For The Rome Observer, December 21, 2010
By Elizabeth Szlek, LMHC
In my last column I outlined the way in which all human communities, over thousands of years have found diets that promote good health, good emotional stability and even contentment. If this seems a foreign concept, no wonder. We in the western world are surrounded by thousands of so-called “foods” that do nothing but promote our demise. The worst aspect of this situation is that we have lost our innate ability to choose foods that are nutritious. Think about this for a moment: When faced with the hundreds of thousands of choices available in the supermarket, we are pretty much at a loss as to which of them is truly good for us. The vegetables look “healthy”, right? They say chocolate is good for you! I should stay away from fat, that’s for sure! Skim milk is the way to go! Eat lots of soy! No butter- eat heart-healthy margarine! And get that whole wheat bread, too!
Most of us would agree with these statements, because we have fallen for the food myth, or I like to call them memes (pronounced meems) that prevail in our time. Memes are carefully constructed slogans or ideas that are floated out to society by those who have something to gain from their adoption. You can call them propaganda, if you like. Truth or falsehood is not the idea of a meme, because someone other than you is going to benefit if you take it to heart. What I am now going to deliver are some actual facts, backed by thousands of years of empirical evidence. Empirical evidence is part of the scientific process – you just notice what is happening in front of you, with no theory. Our ancestors had no theories of nutrition, and they did just fine in that department. We, on the other hand, are in the grip of many competing theories which are supposedly based on real science. But, let me point out a little factoid that all scientists know: Scientific theories are know by scientists themselves to be noting more than “useful fiction”. That is, science is not really in the business of finding the truth. It is in the business of testing theories. So, if you have any doubts about what you should be eating, why not go back to the tried and true? Your ancestors certainly did a good job of choosing nutritious foods, or you wouldn’t be here. Why not look backward for direction?
The Weston A. Price Foundation
Professor Mary Enig was one of the first experts to point out the dangers of trans fats to the human organism. She sounded the alarm that these notorious man-made new fats were killing millions of people every year. At this point, science has grudgingly admitted she was right, and these pernicious fats have been reduced in our diets, but do not think they are really gone. They are still present in lots of foods you are eating, but they are occurring at levels that keep them from having to be labeled. Thanks, FDA, for that! So, they are still accumulating in your arteries if you are eating processed foods.
I mention Dr. Enig, because it was she, along with food activist Sally Fallon, who founded the Weston A. Price Foundation in 1999. These two remarkable women have worked to bring to our nation information about traditional diets, based upon the findings of Dr. Weston A. Price, a pioneer in world nutrition and the causes of degenerative diseases.
So, what did they come up with for a nutritious diet? Here are the general outlines of their diet. In succeeding weeks I will focus on each of these elements in depth, so that you can understand the importance of each of them. Remember, all human diets prior to the introduction of the “western diet” were life-enhancing. And none of them was vegetarian! Or especially, vegan!
Elements of the Weston A. Price Diet
1. Butter, cream and raw whole milk
2. Organ meats, such as liver
3. Pasture-fed meats, dairy and eggs
4. Wild fish, shellfish and fish roe (caviar)
5. Organic vegetables and fruits
6. Traditional lacto-fermented foods, such as sauerkraut and yogurt
7. Healthy lacto-fermented soft drinks, such as kombucha tea
8. Homemade bone broths
9. Properly prepared whole grains and traditional sourdough breads
10. Unrefined salt
11. Coconut and coconut products, and unprocessed and unrefined oils
Surprised by how delicious all this sounds? Believe me, it is! Your head may be spinning at the thought of ALL THAT FAT, but believe me, this diet is the road to health! But, we will have many weeks to understand the whys and hows of this remarkable OLD way of eating.
The Other Side of The Coin
Of course, for every yin, there’s a yang, and here it is. Stuff you should avoid like the plague.
1. Modern soy products, i.e., unfermented soy foods
2. Pasteurized, homogenized dairy products
3. Margarine and trans fats
4. Processed vegetable oils
5. Dry breakfast cereals (throw out the Wheaties!)
6. Artificial sweeteners and food additives
7. Fast foods and sodas
8. Refined sweeteners and processed fruit juices
9. White flour products
10. Genetically modified foods (GM or GMO)
11. Factory-raised meats and farm-raised fish
12. Unprepared grains and nuts (these need to be soaked before eating)
Now, if you read these two lists, and try to figure out what you are doing right and doing wrong, it can be kind of overwhelming. I have been following this diet for about six months now, and I have not yet been able to completely rid my kitchen of all the “bad” stuff, but remember, this is a journey to health, and every step you take in the right direction brings you closer to your goal. Don’t despair! The best news is, you can eat wonderful foods with abandon, because if you eat the right foods, you will actually lose weigh. I was trained as a French chef, and after years of fearing the butter, cheese and eggs, they are back with a vengeance. Pates, rich stews and soufflés are also back! Delicious! And I am learning to make traditional dishes that are absolutely satisfying and nutritious. So will you, I promise!
Elizabeth Szlek is the Director of The Door Counseling Center of Utica, NY. Questions and comments can be directed to her at (315) 768-8900 or at info@thedoorcounseling.com.
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