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Caustic Commentary

aspx). So rather than spend a lot of money on probiotic pills, team will soon be testing sourdough whole grain bread (www.
why not enjoy delicious lacto-fermented condiments daily, at uoguelph.ca/news/2008/07/sourdough_bread.html).
a fraction of the cost.
COCONUT OIL VINDICATED
MORE WOES FROM GMOS Scientists in Brazil looked at the effects of coconut oil on waist
Scientists from Russia have discovered that hamsters fed circumference in women with abdominal obesity, that is, with
GMO soybeans as part of their normal diet eventually develop waist sizes greater than forty inches. The randomized, double-
infertility. An Austrian study found similar harm in mice that blind, clinical trial involved forty women aged twenty to forty
consumed GM corn. Farmers across the U.S. have reported years. Groups received two tablespoons of either soybean oil
infertility among pigs and cows that consume GM feed. And or coconut oil over a twelve-week period. The subjects were
in India, a research team observed infertility and other seri- instructed to follow a "balanced" low-calorie diet and to walk
ous problems among buffalo fed GM cottonseed (Naturalnew. for fifty minutes per day. Calorie intake and carbohydrate
com, August 6, 2012). Now another problem with a GM crop intake in both groups diminished over the trial whereas the
has emerged. Corn modified to stand tall and tough against consumption of protein and fiber increased; fat consumption
pests is wreaking havoc on tractor tires. The leftover stubs in remained unchanged. At the start of the trial, there were no
the fields are like little spears, so tough that they can puncture differences in biochemical or anthropometric characteristics
thick rubber. Tractor tires can cost thousands of dollars, and between the groups, but by the end of the trial, the coconut
some tractors have as many as eight tires. Instead of tractor group had higher HDL levels and a lower LDL-HDL ratio.
tires lasting the usual five or six years, they’re getting chewed Both groups lost weight but only the coconut users exhibited a
up after just one or two. Some farmers are turning to Kevlar reduction in waist circumference. The researchers concluded,
tires, which can only add to their costs. "It appears that dietetic supplementation with coconut oil does
not cause dyslipidemia and seems to promote a reduction in
HEALTH BENEFITS FROM SOURDOUGH abdominal obesity" (Lipids 2009 Jul;44(7):593-601).
Researchers at the University of Guelph tested four types of
bread to ascertain the effects on blood sugar levels. Using SKIN DAMAGE WITH ENERGY-EFFICIENT BULBS
white, whole wheat, whole wheat with barley and sourdough The hype on energy efficient, "curly" fluorescent light bulbs,
white breads, the team of researchers examined how subjects which fit into an incandescent light bulb socket, is fading.
responded hours after eating the bread for breakfast and again Once slated to completely replace incandescent bulbs, a
just hours after eating a standard lunch. The subjects, who planned phase out on old fashioned light bulbs was postponed
were overweight and ranged between fifty and sixty years of due to impassioned testimony from individuals highly sensi-
age, showed the most positive blood sugar responses after tive to fluorescent lights. Now new research funded by the
eating sourdough white bread. With the sourdough, the sub- National Science Foundation has scientists warning consum-
ject’s blood sugar levels were lower for a similar rise in blood
insulin, and the positive effect remained during and after the FOR SCIENTISTS AND LAY READERS
second meal. What’s really interesting about this study is that Please note that the mission of the Weston A. Price
the whole wheat breads—supposedly full of fiber that controls Foundation is to provide important information about
blood sugar levels—had the worst effects, causing blood sugar diet and health to both scientists and the lay public. For
levels to spike, and these high levels lasted until well after this reason, some of the articles in Wise Traditions are
lunch. Professor Terry Graham, head of the study, suggested necessarily technical. It is very important for us to describe
the science that supports the legitimacy of our dietary
that the poor response from the whole wheat bread was due principles. In articles aimed at scientists and practitioners,
to the milling process; but an equally likely explanation is we provide a summary of the main points and also put
the many anti-nutrients in whole grains that cause a stressful the most technical information in sidebars. These articles
rise in blood sugar. These irritating and difficult-to-digest are balanced by others that provide practical advice to
compounds are neutralized by the sourdough process. The our lay readers.
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