Guest guest Posted December 21, 2002 Report Share Posted December 21, 2002 Dr. Mercola has been saying phytic acid is GOOD because it chelates iron, and excessive iron is a cause of heart disease. Any thoughts? My opinion is that this iron-heart disease connection should be looked into further by trying to compare organic and inorganic iron, because I have seen in many, many, places, even from nutritionists that recommend massive amounts of synthetic vitamins, that inorganic iron works completely different than organic, interferes with vitamin E abosrption, etc. Also, vitamin E seems to be connected to heart disease. Considering all the white " enriched " flour Americans eat, I wouldn't be surprised if the MAJORITY of the iron in the SAD was inorganic. Mercola said that the reason whole grains don't have the heart-disease promoting effect that refined grains do is perhaps because of the phytic acid. However, it seems to me more likely that it is because they haven't been " enriched " with inorganic iron, and also they contain vitamin E, which " enriched " flour isn't enriched with. Oh, and also, if the excessive iron is from meat products, it makes no sense that 65% animal product-eating hunter and gatherers that had no phytic acid in their diet wouldn't have the iron problems that Americans do from lack of phytic acid if the problem is iron from meat. Considering the way I feel on soaked oats versus unsoaked oats and sprouted bread versus whole grain unsprouted bread, I find it hard to believe phytic acid is good for regular consumption. Chris ____ " What can one say of a soul, of a heart, filled with compassion? It is a heart which burns with love for every creature: for human beings, birds, and animals, for serpents and for demons. The thought of them and the sight of them make the tears of the saint flow. And this immense and intense compassion, which flows from the heart of the saints, makes them unable to bear the sight of the smallest, most insignificant wound in any creature. Thus they pray ceaselessly, with tears, even for animals, for enemies of the truth, and for those who do them wrong. " --Saint Isaac the Syrian Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 23, 2002 Report Share Posted December 23, 2002 , Mercola himself has written numerous things in favor of phytic acid. I was referring to an article that's either in this week's or last week's newsletter, by Mercola himself. It wasn't pro-soy. Chris In a message dated 12/23/02 12:34:36 PM Eastern Standard Time, paul@... writes: > Actually, it wasn't Mercola, but a Mr. Bill Sardi - someone who is obviously > pro-soy. > > The response to Mr. Sardi's column (by Sally & ) is here: > http://www.mercola.com/2001/apr/7/soy.htm > > I performed a search on Mercola's site for " phytic acid " and came up with > 20+ articles, only Sardi's was pro-soy, pro-phytic acid. ____ " What can one say of a soul, of a heart, filled with compassion? It is a heart which burns with love for every creature: for human beings, birds, and animals, for serpents and for demons. The thought of them and the sight of them make the tears of the saint flow. And this immense and intense compassion, which flows from the heart of the saints, makes them unable to bear the sight of the smallest, most insignificant wound in any creature. Thus they pray ceaselessly, with tears, even for animals, for enemies of the truth, and for those who do them wrong. " --Saint Isaac the Syrian Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 23, 2002 Report Share Posted December 23, 2002 In a message dated 12/23/02 12:55:30 PM Eastern Standard Time, paul@... writes: > Thanks Suze - Sorry I missed that one. > In light of this, I wonder what Sally's latest position is? I wonder what she thinks of it too. Though I don't see any reason to change her position, because, per the reasons I already gave, I think Mercol'a position is relatively groundless. He previously had an article on that said the average h & g diet was 65% animal, and the rest vegetables. Did hunter and gatherers have epidemics of heart disease from not having any phytic acid in their diet? I doubt it. I love Dr. Mercola, but think he's jumping the gun on this one. Chris ____ " What can one say of a soul, of a heart, filled with compassion? It is a heart which burns with love for every creature: for human beings, birds, and animals, for serpents and for demons. The thought of them and the sight of them make the tears of the saint flow. And this