Page 52 - Summer2008

The which brings about a heavenly intoxication of ancient whole foods do not offer the same life-

substance while also possessing medicinal and aphrodisiac giving properties, nutrients, and good spirits of
qualities, tempts me greatly. Unfortunately, tra-
their wholesome ancestors.
sold as agave ditionally made pulque is difcult to nd even in It is a sad reection today that even in the

nectar on Mexico, and the location of those rare sources is central highlands of Mexico, the use of pulque is
today’s a closely guarded secret. Due to the rapid natu- in rapid decline, no longer available in its genuine
ral fermentation process, storing the pulque for form for today’s people who deserve this divine
market transportation while keeping its natural probiotics nectar in its carefully harvested, pure, and unre-
shelves is not intact is a difcult task that no one seems to have  ned state.

The substance sold as agave nectar on
the true successfully accomplished. today’s market shelves is not the true nectar,
nectar, THE LOST NECTAR neither is it the traditional syrup.

neither is it Weston Price frequently commented that I feel the calling and desire within me to
the traditional with the coming of the modern white man and his return to the old ways. I can imagine a time and a
depleted foods of modern commerce, also came place where people trust in nature’s principles to
syrup. a plague that destroyed indigenous civilizations guide their food creations. In such a time we will

across the planet. This plague not only deterio- not require research articles to gure out what
rated the esh and bones of all people consumed a food really is behind its marketing hype and

by it, but their hearts and minds as well. product labeling. I look toward that time when
Refined agave syrup, labeled as agave we rely on nature’s principles and the heritage
nectar, is an example of this process, wherein of wise traditions to educate us about the most
goodness and harmony are lost. Here, pulque, vibrant and rich ways to live.
a lightly alcoholic life-giving food, considered
to be the nectar of the gods due to its intoxicat- Special thanks to those who helped with this
ing effects, is replaced with poor facsimiles of article: Sabra Van Dolsen of Colibree, Craig
tequila. Gerbore of Madhava and Andrew Rhodes of
And traditional agave syrup, made by SunFood Nutrition.
boiling the aguamiel, which today is still used
for traditional healing methods, is replaced with Rami Nagel is the author of Cure Tooth Decay:
a more rened syrup, that has lost at least some Heal And Prevent Cavities With Nutrition. Visit

of its minerals, and is no longer produced by his website at www.curetoothdecay.com.
original methods. These modern interpretations

XYLITOL: IS IT BENEFICIAL, OR EVEN SAFE?

Heralded as an ally in the battle against tooth decay and diabetes, xylitol is another sweetener to enter the mar-
ket with a great deal of hype. Xylitol is a five-carbon sugar alcohol found in some fruits and vegetables and produced
in small amounts by the human body. Because mouth bacteria cannot ferment sugar alcohols, xylitol is said to prevent
1
cavities; and because the body metabolizes it primarily through the liver rather than the pancreas, it is said to be good
for diabetics in limited amounts (no more than 60 grams per day).
Xylitol is less sweet than sugar and produces a noticeable cooling sensation in the mouth when highly concentrated,
as in “sugar-free” candy and chewing gum. It is often added to foods sweetened with aspartame, to mask the bitter taste.
And because xylitol contains fewer calories than sugar, products containing it can carry weight loss claims.

HOW IS XYLITOL MADE?
Originally made from birch bark, and hence associated with the very natural, nutritious and traditional birch syrup
(similar to maple syrup), xylitol is anything but a natural product. The typical manufacturing process goes like this:

1. Obtain some source material containing xylan. One commonly used source is corn cobs imported from China.
Hardwood and the waste from cotton ginning are other sources.

50 Wise Traditions SUMMER 2008