Letters to the Editor

Townsend Letter for Doctors and Patients, April, 2001

We do not claim that Asians have lower rates of osteoporosis -- it is the soy supporters who make that claim. But if in fact they do have lower rates of hone loss, it is much more likely due to factors in the diet that are consumed in large amounts and that provide vitamin D and calcium, such as bone broth, shrimp and lard.

We are aware of new research indicating that consumption of vitamin D is optimal at 4000 IU per day, not the RDA of 400 IU. This research is an excellent confirmation of the work of Weston Price who found that the diets of healthy primitive peoples had at least ten times more vitamin D than that of the average American. (Sunlight will not provide adequate vitamin 1) unless a large portion of the skin is exposed during the summer months or in tropical latitudes.) The textbooks do indeed need to be rewritten to stress consumption of vitamin-D-rich animal foods and to minimize consumption of foods that increase our requirements for vitamin D - like soy.

Shrimp sauces and shrimp pastes used in Asia and Africa are made from dried shrimp, hence very concentrated. They are eaten daily, often at every meal and could be expected to provide vitamin D in amounts greatly exceeding vitamin D intake levels in the US.

The vitamin D content of butter varies with the feed of the animals. Butter from cows on green growing grass is likely to provide far more vitamin D than butter from cows in confinement. We advocate consumption of butter from pasture-fed animals (and eggs, lard and other animal foods for the same reason.) We need to eat more butterfat from pasture-fed animals, more lard from pigs raised outdoors, more eggs from pastured-poultry, and more shrimp and other seafood rich in vitamin D. And we need to recognize the demonization of butter and similar healthy foods for what it is -- a ploy, bolstered by the phony cholesterol theory, that has convinced Americans to substitute imitation foods for the nourishing foods of their ancestors.

Phytic acid in soy has been consistently described in the literature as an antinutrient -- until recently, when suddenly we heard that an over-the-counter phytic acid compound was an antioxidant. Besides, says Sardi, we need phytic acid in our food to prevent us from overmineralizing. Just how a substance full of mineral-blocking phytic acid is going to help us prevent osteoporosis is one of those annoying inconsistencies that pervade the pro-soy literature.

Soy is a known goitrogen, says Sardi and adults who are on thyroid hormone replacement would "be wise to review their consumption of soy with their physician." Millions of Americans suffer from low thyroid but where are the warning labels on the soy product packages? Where are the warning labels on the little booklets sold in the supermarket, targeting older women with promises that "Super Soy!" will protect them against bone loss, heart disease, cancer, and menopause. "Soy is one of nature's miracles," say the booklets, "and it's good for you!" The hype is everywhere and it targets all age groups -- infants, teenagers, young adults, women worried about getting old and men worried about prostate cancer. Meanwhile, Synthroid is America's number-one selling drug.