"Western" Diet Linked to Colon Cancer in Women

Mon Feb 24,10:17 PM ET

Women who follow a typical "Western" diet?characterized by higher
intakes of processed and red meats, refined grains, sweets, and
desserts?may be more likely to develop colon cancer, according to new
research.

Teresa Fung, ScD, and colleagues from Harvard University reached this
conclusion after following more than 75,000 women for a period of 12
years. They published their results in the Archives of Internal
Medicine (news - web sites) (Vol. 163: 309-314).

Of All Cancers, Colorectal Most Affected By Diet

The idea of a connection between diet and cancer is not new. In fact,
it is estimated that about one third of all the cancer deaths in the
US each year can be attributed to diet and physical activity habits.

Among the various types of cancers, colorectal cancer seems most
likely to be influenced by what people eat. Many studies have linked
colorectal cancer to poor eating habits, but teasing out exactly what
increases the risk has been difficult.

Several studies have found that diets high in vegetables and fruits
may be linked to decreased risk, while diets high in red meat have
been associated with an increased risk.

Researchers are trying to determine if antioxidants (or lack thereof),
fiber, or some other nutrients are responsible for the effect. Newer
laboratory techniques are now allowing them to make slow but steady
progress on a molecular level.

"Prudent" Overall Dietary Pattern Is Of Benefit

For the current study, instead of looking at the effects of particular
foods, the researchers decided to examine overall dietary patterns.
They used data from the Nurses' Health Study, which began back in
1976.

Part of the study included filling out a dietary questionnaire every
few years, beginning in 1984. The questionnaire asked how often the
nurses ate 116 specific food items. More than 76,000 women completed
the questionnaires up through 1994, and were followed through 1996.

The researchers assessed how closely each woman followed one of two
dietary patterns. The "Western" pattern included large amounts of
refined grains, processed and red meats, desserts, high-fat dairy
products, and French fries. The other pattern, which the researchers
termed "prudent," consisted of more fruits and vegetables, whole
grains, legumes, poultry, and fish.

After adjusting for other factors such as age, tobacco and alcohol
use, and physical activity, the researchers found that women who most
closely followed the Western diet were significantly more likely to
develop colon cancer than those who followed it less closely.

Women who closely followed the prudent dietary pattern were less
likely to develop colon cancer than those who did not, although the
difference was not as strong.

Similar results have been found in most other studies, the researchers
pointed out, although some did not find such a strong link. Still, the
results may provide some simple suggestions for lowering risk.

"Our study provides further evidence that switching from a typical
Western diet to a more prudent diet may reduce the risk of colon
cancer," they concluded.

What You Can Do

Diet may be only one part of the overall picture in reducing
colorectal cancer risk.

Until researchers are better able to pinpoint exactly how certain
factors affect the way colon cancer develops, the American Cancer
Society (news - web sites) recommends making the best use of current
knowledge to lower your risk. This includes increasing the intensity
and duration of physical activity, eating more fruits and vegetables,
limiting intake of red meats, avoiding obesity, and avoiding excessive
alcohol consumption.

ACS News Today

(soc.men.moderator) wrote in message . com...

"Western" Diet Linked to Colon Cancer in Women

Mon Feb 24,10:17 PM ET

Women who follow a typical "Western" diet?characterized by higher
intakes of processed and red meats, refined grains, sweets, and
desserts?may be more likely to develop colon cancer, according to new
research.

Teresa Fung, ScD, and colleagues from Harvard University reached this
conclusion after following more than 75,000 women for a period of 12
years. They published their results in the Archives of Internal
Medicine (news - web sites) (Vol. 163: 309-314).

Of All Cancers, Colorectal Most Affected By Diet

The idea of a connection between diet and cancer is not new. In fact,
it is estimated that about one third of all the cancer deaths in the
US each year can be attributed to diet and physical activity habits.

Among the various types of cancers, colorectal cancer seems most
likely to be influenced by what people eat. Many studies have linked
colorectal cancer to poor eating habits, but teasing out exactly what
increases the risk has been difficult.

