Harvard SLAMS the Genetic Blame!

Did you know that the Harvard Medical School has a special “Health Report” titled “Healthy Eating – A Guide to The NEW Nutrition”?  This guide is entirely focused on research done since 1990, and the marketing alone is enough to fuel the death to genetic labeling that I preach.

This from the Harvard Medical Health website: Forget your old ideas about healthy eating. Research done since the 1990s shows beyond all doubt that you can lower your risk for the most serious diseases of our time by following a healthy diet. 

I titled the article as such, because though it wasn’t the intention of the staff writer to BASH all who blame genetics for your heart disease, or diabetic issues; in the end, that is exactly what they did.  They go on to say 25% of cancers, which actually isn’t in line with most current research which would go up to 80% of cancer being controllable.  Regardless, my point is that if we look beyond our local health care practitioner, and hospitals, and look to the more aggressive research institutes of today, we will see a push towards taking your health destiny into your own hands.

This is the full excerpt from the store page on the Harvard Web Site where you order the Food Guide:

Some foods are good for you, some are bad. But which are which? You may think you’re eating a healthy diet? But do you know for sure?  The answers, according to the latest nutritional science, are not always the same as we once thought. Many previously held assumptions have turned out to be wrong, and new findings may be surprising. Do you know:

• Some of the healthiest foods are FATS (do you know which ones?)
• What’s the better choice: corn or avocado? (the answer might surprise you).
• Why organic spinach can be dangerous to your health (but not if you follow a simple tip)
• That frozen fruits and vegetables can be more nutritious than fresh?

Scientific evidence has shown that what you eat can reduce your risk for developing heart disease and diabetes, and ward off some forms of cancer, hypertension and osteoporosis.

Making healthy food choices is more important than ever. But are you sure you’re making the right ones? Our report, Healthy Eating: A guide to the new nutrition provides the latest thinking on the food-health connection, expert guidance on the best foods to incorporate into your diet, and more.

Make sure you’re making the right food choices for your good health. Order your copy of Healthy Eating: a guide to the new nutrition today.

Prepared by the editors of Harvard Health Publications with nutrition editor Teresa Fung, Sc.D., R.D., L.D.N., Nutrition Department, Harvard School of Public Health. 48 pages. (2011)

I like it.

So what does the publication say?  Well – a lot of what you might hear me say.  Eat fat, healthy fat, in relative abundance compared to the conventional wisdom which has failed us for so long.  Fruits should be controlled, but let loose on vegetables.  Watch sugar like a hawk, and reduce all foods which readily turn to sugar.

In other words, the US has changed from advising you to eat from the food pyramid, to the food plate.  And the plate, is just as screwed up as the pyramid!  

Though I don’t exactly agree with Paleo, I use a lot that you can gain from them (large movement, lots of buyers, so more people cater to this community, making it easy to find information and details).  The Paleo Food Pyramid is a much better guide towards health.  I have had people say, “All you eat is protein”.  And of course my response is that what I eat by volume, is green veges, nuts and seeds, protein followed by fruit.  And for me, I keep grain in the diet, just about equal to fruit.

If you are gluten sensitive (my estimation if what I see in my practice is a good sample of the population, is that about 80% of you are gluten sensitive), you should reduce those grains to NON-gluten grains.  You can use a list of gluten free grains like this one, to help you out.  Just remember though, because it is gluten free, it doesn’t mean that it is inflammation free.  All grains have some level of inflammatory effect, it is simply different from person to person.  If your greatest percentage of dietary intake are anti-inflammatory foods, 20% or less being grain, will not be a significant concern.  

Regardless of where you fall on the details, the truth is that if you start to pursue real knowledge, and take it seriously.  Yes, I am talking to all of you who use excuses like “what do I eat when I have to go out to eat all the time, I travel… I work downtown… I have to eat where my colleagues want to”.  Whatever.  Just make the wise choice.  You can do it, your excuses are your excuses, and I prefer to call them what they are, so that you can figure out who you are in the midst of it.

Be well and Be blessed.  You know I am not angry, just blunt!  Love you all! – Dr. E