So, I'm watching Oprah and the topic is out-of-control, bipolar children.
An expert had some valid points, but he seemed to be missing the boat.  He
came within an inch of the paleolithic philosophy by saying when you see
major changes in the population, you have to look at the environment.  Sound
familiar?  He even mentioned evolutionary adaptation!  But instead of
looking at the diet's role in bipolar disorder, he talks about things like
what kids watch on TV.

Granted, kid shows today versus Buggs Bunny and the like can barely be
compared.  But whether through our own experience or by reading the stories
of others (Mary and Ray, for example), we know the paleolithic diet does
more than increase energy and reduce weight.

To the point.  What will it take to get tests underway on the paleolithic
diet's impact on such problems as depression, cancer and a veritable
cornucopia of other problems?  I know scientists will soon look at the paleo
diet's impact on multiple schlerosis.  But it can't end there.

Does the increase in cancer directly correlate to the increase in sugar and
refined carb consumption?  What about kids and bipolar disorder?  We all
know that the average American kid eats sugar like there's no tomorrow, but
no one seems to be doing anything about it!  Are things like Dunkin' Donuts
and Wonder Bread behind the increase in clinical depression?  Some say it's
because it's not as taboo as it used to be, but is that really the reason
more and more people are taking anti-depressants?

I had the same thought about studies this morning after hearing a report on
fatal heart disease.  A 20+ year study shows American and Northern European
men had the highest rate of death due to heart disease.  Lowest?  Asian and
Southern European men who ate more seafood, more olive oil and less meat.
This was a 60 second blurb on what could have been an in-depth study.  But
I'll bet you a nickel that carb, grain and sugar consumption were virtually
ignored.  We also know that while people from Japan and, say, Italy eat
plenty of pasta and rice, they don't eat as many Twinkies and french fries
as thier American cousins.  Why not ponder THIS, damn it?

I'm basically crying the blues, but I do have to wonder: is there any way
that people like us could help get such studies underway?  The bottom line
is the bottom line.  As in, studies ain't cheap. But would letters and phone
calls help get the ball rolling?  If anyone out there has suggestions on
this, I'm sure I'm not the only one who would love to hear them.

Dori Zook
Denver, CO