Does Lack of Early Nutrition Cause Later Illness?

While giving a cooking lesson the other night and explaining my views on diet and nutrition, one of my students asked what the real-life benefits are of eating properly.

“Do you not get cancer?” she wondered.

Coincidentally, I had read a story earlier that week in The New York Times about a 50-year study of moose, their nutrition and their arthritis, and how the evidence correlates to humans.

"The arthritic Bullwinkles got that way because of poor nutrition early in life, an extraordinary 50-year research project has discovered. That could mean, scientists say, that some people’s arthritis can be linked in part to nutritional deficits, in the womb and possibly throughout childhood."

Moose within the studied population who suffered from arthritis “were born during times when food was scarce, so their mothers could not produce enough milk.”

Unfortunately, nutrients are scare for a large segment of our population, especially our babies, toddlers and young children. I’d be willing to bet that an overwhelming percentage of the billions of dollars we spend annually on health care stems from poor early nutrition. Just ask the moose of Isle Royale, MI.

Click here to read "Moose Offer Trail of Clues on Arthritis."