By Dr. William P. Odom
These are astounding health and nutritional differences found between certain African tribes with totally different diets.
During a visit to Eastern and central
The Massai:
The Massai were found to be tall, strong, arrogant, very intelligent, excellent speakers, very shrew business people and very independent. They were well over six feet tall (men and women), had good postures, and firm abdominal muscles. There was not one single person with a protrusion (pot gut).
Their teeth were prominent, with sharp cusps set in well-developed jaws. There were no signs of cavities or tooth decay. Their arms legs and abdomens were muscular. Even the elders were strong and agile. Many lived well over a 110 years with no disease.
Their diet was very simple. They ate lots of fruits, vegetables and whole grains. They did brew a form of alcohol consisting of grains and honey which they allowed to ferment. They consumed a form of alcohol somewhat like beer. It consisted of Ground maize or millet and flour mixed with bananas and water, which was allowed to ferment.
The Pygmies:
The pygmies were only about 3 1/2 feet tall. Most had protruding stomachs. The Pygmy destroyed a lot of the vital elements in his/her food by overcooking it. Some had good teeth and some had many cavities. They also seemed to have a thyroid deficiency called “Yaws.” In many respects it resembled syphilis, but usually left the les warped like rickets. They did not eat ripe fruit. The Pygmy matures early, grows old rapidly and rarely lives beyond forty years.
