February 20 Summary Report

I don’t eat or cook much meat, which is good, as reported here:

Frying meat on a gas burner may be more harmful to health than using an electric burner, because of the type of fumes it produces. Cooking fumes produced during high temperature frying have recently been classified as "probably carcinogenic" by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC).

and here:

Heterocyclic amines (HCAs) are mutagenic compounds that form when meat and fish are cooked at high temperatures especially meats that are grilled, pan-fried, broiled, or barbecued. The National Toxicology Program of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services categorizes HCAs as human carcinogens that can increase the risk of certain types of cancers.

I try to keep a positive attitude, and I'm generally pretty happy and content, which is good according to this report:

People who are usually happy, enthusiastic and content are less likely to develop heart disease than those who tend not to be happy.

I do drink lots of good tea, which is good:

Scientists have confirmed that the healthful substances found in green tea, renowned for their powerful antioxidant and disease-fighting properties, do penetrate into tissues of the eye. Their new report, the first documenting how the lens, retina, and other eye tissues absorb these substances, raises the possibility that green tea may protect against glaucoma and other common eye diseases.

And I take aspirin regularly, for which there is more good news:

Women who have completed treatment for early-stage breast cancer and who take aspirin have a nearly 50 percent reduced risk of breast cancer death and a similar reduction in the risk of metastasis.

But unfortunately, don't take ibuprofen:

The study found regular users of ibuprofen were 40 percent less likely to develop Parkinson's disease than people who didn't take ibuprofen. Also, people who took higher amounts of ibuprofen were less likely to develop Parkinson's disease than people who took smaller amounts of the drug. The results were the same regardless of age, smoking and caffeine intake.

I get a lot of fiber from fruits, vegetables and oatmeal, which is good:

Fiber not only increases the bulk of the food and moves it through the gastrointestinal tract more rapidly, but also helps in preventing constipation and possible colon and rectal cancer. Intake of fiber through various foods such as nuts, whole-grain flour, fruits, and vegetables is now associated with decreased low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol, lower insulin demand, increased stool bulk, softening of fecal contents, and improved laxative properties. Epidemiological studies have correlated high consumption of fiber with lower incidence of certain diseases such as cardiovascular and cancer of colon and rectum. Several conditions such as diabetes, atherosclerosis, breast cancer, diverticulitis, hemorrhoids have been connected to a low intake of fiber.

and it turns out oatmeal, which I eat almost every day, is even better for you than previously thought:

Oats may contribute to the relaxation of arteries and the prevention of atherosclerosis.Consumption of oats reduces blood pressure and chronic inflammation of the arterial wall, part of the process that eventually causes disease. These studies provide additional indications of the potential health benefit of oat consumption in the prevention of coronary heart disease beyond its known effect through lowering blood cholesterol. Findings from a more recent study soon to be published suggest that consuming oats and oat bran may reduce the risk of colon cancer, not only through high fiber content, but also through avenanthramides that slow or discourage proliferation of colon cancer cells.

I take Vitamin D:

Middle aged and elderly people with high levels of vitamin D could reduce their chances of developing heart disease or diabetes by 43%, according to researchers at the University of Warwick.

And the statin substitute red yeast rice, but I'm thinking of asking for a prescription to the real thing, as evidence mounts for all the good things statins do for you. This is just the latest:

Statins, a class of drugs used to lower cholesterol levels, have been successfully fighting heart disease for years. A new study has now found that the same drugs cut the risks of cataracts in men by almost 40%. One recent study, featured as part of a Time magazine cover story, showed that statins can reduce a person's chance of dying from all combined diseases and conditions by 40%, something in the medical community called "all-cause mortality."

I'm eating more blueberries and blackberries lately because of reports here:

Could eating blueberries help get rid of belly fat? And could a blueberry-enriched diet stem the conditions that lead to diabetes? New research gives tantalizing clues to the potential of blueberries in reducing risk factors for cardiovascular disease and metabolic syndrome. The effect is thought to be due to the high level of phytochemicals _ naturally occurring antioxidants _ that blueberries contain.

and here:

It is already known that blueberries are rich in antioxidants and vitamins. New research shows that blueberry fibre are important and can alleviate and protect against intestinal inflammations, such as ulcerative colitis.

You are what you eat:

Mediterranean diet (yes):

The Mediterranean diet may be best known as a heart-healthy eating plan, but some studies suggest that it may also reduce the risk of diabetes, certain cancers, obesity and Alzheimer s disease.

Dark chocolate (yes) or, apparently, even small amounts of any chocolate:

Chocolate consumption once a week as opposed to none per week may lower their risk of stroke and the risk of death after suffering a stroke.

And what you drink:

Beer (not nearly enough, alas - red wine instead):

A new study suggests that beer is a significant source of dietary silicon, a key ingredient for increasing bone mineral density and connective tissue. Moderate beer consumption may help fight osteoporosis, a disease of the skeletal system characterized by low bone mass and deterioration of bone tissue.

Milk (no):

Drinking milk during pregnancy may help reduce your baby's chances of developing multiple sclerosis (MS) as an adult.

Soda (no!)

Consuming two or more soft drinks per week increased the risk of developing pancreatic cancer by nearly twofold compared to individuals who did not consume soft drinks, according to a report in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research. Although relatively rare, pancreatic cancer remains one of the most deadly, and only 5 percent of people who are diagnosed are alive five years later. No association was seen between fruit juice consumption and pancreatic cancer.