Heather K. Jacobsen's Blog, page 5

Is there a nexus where Anthropology, Epidemiology and Microbiology meet?

So what is it that I want to study, if I do go back for a PhD?

Well I’m still interested in Anthropology and more precisely, Food Anthropology. I’m interested in how food plays an integral part of daily culture and how even those foods that might be bad for us (e.g. bread!) are held with such high esteem. I’m interested in what paleolithic man ate and why he never had dental caries. If he didn’t get eaten by a saber toothed tiger, would his life expectancy have been longer?  I’m interested in Weston A. Price’s studies on native peoples whose facial structures morphed dramatically after switching from their traditional diet to today’s modern foods, overabundant in grains, sugar, and processed… crap (?) – what we affectionally call SAD (the Standard American Diet). And I’m interested in knowing how different populations have adapted to certain foods of today, such as Scandinavians being the only real ethnic group with the ability to still digest milk into adulthood. Finally, I’m interested in studying more traditional methods of preparing foods, such as fermenting fruits, vegetables and dairy, and soaking beans.

I am also interested in how our modern diet is affecting chronic disease. So I think this falls under the category of Epidemiology.  Having spent a number of years running Stuffed Pepper, I can say with certainty that Gluten Sensitivity is not just a fad diet for celiac wannabes, but in fact a real disorder that has far-reaching consequences, and which scientists are still unraveling. I want to learn more about what diseases gluten can potentially cause. Under that realm falls many (if not most?) autoimmune disorders. Obesity is of course a huge problem in the US and other countries, as well, and surely our diet has something to do with this. And what about the rise in food allergies? They are most likely because of leaky gut, caused by (among other things), gluten. But these theories need to be backed up with scientific evidence, and that is why I am most interested in the epidemiological side of things, too. We need charts and graphs to back us up, baby.

At the cross section of Epidemiology and Food Anthropology, is Medical Anthropology, at least in my mind (and on my Venn Diagram). Which could be a possible course of study for me as well.

Finally, I am interested in Microbiology and specifically microbiology of the gut. I want to know more about the effect of grains on gut health. Are just gluten grains bad? What about the other grains? I am fascinated by lectins, and especially WGA, and want to see them in action. I am also interested in the health of the gut, the diversity of flora and fauna that exist there, and the complications that arise when the gut is damaged, such as as the missing GLUT5 receptor on the intestinal border brush, that causes fructose malabsorption in its absence. How do we repair the gut, once its been injured? How do we replace the good flora and fauna, once they’ve become extinct from the gut microbiome?

Yes, I have a lot interests, and a lot of questions. But they all fit together somehow. I would love to do a combined degree where the three disciplines of Anthropology, Epidemiology and Microbiology meet. But does such a nexus exist?

Is there a nexus where Anthropology, Epidemiology and Microbiology meet?

So what is it that I want to study, if I do go back for a PhD?

Well I’m still interested in Anthropology and more precisely, Food Anthropology. I’m interested in how food plays an integral part of daily culture and how even those foods that might be bad for us (e.g. bread!) are held with such high esteem. I’m interested in what paleolithic man ate and why he never had dental caries. If he didn’t get eaten by a saber toothed tiger, would his life expectancy have been longer?  I’m interested in Weston A. Price’s studies on native peoples whose facial structures morphed dramatically after switching from their traditional diet to today’s modern foods, overabundant in grains, sugar, and processed… crap (?) – what we affectionally call SAD (the Standard American Diet). And I’m interested in knowing how different populations have adapted to certain foods of today, such as Scandinavians being the only real ethnic group with the ability to still digest milk into adulthood. Finally, I’m interested in studying more traditional methods of preparing foods, such as fermenting fruits, vegetables and dairy, and soaking beans.

I am also interested in how our modern diet is affecting chronic disease. So I think this falls under the category of Epidemiology.  Having spent a number of years running Stuffed Pepper, I can say with certainty that Gluten Sensitivity is not just a fad diet for celiac wannabes, but in fact a real disorder that has far-reaching consequences, and which scientists are still unraveling. I want to learn more about what diseases gluten can potentially cause. Under that realm falls many (if not most?) autoimmune disorders. Obesity is of course a huge problem in the US and other countries, as well, and surely our diet has something to do with this. And what about the rise in food allergies? They are most likely because of leaky gut, caused by (among other things), gluten. But these theories need to be backed up with scientific evidence, and that is why I am most interested in the epidemiological side of things, too. We need charts and graphs to back us up, baby.

At the cross section of Epidemiology and Food Anthropology, is Medical Anthropology, at least in my mind (and on my Venn Diagram). Which could be a possible course of study for me as well.

Finally, I am interested in Microbiology and specifically microbiology of the gut. I want to know more about the effect of grains on gut health. Are just gluten grains bad? What about the other grains? I am fascinated by lectins, and especially WGA, and want to see them in action. I am also interested in the health of the gut, the diversity of flora and fauna that exist there, and the complications that arise when the gut is damaged, such as as the missing GLUT5 receptor on the intestinal border brush, that causes fructose malabsorption in its absence. How do we repair the gut, once its been injured? How do we replace the good flora and fauna, once they’ve become extinct from the gut microbiome?

