Learning Together

Editor's note: Dr. Lendon Smith is taking a sabbatical from his column to work on his latest book on nutrition. This column will be his last for some time. Perhaps we can coax him to write an article on occasion.

Dr. Lendon Smith was introduced as a new columnist to "DC" in the July 15, 1988 issue under the banner of "The Children's Doctor." His column's title was a reference to his nationally syndicated TV show, for which he won an Emmy. In 1991, his column heading became "Learning Together." His straight forward, level-headed approach to health care, with always a touch of humor thrown in, coupled with his understanding and appreciation for chiropractic, has always had us looking forward to his next column.

Dr. Smith, a best-seller author on nutrition, has practiced pediatrics in Portland, Oregon for 41 years.

Dr. Smith, we at "DC" want you to know how much we appreciated your columns and that we will miss you. Good luck on the book.

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Besides the Known and the Unknown, What Else Is There?

We are all impressed with the results of medical research. They are coming up with a protein bit that has an affinity for receptor sights on cancer cells. Unbeknownst to the cancer cell, however, a toxic molecule is attached to this protein moiety and when this pair sneaks into the cell, the toxin is released and the cell dies. Very specific, like putting arsenic in your enemy's tea: It tastes good, but it is lethal.

But less than one percent of research monies are aimed at everyday pains, headaches, backaches, surliness, depression, insomnia, dyspepsia, and the bug-a-boo of modern living, obesity. It's all drugs, drugs, drugs, no prevention. In the January 31, 1985 NEJM, Conner et al., revealed their research of primitive diets consumed two to 20 million years ago. Using coprology (look it up) they determined that our ancestors ate lean meat (less than four percent fat), fruit in season, vegetables (raw or barely cooked), a few snakes, grubs, eggs, but no grains and no dairy (unavailable). Those were really the hunting and gathering days. The good old days? I wonder. Our guts and our bodies have not changed since then. There is no way we can get anything but calories out of a Twinkie, bleached flour, or white sugar.

When I read that article, I felt, and then began to believe, that the United States and Canadian governments would immediately produce executive orders making it a crime to sell or serve processed foods. I knew our smart leaders had enough insight into health problems to be able to figure out that medical care costs would then drop by 50 to 70 percent if everyone ate as our bodies were meant to hunt, gather, swallow, and digest. We mandate bike helmets and seat belts, why not food? If sugar and fat became unavailable, obesity and diabetes, and a few other nasties, would disappear.

But hold it. If that's too much to ask, I am willing to compromise and rely on our collective intelligence. For once we know who we are (humans with cravings), what we are (bags of chemicals looking for something to do), and add that to some fresh motivation with some common sense, we should be able to overcome most infirmities. We do not have to learn every bit of our lineage (horse thieves, murderers, evil people), but most of us know, in general, if we are Mediterranean, African, Oriental, Scandinavian, middle European, etc. That's a start. We also need to stand naked in front of a full-length mirror and (without laughing) assess our body type.

I met William Sheldon 30 years ago and was impressed with what he discovered. His three groupings:

• Ectomorphs, the long, thin Olive Oil types were fragile, delicate, spare, fine-boned, and had a short intestinal tract (a scant 20 feet). They tended to be susceptible to hypoglycemia, allergies, depression, and schizophrenia.

   

• Mesomorphs are the muscular, square, hard, big-boned types, like Rambo. They are more likely to have high blood pressure, aggressive tendencies, and cardiovascular diseases.

   

• The Endomorphs, like Oliver Hardy, have long, efficient intestinal tracts that absorb everything eaten, so they tend to be corpulent. They gain weight all over, even into their fingers. They are at risk for diabetes, obesity, and gall bladder disease.

No matter what group you are in, you need to eat wholesome foods. If you are long and thin, you will do better if you eat mono-meals every two to three hours. This might help even out your blood sugar level, and also control the tendency to food sensitivities. Example: Just fruit at 7 a.m.; then just two pieces of whole grain bread at 9 a.m.; 11 a.m., salad; 1 p.m., one inch cube of low-fat cheese with six whole grain crackers; 3 p.m., handful of almonds; 5 p.m., raw or steamed vegetables; 7 p.m., three ounces of baked chicken sans skin; 9 p.m., one cup of low fat yogurt and fruit.

I have always been long and thin. I am Scot/German/English so I do well with oatmeal and applesauce. However, I will not kill for Haggis.

The square, solid, gladiator-type can get by with three meals a day, but must be careful with salt and fat. They may have two or three different foods at a meal. Vinegar daily on their salads would tend to balance their salt intake. My wife is of this group and can always find room for salmon. Her relatives are from Norway.

The soft, round, plump endomorphs will always have to fight weight gain and must eat low calorie foods; they might do better as vegetarians. They hate exercise but must do it.

Science has come into the picture, but doctors do not seem to be acting on this information. A standard blood test can help all of us, no matter what our ethnic or body-type mixtures, to determine our optimum diet. For example, farmers put nitrates, phosphates, and potash on the topsoil and the plants grow big. However, this treatment makes them somewhat alkaline. We ingesters become alkaline. This makes us more susceptible to obesity, seizures, aches, allergies, asthma, migraines, and spastic colons. The minerals and vitamins that make the enzymes of our bodies function must be at the right pH (acid/base balance) to be optimally operative. Ask your doctor to do the blood testing that will tell if you are alkaline or acidic (level of sodium plus potassium minus CO2 + chloride). Eighty percent of us in North America are somewhat alkaline, and we need to be acidified.

We now have enough practical science to reorganize a person's diet and supplements. The blood chemistry will easily reveal your body's secrets, your excesses and deficiencies. Solving your tilt towards disease can be just a blood test away. You can, if you like, however, run outside and catch a rabbit for dinner.

Lendon H. Smith, MD
Portland, Oregon

Editor's Note:

Dr. Smith offers a fascinating and often hilarious, information-packed monthly newsletter available via subscription for $12 U.S., $14 Canada, and $16 foreign. Just send your check payable to:

The Facts
P.O. Box 427
Portland, OR 97207