Message from Sally Fallon, WAPF President

The following is reprinted with permission from the Fall 2010 Wise Traditions Journal, a quarterly journal from the Weston A. Price Foundation.  My journal came in the mail last week; I love reading it cover to cover.  The main reason I became a member of the Weston A. Price Foundation was to receive the journal. It is chocked full of interesting information.  Let me encourage you to become a member today.  -Julie

Use of lead pipes and lead cooking vessels is given as one reason for the decline of ancient Rome.  Ingestion of lead over time leads to brain and kidney damage, gastrointestinal symptoms, anemia, neurological symptoms, depressed sperm count and increased risk of preterm delivery, low birth weight and impaired mental development.  The Romans were largely unaware of the insidious effects of lead in their food, wine and water.

The plant-based, low-fat, low-salt diet enshrined in the USDA dietary guidelines is contributing to chronic disease, digestive disorders, infertility and increasing developmental problems in our children; yet few are aware of the relationship between these dictates and the steady decline in our health.  If followed, these guidelines are a lead pipe cinch for increasing infertility, fatigue, learning disorders and all manner of illness, which sap the lifeblood of our society and will result in its inevitable decline.  And the 2010 USDA Dietary Guidelines Committee is determined that they will be followed, focusing its attention on behavior modification techniques to ensure compliance and stipulating adherence in schools, hospitals, prisons and other institutions.  The Committee admits that most people don adhere to their strictures, but prefers that we indulge in processed foods made with industrial fats, specifically, warning against eggs, bacon and cheese.

We at the Weston A. Price Foundation have been following the actions of the Committee as it moves relentlessly towards new 2010 guidelines that are even stricter than earlier versions - specifically with lower recommended levels of saturated fat and salt, two nutrients that are key to brain function.  We have submitted testimony, listened to webinars, attended hearings and issued press releases.  In fact, it was only due to the efforts of our publicist, Kimberly Hartke, that there was any media representation at all at recent hearings.  To read testimony from those who oppose the guidelines, visit Kimberly's blog.  WAPF is also developing a colorful poster and booklet describing the principles of healthy, nutrient-dense diets.  Our alternative guidelines recommended four groups: animal foods including dairy; grains, legumes and nuts; fruits and vegetables; and healthy fats.  We'll keep you posted on our progress and announce these materials with appropriate publicity.

Meanwhile, the best way to learn about the latest in nutrition science and to enjoy delicious healthy food is to attend Wise Traditions 2010, our 11th annual conference.  We urge you not to delay in pre-registering; ticket sales are funning way ahead of last year and we'd hate to turn away any of our members for lack of space.  Click here for details on our speakers.

Sally Fallon Morell, MA

WAPF President

Anecdotes or the Scientific Method?

I received an e-mail yesterday asking me how to become a member of the Weston A. Price Foundation. The e-mail reminded me that Sarah, "the Healthy Home Economist" recently invited WAPF chapter leaders to share the article below which she wrote about Wise Traditions, the journal WAPF members receive on a quarterly basis. The Weston A. Price Foundation has approximately 400 chapters across the United States and over 70 international chapters. Not only does a WAPF membership provide you with a subscription to a very informative journal, it is also an important way to join your voice with that of an organization which speaks out loudly on behalf of Real Food education, research, and activism.

Lisa
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I'm going way out on a limb with this post and may be opening myself up to a bunch of "you are completely nuts" emails, but I think what I have to say really needs to be said. So here goes anyway ....

Over the years, I have gotten increasingly comfortable with anecdotal evidence as opposed to scientific studies when it comes to health related topics.

Have any of you noticed that you are starting to feel the same way?

If I notice a pattern where a few of my trusted friends tell me that they have discovered that doing this or eating that is helping their families' health, I tend to be more receptive to this message than when a big media story trumpets some big new "health breakthrough".

Health Breakthrough? Yawn.

These"health breakthroughs" are so often found to be slanted one way or another based on who is funding the research.

Or worse, the reporting is just so bad that the story is incredibly misleading and leads the reader to very wrong conclusions.

It seems that much of the so called "research" on health these days is really covert marketing by drug companies, Big Food and others.

Using "science" to manipulate the buying habits of consumers? Absolutely!

Anecdotal evidence, on the other hand, is based primarily on personal observation and case studies. If this observation comes from a trusted source, then it has much validity in my experience.

Think about traditional cultures. They did not have the scientific method to lean on. Anecdotal evidence was all they had to navigate through their choices about what to eat and what not to eat on a daily and seasonal basis.

Health anecdotes were passed down from generation to generation. Those who did not follow these anecdotes either died or failed to reproduce.

Nature is harsh when her rules are not obeyed.

This is not to say that I do not value the scientific method. On the contrary, I find truly objective, scientific studies to be a great achievement of our modern culture. Done right, these types of studies have the power to identify critical information that is of real value to humankind.

Unfortunately, it seems that the scientific approach to health and wellness is coming under increasing abuse nowadays which partly explains the resurgence and popularity of anecdotal evidence.

Moms seem especially open to anecdotal evidence from those they trust. Moms networking together and providing support and information to help each other grow healthy children is a very powerful force in the world.

Never underestimate the power of the hand that rocks the cradle.

One source of information that has gained my trust as a Mom over the years is Wise Traditions magazine, a quarterly publication from the Weston A. Price Foundation. My favorite section of this periodical is the "Caustic Commentary" which takes the media reports on health and wellness from the previous few months and rips them to shreds if the research has been found lacking in objectivity.

Wise Traditions is a bit of a watchdog in that regard.

The letters in Wise Traditions are also very interesting, providing one anecdotal story after another about how traditional diet has helped a person or family come back from the brink of ill health.

Balancing the anecdotes, many of the Wise Traditions articles are extremely detailed and heavily rooted in science - science done right, that is, with objectivity and nonpartiality.

Anecdotes or the scientific method? Which do you value more and why?

Sarah, The Healthy Home Economist