Letters, Jan. 8, 1973

Priestess or Witch?

Sir / Your article on foods and fads, "The Perils of Eating, American Style" [Dec. 18], showed good coverage in most areas. I resent, however, your treatment of Adelle Davis as a kind of prepackaged witch or ridicule figure.

My family and I have been following most of her recommendations for a year, and find that many of our health problems have disappeared. If Adelle is a priestess, I've finally discovered where to put my faith.

I don't bypass doctors, but considering the limited number of hours of an M.D.'s training in nutrition, I'll stick to nutritionists for my eating advice.

ROBERT B. ZIELKE New Milford, Conn.

Sir / Congratulations for your article on "Eating May Not Be Good for You." Everyone has to come to his senses and realize that bad eating habits can destroy the body. I have lost 118 lbs. in the past twelve months. It is a new life for me.

RAY OWENS Mechanicsville, Va.

Sir / For people who are overweight and want to reduce, a lot of talk about eating only evades the issue. Exercise is the solution to obesity. See that jogger running round the lake, America? He knows. Look at him and eat your heart out.

STEVEN PAUL JOHNSON Minneapolis

Sir / We are mixed up about food here in America for the same reason we are mixed up about virtually everything else: the special madness which holds that we are machines, not men.

I have only recently returned from five weeks in the Republic of Ireland. The food isn't particularly great, but it is fresh. When I returned to New York, nothing tasted right. I got no lift from my food; only listlessness and discomfort. Our food is not really meant for human consumption —only for machines.

EDWARD LANGLEY New York City

Sir / It is not necessarily the foods we eat and our lack of exercise that are causing us to have so many health problems. We are living in times that are too fast moving, with too many pressures placed upon us. No amount of vitamins or organic foods will alleviate the pressures of living in a nonstop society like 20th century America.

CHRISTINA A. NORDEN Woodbury. N.Y.

Sir / As a former hospital dietitian and food-industry home economist, I want to congratulate you on your superb nutrition story.

I plan on keeping this article to support my views when confronted by some modern food faddist.

(MRS.) JOAN KEMPER GREISCH Evanston, Ill.

Goodbye to LIFE

Sir / The demise of LIFE magazine [Dec. 18] is a great loss for all Americans. Seeing it go hurts me. For the 15 years that I knew LIFE, I could see the world more clearly. LIFE was an American institution. It was there during times of war and depression, and it was there during times of national pride and reflection. Who can say goodbye to a journalistic giant that captured the essence of the human condition?

TODD A. BROWN Wayne, N.J.

Sir / In a strange town I heard the sad news and on a borrowed typewriter I send my condolences.