immense and intense compassion, which flows from the heart of the saints, makes them unable to bear the sight of the smallest, most insignificant wound in any creature. Thus they pray ceaselessly, with tears, even for animals, for enemies of the truth, and for those who do them wrong. " --Saint Isaac the Syrian Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 23, 2002 Report Share Posted December 23, 2002 Hi Marla, That is interesting. I think that unsoaked wheat could definitely have health benefits because it is very high in vitamin E, and has other vitamins, which neither the phytates or enzyme inhibitors that soaking neutralizes would effect. I think that getting rid of the phytates would probably maximize the benefit by releasing minerals but people who consume whole grains in our own society have a clear benefit over those who consume refined grains, and I doubt it is all due to a slighlty lower GI. Still, people who get rid of phytates in their grains are not less healthy, nor are people who don't consume any grains, so I doubt the benefit is phytic acid. I think someone who has excessive iron would definitely benefit by chelating it with phytic acid supplements, but I have strong doubts about using phytic acid as a regularly consumed preventative. Chris ____ " What can one say of a soul, of a heart, filled with compassion? It is a heart which burns with love for every creature: for human beings, birds, and animals, for serpents and for demons. The thought of them and the sight of them make the tears of the saint flow. And this immense and intense compassion, which flows from the heart of the saints, makes them unable to bear the sight of the smallest, most insignificant wound in any creature. Thus they pray ceaselessly, with tears, even for animals, for enemies of the truth, and for those who do them wrong. " --Saint Isaac the Syrian Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 23, 2002 Report Share Posted December 23, 2002 In a message dated 12/23/02 4:20:18 PM Eastern Standard Time, Dpdg@... writes: > I think Mercola's article in his last newsletter makes it quite clear that > the benefits of ingesting phytic acid are directed ONLY at people who have > EXCESS iron (serum ferritin)... Mercola suggested taking a supplement of rice > bran to achieve the reduction in iron absorption. Dedy, If that were the case, I'd agree with him. However, he didn't only direct it at people with excess iron. He clearly stated that he believes the reason consumption of whole grains is not tied to heart disease like consumption of refined grains is is because whole grains contain phytic acid-- that phytic acid is beneficial for most people in the developed world to curb excessive iron, consumed in food. The supplement, on the other hand, he also recommended, and that pertained, as you said, to people with diagnosed iron excess only. Chris ____ " What can one say of a soul, of a heart, filled with compassion? It is a heart which burns with love for every creature: for human beings, birds, and animals, for serpents and for demons. The thought of them and the sight of them make the tears of the saint flow. And this immense and intense compassion, which flows from the heart of the saints, makes them unable to bear the sight of the smallest, most insignificant wound in any creature. Thus they pray ceaselessly, with tears, even for animals, for enemies of the truth, and for those who do them wrong. " --Saint Isaac the Syrian Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 23, 2002 Report Share Posted December 23, 2002 >>>>>>Actually, it wasn't Mercola, but a Mr. Bill Sardi - someone who is obviously pro-soy. The response to Mr. Sardi's column (by Sally & ) is here: http://www.mercola.com/2001/apr/7/soy.htm I performed a search on Mercola's site for " phytic acid " and came up with 20+ articles, only Sardi's was pro-soy, pro-phytic acid. --------------->Well, perhaps he recently changed his mind? Here's a quote from Mercola himself in his latest newsletter: " Grains do provide some benefit, and it is becoming very clear to me that the phytic acid content of grains, which has long been considered to be an anti-nutrient, may in fact be one of the major benefits of grains. Phtyic acid is only in whole grains; it is virtually stripped out of refined grains. Phytic acid is likely beneficial as it reduces iron levels. As I have been mentioning recently, increased iron levels is one of the most significant health threats to which many of us are exposed. " http://www.mercola.com/2002/dec/21/no_grain_diet.htm Suze Fisher Lapdog Design, Inc. Web Design & Development http://members.bellatlantic.net/~vze3shjg/ mailto:s.fisher22@... