[Peertantyb]

I heard this on the radio yesterday adn I immediatley thought - hang on, that scientist they are interviewing is talking about processed meat not red meat then I thought, how on earth can they take into account all the variables such as weight, diet, lifestyle and then say red meat caused this? I too woudl like ot read that report and probably will. (PS yes I am new here today!)

[Ufkkrxcq]

I used to proof read and have just scanned Davids NHS report link - for those of you who don't want to trawl through it all read sections 7.68, 7.69, 7.70, 7.106 and especially 7.108 and 11.29
Basically they think maybe but they're not sure and they have not seperated processed and red meats in the trials (and everyone knows processed meat is bad for you). and no, I don't usually bother to proof read my own rantings...

[ZonaPutaX]

I'm hearing news reports that the Dept of Health in the UK is handing out guidelines that we're not supposed to eat more than about 3 thin slices of meat every day because of the increased risk of colonic cancer associated with eating it.

I'm trying to find the "official" press release online at the moment, and when I do, I'll be paying very close attention to the studies cited and the "working out" of the trial. In the meantime, I'd appreciate any thoughts of comments you might have before I get my sleeves rolled up..

Cheers

DS

[gkihueonhjh]

Right - here's the best link to this I've found so far - NHS Choices website, http://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/Goodfood/Pages/red-meat.aspx

Haven't had chance to read it yet, but when I have I'll report back with all the relevant info for you.

DS

[surefireinvest]

Here's my homework for the week. http://www.sacn.gov.uk/pdfs/sacn_iron_and_health_report_web.pdf

This is what the current health scare is based on. On provisional reading I'm finding:

There are currently no convincing data that provide an explanation for the observed
differences in colorectal cancer risk between high consumers of white meat/fish
and high consumers of red and processed meat.
(See 7.47 pp116)

and

Assessments of iron intakes in epidemiological studies are not very reliable because
of errors in estimated intakes of foods and supplements, because values in food
composition tables may not be accurate, and because of continually changing
exposure to iron caused by constant introduction or removal of foods voluntarily
fortified with iron. There is considerable variation in the haem iron content of meat
(about 22–80% of total iron) (Lombardi-Boccia et al, 2002); however, most studies
assume haem iron content to be 40% of total iron. There are also difficulties in
classifying and assessing intakes of meat (see paragraphs 7.63–7.65), which is an
important source of iron.
7.27 pp102

This is going to be seriously slow going, but I think it will be worth it if there is a genuine cause for changing our diets or (as I suspect) a report that is based on little more than guesswork.

If there are any academics out there who are used to digging through papers, please feel free to lend a hand with the big words.

DS

[JANALA]

My main concern is either that we who eat more meat are genuinely increasing our risk of colonic cancer, or (as I suspect) the science is flawed and people who would genuinely benefit from a low carb / higher meat diet are going to be put off it for no reason.

So, I've started investigating.... And now I can see what I've let myself in for! Metadata is coming out of my ears. I'm surrounded by opinions and assumptions, as well as statistics and good intentions.

I'm going to produce an essay that's worth reading (I hope) but it's not going to be an overnight job. For now, if you're genuinely concerned about this report- don't be. I'm pretty certain that the health benefits of a low carb diet which helps your body to shed fat will far outweigh any claims based on uncertain cancer studies. If you want to know how you can minimise the threat, it seems that there is more concern about processed meat, such as salami or hot dog sausages rather than natural meat such as chicken or pork.

But the trials which point to this don't seem to take lifestyle into account, and especially don't cross-reference colonic cancer figures (1 in 16 men and 1 in 20 women in UK) with obesity figures (1 in 4 men and 1 in 5 women at a very rough average) that's a major failing when discussing a dietry matter. Especially when an NHS paper on obesity I'm reading says you're 3 times more likely to develop colonic cancer if you're obese. (More significant than the red meat risk factor

(Source - "Statistics on Obesity, Physical Activity and Diet- England 2010" available from http://www.ic.nhs.uk/webfiles/public...gland_2010.pdf )

The Dept of Health's advice is based on a report which considers whether or not the increased iron in meat can lead to cancer of the bowel. But it also goes on to say that many people get most of their iron from cereals.

