Comments on: Higher Cancer Risk if You’re Fat http://www.marksdailyapple.com/obesity-cancer-link/ Serving up health and fitness insights (daily, of course) with a side of irreverence. Sat, 17 May 2008 02:19:56 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Anna http://www.marksdailyapple.com/obesity-cancer-link/#comment-30592 Anna Fri, 22 Feb 2008 16:56:05 +0000 http://www.marksdailyapple.com/obesity-cancer-link/#comment-30592 And the fat misinformation isn't just about cancer, either. Last night I turned on the TV to a locally produced program on the local PBS station, focused on the burgeoning Alzheimers rates and the future impact on the state of CA. I knew it was locally produced because I recognized the lab interiors at the institute where my husband works, and one of his colleagues was interviewed. But I wanted to scream at the TV when the narrator began to talk about prevention of Alzheimers and recommended a low fat, low saturated fat diet! Anti-oxidents were also mentioned, with a still life of wine and grapes shown (the case for anti-oxidents isn't a slam-dunk either, but you wouldn't know it from the media). Those two things were all that were offered for prevention suggestions. The rest of the story about on-going research was about dicovering drug treatment (which, while proving very difficult, will be a financial boon to the lucky drug companies that come up with something with even a minimal level of efficacy. The brain is at least 60% fat and my "library" research (I'm not the scientist in the family) indicates that high insulin (due to high CHO intake) is at least part of the mystery of Alzheimers origins, not saturated fat, cholesterol, or even total fat (except perhaps, lack of it for stuctural use). Most of what I have been coming across says that for the elderly, low cholesterol levels are associated with increased risk of dementia, too. It has gotten to the point where I don't even bother reading the weekly "health" section of the newspaper anymore because the info in it is so out of context, incomplete, useless and misleading, and too often, downright wrong and extremely biased (especially against saturated fat). And while the internet has its own pitfalls, it is still the best way to navigate through all the baloney to explore health issues and info. And the fat misinformation isn’t just about cancer, either. Last night I turned on the TV to a locally produced program on the local PBS station, focused on the burgeoning Alzheimers rates and the future impact on the state of CA. I knew it was locally produced because I recognized the lab interiors at the institute where my husband works, and one of his colleagues was interviewed.

But I wanted to scream at the TV when the narrator began to talk about prevention of Alzheimers and recommended a low fat, low saturated fat diet! Anti-oxidents were also mentioned, with a still life of wine and grapes shown (the case for anti-oxidents isn’t a slam-dunk either, but you wouldn’t know it from the media). Those two things were all that were offered for prevention suggestions. The rest of the story about on-going research was about dicovering drug treatment (which, while proving very difficult, will be a financial boon to the lucky drug companies that come up with something with even a minimal level of efficacy.

The brain is at least 60% fat and my “library” research (I’m not the scientist in the family) indicates that high insulin (due to high CHO intake) is at least part of the mystery of Alzheimers origins, not saturated fat, cholesterol, or even total fat (except perhaps, lack of it for stuctural use). Most of what I have been coming across says that for the elderly, low cholesterol levels are associated with increased risk of dementia, too.

It has gotten to the point where I don’t even bother reading the weekly “health” section of the newspaper anymore because the info in it is so out of context, incomplete, useless and misleading, and too often, downright wrong and extremely biased (especially against saturated fat). And while the internet has its own pitfalls, it is still the best way to navigate through all the baloney to explore health issues and info.

]]> By: Alex http://www.marksdailyapple.com/obesity-cancer-link/#comment-30577 Alex Fri, 22 Feb 2008 14:25:59 +0000 http://www.marksdailyapple.com/obesity-cancer-link/#comment-30577 It's not just education, but the ingrained nature of the misinformation. Trying to explain why low-carb is better than low-fat and that fat in the diet really has nothing to do with fats in the blood is like poking myself in the eye with a sharp object. It is part education - but it's got to be a reversal of what has been taught for so many years. That's not what the government is talking about - they still include low-fat, more complex carbs in the message. The other commenters on this topic are right on. It’s not just education, but the ingrained nature of the misinformation. Trying to explain why low-carb is better than low-fat and that fat in the diet really has nothing to do with fats in the blood is like poking myself in the eye with a sharp object. It is part education - but it’s got to be a reversal of what has been taught for so many years. That’s not what the government is talking about - they still include low-fat, more complex carbs in the message. The other commenters on this topic are right on.

]]> By: markus http://www.marksdailyapple.com/obesity-cancer-link/#comment-30386 markus Thu, 21 Feb 2008 11:46:12 +0000 http://www.marksdailyapple.com/obesity-cancer-link/#comment-30386 obesity is THE most obvious form of "metabolic syndrome" and - following Taubes - the key elements in obesity are the effects of high carbohydrates on insulin. Also, high blood glucose causes a cascade of ill effects - including destruction of white blood cells - reducing immunity - more stress on the liver (fatty liver disease) greater reactive chemical processes (advance glycation end products) etc etc. all these components, plus the replacement of animal fats with omega 6 vegetable oils, with their proven immunosuppressive characteristics, puts the body under great oxidative stress and compromises its first lines of defence - all leading to cancer promotion of all types. obesity is THE most obvious form of “metabolic syndrome” and - following Taubes - the key elements in obesity are the effects of high carbohydrates on insulin.
Also, high blood glucose causes a cascade of ill effects - including destruction of white blood cells - reducing immunity - more stress on the liver (fatty liver disease) greater reactive chemical processes (advance glycation end products) etc etc.

all these components, plus the replacement of animal fats with omega 6 vegetable oils, with their proven immunosuppressive characteristics, puts the body under great oxidative stress and compromises its first lines of defence - all leading to cancer promotion of all types.

]]> By: Anna http://www.marksdailyapple.com/obesity-cancer-link/#comment-30294 Anna Wed, 20 Feb 2008 23:52:47 +0000 http://www.marksdailyapple.com/obesity-cancer-link/#comment-30294 Huckleberry, Thanks. Not too much righteous indignation? :-) Huckleberry,

Thanks. Not too much righteous indignation? :-)

]]> By: Sasquatch http://www.marksdailyapple.com/obesity-cancer-link/#comment-30292 Sasquatch Wed, 20 Feb 2008 23:43:19 +0000 http://www.marksdailyapple.com/obesity-cancer-link/#comment-30292 Thanks for the post. I think it's important to point out that the higher cancer risk with obesity is an association. Causality hasn't been established. If I were Gary Taubes, I'd say that the cancer and the obesity are probably both promoted by the same thing- excess insulin and blood glucose due to overconsumption of refined carbs. If I were me, I'd agree with Gary Taubes. Thanks for the post. I think it’s important to point out that the higher cancer risk with obesity is an association. Causality hasn’t been established.

If I were Gary Taubes, I’d say that the cancer and the obesity are probably both promoted by the same thing- excess insulin and blood glucose due to overconsumption of refined carbs.

If I were me, I’d agree with Gary Taubes.

]]> By: Huckleberry http://www.marksdailyapple.com/obesity-cancer-link/#comment-30290 Huckleberry Wed, 20 Feb 2008 23:08:31 +0000 http://www.marksdailyapple.com/obesity-cancer-link/#comment-30290 Anna, nicely said. Anna, nicely said.

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