| In the 1980's, a war against the importation of | | | | include Tropical fruits such as mangoes, pineapples |
| coconut and palm oil into the US was waged by | | | | and melons and ground provisions such as yams |
| edible oil associations. These groups campaigned | | | | and potatoes. Thus fruits with low Glycemic Index |
| that restrictions should be placed on the | | | | should be encouraged including Temperate fruits |
| importation of these oils from the tropics because | | | | such as apples and pears. |
| they increased the risk of heart diseases. The | | | | The argument suggests that we (suggestion to) |
| evidence for this was based on the semi-solid | | | | avoid tropical fruits and ground provision is |
| nature of coconut and palm oil at room | | | | receiving much publicity by both foreign and local |
| temperature, a feature also found in fats. This | | | | "experts." It would not be surprising if in the next |
| attack was branded the "Tropical Grease | | | | few years there is a considerable reduction in the |
| Campaign." Many producers of coconut and palm | | | | export and sales of Tropical fruits and ground |
| oil in the tropics suffered severely because of | | | | provision. Obviously there will be a commensurate |
| decreased sales of their products, both on the | | | | increase in the sales of Temperate fruits. It is |
| local and the international market. | | | | surprising that this belief is propagated since |
| History and good science however, have | | | | statistics show that Diabetes is far less common |
| vindicated the use of these oils, as research has | | | | in countries that have a high intake of Tropical |
| shown that these oils are in fact protective | | | | fruits and ground provision, than those with a low |
| against heart diseases. Ironically the campaign | | | | intake. |
| against coconut and palm oil in the US resulted in | | | | Unregulated excessive levels of Insulin will have a |
| the introduction of hydrogenated oils or trans-fats | | | | negative effect on the body just as the excess |
| to replace the role these oils usually serve in the | | | | of any known thing you could imagine, including |
| food industry. Trans-fats have been shown | | | | another hormone called Cortisol. Cortisol is |
| conclusively, to promote heart diseases. See | | | | produced by the body in a rhythmic pattern in |
| Another campaign is currently being developed to | | | | which it is high at 8o'clock every morning. This |
| restrict the use of Tropical fruits and ground | | | | hormone increases with stress and exercise, and |
| provisions. This campaign is been popularized by | | | | unlike Insulin is destructive to the body resulting in |
| first world doctors and nutritionists and | | | | the breakdown of protein and consequent |
| unfortunately, has been supported by some of | | | | acceleration of aging. With a little stretch of your |
| our own local doctors and nutritionists. They argue | | | | imagination it may be a good idea if you |
| that the increasing prevalence of Diabetes Mellitus | | | | harmonized the growth building hormone (Insulin) |
| worldwide is to be blamed on the consumption of | | | | with the body's destructive hormone (Cortisol), |
| food with high "Glycemic Index." The Glycemic | | | | you would probably cancel out the negative |
| Index refers to the tendency of a food | | | | effects of these two hormones and result in a |
| consumed to increase blood sugar and Insulin | | | | more balanced and positive outcome. Sounds |
| levels. The higher the Glycemic Index of a food | | | | reasonable? |
| the greater the glucose and Insulin elevation after | | | | We need to realize that natural food we eat is |
| consumption of that food. It is argued (believed) | | | | not our enemy and recognize that the body |
| that this excess Insulin level is bad because this | | | | demands that we have a certain responsibility |
| hormone increases your body's growth tendency | | | | with regard to the timing of our meals. Otherwise, |
| including fat retention. This fat retention along with | | | | the prevalence of Diabetes will increase and the |
| the increased blood glucose increases the risk for | | | | likelihood that the "Tropical Glycemic Campaign" will |
| Diabetes, therefore foods that have a high | | | | succeed and damage our export and agricultural |
| Glycemic Index should be avoided. These foods | | | | economy. |