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[EarthNSky <erthnsky AT gmail.com>]

I thought the following article was interesting due to the studies of 
Native American diets before and after the introduction of maize.  So 
many people have problems with corn in their diet-I've always kind of 
thought that it was due to the corn being genetically modified or 
possibly the pesticides and herbicides used in the culture of corn, but 
this study seems to point to problems with corn itself..

Bev

By Laurie Saloman
Reviewed by QualityHealth's Medical Advisory Board 
<http://www.qualityhealth.com/medical-advisory-board>

Have you ever wondered why some people fall prey to osteoarthritis while 
others enter their middle-aged or senior years as sprightly as ever? A 
study involving the majestic moose might just offer an answer: early 
malnutrition.

The latest findings from a more than 50-year study of moose living on 
unpopulated Isle Royale, which lies off Lake Superior near the 
U.S.-Canada border, reveal that juvenile malnutrition may predispose one 
to osteoarthritis later in life. According to /The New York Times/, 
scientists working on the so-called Isle Royale project, who spend six 
months out of the year living in isolation with the moose, analyzed the 
bones of 1,200 moose carcasses and found that more than half had 
arthritis, usually in the hip. They also noticed that the moose were 
smaller than average as measured by the metatarsal bones of the foot, 
which are a good indicator of overall nutrition. Scientists confirmed 
that the moose were born during a period when food was scarce on the island.

But while the arthritic moose may have passed their childhoods 
scrounging for edible plants, can we make the same assumptions about 
humans who develop osteoarthritis? According to experts, there are 
several human studies that lend support to the 
malnutrition-osteoarthritis link. For instance, an analysis of bones of 
Native Americans in the South 500 years ago showed an increase in 
osteoarthritis after the tribes adopted a corn-based diet instead of 
relying on fish and plants. An earlier group of Native Americans in the 
Midwest displayed similar bone traits after they started eating maize. 
Corn and maize lack certain amino acids and iron, which would account 
for the nutritional deficiencies leading to osteoarthritis. In more 
modern times, scientists examined British men born during the 1940s, 
when World War II caused food shortages, and found that low birth weight 
was linked to arthritis of the hands.

While being malnourished at any point in childhood isn't a guarantee of 
osteoarthritis later in life, it's a good idea to take steps to prevent 
it if you're concerned. Top on the list of things you can do to avoid it 
is to get to and stay at a healthy weight. Extra pounds put a strain on 
joints, and losing even 15 pounds can halve your risk of knee pain. 
Also, follow an exercise plan. Physical activity keeps joints lubricated 
and flexible. Take care to warm up, cool down, and stretch properly.

--
EarthNSky Farm  34.498N 85.076W
SISU! (Finnish--There is no single word in English that encompasses
all that sisu means, but it combines the following ideas: guts, pep,
determination, stubbornness, perseverance, hardiness, stamina, go, do,
nerve, spunk, pluck, and grit.  It's like "Just Do It!"&  "Go for It!")