Yes, I agree.
 the real problem is one of paradigms- belief systems. The Western medical
paradigm is full of holes. So is the Western naturopathic paradigm, Eastern
naturopathic paradigm, homeopathic paradigm, chiropractic paradigm etc..
The Paleolithic nutrition paradigm has many of the answers (but not all of
them). It is based on orthodox Western scientific study, and the
implications are that much of alternative medicine is correct. It therefore
has the ability to unite the Western science with the alternative science-
it at least has appeal to all parties.
As Todd implies, and has implied previously, disease is a natural state.
Therefore, getting back to nature will not eliminate disease entirely. The
diseases of civilisation will however be greatly reduced- obesity, caries,
diabetes, hypertension, coronary artery disease.

Why has the First World average life expectancy risen to such a high level-
what is it - about 85 for women and 80 for men? How can this happen when the
incidence of obesity, diabetes and hypertension is skyrocketing?? One has to
admit that the answer is mainly the effect of Western medical advances.

The logical conclusion is that we are getting sicker, but we are learning to
control disease quicker and more effectively than our national healths
deteriorate!! I know it sounds complex, maybe I'll restate it. Medicine is
advancing faster than Western health is deteriorating.  The upshot is of
course, that we are living longer but starting to take medication earlier in
life , and staying on medication for greatly longer periods. This means of
course that an increasing percentage of the Gross National Product must be
spent on medication/ health care.

Not enough is spent on preventive health. Unfortunately, preventive health
is locked into the current Western Nutritional; paradigm which has yet to
acknowledge the superiority of paleolithic diets. In due course, it will be
realised that paleolithic diet represents the greatest advance in Preventive
Medicine this century, and the greatest advance in nutritional science ever.
It still won't eliminate all disease, but imagine how long and how well we'd
all live if you eliminated hypertension, obesity, diabetes, dental caries,
coronary artery disease, stroke and probably cancer too!

Don't fret, at least you're already on it.

Ben Balzer

----- Original Message -----
From: Todd Moody <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Friday, September 24, 1999 12:01 PM
Subject: Re: [P-F] cholesterol test


> On Thu, 23 Sep 1999, Kendra wrote:
>
> > Don't you both agree
> > Paleo life just about eliminates the need for doctors or someone trained
in
> > alternatives?
>
> This implies that people living the "paleo life" are never sick,
> a conclusion that is hard to credit.  Even Jean Liedloff's book,
> The Continuum Concept, a book that extolls the stone age
> hunter-gatherer way of of life of the Yeqwana Indians, does not
> go that far.  Liedloff does not shirk from describing some of the
> illnesses suffered by these people.  Likewise, Colin Turnbull, in
> The Forest People, certainly doesn't give the impression that
> these isolated hunter-gatherers are immune to all ills.
>
> The "diseases of civilization" are not the only diseases there
> are.
>
> Todd Moody
> [log in to unmask]