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 23, 2002 Report Share Posted December 23, 2002 Actually, it wasn't Mercola, but a Mr. Bill Sardi - someone who is obviously pro-soy. The response to Mr. Sardi's column (by Sally & ) is here: http://www.mercola.com/2001/apr/7/soy.htm I performed a search on Mercola's site for " phytic acid " and came up with 20+ articles, only Sardi's was pro-soy, pro-phytic acid. ----- Original Message ----- From: <ChrisMasterjohn@...> < > Sent: Saturday, December 21, 2002 5:20 PM Subject: mercola on phytic acid > Dr. Mercola has been saying phytic acid is GOOD because it chelates iron, and > excessive iron is a cause of heart disease. Any thoughts? > > My opinion is that this iron-heart disease connection should be looked into > further by trying to compare organic and inorganic iron, because I have seen > in many, many, places, even from nutritionists that recommend massive amounts > of synthetic vitamins, that inorganic iron works completely different than > organic, interferes with vitamin E abosrption, etc. Also, vitamin E seems to > be connected to heart disease. > > Considering all the white " enriched " flour Americans eat, I wouldn't be > surprised if the MAJORITY of the iron in the SAD was inorganic. Mercola said > that the reason whole grains don't have the heart-disease promoting effect > that refined grains do is perhaps because of the phytic acid. However, it > seems to me more likely that it is because they haven't been " enriched " with > inorganic iron, and also they contain vitamin E, which " enriched " flour isn't > enriched with. > > Oh, and also, if the excessive iron is from meat products, it makes no sense > that 65% animal product-eating hunter and gatherers that had no phytic acid > in their diet wouldn't have the iron problems that Americans do from lack of > phytic acid if the problem is iron from meat. > > Considering the way I feel on soaked oats versus unsoaked oats and sprouted > bread versus whole grain unsprouted bread, I find it hard to believe phytic > acid is good for regular consumption. > > Chris > > ____ > > " What can one say of a soul, of a heart, filled with compassion? It is a > heart which burns with love for every creature: for human beings, birds, and > animals, for serpents and for demons. The thought of them and the sight of > them make the tears of the saint flow. And this immense and intense > compassion, which flows from the heart of the saints, makes them unable to > bear the sight of the smallest, most insignificant wound in any creature. > Thus they pray ceaselessly, with tears, even for animals, for enemies of the > truth, and for those who do them wrong. " > > --Saint Isaac the Syrian > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 23, 2002 Report Share Posted December 23, 2002 Thanks Suze - Sorry I missed that one. In light of this, I wonder what Sally's latest position is? ----- Original Message ----- From: " Suze Fisher " <s.fisher22@...> < > Sent: Monday, December 23, 2002 12:43 PM Subject: RE: mercola on phytic acid > >>>>>>Actually, it wasn't Mercola, but a Mr. Bill Sardi - someone who is > obviously > pro-soy. > > The response to Mr. Sardi's column (by Sally & ) is here: > http://www.mercola.com/2001/apr/7/soy.htm > > I performed a search on Mercola's site for " phytic acid " and came up with > 20+ articles, only Sardi's was pro-soy, pro-phytic acid. > > > --------------->Well, perhaps he recently changed his mind? Here's a quote > from Mercola himself in his latest newsletter: > > " Grains do provide some benefit, and it is becoming very clear to me that > the phytic acid content of grains, which has long been considered to be an > anti-nutrient, may in fact be one of the major benefits of grains. Phtyic > acid is only in whole grains; it is virtually stripped out of refined > grains. > > > Phytic acid is likely beneficial as it reduces iron levels. As I have been > mentioning recently, increased iron levels is one of the most significant > health threats to which many of us are exposed. " > http://www.mercola.com/2002/dec/21/no_grain_diet.htm > > > Suze Fisher > Lapdog Design, Inc. > Web Design & Development > http://members.bellatlantic.net/~vze3shjg/ > mailto:s.fisher22@... > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 