Page 61 - Spring2010

pancreas, and others. In fact, the most destructive for the hedonist The plan offers stages of carbohydrate consumption, es-
damage from a heart attack occurs not from the pecially when weight loss is desired, which gradually increase to a modest
occlusion that prevents blood flow, but from the level in the maintenance stage, which the authors suggest can be followed
explosive reaction of the stored iron in the heart for life. To help understand the effect of a carbohydrate food on insulin
with the oxygen in the blood newly reaching the levels, the Eades offer a guide which they call the “effective carbohydrate
heart after the blockage has cleared. The Eades content.” By subtracting the unabsorbable fiber from the total carbohydrate
recommend monitoring iron levels and donating in a food, you are left with the amount of sugars and starches that will have
blood regularly as a simple means to maintain a metabolic effect on blood sugar and insulin levels. Restricting quantities
healthy levels. of these foods will help keep blood insulin levels low.
Why do humans absorb and store iron so Amounts of protein on the plan are not excessive—this is not a protein-
well if there is a great potential for excess to be heavy diet, despite the book’s title—but are adequate as calibrated for
harmful? The Eades propose the theory that our the activity levels of adults, as well as for body size. A typical serving of
hunter-gatherer ancestors hosted a community of protein for those of “average” size is about four ounces, for example—less
intestinal parasites that took care of excess iron than many people may actually routinely eat on “normal” diets.
by regularly draining blood from their hosts. When the book was written ten years ago, the Eades were perhaps
These “guests” did not compromise the overall overly circumspect in highlighting what the reader discovers their diet
health of hunters because of their diet rich in actually encourages: a healthy intake of good fats to provide necessary
meat sources of iron, and whose skeletal remains nutrients and satiety. They sanction all fats from animals, including butter,
demonstrate robust stature and structure. The lard, and egg yolks as desired and with no restrictions as to amounts. Cod
Eades contend that agriculturalists, on the other liver oil is a recommended supplement, but they warn against fish oil in
hand, harbored the same parasites, but were no capsules which are so often rancid. The Eades include a chapter warning
longer protected by their diet from the constant of the dangers of artificial sweeteners and highlighting Russell Blaylock’s
blood drain, and their skeletal remains show tell- revelatory book on the same topic, Excitotoxins: The Taste That Kills.
tale signs of iron deficiency. If we can become Other chapters encourage the reader to get outside and sunbathe
comfortable with the fact that we are made up (without burning), meditate and exercise the brain, and pleasurably move
of more cells of bacteria in our guts than of “us” the body. The even-handed tone of the authors is refreshing to read, and
then perhaps we will next have to consider the much of the advice in Protein Power Lifeplan is useful even if one never
idea that a symbiotic life with parasites might bothered to change one’s diet. The Eades’s well-reasoned argument that
have its benefits as well! a diet low in starchy carbohydrates can confer many more health benefits
As far as the Protein Plan diet itself, the than mere weight loss may nevertheless convince you that it is in your best
Eades present three approaches to readers: the interests to do so.
purist, which cleaves most closely to the Paleo- In spite of all these good points, we can only give this book a very
lithic ideal of pastured meat and no grains or qualified thumbs up, because after all the discussion about good meats and
dairy; and the dilettante and the hedonist, with fats, and the dangers of modern foods, some very objectionable modern
respective modest increases in grain and dairy foods show up in the “allowed” foods lists at the end of the book, including
foods for each, along with allowances for some soy foods, saccharine and canola oil. We hope that on reprinting, the Eades
questionable modern concoctions, particularly will have the good sense to remove these unhealthy processed foods.
Review by Katherine Czapp

CHEF OUTREACH
WAPF publicist Kimberly Hartke meets
with Sean O’Connell Executive Chef
of Fontainebleau Resorts and Michael
Schwartz, Chef owner of Michael’s
Genuine Food and Drink, in the Miami
Design district, to garner support for
pasture-raised and nutrient-dense food.
For more information, visit her blog at
http://hartkeisonline.com/2010/01/04/
christmas-in-miami/.

SPRING 2010 Wise Traditions 61