Page 13 - Spring 2019 Journal

The Carbon Farming Solution by Erick Toensmeier highlights all the different ways regenerative agriculture is being used to reduce atmospheric carbon dioxide. In his view, it is profit- able to shift global farming practices to these methods in time to avoid not only the worst effects of climate change, but actually reverse it and reap economic and health benefits as well.
The author also believes that in order to achieve this, we will simul- taneously need to dramatically reduce carbon dioxide pollution from fossil fuels. Luckily, there is a solution to that. It is the Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act, introduced in the U.S. Congress. It puts a price on carbon pollution and returns all revenue back to American households equally. Please invite Eric Toensmeier to be interviewed or pen a guest article in the farming section of the journal. If read- ers want to donate time to the amazing group responsible for the climate leg- islation, please join your local chapter of the Citizens’ Climate Lobby.
John O’Bryan, raw milk farmer Skandia, Michigan
HEALTH BENEFITS OF COFFEE
A letter from Julia Ross published in the summer 2018 WAPF journal states that coffee consumption “ruins our appetite for real food” and increases adrenaline, which interferes with sleep which “weakens health generally.” Julia concluded, based on a 2013 study, that “consuming more than three cups a day on a regular basis increases our risk of premature death by 50 percent.” Julia also stated that suppression of insulin
SPRING 2019
Letters
response by caffeine can accelerate progression toward diabetes.
My wife and I have followed most dietary recommendations of the Weston A. Price Foundation for more than a decade. We understand that the Founda- tion does not recommend consumption of stimulants like coffee. However, we drink coffee regularly in the morning in part because of the proven health benefits.
After reading the letter from Julia Ross, I reviewed hundreds of studies on the association of coffee consumption and health. The following abstract lists the main disease conditions that are improved by coffee consumption.
“Coffee is among the most wide- spread and healthiest beverages in the world. Coffee typically contains more caffeine than most other beverages, and is widely and frequently consumed. Thus, it contributes significantly to the overall caffeine consumption within the general population, particularly in adults. Controversies regarding its benefits and risks still exist as reliable evidence is becoming available sup- porting its health-promoting potential. Several lines of evidence have high- lighted the beneficial effects towards several disease conditions including Type II diabetes, hepatitis C virus, hepatocellular carcinoma, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and neurodegen- erative disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease (AD), Parkinson’s disease (PD) and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). The health-promoting proper- ties of coffee are largely attributed to its rich phytochemistry, including caf- feine, chlorogenic acid, caffeic acid,
and hydroxy hydroquinone.” (PMID: 29546172)
Review of many studies regarding the effect of coffee on health has rein- forced my belief that coffee consump- tion is highly beneficial.
Jack Cameron Fairhope, Alabama
Many individuals, including your editor, found that they experienced greater energy and had fewer health problems (such as allergies) when they discontinued coffee. (See our “Reading Between the Lines” column in Wise Traditions, Winter 2018.)
THE TRAGEDY OF PSYCH DRUGS On January 11, 2019, the world lost a kind, gentle beautiful soul: my son, Andrew Jeffrey Rich. His story is yet another example of how profit-driven forced commitment and involuntary medication crushes the mind and spirit
of the most vulnerable among us. Andrew was a bright, happy, cre- ative, charming person who captured our hearts from the moment of his birth on January 28, 1989. He was generous to a fault, always ready to give the shirt off his back to anyone in need. One of his last acts was to purchase a cheeseburger for a friend with the $2 remaining in his wallet. Andrewwas a true empath—one who could ap- prehend the mental or emotional state of others, and whose sensitivity made him vulnerable to the world’s slights and unkindness. Andrew felt and loved deeply; and taught us that those who love the most, suffer the most. He was a gentle, beautiful ‛old’ soul. He leaves behind many, many loving friends and
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