Page 2 - Spring2010

The WesTon A. Price President’s Message

FoundATion ®

Education  Research  Activism

Board of directors In this issue we explore the many anti-nutrients in plant foods—and
Sally Fallon Morell, MA, President and Treasurer
Mary Enig, PhD, FACN, CNS, Vice President not just in grains, legumes and nuts, but also in many popular vegetables,
Geoffrey Morell, ND, JP, Secretary fruits and even spices. Our purpose is not to frighten our readers away
Tom Cowan, MD
Cherie Calvert from consuming the many wonderful foods of plant origin, but rather
Kaayla T. Daniel, PhD, CCN
Valerie Cury Joyner to make you aware of the pitfalls of the so-called “plant-based diet.”
Overreliance on plant foods—and particularly overreliance on just
GeNeraL coUNseL
James Turner, Esq. a few favored plant foods like peanuts, wheat or soy—poses the risk
of numerous health problems, including digestive disorders, nutrient
HoNorarY Board
Jen Allbritton, BS, CN deficiencies and painful conditions like arthritis and kidney stones.
Christian B. Allen, PhD
Naomi Baumslag, MD, MPH Some people are so sensitive to certain foods that they must avoid them
Marie A. Bishop, CDC altogether.
Jerry Brunetti
Natasha Campbell-McBride, MD It is not our philosophy at the Weston A. Price Foundation to tell
Lee Clifford, MS, CCN
Christapher Cogswell, MA people not to eat certain natural foods, but rather to let people know
Monica Corrado how they can eat them, how to include as many wonderful natural
Janice Curtin
Eric Davis, BDSc, DAc, DCN foods in the diet as possible. For starters, this means always consum-
William Campbell Douglass, MD ing plant foods in the context of a diet that contains sufficient animal
Sara Bachman Ducey, MS, CNS
James A. Duke, PhD foods, particularly animal fats. Fats like butter, lard, egg yolks, tallow
Carol Esche, DNP, MA, RN, CNA
Mike Fitzpatrick, PhD and poultry fat provide the nutrients needed to build a healthy intestinal
Ruth Ann Foster, MA tract, one that blocks the uptake of problematic ingredients in grains,
Donna Gates, BS, MEd
Zac Goldsmith, Editor, The Ecologist nuts, legumes, fruits and vegetables.
Nicholas Gonzalez, MD Second, we need to honor our partnership with intestinal micro-
Trauger Groh
Joann S. Grohman flora in the challenging work of breaking down our food into its basic
Barry Anthony Groves
Beatrice Trum Hunter, MA components. Good gut bacteria produce many of the enzymes that
Richard James, MBA, LLD break down plant-based anti-nutrients like oxalic acid and phytic acid.
Mark A. Kastel
Larry Klein Lacto-fermented foods are a must in a diet high in plant foods, as these
Kilmer McCully, AB, MD, MA (hon) traditional condiments supply the types of good bacteria that keep the
Frank Melograna, MD
Carlos Monteiro gut sufficiently populated with these helpful little friends. If you have
Kenneth Fielding Morehead, DOM
David Morris, BS, DC had one or more courses of antibiotics, it may be necessary to refrain
Kathryn Pirtle, BS, MA from consuming a lot of plant foods until the intestinal microflora are
Bruce Rind, MD
Julia Ross, MA reestablished. Third, we need to prepare plant foods properly! For grains,
Beverly Rubik, BS, PhD nuts and legumes, that means pre-digestion by soaking, fermenting and
Jordan S. Rubin, NMD, CNC
Ethan Russo, MD sourdough processing; for vegetables, this usually entails cooking. And
Adrienne Samuels, PhD
Jack Samuels, MSHA remember the main purpose of eating a variety of delicious fruits and
Ron Schmid, ND vegetables: to serve as the perfect vehicle for healthy animal fats like
Andreas Schuld
Frederick I. Scott, Jr, BE, MS butter, egg yolks, lard and cream! Fourth, we need to introduce these
C. Edgar Sheaffer, VMD
Ted Spence, DDS, ND foods very slowly to babies. Babies’ first foods should be mostly animal
Rebecca L. Stearns, LAc, DAc foods; grains, nuts, legumes and even vegetables should be introduced
Alana Sugar, CN
Krispin Sullivan, CN slowly and not before baby’s intestinal tract has had a chance to mature.
Joe Tarantolo, MD Finally, we need to vary our intake of plant-foods, rather than constantly
Beverly B. Teter, PhD, FACN, CNS
John Umlauf eat just a few. Eating peanut butter or tomatoes or wheat every day is
Susun S. Weed
David Wetzel, BS a fast track to increased sensitivity to these foods. When it comes to
Bruce West, DC plant foods, variety is the spice of life, as well as a sensible, healthy
Louisa L. Williams, MS, DC, ND
George Yu, MD policy!
2 Wise Traditions SPRING 2010