Re: Article: Boning Up on Navajo Food Habits

[Guest guest]

> ...From the pages of Agricultural Research magazine

> Boning Up on Navajo Food Habits

> An unusual phenomenon draws the attention of ARS

> nutritionist Judith G. Hallfrisch.

> A recent study, published in the Journal of the American

> Geriatrics Society, found Native Americans have denser

> bones than Caucasians, yet they don't eat a lot of dairy foods.

> Hip and other bone fractures are often the result of weak bones,

> caused by osteoporosis, a degenerative bone disease.

> Nearly 10 million Americans suffer from osteoporosis, which is

> responsible for 1.5 million fractures annually, according to

> the National Institutes of Health.

> " Osteoporosis is usually prevented by a combination

> of things, including eating foods—particularly dairy foods—

> high in calcium and vitamin D, " says Hallfrisch, who is with

> the ARS Beltsville Human Nutrition Research Center,

> in Beltsville, land.

> Genetic differences have been cited as an explanation

> for low fracture rates among the largest group of

> North American Indians, the Navajo. " Environmental

> and cultural practices may also play a role in the

> sturdy bone structure of Navajo people, " says Hallfrisch.

> " We think there's something in their drinking water or food

> that's contributing to this unusual occurrence. So, we're

> collaborating on a study with investigators at Utah State

> University to assess how overall mineral intake is related

> to bone health and other conditions in Navajos. "

> On the reservation, Navajos get their water from wells,

> springs, and taps, and store it in barrels. After several

> trips to Navajo reservations in Utah, Arizona, and New Mexico,

> Hallfrisch analyzed more than 100 water samples for minerals.

> She found the average water intake of 2 liters a day can provide up

> to 212 milligrams of calcium, 150 milligrams of magnesium, and 8

> milligrams of zinc.

> " The water is high in minerals because the ground is

> alkaline and has lots of minerals. Although the Navajos don't

> eat much dairy, they are still getting good nutrient amounts

> from their water, " she says. In addition, a colleague of

> Hallfrisch's at Utah State University analyzed the contribution

> of juniper ash—a gray, finely ground powder traditionally

> added to native dishes—to overall mineral intakes in Navajo

> people. Navajos burn juniper branches and grind them into

> a powder, which they add to breads and traditional corn dishes.

> " Juniper ash is rich in minerals that may also contribute

> to decreased bone-related injuries, " Hallfrisch says.

> " Total intake of these minerals, which strengthen bones,

> including the amounts in water and juniper ash, are much

> closer to dietary recommendations than diet surveys suggest,

> and may partially explain low fracture rates. "

> As part of this study, Hallfrisch has been collecting

> samples of Native American foods to evaluate their nutrient

> content. Unfortunately, she says, intakes of younger Navajos

> are becoming closer to average U.S. diets, with high

> soda intakes and few traditional dishes or dairy products.

Hi Wanita:

Do you think Judith G. would have time to read " Nutrition and

Physical Degeneration " ? Or do you think she would be too busy making

money doing her current research? Perhaps Judith G. wouldn't want to

read anything that would be bad for the research business. After all,

I would suspect her main interest is self-interest, which means her

making money from doing research. I wouldn't expect her to publish

any research that would provide answers that might not make it

necessary to do more research. The favourite closing line I hear from

researchers in any so-called " scientific " report is: " More research

needs to be done. " hint-hint, nudge-nudge, (donate money and send it

my way).

On Judith G.'s report:

If she knows how to prevent osteoporosis, would she please tell us.

Could she please tell us the mineral content of juniper ash? Does

juniper ash contain lots of bone building minerals like calcium and

phosphorus? Or does juniper ash contain lots of potassium?

If she thinks genetic differences give Navajos protection against

bone fractures, why would she be concerned that their diet is

changing?

Chi

[Guest guest]

At 10:37 PM 6/17/02 +0000, you wrote:

>Hi Wanita:

>Do you think Judith G. would have time to read " Nutrition and

>Physical Degeneration " ? Or do you think she would be too busy making

>money doing her current research?

>On Judith G.'s report:

>If she knows how to prevent osteoporosis, would she please tell us.

>Could she please tell us the mineral content of juniper ash? Does

>juniper ash contain lots of bone building minerals like calcium and

>phosphorus? Or does juniper ash contain lots of potassium?

>If she thinks genetic differences give Navajos protection against

>bone fractures, why would she be concerned that their diet is

>changing?

>Chi

Hi Chi,

Good questions and I agree wholeheartedly on research and cures. In this

case I

may be able to get you these answers. A dear Abenaki friend's mother works in

the USDA fruit division, she recently found lycopene higher in Russian olive

than tomatoes. She's good friends with Jim Duke, author of the Green Pharmacy,

retired from the USDA and considered to be in the world's top herbal

scientists. I could easily drop a line on Nutrition and Physical Degeneration.

Don't know if the article's author would bite but I know my friend's Mom and

Jim Duke would. Was actually thinking of passing NAPD word in that direction

after finally getting a copy to read.

Another article at the site did say protein and vitamin D increase improved

osteoporosis. The only info I have on juniper is for the berries. Content

is C,

cobalt, sulphur, copper, trace tin and aluminum. Ash may get an analysis

out of

this. Would be interesting to see the comparison to Celtic sea salt.

Wanita