Jeff,
Thanks for the tip. I will look for that article. Scientists like to
think of themselves as being unbiased. However, they and we overlook
the fact that science is based on values at great peril. Virtually all
scientific inquiry is financed by organizations that have a stake in the
outcome. No matter how objectively it is designed and carried out, the
selection of research to be financed or undertaken involves value
judgements.
Western science also differs from eastern science. Macrobiotics are
based on a completely separate body of knowledge from western nutrition
science. The placement of foods on a yin-yang continuum may seem
arbitrary or metaphysical to someone trained in western modes of
thinking. However, it has worked wonders for many people suffering from
cancer and other ailments. (It is a major factor in giving me relief
from a gall stone problem.)
The 'Scientific American pyramid' as you describe it seems to have some
correlation to a macrobiotic diet. I think the distinction between
whole grains and processed grains is very important. I am convinced
that any kind of processing encourages fat storage.
The Physicians Committee on Responsible Medicine (www.pcrm.org) sued
the government because of conflicts of interest on the part of the board
that devised the current food pyramid. Livestock and dairy industry
interests prevailed in its design. I doubt that our government, serving
as it does at the whim of corporate interest, can be trusted to advise
us on matters as personally important as diet and health. (What can it
be trusted with?)
I also doubt that mainstream medical doctors can be relied on for
information concerning diet. Their field of study is disease and drugs,
not health and diet. I don't think that they have been taught about the
body's natural regenerative capabilities and how it will cure itself
when it is not subjected to physical, psychological and emotional
abuse.
Much is at stake in determining what a nation eats. I firmly believe
our diet influences our politics. Studies have shown that prisoners are
more easily rehabilitated when they are on a macrobiotic (mostly
vegetarian) diet. Perhaps we would be a less violent and aggressive
people if we all ate lower on the food chain. Many advocates of
vegetarian diets will contend that livestock production is one of our
major environmental problems. Cattle interests rule the west. How
different politics and landscapes would look in the western states if
that weren't so.
Harvey
>>> bct <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> 12/24/2002 5:59:32 PM >>>
The January 2003 issue of Scientific American
has a good collection of interesting articles.
One that might interest everyone is about
nutrition and what can be proven with scientific
evidence. This article changed some of my
misconceptions and is a breath of fresh air
in this confused world.
Before describing the article it is probably
good to look at Scientific American and ask
if they have a bias and how will that impact
what we read. This has always led to one
conclusion. Scientific American believes
that science can solve the worlds problems
and is the path to future improvements. For
me the worlds problems have little to do with
science and more to do with politics, emotions,
and how we organize our cultures. That said,
we can assume that a nutrition article will
not be impacted by SA's bias.
What the article did was take the USDA food
pyramid and compare it to what is currently
known about diet. From this they constructed
a new pyramid and set the two side by side.
Some differences are obvious. Whole grains
replaced refined grains on the base. Fats and
carbohydrates are separated into groups rather
than lumped together. All in all the two charts
were very different. The Scientific chart
looked somewhat like this:
Base:
1. Exercise interacts with diet.
2. Whole grains + vegetable oils
3. vegetables + fruits
middle:
1. legumes and nuts
2. fish, poultry , eggs
top
1. dairy
2. red meat and butter
3. whiter rice, potatoes, white flour, sweets
The top items should be eaten carefully and not in
great quality. The middle items should be part of
most meals and the base group a major part of
meals.
The final sentence in the article: "The food pyramid
should be rebuilt in a setting that is well insulated
from political and economic interests"
jeff - http://www.bctonline.com/users/jko
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