On Wed, 29 Nov 2006 15:58:47 -0600, Philip <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>> From: Paleolithic Eating Support List
>> [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Robert Kesterson
> ...
>> I think much of the evil in the modern diet is
>> attributable to the processing the food goes through -- probablyeven  
>> more so than to the ingredients themselves.
>
> It would be nice if that turned out to be the case. ...
>
> Unfortunately, numerous facts convince me otherwise. ...
> I think processing worsens the problems, but I
> don't think it's the only culprit.

Nor do I.  Modern man's health problems can't be tied up that neatly.   
It's not even as simple as just food.  Certainly, some people are  
sensitive to certain foods, as you pointed out.  For those people, they  
should avoid those foods.  That's pretty simple.  What's not so simple is  
whether other factors besides the food impact the results.  For example,  
consider the Amish.  Their diet includes a lot of non-paleo foods  
(particularly grains and legumes), yet the incidence of obesity, diabetes,  
and other such modern problems are lower among them than among the general  
population.  Some theorize that this is because of their highly active  
lifestyle, or that there may be a genetic component to it as well.  If  
it's lifestyle (ie, amount of physical activity), then that can be  
improved for the average person.   If it's genetic, then maybe some people  
*have* adapted to the agricultural foods.  It may also be that despite  
agricultural grains, their diet tends to be more homemade and less  
mass-produced food.  No matter what the reason, I don't think it's true  
that all non-paleo food is bad for all people, all the time.  It's just  
not that cut and dried.

As for evolutionary speed (mentioned in another message), sometimes it  
does happen fast.  Mosquitos have evolved to be resistant to DDT, bacteria  
have evolved resistance to certain drugs, etc.  All of these are related  
to modern inventions in the last century or so, much less the last few  
thousand years.

-- 
   Robert Kesterson
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