Page 79 - Spring2010

CLUELESS in specific populations. Further, well-conducted The agency
We have a major confession from the Na- studies are needed to clarify the effect of soy dose
tional Institutes of Health (NIH)! The agency on lipid parameters and to determine whether actually
actually admits it’s been supporting research soy components other than protein or isoflavones admits it’s
on soy and health for many years but is clue- may be responsible for the lipid effects seen.” been
less about whether or not soy prevents or cures To help sort things out, the NIH plans a
much of anything. Or has even been proven workshop for nutritionists, scientists, MDs, epi- supporting
safe! After commissioning a thorough review demiologists, biochemists and clinical trialists research

of the literature (www.ahrq.gov/clinic/tp/soytp. from academia, industry and government. Their on soy and
htm), NIH found a “large but weak literature job will be to figure out how to guide “the next
with equivocal findings” and “some troubling generation of soy protein and isoflavone human health for
data about soy products used in research, which research.” A key task is to identify methodologi- many years

included confounding produced by unanticipated cal issues relative to exposures and interventions but is clueless
levels of phytoestrogens in animal feed” (Hein- that may confound study results and interpreta-
del et al. Environmental Health Perspectives tion and to find ways to deal effectively with about
2008:116(3);389-393). In other words, to ascertain these issues in the design, completion, reporting whether or
the benefits of soy, scientists compared its effects and interpretation of studies. NIH also hopes not soy
in animals to animals fed a control diet full of this group will address issues related to expo-
soy, a poor way to design any study but a great sure to soy and other phytoestrogens, factors prevents or
way to hide the negative effects caused by soy influencing variability of response and negative cures much
feeding. consequences of exposure. Sounds to us like a of anything.
The official conclusion of the review, written belated admission that soy might have a “dark
in the finest scientese: “Given the large amount of side.” Interesting that I haven’t been invited.
heterogeneity and inadequate reporting, particu-
larly related to soy protein and isoflavone dose,
many questions remain as to whether specific Visit Kaayla’s soy recovery blog at http://www.
soy products in adequate doses may be of benefit westonaprice.org/blog/.

A GREEN OPPORTUNITy FOR yOU AND FOR WAPF

We are pleased to announce a new way to contribute financially to the Weston A. Price Foundation!
For members in Connecticut and Pennsylvania, we have associated with viridian Responsible Energy, a green elec-
tricity provider.
Here’s a way for you to go green, reduce your electric bill, and contribute $1-2 per month to WAPF.
Log onto www.viridian.com/WAPF and sign up to make viridian your energy provider. you will have lower electricity
bills and a payment of one to two dollars goes to WAPF every month. The University of Connecticut receives $10,000
per month from consumers who signed up for viridian. WAPF can do the same—what a difference that would make for
our budget!
Here’s how it works: viridian buys renewable energy from local wind and solar farms, and sells it directly to custom-
ers, through their utility company. There are no fees or contracts, and the customer still gets one bill, from his or her same
current electricity provider. This switch is completely transparent to you—only you’ll be paying less on your electricity
bill every month. However, your reliability and emergency repair will remain the responsibility of your utility company,
so are completely unaffected.
It takes five minutes to switch, and making the change is equivalent to planting 130 trees or not driving 2400 miles!
Save money, help the environment, and help WAPF help you!
Coming soon: for members in New york, New Jersey, Maryland, Maine, New Hampshire, Delaware, Massachusetts,
Rhode Island, Ohio, Michigan, Illinois, and Texas, viridian will be expanding into your states, and you too will be able to
switch to green energy, save money and support WAPF!
For more information, log onto: www.viridian.com/WAPF, or contact Beth Beisel, WAPF member, at bbeisel@com-
cast.net.

SPRING 2010 Wise Traditions 79