In the November issue of the Townsend Letter for Doctors and Patients
there
is a interesting interview with Loren Cordain.  Cordain makes some
statements about grains that give an interesting perspective to some
of the
recent ideological debates on this list. Even though taken out of
context
Cordain's statements below nonetheless speak clearly for themselves:

"Generally, most people do quite well healthwise on 2-3 servings of
grain
products per day".

" Obviously, low to moderate amounts of cereal grains in the diet
present
little or no health problems to most people."

"The evolutionary paradigm should be used as a starting point for
designing
optimal nutrition guides.  Clearly, it is not practical nor economical
possible for all of the world's people to eat wild game, fruits and
vegetables.  However, the macronutrient and trace nutrient levels that
typically occur in reconstructed Stone Age diets should be emulated in
the
design of healthful diets for modern people.  Humanity is totally
dependent
now upon cereal grains for survival.  Cereal grains provide 56% of the
food
energy and 50% of the protein consumed by all of the world's peoples.
Without them there would be worldwide starvation of unprecedented
proportion.  We have wandered down a path of absolute dependence upon
cereal grains, a path from which there is no return."

Cordain being one of the pioneers of paleo-nutrition, I find his
non-dogmatic stance on the consumption of grains very refreshing.  The
rest
of the interview is well worth reading as well and is a testimonial to
the
increasing exposure diets that emulate those of our early ancestors
are
getting.

Best, Peter