Wow.  I was lucky enough to not only hear a great lecture from Swedish
researcher Staffan Lindeberg but to also enjoy dinner with the Jesus, Mary,
Joseph and Pope of paleo nutrition; Mike & Mary Dan Eades, Staffan Lindeberg
and Loren Cordain.

But I digress.  Lindeberg has done extensive research on the Kitava, a
native people that inhabits a remote island off the Papua New Guinea coast.
They eat a good amount of carbs and relatively low fat, but much of the fat
they do consume is saturated (coconuts).  While there is no data on the
fiber found in fruits and tubers native to this island, researchers do know
these plants have a low glycemic index.

As expected, these people enjoy outstanding health, even though many of them
DO smoke; cigarettes make way to the island through relatives who live on
the mainland and come back to visit.  No dairy food and certainly no
westernized foods.  They eat tubers, fruit (mostly papaya) and a number of
different fish.  Researchers have analyzed their hair, which shows they
enjoy 4X the amount of magnesium consumed by Swedes.  Their blood pressure,
cholesterol, triglycerides, LBM and insulin levels are also significantly
lower than the levels seen in Swedes.  As usual, accidents, infections
(especially malaria) and pregnancy complications are the primary causes of
death.  Diseases of civilization such as heart disease are nonexistant on
the island but almost immediatly problematic for people who leave the
homeland behind and move on shore.

I should be interviewing Dr. Lindeberg tomorrow and, if so, will share some
more info.  Fascinating, indeed.

Dori Zook
Denver, CO
_________________________________________________________________
Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com