Yes, I have a lot interests, and a lot of questions. But they all fit together somehow. I would love to do a combined degree where the three disciplines of Anthropology, Epidemiology and Microbiology meet. But does such a nexus exist?

To do a PhD or not?

Of course, it isn’t that simple. I’m no longer in my 20’s… er 30’s. I’m 41. Is it too late to go back for a PhD? Some people would say its never too late for anything. But on the other hand, should I really be spending my children’s college tuition money?

Of course, it depends on what I think I will get out of going back to school. Besides quenching my never-ending thirst for knowledge, will I get a return on my investment? Besides the pleasure of roaming a plush, green campus, and the smell of crisp, new notebooks (do students still use paper?), will getting a PhD give me more clout on the other side? Besides the thrill of new classes, classmates (all 20-plus years younger than me!) and professors (many of whom could be younger than me, too!), will I finally be invited as an expert, an influencer at the table of deciders?

I didn’t mention in my last post, that in addition to having two children (and doing some freelance photography work), I also started a blog. Which turned into a website. Which turned me into an expert in nutrition. Which I had never actually set out to do. Its funny where life takes you.

See, not too long after I was accepted for that PhD (that I deferred and then never went back for), I learned that I had Gluten Sensitivity. This was way back in 2001, when most people had never even heard of the word “gluten”. After my second child was born, I decided to write about my gluten-free experiences, using my blog as a way to showcase my food photography and cooking (two other passions of mine). I started looking at other gluten-free recipes out there, and wondered why there wasn’t already a community site for gluten-free people. So I started one. And I invited recipe bloggers, and experts in gluten-sensitivity and nutrition to be a part of it. And then “gluten-free” exploded on the scene.

But something kept bothering me, as I headed up this gluten-free community website. In fact, I got quite sick right around the time it launched. And remained sick for some time. And that’s a long story. But the short of it is that, I had to figure out, on my own, what was making me sick. And going gluten-free wasn’t enough to make me better. I felt wrong, heading up a website that was supposed to help other gluten-free people, when I myself couldn’t claim the gluten-free diet had helped me (yet).

I conducted research on celiac disease, gluten-sensitivity, nutrition, and more. And in the end, I became one of the experts, myself. You could say, I became a modern ethnobotanist – focussing on the culture that surrounds gluten-containing plants (or lack thereof). I learned a lot about health, public policy, and about myself. And I also learned that I LOVED to conduct research. And to write about it. Research and writing are my forte and my passion. And that is really why I want to go back to school. Not to mention, I would like to see all the work I’ve done over the past four years be put to good use. And still, I want to be invited to expert panels because I want to help influence health and health policy.

BUT do I need that PhD behind my name? How much more of an influencer will it make me? I guess that is the big question. There are many influential people out there without a PhD. Gary Taubes comes to mind. Of course his resume is impressive, but he isn’t a PhD. So what could this possibly mean for me? These are the questions I am currently grappling with.

To do a PhD or not?

Of course, it isn’t that simple. I’m no longer in my 20’s… er 30’s. I’m 41. Is it too late to go back for a PhD? Some people would say its never too late for anything. But on the other hand, should I really be spending my children’s college tuition money?

Of course, it depends on what I think I will get out of going back to school. Besides quenching my never-ending thirst for knowledge, will I get a return on my investment? Besides the pleasure of roaming a plush, green campus, and the smell of crisp, new notebooks (do students still use paper?), will getting a PhD give me more clout on the other side? Besides the thrill of new classes, classmates (all 20-plus years younger than me!) and professors (many of whom could be younger than me, too!), will I finally be invited as an expert, an influencer at the table of deciders?

I didn’t mention in my last post, that in addition to having two children (and doing some freelance photography work), I also started a blog. Which turned into a website. Which turned me into an expert in nutrition. Which I had never actually set out to do. Its funny where life takes you.

See, not too long after I was accepted for that PhD (that I deferred and then never went back for), I learned that I had Gluten Sensitivity. This was way back in 2001, when most people had never even heard of the word “gluten”. After my second child was born, I decided to write about my gluten-free experiences, using my blog as a way to showcase my food photography and cooking (two other passions of mine). I started looking at other gluten-free recipes out there, and wondered why there wasn’t already a community site for gluten-free people. So I started one. And I invited recipe bloggers, and experts in gluten-sensitivity and nutrition to be a part of it. And then “gluten-free” exploded on the scene.

But something kept bothering me, as I headed up this gluten-free community website. In fact, I got quite sick right around the time it launched. And remained sick for some time. And that’s a long story. But the short of it is that, I had to figure out, on my own, what was making me sick. And going gluten-free wasn’t enough to make me better. I felt wrong, heading up a website that was supposed to help other gluten-free people, when I myself couldn’t claim the gluten-free diet had helped me (yet).

