Hey, Emily.

Thanks for the update on Maria. Was wondering how she was doing.

Jim enjoyed your latest column in the Pharos-Tribune about books and reading.

Your work on dental hygiene is interesting to me re. a book I'm just beginning by Dr. Westin Price. He was a dentist who studied isolated, aboriginal populations around the world in the 1930's. Funded his research himself so that it wouldn't be tainted by other interests. It is well known that many aboriginal groups have perfect teeth and don't brush. He could examine everyone in a village, young and old, and perhaps find one cavity in the lot. And their teeth were straight, oriented for chewing, including wisdom teeth. It was when they started eating processed foods that they developed cavities (and many other "modern" diseases including thinner bones), and their offspring had crowded teeth.

There is a similar study on cats. A guy named Pottinger compared cats fed pasteurized milk and/or cooked meat, versus cats who got raw milk and raw meat. The cats on raw food thrived, including exhibiting strong male and female characteristics, and had good teeth, bones, and fur. The cats who got processed food had offspring with softer bones, smaller teeth, developed cavities, and had other deformities including muddied sexual characteristics. After four generations the processed food cats were unable to reproduce at all.

Sobering, isn't it? Sounds like your garden is one of the best things you can do for your health!