Several studies have found that diets high in vegetables and fruits
may be linked to decreased risk, while diets high in red meat have
been associated with an increased risk.

Researchers are trying to determine if antioxidants (or lack thereof),
fiber, or some other nutrients are responsible for the effect. Newer
laboratory techniques are now allowing them to make slow but steady
progress on a molecular level.

"Prudent" Overall Dietary Pattern Is Of Benefit

For the current study, instead of looking at the effects of particular
foods, the researchers decided to examine overall dietary patterns.
They used data from the Nurses' Health Study, which began back in
1976.

Part of the study included filling out a dietary questionnaire every
few years, beginning in 1984. The questionnaire asked how often the
nurses ate 116 specific food items. More than 76,000 women completed
the questionnaires up through 1994, and were followed through 1996.

The researchers assessed how closely each woman followed one of two
dietary patterns. The "Western" pattern included large amounts of
refined grains, processed and red meats, desserts, high-fat dairy
products, and French fries. The other pattern, which the researchers
termed "prudent," consisted of more fruits and vegetables, whole
grains, legumes, poultry, and fish.

After adjusting for other factors such as age, tobacco and alcohol
use, and physical activity, the researchers found that women who most
closely followed the Western diet were significantly more likely to
develop colon cancer than those who followed it less closely.

Women who closely followed the prudent dietary pattern were less
likely to develop colon cancer than those who did not, although the
difference was not as strong.

Similar results have been found in most other studies, the researchers
pointed out, although some did not find such a strong link. Still, the
results may provide some simple suggestions for lowering risk.

"Our study provides further evidence that switching from a typical
Western diet to a more prudent diet may reduce the risk of colon
cancer," they concluded.

What You Can Do

Diet may be only one part of the overall picture in reducing
colorectal cancer risk.

Until researchers are better able to pinpoint exactly how certain
factors affect the way colon cancer develops, the American Cancer
Society (news - web sites) recommends making the best use of current
knowledge to lower your risk. This includes increasing the intensity
and duration of physical activity, eating more fruits and vegetables,
limiting intake of red meats, avoiding obesity, and avoiding excessive
alcohol consumption.

ACS News Today

There was a recent study that compared the Japanese intake of beef to
the traditional diet. It wasn't surprising that heart disease was
found in the meat-eating group.

There was a recent study that compared the Japanese intake of beef to
the traditional diet. It wasn't surprising that heart disease was
found in the meat-eating group.

It's also important to note that the effect of meat eating is
confounded with the presence of fiber. It is currently thought that
the relative levels of fiber and fat, and not necessarily red meat, is
promotive of colorectal cancer.

In other words, drain the hamburger before you serve.

The problem with these diet comparison studies is that Asian diets,
high in fibrous rice, also tend to be devoid of red meat. It's not
because of any health consciousness, but simply because beef is a
premium import in Japan. Likewise, caloric levels tend to be
significantly lower on mainland China, simply because there's not
enough food to feed at American dietary caloric levels.

soc.men.moderator wrote:
"Western" Diet Linked to Colon Cancer in Women

Mon Feb 24,10:17 PM ET

Women who follow a typical "Western" diet?characterized by higher
intakes of processed and red meats, refined grains, sweets, and
desserts?may be more likely to develop colon cancer, according to new
research.

Teresa Fung, ScD, and colleagues from Harvard University reached this
conclusion after following more than 75,000 women for a period of 12
years. They published their results in the Archives of Internal
Medicine (news - web sites) (Vol. 163: 309-314).

Of All Cancers, Colorectal Most Affected By Diet

I have not done any kind of study but having listened to things related to diet
over decades I suspect there are fewer things which have not been related to
diet than which have been related to diet. Over 12 years national trends change
not to mention individuals.

Because it is impossible to control diet over any significant period of time
save in lab rats almost anything can be connected to anything in the diet of any
population. This is done by emphasizing one component of a diet and ignoring
everything else.

