----- Original Message -----
From: "John David Hickey" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Friday, April 06, 2001 3:59 PM
Subject: Re: [P-F] Cracked feet


> Greetings!
>
> > So what causes this? For the past 10 years or so I
> > have had to deal with this every summer when I toss my
> > shoes aside and start wearing sandals. I eat grains
> > very rarely and I never eat beans. Anybody got a clue?
> > Nuts or seeds perhaps?
>
> Since Irene (PaleoBabe) pointed it out, I noticed that everytime I
consumed
> grain-based stuff, my feet would really start to itch. I noticed that
there
> would be little bumps along the sole of my feet, but I just thought that
was
> normal.
>
> Whenever I eat alot of non-paleo food, those bumps become irritated and
> beging to itch something awful.
>
> I'll be interested in anything people come up with for an explanation...
>
> Dave


This may not be a scientific analogy, but I've been showing and raising a
breed of dogs for many years that is notorious for having skin problems. The
whole variety of skin problems can be linked to immune system abnormalities
(cytokines, ph levels, yeast & fungal infestations) which are, in turn,
highly sensitive to diet. Replacing dog food with a diet made up entirely of
raw meats, a bit of raw vegetables, and supplemental fish oil restores
health in every single case I have ever seen (and I've seen the most
hopeless looking rescue cases!). Keep in mind that even "premium" dog foods
are chocked full of grains and superheated (rancid) fats.

Please don't anyone get offended by my comparing dogs to humans. Let me
point out that the skin probems common in dogs are often identical to skin
problems in humans AND SO ARE THE SO-CALLED HEALTHY DIETS. Mixing up corn,
soybeans, wheat, rice, etc. with some poor quality meats that have been too
damaged by heat to be of any value, and fats that have such oxidative damage
they should be considered poisonous - it's a recipe for disaster, yes, but
the same recipe I was taught in school was "healthy" and the same recipe
people feed their kids every day.

I've also found it's not enough to provide raw meats. It's just as important
there be a substantial variety in the meats. Providing ostrich, chicken,
duck, turkey, salmon, pollock, beef, eggs, buffalo, rabbit, vennison, lamb,
the organ meats and muscle meats, on a rotating schedual is far more
effective than say, feeding chicken every day.  The lesson for me has been
that subtle amino acid, fatty acid and trace mineral imbalances have a more
profound impact on health than has been previously recognized. But those
imbalances can be prevented or ameliorated with a high variety diet.

As far as cracked feet go, specifically, it's almost always the first sign
of impending skin problems in dogs. At that point replacing grains with
higher quality proteins is usually enough. If you're aleady on a paleodiet
it's unlikely to get worse. You might also check your diet to see if you
might be eating a less than optimum amount of sulfur containing amino acids.
If that's not the problem then you might consider if the absorption and
ulilization might be impaired. Using betaine and digestive enzymes
temporarily might help, and increasing tissue levels of B-vitamins might
also be important. Sometimes just drinking too much water can lead to mild
B-vitamin deficiencies. Of course, if youre the brave type you might try
eating everything raw. I can't bring myself to do that but I'm a reformed
vegan who is still a little sqeemish about meats at all : ). I have a
horrible array of health problems from being vegan and I'm looking for a
cheerleader to help me stick to P-F if anybody wants the job (lol).
Monique



>