First off, I want to send out a big “Thank You” to all our fans who pre-ordered my upcoming book, “Eating Well, Living Better: A Grassroots Gourmet™ Guide to Good Health and Great Food.” The book will be available June 16^th in bookstores and for download worldwide (Rowman and Littlefield, publishers). However, I wanted to share some exciting news; because of the extraordinary response to pre-orders we reached #16 in the Amazon.com bestsellers, special diet cookbooks sub-category-before the book is even out! So a heartfelt, “Thanks!”

I also wanted to share at this time some very interesting and recent data that is right in line with our Grassroots Gourmet™ (GG) philosophy. An underlying principle of the GG approach is to favor natural, local foodstuffs wherever and whenever possible. As we note in the book, although many hunter-gather tribes (HGT) can consume upwards of 60% of their diet from meat, they tend to as a whole have a significantly better cardiovascular health profile than those consuming a typical Western diet. That holds true even though the typical Western diet is only roughly 15% protein and a significant portion of the meat consumed by HGT is of the dreaded red variety. A study published in the journal Hypertension (May 21, 2012) gives further support to this finding and provides some possible insight as to the mechanisms involved.[1]

This study looked at measures arterial distensibility. Normal arteries are quire resilient. As the heart forces blood forward (a time period known as systole) as it beats, normal arteries actually stretch somewhat, absorbing and storing this energy. After the heart ejects blood, the main pumping chambers refill with blood (a time period known as diastole). During diastole the normal arteries rebound, returning to their normal diameter, releasing the stored energy and propelling blood forward. It has long been known that those at risk of cardiovascular disease exhibit stiffer arteries. Their arteries no longer flex; they are stiff and rigid more resembling steel pipes in form and function than flexible, supple arteries.

Two measures of the degree of stiffness of the arteries are known as the pulse wave velocity (PWV) and the augmentation index (AI). These measures were obtained in pygmies from Cameroon who existed on the tradition HGT diet. They were compared to pygmies who had migrated to a more urban area and thus undergone dietary changes. They were also compared the Bantou farmers who shared the same environment as the HGT pygmies, but not the same diet. Additionally, the lipid profile as assessed by HDL (“good cholesterol”) and LDL (“bad cholesterol”) levels was also obtained.

In summary, the study found that the HGT pygmies had a better cholesterol profile (lower LDL, higher HDL) than the Bantou farmers who lived in the same environment. This favorable lipid profile is similar to data seen in other HGT studies; even though there is a considerable percentage of the diet that is based on red meat consumption. The HGT pygmies also showed less arterial stiffness than the other groups as measured by PWV and independent of other known factors. The authors concluded that the HGT “lifestyle is associated with low atherosclerosis risk translated by lower aortic stiffness attributed at least partly to low weight and blunted effects of aging and blood pressures on [traditional pygmies] arterial structure and function.”[2]

I am by no means suggesting we do away with every modern convenience, get naked and frolic through the jungle. That’s what ‘Survivor’ is for.  The study is observational and correlative, not causal. It does however, along with a body of other concurrent evidence, reinforce some of the fundamental principles that underlie our GG philosophy. Human beings are far too complex, our dietary choices too far ranging and our relationship with food too intricate to simply label things like red meat “bad.”  I truly hope that you will enjoy the book and use its resources, its information and its humor to guide you on a positive lifestyle change. If you do, please subscribe to the blog for updates like the one aforementioned and recipes at www.whatscookingwithdoc.comand like us on Facebook. For those looking for the book, it can be ordered from Amazon.com at Dr. Mike’s Book at Amzaon.com

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Tags: cardiovascular morbidity, cardiovascular mortality, diet, Dr. Mike, heart health, hunter-gatherer, paleo-diet, pygmies, red meat

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