K rations creator dies at 100

[IndianaGreen]

K rations creator dies at 100

Health researcher linked saturated fat, heart disease

By Patricia Sullivan

Updated: 11:26 p.m. ET Nov. 23, 2004

Ancel Keys, a University of Minnesota public health scientist who invented the K rations consumed by millions of soldiers in World War II, discovered that saturated fat was a major cause of heart disease and championed the benefits of the Mediterranean diet, died Nov. 20 at his home in Minneapolis. He was 100.

No cause of death was reported, but in recent years, Dr. Keys had several strokes and broke a hip. He was still at work earlier this year, analyzing data from his landmark epidemiological study, begun in 1958, of 12,000 middle-aged men living in Italy, the Greek islands, Yugoslavia, the Netherlands, Finland, Japan and the United States.

That "Seven Countries Study" provided evidence that a diet rich in vegetables, fruit, pasta, bread and olive oil and sparing of meat, eggs, butter and dairy products reduces the occurrence of heart disease.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6570938/

[jpgray]

1. If there's a "diet" I could be said to follow, that's it

It always amuses me in the midst of the low carb craze that Italy, the land of pasta and pizza, has an obesity rate of about 6.5% in its adult population. Whereas ours is somewhere near 40%.

[Massacure]

4. That's because pastas have longer carb chains than that of sugars.

The longer carbohydrate chains take longer to break down and use for energy, and thus the effect of eating them tends to keep you full longer.

Of course sugar does have its advantages. The quick energy is good to using right before sports.

[Swamp Rat]

2. "No cause of death was reported..." LOL!

He was 100 years old for crying out loud!:crazy:

[buff2]

3. "Cause of death not reported"

Could it be because he is 100 YEARS OLD??? LOL :silly:

[Lydia Leftcoast]

5. My father was one of the participants in his starvation experiments

during World War II. He was a CO, and in those days, they did not treat COs well.

[IndianaGreen]

6. "We were all starving."

I'll like to hear more about your Dad and his experiences as a CO during WWII. I found this on the internet:

"Very likely, but no proof."

—Former U of M professor Ancel Keys, 100, when asked whether the Mediterranean diet he popularized in the 1960s had anything to do with his longevity. Keys also invented the World War II K-rations and conducted pioneering starvation experiments in a lab under Memorial Stadium.

"He had a job to do and he did it efficiently and with compassion and gave us all a kind of level of commitment that we needed, because it wasn't an easy experience. We were all starving."

—Max Kampelman (M.A. '46, Ph.D. '51) on being a subject for starvation experiments run by former U professor Ancel Keys.

http://www.alumni.umn.edu/Campus_Digest4.html

[Lydia Leftcoast]

7. My dad didn't get along with Max Kampelman :-)

Anyway, my dad's group of COs, which was mostly Quakers and Mennonites, although he himself was Lutheran, not only went through the starvation experiments but also sleep deprivation experiments and experiments with being given various tropical diseases.

He learned to play poker during the sleep deprivation experiments.

During the starvation experiments, they all lived together, but they were free to come and go around town as long as they went in pairs or groups to keep one another honest. If they were going to miss a mealtime, they had to take a sack lunch of their starvation rations.

At one point during the 1960s, the participants had a round robin reunion by mail. They all sent updates on what they doing to the organizer, who then copied their letters and sent them to everyone. I remember reading the letters and noting that most of the participants were involved in anti-Vietnam War activities.

My brother tells me that he was watching a Discovery Channel documentary that touched upon the starvation experiments once, and our dad appeared in it. However, my brother was not quick enough to get the VCR rolling to record that brief scene.

That's all I remember, and unless I can get more information from other family members, that's all I will know. My father died in 1988.

[IndianaGreen]

8. I am sorry to hear your dad is no longer alive

It took real courage to be a CO during WWII, the only moral war ever fought in the 20th century. As a CO, your dad must have objected to all wars, not just pick and choose, and WWII was not one most people would have picked as the one they would have objected.

Interesting the part about most participants were opposed to the Vietnam war. I can only assume that they opposed Vietnam on the general principle that they opposed all wars, like the Quakers that I know in Indianapolis that marched against the war in Iraq, SOA, and the injustices inherent in globalization.

Have a nice Turkey Day, even if you are vegetarian!

[Lydia Leftcoast]

10. Thank you, same to you, and

I'm not a vegetarian. :-)

[daleo]

9. If this diet was so great, why did he only live to 100?

Just kidding.