rest
- parts of the animal reserved for women and men; men ate male organs and the ribs; women ate a part of the intestine that was claimed to help their pregnancy
Sacred Foods
- "sacred" foods as well as foods vital to reproduction=were animal foods high in fat content
- ex. bear (fat=most prized part), pemmican, boiled tongue, blood soup
Fat-Soluble Nutrients
- Coastal Native Americans ate lots of fish (again the entire fish) and shellfish
- Animal fats, organ meats, fatty fish provide fat soluble vitamins A + D = "basis of healthy primitive diets." (Weston Price); catalyst for the formation of protein and minerals, if not present, minerals are wasted while the body can't build muscle
- Some fatty glands of game animals have vitamin C that aided Native Americans during the brutal winters; Price also found that Native Americans believed a moose's adrenal glands warded of scurvy; moose's second stomach walls consumed to ward of disease
Plant Foods
- Consumed several types of plant foods alongside meats
- Major plant foods were corn (temperate), wild rice (Great Lakes); preparation of corn was vital for the release of vitamin B3; beans; if consumption of corn became too high, individuals paid with their health: tooth decay, bone conditions
- Tubers (ex. Jerusalem artichoke ), wild onions, nuts, acorns, pecans, cactus, wild potatoes
- Fruits dried, wild mint=seasoned fat, fish, meat
- Maple sugar, pine sugar, agave plant=sweeteners (too much agave=teeth problems)
Fermented Foods
- Fermented foods prevalent
- ex. Cherokee "bread" was fermented for two weeks after being made of corn leaves; Manzanita berries, among more plant foods, additionally fermented; even fermented game meats an example is the tribe called The Coalhuitecans of south Texas that fermented fish for over a weak "until larvae and other insects had developed in the rotting flesh
- evidence suggests broth as well as herbed drinks were more popular than water; leaves twigs, Sassafras, corn silk, dried pumpkin blossom, lemonade berries, fermented corn porridge all used to make drinks
Conclusion
- We cant obtain optimal health by consuming low fat diets; the whole premise of the Native American diet was "guts and grease"
- Conversion from eating their traditional diets to Americanized diets has been highly detrimental to Native American health; tooth decay, tuberculosis, arthritis, etc.
- Obviously, we have lost our ancient taste for many of the foods Native Americans consumed; however, whole, raw milk from grass-fed cows is a good alternative; healthy fats (butter, tallow, lard); liver/organ meats at least once a week; consume cod liver daily; eat lost of meat as well as seafood; add lots of plant foods and even some fermented ones; minimize consumption of sugar and white flour; do not follow government nutrition suggestions!!
Proof of Negative Impact of Americanized Diet
- Thousands of Native Americans reliant on FDPIR (Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations) for food; the food they are sent are high in carbohydrates, low in protein, and low in fat; the main type of fat is trans fat; the food is inexpensive; multinational food companies have lawyers as well as lobbyists that solidify where the government is purchasing the food; number fed by government each day: 53 million
- Nutritional Monitoring and Related Research Act of 1990 (Public Law 101-445) requires federal agencies to encourage modern American Dietary Recommendations in all government food, nutrition, and health related programs; must follow the USDA Food Pyramid
- Native Americans have been greatly harmed by this, particularly since their diet consisted of the hunter-gatherer approach just a couple generations ago; today, a great majority of Native Americans reliant on government foods are overweight, have diabetes, heart disease, addiction
- Change in law is necessary; basically providing the most in need people with a "recipe for death"
Health of Native Americans/Hunter-gatherers no too decay/dental problemsno arthritis/bone problemsno TB'easy' childbirthrarity of malignant diseases primitive Eskimos and Native Americans v.s modernized ones= many more operations necessary on internal organs (remedy is to revert back to primitive lifestyle) (Dr. Roming)First explorers made clear natives were large, strong, tough FAT FAT FAT!
- diet consisted of variety of animal foods: deer, buffalo, wild sheep, wild goat, antelope, mouse, elk, caribou, bear, peccary, beaver, rabbit, squirrel, skunk, muskrat, racoon, snakes, lizards, turtles, alligators, fish, shellfish, ducks, geese, sea mammals, locus, spiders, lice, dogs game meats hunted with a strategy to obtain the most amount of fat; the older the animal, the more fat (specifically on the back of the animal; back fat=40-50 pounds, 20-30 of which is saturated fat fat made up a mere 80% of calorie intake for Northern Native Americansloved BEAVER, particularly the fatty tail; leaner, smaller animals hunted as last resort as a result of their low fat content; during extended times of fatty meat scarcity, "Rabbit-Starvation" or the lack of fat would cause diarrhea, headache, lassitude, discomfort, and hunger not satisfied
Briefly discuss the low-fat, low-calorie epidemic and reasons for its arrival + persistence
- Major causation factor: promotion of weight loss in America's media; promote not eating fats; since refined oils were developed (three generations ago), most of North America's people have been deprived of the proper fats necessary for proper brain development
Implications for a low-fat diet/low-calorie diet
- Amenhorrea/Osteopenia/Osteoporosis
- deficiency in omega-3 fats and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) in mother and fetus/infant=inhibits immune system development, induce various emotion, learning, immune system disorders (Think of the prevalence of such disorders)
- *Note: American breast milk less nutritious due to consumption of large amounts of trans fat and little amounts of omega-3; Nigerian mothers produce breast milk that has 5 to 10 times more Omega-3 fatty acids
- Omega-3 impact capability to learn, anxiety, depression, hearing, seeing; help in maintaining autoimmune system; increasing amount of kids who have allergies, colic, skin disorders
- Evidence that omega-3 fats are important to brain function, immune system function, and growth during childhood and into the teenage years; ex. taking omega-3 supplements caused growth in an underdeveloped seven year old
- Lack of omega-3 and omega-6 fats makes breast milk sparse and causes breast engorgement; however, flax seed oil can improve the amount of milk produced and rid of breast engorgement; pregnant/nursing women should eat fatty fish multiple times a week (2-3 times) and even incorporate flax seed oil
- Omega-3 fats are critical to for proper brain development in the months of pregnancy as well as in the initial 24 months
- Social and Economic impacts:
- prevalence of depression in youth
- rise in suicide and murder in youth
- rise in drug/alcohol use
- increase in immune diseases (Epstein Barr, Candid, allergies, chronic sinus infections, chronic ear infections, digestive disorders)
- decrease in academic success for students
- decrease in quality of products made by American companies
- each generation is becoming less healthy than the last
- when other cultures move toward consuming modern, westernized foods, results detrimental
- Social and Economic impacts:
Solutions and Suggestions
- Butter $3.00 Keepin' it local food store
- Olive oil $5.00 Ocean State Job Lot
- Coconut oil $20.00 GNC
- Avocado $0.99 Hannaford
- Bob's Red Mill products Ocean State Job Lot
- Flax Seed Oil
Photos/Video
Foods:
Butter
Olive oil
Coconut oil
Avocado
Nuts, seeds, + Coconut
Meat/example meals
+Bad foods
Video:
Running girl; zoom for different topics
Pulling into One Earth
Other:
Advertisements for weight loss/ "health foods"
*Old advertisements
*Current advertisements