I conducted research on celiac disease, gluten-sensitivity, nutrition, and more. And in the end, I became one of the experts, myself. You could say, I became a modern ethnobotanist – focussing on the culture that surrounds gluten-containing plants (or lack thereof). I learned a lot about health, public policy, and about myself. And I also learned that I LOVED to conduct research. And to write about it. Research and writing are my forte and my passion. And that is really why I want to go back to school. Not to mention, I would like to see all the work I’ve done over the past four years be put to good use. And still, I want to be invited to expert panels because I want to help influence health and health policy.

BUT do I need that PhD behind my name? How much more of an influencer will it make me? I guess that is the big question. There are many influential people out there without a PhD. Gary Taubes comes to mind. Of course his resume is impressive, but he isn’t a PhD. So what could this possibly mean for me? These are the questions I am currently grappling with.

Hi. I’m Heather.

I have an MSc in Ethnobotany, which is a hybrid degree in Anthropology (the study of human culture) and Botany (the study of plants). I have always been fascinated by the endless ways that plants are incorporated into every day life, and mostly their medicinal uses.  I read The Shaman’s Apprentice before I went for my Master’s and I dreamt of roaming jungle forests with indigenous tribal leaders, in search of native plants with untold healing properties. In fact, I wrote to the author of the book, Mark Plotkin, and told him that I wanted to come work for him after completing my studies. Amazingly, he actually wrote back (these were the days before email was so prevalent)! But he said, alas, that he was disbanding his start-up company, Shaman Pharmaceuticals, because the competition was too stiff. Score another 1 for Big Pharma.

Work for a modern Western ethnobotanist is slim-to-none.  Today’s approach, and rightly so, is to train people from their own country (whether Bhutan, Brazil or Bosnia) in botany, and in indigenous languages (if needed) so that they can be ethnobotanists of their own culture. Not for someone like me, to live out a fantasy. And that’s the way it should be.

So after my Master’s I found myself working at the National Academy of Sciences, where I oversaw the inner workings of scientific policy being put in place. I sat at the same table as representatives from Harvard, Cornell, USDA, and Monsanto. Well actually, I sat at the table behind them. Taking notes. Physically. And mentally. (Score 1/2 a point for the little guy

Hi. I’m Heather.

I have an MSc in Ethnobotany, which is a hybrid degree in Anthropology (the study of human culture) and Botany (the study of plants). I have always been fascinated by the endless ways that plants are incorporated into every day life, and mostly their medicinal uses.  I read The Shaman’s Apprentice before I went for my Master’s and I dreamt of roaming jungle forests with indigenous tribal leaders, in search of native plants with untold healing properties. In fact, I wrote to the author of the book, Mark Plotkin, and told him that I wanted to come work for him after completing my studies. Amazingly, he actually wrote back (these were the days before email was so prevalent)! But he said, alas, that he was disbanding his start-up company, Shaman Pharmaceuticals, because the competition was too stiff. Score another 1 for Big Pharma.

Work for a modern Western ethnobotanist is slim-to-none.  Today’s approach, and rightly so, is to train people from their own country (whether Bhutan, Brazil or Bosnia) in botany, and in indigenous languages (if needed) so that they can be ethnobotanists of their own culture. Not for someone like me, to live out a fantasy. And that’s the way it should be.

So after my Master’s I found myself working at the National Academy of Sciences, where I oversaw the inner workings of scientific policy being put in place. I sat at the same table as representatives from Harvard, Cornell, USDA, and Monsanto. Well actually, I sat at the table behind them. Taking notes. Physically. And mentally. (Score 1/2 a point for the little guy  ).

That’s where I decided that I wanted to go on for a PhD. I wanted to be one of the influencers AT the table. So I applied for a PhD to the same school where I got my MSc, and got accepted. I was going to study the health effects of GMOs, inspired by a research paper I had done on the Green Revolution (and maybe an up close and personal experience with a Monsanto exec). But there was only one problem: I didn’t have any money. So I deferred returning to school for another year, until I could find a scholarship or some grant money.

And then life happened. My boyfriend proposed, and I said yes. A decision I never regretted, because he is the love of my life. We traveled the world, and eventually moved to the Philippines, where I volunteered my time working with local people on sustainable farming practices in hopes of regenerating lost tropical forest. While he worked with local fishers on sustainable fishing practices. After we moved back to the States, I worked at a couple of botanical gardens. And one of my dreams nearly did come true. I did get to roam the wild interior forests of Jamaica looking for indigenous and threatened plants, on a National Geographic funded expedition. They weren’t medicinal plants (as far as we know). But close enough.

Then I had a baby. And another. And the hopes of pursuing a PhD faded. But all along, I blogged about diet and nutrition, as I was dealing with health issues that no conventional doctor seemed to be able to solve. As I slowly unraveled the true science behind gluten, grains, celiac disease and gluten sensitivity, I also learned even more about the influences of Big Food, Big Pharma and Big Medicine on the health of our society as a whole. And so it turns out that maybe I am the modern ethnobotanist: not exploring the plants of the wild, but exploring how removed we have become from the wild, and how that has adversely affected our health in so many ways. Maybe I won’t be one of the big boys at the deciding table of public policy, but I still hope to be an influencer that empowers the “little guy.”