Comments

Tracey Murphy
Mr. Coyne, It is VERY refreshing to read your comments! Not only are there too many diet gurus around promoting their books based on pseudo or hypothetical science with no research to back their claims. Some of these same authors are not real doctors or scientists or have any medical training whatsoever. With obesity rates soaring, it is no wonder why so many people believe in these ridiculous claims. Everyone is looking for a "new way" to lose their visceral fat and become healthy. From rigorous food combining (not ever eating meat with potatoes), to the alkalinity/acidity rules to strict vegans and beyond, many of these authors write in a manner that is convincing so it must be true. Take for example Dr. Howell's Enzyme Nutrition theory ... this book is said to be some 700+ pages long however no one has been able to locate the book. The obesity epidemic needs to be addressed however not in using these quack science theories. Choose food for its nutritional value. Reduce consumption of processed foods and sugars, eat a variety of plant foods, fruits, vegetables, lean meats, healthy grains & legumes, healthy oils ... and enjoy meal times.
1 Feb, 2013 : 5:04 PM
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Barbara
Just to make a point about the Inuit Eskimos and their "healthy" meat based diet: Article from Reuters: The Inuit in Canada's far north have lifespans 12 to 15 years shorter than the average Canadian's, government data showed on Wednesday, putting the aboriginal people on a par with developing countries such as Guatemala and Mongolia.
At 64 to 67 years, Inuit life expectancy "appears to have stagnated" between 1991 and 2001, and falls well short of Canada's average of 79.5 years, which has steadily risen, Statistics Canada said.
"A lot of people see life in the Arctic as pristine, where Inuit live problem-free, but in reality people are trying to raise families and live a better life in difficult conditions," said Mary Simon, president of Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, the national Inuit organization.
Inuit now live as long as the average Canadian did in the 1940s, Simon noted in an interview. "We didn't even have medicare (publicly funded health-care) then, so yes, this is pretty shocking."
Inuit have the lowest life expectancy among Canada's three aboriginal groups, which also include Indians and Metis. Together, the groups number 1.2 million, or about 3.8 percent of Canada's total population of around 32 million.
The Inuit live primarily in the huge northern Canadian territory of Nunavut, as well as in the Northwest Territories, northern Quebec, and Newfoundland and Labrador. Statistics Canada based its data on a 2001 census of regions where Inuit represented at least 80 percent of the population.
In 2006 there were about 50,500 Inuit in Canada. The data released on Wednesday shows the further north they lived, the shorter their life expectancy.
The numbers are similar to those of Guatemala and Mongolia, where life expectancy is 68 and 66 years, respectively, according to the World Health Organization.
While native peoples in Canada suffer from higher unemployment, lower incomes and less formal education
6 Jan, 2013 : 1:54 AM
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L. Lee Coyne
Irene -- regarding Colin Campbell's China Study - it is a worst case example of trying to make data fit into a biased hypothesis. The Book is not the China study. The book is an attempt to justify Dr. Campbell's mission to promote a vegan lifestyle. It tests no theory and is not good research design. So he cherry picked the few correlation in the entire study that would support his position. If you actually read the study 900 + pages you would find it difficult to find any + correlations between vegan eating and healthy markers. I offer you these few references by people who have examined the issue in far more detail than I care to engage. http://www.cholesterol-and-health.com/China-Study.html http://rawfoodsos.com/2010/07/07/the-china-study-fact-or-fallac/ http://www.beyondveg.com/billings-t/comp-anat/comp-anat-8e.shtml http://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/index.php/385/
Dr. Campbell should really get over the fact that man is an omnivore and stop wasting our time.
27 Dec, 2012 : 8:15 PM
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Dale Hicks
THANK YOU, DR. COYNE!! I am a CNHP, certified nutritionist and a digestive health specialist and I have always felt there was something not quite right about the idea that we should 'alkalize or die' . . . I so appreciate you putting this in terms I can use to explain to clients and other practitioners why their strong emphasis on alkalinity may be somewhat (or totally) misguided. Like you, I could not find any textbook science that undeniably supported the necessity of making the body more alkaline. I think nutritionist tend to emphasis the alkalinity need in recommendations to clients because, let's face it, the SAD is definitely too acidic for most of us. Good job!
19 Dec, 2012 : 4:56 PM
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L. Lee Coyne
Claudia -- thank you for the acknowledgement -- my best single recommendation is any good quality, recent Biochemistry textbook that has an acid / base balance chapter.
18 Dec, 2012 : 10:21 PM
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L. Lee Coyne
Dale -- I appreciate your comments and encouragement that somebody actually reads the blog. Your points are right on except for your last statement regarding the SAD as being too acidic. Once again, there are many things wrong with the SAD but acidity is not one of them.
18 Dec, 2012 : 10:18 PM
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Irene
And so what do you have to say about Dr. Colin Campbell's research in The China Study? His scientific results showed that a vegan diet was that best diet by far!
18 Dec, 2012 : 10:16 PM
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Claudia
Very interesting article, thank you for posting it. I would appreciate if you could add to it the references related to your findings, at least the main list of them, I am a University Professor my self and would enjoy some reading on the issue.
12 Dec, 2012 : 6:31 PM
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L. Lee Coyne
I always appreciate knowing that somebody reads what I write. A complete review of the peer reviewed scientific literature and biochemistry textbooks will not show any mention of "alkaline or acid forming foods". Several complete meta analysis have shown no relation between alkaline eating and any health benefit. There are no credible science explanation for trying to alter food choices and thus affect various pH levels of any area of the body. Even the Wikipedia article en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alkaline_diet (updated in 2011) provided several scientific references to support there is no relation between food choices and pH. Think Eskimo (Inuit) for a minute - none of the so called alkaline foods are even available to them. The Wikipedia article also said "Several websites that are the top results when looking at "alkaline diet" on internet search engines have characteristics of possible diet fraud." All of the Alternative health care practitioners rely on websites and books (none of which are "peer reviewed") as their sources and that is not scientific.I have no misunderstanding of this concept. The pH of the mouth & stomach must be acidic or you don't digest. The colon is acidic as are the skin and hair to oppose "bad" bacteria. If the skin and hair were alkaline they would dry out- acid attracts moisture. If one is truly hyper-acidic they fall asleep and if you were too alkaline you would be hyperactive. The work is not irrelevant - that is why I included it in the post. I would suggest you either read an advanced biochemistry text or take a good course in the subject. I have done both and taught the same at several universities. Various body pH levels are self controlled through the respiratory, renal and buffering systems like bicarbonate, carbonic acid, phosphate and selected protein components.
23 Nov, 2012 : 12:35 AM
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Nicola
I believe the 'Experts' do not say you must consume alkaline foods/drinks, but ALKALINE-FORMING foods/drinks. Meaning, not food which are alkaline BEFORE consumption, but food which has an alkalinizing EFFECT on the body AFTER consumption. For example, lemons are highly acidic, but have the effect of bringing the body into a more alkaline state when consumed. You misunderstanding of this point makes all your work on this document irrelevant. Sorry.
22 Nov, 2012 : 10:22 PM
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