"risk" news and stories

The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition published a report last month that suggested that people who eat a significant amounts of onions and garlic may have a lower risk of some types of cancers. The report analyzed eight studies that were based in Italy and Switzerland and found that the risks for mouth, kidney, colon, ovarian and throat cancers were much lower for adults who ate plenty of these two veggies. Benefits were generally attributed to those who ate seven or more servings of onions per week, with numbers suggesting that their cancer risks were less than half of the risk for those who rarely or never ate either vegetable. Some scientists have found that the sulfur compounds in garlic and the antioxidant flavonoids in onions seem to inhibit the growth of tumors. The results also support previous research done in China that show the same trend.

All this being said, one of the researchers behind a Italy study says that it is still possible that those who eat onion and garlic-heavy diets may just have healthier diets and lifestyle habits in general, and just about everyone involved still recommends maintaining a vegetable-heavy diet.

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An Italian study found that people who ate five or more slices of bread a day, or 35 per week, were twice as likely to develop Renal Cell Carcinoma, a leading cause of kidney cancer, as those who ate bread only half as often, or less. The scientists behind the study felt that an increase in blood glucose levels might be a factor in the increased cancer risk. High GI foods are usually things that are highly processed with a lot of sugar or contain a lot of refined white flour. Some sources are saying that the study linked eating white bread with cancer because of this GI link, but "the study did not specify what type of bread [participants] ate," so statements of that sort are just speculation. The study did not actually "establish exactly what in bread may be to blame."

Besides, it seems that a significant portion of the food-related media tries to convince us that in Italy everyone only eats the best bread from their local bakeries, not processed white bread. If the results of the study turned out to be a result of eating three loaves of Wonder Bread each week it might make sense, but baguettes?

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CalorieLab has just released a list of the fattest states in the country for 2006. Their research reveals that Mississippi is the fattest state, where approximately 29.5% of the population is obese based on a three year statistical average. If the statistics are extended to include the overweight population, as well as those who are obese, the results show that over 2/3 (67.3%) of the state's residents are either overweight or obese; Mississippi is the only state to have that dubious honor. Following close behind in the obesity count are Alabama, West Virginia, Louisiana and Kentucky. Colorado is the leanest state, followed in no particular order by Hawaii, Montana and a handful of the New England states.

The data was gathered from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System database from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, which reveals some very interesting information about some of the factors that contribute to obesity, such as diet, nutrition and physical activity levels. For example, only 16% of adults in Mississippi eat the recommended 5 servings of fruits and vegetables per day, compared to 29% in California and 30% in Vermont.

Fruit and vegetable intake is not going to turn the tide against obesity, especially considering that every state except one (Nevada) saw an increase in the percentage of the obese population over the last year. Diet does, however, play a large role in health and gradual changes in daily eating habits, as well as physical activity patterns, could change some of these numbers over time.

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Some of you may recall earlier posts about the possible health benefits of curry, specifically curcumin, a polyphenol found in turmeric. There have been studies suggesting that curcumin may help fight cancer and a host of other ailments. The New Scientist and the Daily Mail have recently reported on a new study linking the antioxidants in turmeric to healthy cognitive function in a group of over 1,000 elderly Asians. The study, from researchers at the National University of Singapore, found that curcumin may lower the build up of amyloid plaque and inflammation associated with Alzheimer's. Researchers call the evidence tentative in the study's abstract, saying that further investigation is required.

This is the part where I plug my ears and mumble "bacon is healthy, bacon is healthy, bacon is healthy." Swedish researchers have reviewed 15 different studies and concluded that eating an extra ounce of salted or smoked meat a day can increase the risk of developing stomach cancer by 15 to 38 percent. The data comes from figures taken from over 4,000 individuals in the last 40 years, Reuters reported. The study appears in the current issue of the Journal of the National Cancer Institute. An abstract is available here.