Re: questioning Weston Price Foundation

QUOTE: As a researcher once said: "By picking and choosing individual
studies
carefully enough, you can prove just about anything you would like."

An important fact about health research is that conclusions are not
based on few one-sided evidences but on both evidence pro and against a

certain theory. The globality of the evidence is therefore analyzed in
order to get a larger and more complex picture. UNQUOTE.

Exactly, this is what I was taught in graduate school about evidence
analysis (among other things).

However, there is enough molecular-evidence now, so that the
"epidemiological" stuff is really not particularly useful, even if it
is well designed, which is often not the case. For example, AHA
spokesman, Dr. Richard Stein, said last year that only oxidized
cholesterol is dangerous, which is ironic, because recently the AHA
made a statement about the "dangers" of coconut oil, which is a direct
contradiction to Stein's point. Of course, they also completely ignore
the raw demographic data on hundreds of millions of people.]

What we really need is better journalism. Gary Taubes trired to
investigate these kinds of claims, but it's clear that he does no
understand the molecular-level mechanisms. Some popularizer/experts,
like Dr. Nicholas Perricone, has tried to explain the molecular-level
mechanisms in a way that most people can understand, but he is
apparently unaware of the evidence against the "essential fatty acid"
notion, and suggests powerful, and possibly dangerous antioxidant
supplements, rather than simply avoiding oxidized cholesterol, highly
unsaturated oils, and eating more than small amounts of meat (unless
eaten raw after over two weeks of freezing - eggs should be boiled
only).

Another point is perhaps best illustrated by the soy example. Small
amounts of organic, fermented soy is fine, but large amounts of tofu is
not optimal, and may be dangerous (depending upon how long this diet is
followed). However, it may be healthier than the "typical American
diet," and so "studies" can be conducted in which the researchers make
the claim that people should eat more soy, even though they should have
tested all kinds of other foods/diets - that would be consistent with
the scientific method. Moreover, it may be that large amounts of tofu
causes different "diseases," but the study only determines the kinds of
disease that are common for the typical American diet. Again, the key
is that the scientific method should be followed. This is why I had
challenged people to direct experiments, in which the "loser" pays for
all expenses. Nobody has ever shown any interest in taking me up on
these offers because they know that the studies are being
misinterpreted, and that many have a seriously desging flaw (s), and
that the scientific method is not being followed. They know that I
won't allow this, and so they have no interest in my offers.

But just think about it for a moment. If the "essential fatty acid"
claim is accurate, then how could one lose if one took me up on my
offer? It would be a proverbial "slam dunk." And yet none of these
people, some of whom are likely industry shills, show any interest in
the offers. Negotiate with me. I'm sure we can both agree on a
design, and then we will let the scientific method decide who is
correct. Clearly, that is not something a fish oil salesman wants to
hear. He/she just wants to cite a few studies and make his sales to a
gullible public. I have nothing to sell. My only interest is in the
scientific reality.

.

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