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`During World War II Denmark stopped refining flour, an action which was not accompanied by any other marked changes in living habits. Later it was found that the death rate had dropped and that there had been a marked decline in cancer, heart disease, diabetes, kidney trouble, and high blood pressure.' (Mental And Elemental Nutrients, Carl C. Pfeiffer, Ph.D., M.D. p.72)
Tells a story doesn't it? The following statement highlights in a little more detail the very real dangers associated with the use of refined white flour.
`Over the last 40 years Dr Wilfred Scutte of Canada has shown that Vitamin E was almost entirely removed in the [extraction of the] wheat germ [in the process of refining flour] and that the lack of this vitamin is a major cause of heart disease. Most of the minerals, contained in the whole wheat, were also removed in the offal [bran, pollard and wheat germ], and some very recent research has shown that the lack of certain minerals causes arthritis. The removal of the bran, or roughage, has been blamed for much of the constipation that afflicts so many of us today. All in all white flour is a dangerous substance. Laboratory animals cannot live for more than a few weeks on white bread, yet most of us like eating this denatured and impoverished food.' (Rex Newnham, Odyssey, Dec/Jan 1983/4, p.14)
The diagram below is a representation of a cross-section of a grain of wheat. It shows the many elements of this life-giving, energy-giving grain. Notice carefully that most of the nutritive elements, as well as the bran and the fiber, are situated in the outer layers of the grain.
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Figure 1 |
What is most tragic, however, is that when wheat, or any other grain, is refined, the outer layers of the grain are removed - along with most of the nutritive elements that are so essential to the maintenance of life. This leaves a refined end-product that is, at best, hopelessly deficient in nutritional value and sadly lacking in essential fibre.
In the refining process, the germ of the wheat is also removed. The following is a list of the many vital elements that are are lost when this little power-house of natural goodness is removed. These include: vitamin A, vitamin E, vitamin C, niacin, riboflavin, thiamine, inositol, folic acid, folinic acid, biotin, vitamin B6, vitamin B12, choline, para amino benzoic acid, pantothenic acid, alpha-lipoic acid, calcium, phosphorous, magnesium, sodium, potassium, iron, copper, manganese, cobalt, molybdenum, and zinc.
Obviously, therefore, when we use refined foods, as in the case of refined white flour products, we are using food that has been deprived of much that is essential to the body's energy needs and to the maintenance of life and good health.
We certainly cannot deny that the process of refining has distinct advantages for both the manufacturer and the retailer in that, once refined, the product will have a longer shelf life but, as far as the consumer is concerned, he now has to make use of a food that is seriously lacking in vitamins, minerals, trace elements, bran, fibre, and natural oils - and he will surely suffer as a result.
Refined foods now make up the bulk of our Western diet, with white flour, white sugar, white rice, processed oil and margarine being the main culprits. Is it any wonder, therefore, that our immune systems can no longer counteract infection? Is it any wonder that so many people suffer from nutritional deficiencies? Is it any wonder that disease is rampant throughout society?
Food refining is good for the food business - but it is also good for the vitamin business. There certainly is no mystery as to why so many people are desperately turning to nutritional supplements. Yet, surely, is it not more beneficial, wiser, and far more economical, first to do all in our power to obtain our nutrition from organic, unrefined foods rather than rely solely on expensive, inorganic tablets and/or tonics?
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In Scripture there is a passage that reads, `Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy?' (Isaiah 55:2). Thinking people the world over are asking this very question and, on the evidence of science and simple logic, they are turning their backs on refined foods. These people have realized and accepted that life simply cannot be sustained on a diet that is high in fat, high in sodium, high in sugar, high in preservatives, highly acid-forming, highly refined, and low in all of the vital nutrients that are so essential to the functioning of the living organism.
Nobody ever questions the fact that we must feed our horses balanced rations, that we must correctly fertilize our plants, and that we must give the correct octane fuel to our motor cars. Yet, strangely, so many people seem to have extreme difficulty in understanding that our bodies have the same uncompromising energy requirements as do horses, plants and motor vehicles. None of us would dream of running our cars on 23-octane fuel, yet, by using a diet that is high in refined foods, we are attempting to run our lives on what we might term "23-octane" food - with costly, painful and often tragic consequences sure to follow. |
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'The use of white flour has become so common that a real nutritional problem has arisen on a national scale and medical and governmental authorities have truly viewed the situation with real alarm. Not only does refined flour
lack the bulk producing bran, but about three fourths of the mineral content of the wheat berry is removed in the milling process . . . In
addition extremely valuable protein and fat components are lost in the milling. The remaining protein is really a poor grade protein.'
(Dr. L. & D Rosenvold, Science and Modern Manna , p.60) |
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Figure 2. demonstrates the incidence of certain diseases in Western nations as compared to developing nations. You will notice that in developing nations, where the basic diet is still natural and unrefined, the scourges of the West have hardly made any inroads. The evidence is clear that while the refining of food has been a boon to industry, it has not been of any physical benefit to the unsuspecting man in the street.
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Relationship Between Fiber Intake and Disease |
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Disease |
Incidence in Western Nations Where The Diet is Highly Refined |
Incidence in Developing Nations Where The Diet is Largely Unrefined |
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Ischemic Heart Disease, |
High |
Almost Non-Existent |
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Diverticular disease |
High |
Very Rare |
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Hiatus Hernia |
20% of Population |
Less Than 5% |
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Gallstones |
10% of Population |
Non-Existent |
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Polyps of the Colon |
20% of population |
Very Rare |
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Cancer of
Colon/Rectum |
2nd to Lung Cancer |
Very Rare |
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Varicose veins |
15% of population |
Less than 2% |
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Obesity |
20% of population |
Rare |
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Hemorrhoids |
50% (age 50 plus) |
Rare |
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With this introduction,
therefore, let us delve further into this matter
by considering a few of the major ailments that
scientific research has positively linked to the
use of refined foods - namely,
As we consider these ailments, our intention is not |
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`The three major killers in modern society, Coronary Heart Disease, Cancer and Strokes, can all be linked to what people eat and drink.'
(Dr B. Hertzel, Chief of the C.S.I.R.O. Division of Human Nutrition and Foundation Professor of Social and Preventive Medicine, Monash University) |
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to present an exhaustive study on any one topic, but to demonstrate to the reader that refined foods are a major causative factor in many of the diseases that are sweeping our civilized world - not only diseases of a physical nature, but even some of a social and a mental nature.
The technical director of a local milling machine supply company once shared with me his convictionthat food refining "is all one big hoax."
The sad truth, however, is that this big hoax is causing havoc in our systems, heartache in our homes, and intense suffering throughout society.
When will man ever learn that we cannot take apart what God saw fit to put together - without causing suffering? When will "so-called science" ever concede that there is no alternative to the superlative plan of Nature.
In the light of the above, the reader is urged to consider the feature on the dangers of constipation. You will also find an excellent feature on Overcoming Constipation at the Nature's Choice website.
In order to better appreciate the danger of junk foods, we urge you to consider the feature entitled "The Most Effective Remedy Of All."
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