Enough for now anyway. I'll link here when I've finished - next week hopefully

DS

[CibQueersejer]

extract from a website http://rawfoodsos.com/
Here’s one that initially looks totally irrelevant but is actually pretty interesting: Flaxseed and cardiovascular risk factors: Results from a double blind, randomized, controlled clinical trial. (This also a stellar example of why it’s important to read full-text articles instead of just abstracts, which often don’t tell you diddly about the stuff you want to know.)
This particular study charted the effects of flaxseed on adults with high cholesterol. One group got food with ground flaxseed; the other group got food with added wheat bran. Other dietary elements were the same. (Low fat, low cholesterol. Fun times!)
The results? Ye Olde Flaxseed Group did pretty well: Compared to their baseline measurements, these folks had lower insulin, lower blood glucose, lower C-reactive protein (a marker for inflammation), and better insulin sensitivity (as calculated by HOMA-IR).
But poor Wheat Group was less fortunate. Since the study was about flaxseed, the results of wheat aren’t specifically discussed, but check out “Table 4″ in the link above to see the numbers for yourself. The wheat-bran eaters had a 14.9% increase in insulin resistance (calculated by HOMA-IR) and a 9.3% increase in C-reactive protein. In other words, they lost some insulin sensitivity and gained some inflammation—two risk factors for heart disease. Hmm. Was the wheat bran to blame? Some other element of the control diet? It’s impossible to say for sure based on this study, but considering the wheat group’s adverse effects were more dramatic than the flaxseed group’s benefits, it seems a little suspect

[occafeVes]

The wheat bran PLUS low fat, low cholesterol might have been the issue, too. Maybe the flax provided some protection from a low fat, low cholesterol diet.

[Aizutox]

Yeah that's what Dr Eades is always saying - too many variables to be able to state causation. But the connection is interesting n'est ce pas?

[Joircarm]

Exactly... can't deduct cause, but the correlation is interesting.

[Loxaeed]

I've been really slow with my "report" on this. Sorry about that, folks.
Monday evening is Yoga.
Tuesday I look after volunteers at our Community Garden at work.
Wednesday is "core and more" class at the gym.
Thursday I visit my poor silver haired mother.
Friday I'm out running.

Saturday! That's when I'll do it!

Nobody give me anything to do on Saturday!

Oh - fudge! The GARDEN..... *sigh

[dmitrynts]

Where do you live that you're gardening in March?? I'm just beginning to see a tiny little patch of grass in the sea of snow I call my yard. Gardening is weeks away for me.

[Dokescoonse]

Oh you pore thing Tril - yes I've been gardening for 3 weeks already too. It's annoying though that my plug plants have arrived and there are still sharp frosts so I have to carry everything from greenhouse to kitchen twice a day. Hijacking your post David now for a gardening discussion...

[twiffatticy]

One more hijack.... this is what I woke up to Tuesday morning (yes, this week... on the 22nd).







I probably won't have anything in the ground before June 1st. Very short growing season!

[GenManagerS]

Lordy! You must get some great snowmen. This is a link to my Community Garden that I'm doing at work. Feel free to have a look around the rest of the blog- I try to make it readable. CLICK ME

[dremucha]

We woke up to the same thing and it was just like a WINTER WONDERLAND! If my granddaughter had been here we would have built a snowman. It is pretty, but Easter is coming, not Christmas! We just took down our Christmas lights a week ago and they would have looked pretty with the snow. Some people actually had them on and some neighbours were out singing "Christmas Carols." My Easter egg wreath on the front door looked ridiculous!

Loved your BLOG David. We have people doing the same things in our area but not until the ground thaws and that will not be until early June!

Jo

[Allbrunette]

How about this then, I have just precis this from a scientific report of 2008;

Excessive fructose, certain types of fibre, and wheat cause bacterial overgrowth and H2 production
Elevated H2 causes overgrowth of H. pylori and possibly other pathogenic bacteria in the body.
H. pylori lowers stomach acid, causing further overgrowth of bacteria in the small intestine.
This causes inflammation and increases the risk for digestive cancers.

That one didn’t get reported did it?

[saopinax]

Thanks for that Flo. Can you let me have the URL so I can include it in my study? It's becoming a bit big!

[Abaronos]

Oh I KNEW you were going to ask that. Of course I never noted it. I've been reading so many; but for you I will trawl back and see if I can find it again

[JimmyHas]

This is a good article re: sugars and carbs. Cancer feeds on sugar and carbs:http://hubpages.com/hub/Foods_That_Feed_Cancers. When our mini schnauzer had cancer I read so much and fortunately got excellent help and we treated his cancer holistically with a no grain food filled with antioxidants and herbs to build up his immune system. He was on many human grade supplements such as Omega 3 Wild Salmon oil capsule, CO Q-10, modified citrus pectin, Essiac tea, jingli and reishi Chinese mushroom tablets and Artemisinin which has been found to reduce breast cancer in women. Turmeric and ginger were two spices used regularly in Benny's diet. He lived a very healthy life for over 17 months until the cancer got out of hand.

As Bluehex suggested, if we eat a diet of natural foods as opposed to artificial we should be okay. Of course "genetics" also plays a huge part in whether one gets cancer or not.

Natural sugars found in vegetables and fruits are much better than the artificial sweeteners and also the sugars in milk products. Grains should also be limited.

I am no expert except what I learned through fighting the cancer in my "best friend."