In this example, "characterized by higher intakes of processed [foods?] and red
meats, refined grains, sweets, and desserts" does not say much. Refined grains
is 90% applicable to bread and damned little of that is eaten by weight even in
a MickyD diet. Sweets and deserts means what other than white sugar and maybe
corn syrup? Not much to hang your hat on unless one is predisposed to dislike
red meat.

And what is red meat? Beef? Pork? Chicken? Anything but fish? If beef, rare,
medium or well done? About 15 years ago what had been medium rare became medium
in the Washington DC area. Rare became a crap shoot depending on the restaurant
unless you made a point of blood dripping.

Is it the fat? Fat as in beef, pork or finger lickin's good fried chicken? Or
the fat in Long John Silver's generic deep fried fish?

And then it leaves out herbs and spices. Other than the secret ones in chain
restaurant recipes there are fewer commonly used in the west and other than
Italian and Tex-Mex rarely used in serious quantities.

I can go on for many screens but the entire idea of it being possible to do a
legitimate study involving diet belongs in the theater of the absurd.

--
2003 March 03: Israel murders eight Palestinians.
-- The Iron Webmaster, 2528

(Roy. Just Roy.) wrote in message . com...

The problem with these diet comparison studies is that Asian diets,
high in fibrous rice, also tend to be devoid of red meat.

Not anymore. Hence, the study results.

It's not
because of any health consciousness, but simply because beef is a
premium import in Japan.

It's actually larger than you think. Hawaii exports a great deal of
beef to Japan, I believe.

Likewise, caloric levels tend to be
significantly lower on mainland China, simply because there's not
enough food to feed at American dietary caloric levels.

Again, the problem isn't a scarcity of food. It's a distribution
problem. There is plenty of food. That's not the issue.
___ _ o _ _ _
)) ))_ _ __ _ __ )\/,)__ _ _ _ __)) __
((__((`( (( \(/'((' ((`(( \(/'((\( ((_( (('
)
"How many people do you think will die if America attacks Saddam?
It will probably be less than the number of people he kills in a
single month."

-- Assos Hardi, editor of the liberal newspaper Hawalati in Sulaimania

Matt Giwer wrote in message m...
soc.men.moderator wrote:
"Western" Diet Linked to Colon Cancer in Women

Mon Feb 24,10:17 PM ET

Women who follow a typical "Western" diet?characterized by higher
intakes of processed and red meats, refined grains, sweets, and
desserts?may be more likely to develop colon cancer, according to new
research.

Teresa Fung, ScD, and colleagues from Harvard University reached this
conclusion after following more than 75,000 women for a period of 12
years. They published their results in the Archives of Internal
Medicine (news - web sites) (Vol. 163: 309-314).

Of All Cancers, Colorectal Most Affected By Diet

I have not done any kind of study but

....you'll offer your opinion anyway.
___ _ o _ _ _
)) ))_ _ __ _ __ )\/,)__ _ _ _ __)) __
((__((`( (( \(/'((' ((`(( \(/'((\( ((_( (('
)
"How many people do you think will die if America attacks Saddam?
It will probably be less than the number of people he kills in a
single month."

-- Assos Hardi, editor of the liberal newspaper Hawalati in Sulaimania

Chive Mynde wrote:
Matt Giwer wrote in message m...

soc.men.moderator wrote:

"Western" Diet Linked to Colon Cancer in Women

Mon Feb 24,10:17 PM ET

Women who follow a typical "Western" diet?characterized by higher
intakes of processed and red meats, refined grains, sweets, and
desserts?may be more likely to develop colon cancer, according to new
research.

Teresa Fung, ScD, and colleagues from Harvard University reached this
conclusion after following more than 75,000 women for a period of 12
years. They published their results in the Archives of Internal
Medicine (news - web sites) (Vol. 163: 309-314).

Of All Cancers, Colorectal Most Affected By Diet

I have not done any kind of study but

....you'll offer your opinion anyway.

Not knowing anything sustantive about 9/11 or Iraq hasn't stopped you.

--
The least Powell could have done was give us
a good incubator story.
-- The Iron Webmaster, 2451