23, 2002 Report Share Posted December 23, 2002 That's interesting regarding the phytic acid because regarding the Hunza's, it appears that they just ground up their wheat and made bread *without* soaking first. According the G.T.Wrench in The Wheel of Health the Hunza's were very healthy which he attributed partly to their wheat consumption. The phytic acid didn't seem to have hurt the Hunzas at the time. BUT, I think Banik, who wrote Hunza Land, mentions that the Hunzas did eat lots of sprouts aside from wheat. Marla P.S. Just because Sardi appears pro-soy doesn't mean that everything he thinks is wrong. Also, Sardi has done studies on iron and wrote the Iron Time Bomb, so maybe he's just looking at the benefit of phytic acid for iron control in the body and hasn't weighed the other down sides of phytic acid. > The response to Mr. Sardi's column (by Sally & ) is here: > http://www.mercola.com/2001/apr/7/soy.htm > > I performed a search on Mercola's site for " phytic acid " and came up with > 20+ articles, only Sardi's was pro-soy, pro-phytic acid. > > > --------------->Well, perhaps he recently changed his mind? Here's a quote > from Mercola himself in his latest newsletter: > > " Grains do provide some benefit, and it is becoming very clear to me that > the phytic acid content of grains, which has long been considered to be an > anti-nutrient, may in fact be one of the major benefits of grains. Phtyic > acid is only in whole grains; it is virtually stripped out of refined > grains. > > > Phytic acid is likely beneficial as it reduces iron levels. As I have been > mentioning recently, increased iron levels is one of the most significant > health threats to which many of us are exposed. " > http://www.mercola.com/2002/dec/21/no_grain_diet.htm > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 23, 2002 Report Share Posted December 23, 2002 I think Mercola's article in his last newsletter makes it quite clear that the benefits of ingesting phytic acid are directed ONLY at people who have EXCESS iron (serum ferritin)... Mercola suggested taking a supplement of rice bran to achieve the reduction in iron absorption. I've managed in the past to achieve the opposite... having been a vegetarian on a supposedly 'healthy' diet I developed severe serum ferritin deficiency due to the high quantities of unrefined (and not soaked) grains and soy products... no amount of iron supplements in various forms could bring it up and it continued to plummet... 3 months from cutting soya from my diet, eating hardly any grains and NOT taking any iron supplements... my ferritin went up by 100% though it's still below what is considered 'normal'. iron overload is very dangerous... a lot more than SF deficiency. so consuming phytic acid in that context seems a positive step. Dedy ----- Original Message ----- From: ChrisMasterjohn@... Sent: Monday, December 23, 2002 7:00 PM Subject: Re: mercola on phytic acid Hi Marla, That is interesting. I think that unsoaked wheat could definitely have health benefits because it is very high in vitamin E, and has other vitamins, which neither the phytates or enzyme inhibitors that soaking neutralizes would effect. I think that getting rid of the phytates would probably maximize the benefit by releasing minerals but people who consume whole grains in our own society have a clear benefit over those who consume refined grains, and I doubt it is all due to a slighlty lower GI. Still, people who get rid of phytates in their grains are not less healthy, nor are people who don't consume any grains, so I doubt the benefit is phytic acid. I think someone who has excessive iron would definitely benefit by chelating it with phytic acid supplements, but I have strong doubts about using phytic acid as a regularly consumed preventative. Chris ____ " What can one say of a soul, of a heart, filled with compassion? It is a heart which burns with love for every creature: for human beings, birds, and animals, for serpents and for demons. The thought of them and the sight of them make the tears of the saint flow. And this immense and intense compassion, which flows from the heart of the saints, makes them unable to bear the sight of the smallest, most insignificant wound in any creature. Thus they pray ceaselessly, with tears, even for animals, for enemies of the truth, and for those who do them wrong. " --Saint Isaac the Syrian Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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