Kathryn Rosenthal wrote:

>> I don't know what would make it clearer.  The theory predicts
>> that the Tarahumara should be dropping like flies from their
>> high-carb, corn and bean based diet.  But they are
>> extraordinarily healthy.
>===================================================================
>
>Except, of course, for the Tarahumara indians in Northern Mexico who are
>starving due to their enslavement by drug lords.  The Tarahumara now
grow
>drugs for the North Am. drug market.  It is difficult to get food
trucks to
>them without bandits robbing the food; children are among the starving
(at
>least this was true last year).

This seems to be the nub of the problem in this discussion.  When we
talk about "the Tarahumara," as when we talk about "the Inuit," we may
be talking about a harshly oppressed and drought-stricken people or we
may be talking about those who may have managed to avoid this and stay
with their traditions.

My mention of the Tarahumara was intended as an example of a people who
make extensive use of corn and beans, but whose heart disease rate is
low.  I did supply a reference for this claim, which is seemingly at
odds with the other references to rampant obesity, diabetes, and
malnutrition among the Tarahumara, one of which andy supplied.  So,
until I get some clear information about what the Tarahumara diet and
health were like prior to current terrible conditions, I can't draw any
conclusion from this case.  Thanks for the added information about
their situation, though.