Posted on 04/06/2010 2:56:37 PM PDT by decimon
An analysis by Mount Sinai researchers of over eight years of dietary data from more than 400,000 people has found that the relationship between high consumption of fruits and vegetables and a reduced risk of cancer is not as strong as commonly thought. The study is published online April 6, 2010 in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.
It is widely believed that a diet rich in fruits and vegetables can reduce the risk of cancer. In 1990, the World Health Organization recommended eating five servings of fruits and vegetables a day to prevent cancer and other diseases. However, although many studies have been conducted since then, none have been able to confirm an association between fruit and vegetable intake and cancer resistance.
Paolo Boffetta, MD, MPH, lead author of the study and Deputy Director of The Tisch Cancer Institute at Mount Sinai School of Medicine, and colleagues analyzed data from the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) study to assess relationships between cancer risk and intake of total fruits, total vegetables, and total fruits and vegetables combined.
The EPIC cohort, which is ongoing and coordinated by professor Elio Riboli at Imperial College in London, included 142,605 men and 335,873 women recruited between 1992 and 2000 from 10 Western European countries. Detailed information on their dietary habits and lifestyle variables was obtained. After a median follow-up of 8.7 years, more than 30,000 of the study's participants were diagnosed with cancer.
Dr. Boffetta and colleagues found a small but significant inverse relationship between high intake of fruits and vegetables and overall cancer risk. In this population, an increase of 200 grams a day of fruits and vegetables resulted in a reduction of about 3 percent of cancer risk. Vegetable consumption by itself also afforded a modest benefit but was restricted to women. Heavy drinkers who ate many fruits and vegetables had a somewhat reduced risk, but only for cancers caused by smoking and alcohol.
"The bottom line here is that, yes, we did find a protective effect of fruit and vegetable intake against cancer, but it is a smaller connection than previously thought," said Dr. Boffetta. "Any cancer protective effect of these foods is likely to be modest, at best.
"However, eating fruits and vegetables is beneficial for health in general and the results of this study do not justify changing current recommendations aiming at increasing intake of these foods," said Dr. Boffetta.
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About The Mount Sinai Medical Center
The Mount Sinai Medical Center encompasses The Mount Sinai Hospital and Mount Sinai School of Medicine. The Mount Sinai Hospital is one of the nation's oldest, largest and most-respected voluntary hospitals. Founded in 1852, Mount Sinai today is a 1,171-bed tertiary-care teaching facility that is internationally acclaimed for excellence in clinical care. Last year, nearly 60,000 people were treated at Mount Sinai as inpatients, and there were nearly 450,000 outpatient visits to the Medical Center.
Mount Sinai School of Medicine is internationally recognized as a leader in groundbreaking clinical and basic science research, as well as having an innovative approach to medical education. With a faculty of more than 3,400 in 38 clinical and basic science departments and centers, Mount Sinai ranks among the top 20 medical schools in receipt of National Institute of Health (NIH) grants. For more information, please visit www.mountsinai.org.
Rabbit died ping.
>> World Health Organization recommended eating five servings of fruits and vegetables a day
I’m all over it. At least five a day. Roger!
It’s just that I like my veggies fortified and synthesized into cows and pigs and lambs and bunnies and chickens before I eat them.
If God wanted us to eat fruits and vegetables, why didn’t He make them out of meat?
If God wanted us to eat meat, he would have made animals...oh, wait! He DID! Ya-HOO! Yippe-ai-ay!
In other words....'LEAVE ME ALONE'...If I wanted you to go shopping with me, I'd call ya!!!
Just eat/drink whatever keeps you alkaline - that’s where “life” lives.
Here’s why: Food you find in the supermarket is there because:
1. It looks good - eye candy sells.
2. It stores well - it could be months before it hits your store, and it has to look as good as the day it was picked.
3. It ships well - half of the veggies come from a place FAR away, and we don’t want it bruised or damaged, or else you won’t buy it.
4. It smells good - smell, no matter how subtle, accounts for a lot of our buying decision.
5. It makes the highest profit margin for the store - Hey, something has to pay for the electric!
The truth is our food is nutritionally bankrupt. Folks, I’m 59, 6’1”, and weigh 150 lbs, in great health. I can eat an entire 8-slice pizza and weigh the same the next day, and the ladies I meet are never disappointed. That’s because I spend about $100/month on supplements, probiotics, fiber, nutrients, and other things the FDA wants to ban as soon as possible so you get sicker and have to buy pharma drugs. WAKE UP!! Do some research on the Internet! Your health is YOUR HEALTH!! YOURS!! Start taking responsibility for your health. Good health takes work, so get off you overweight asses and learn what the heck is going on. Jeeze, I almost hope I die soon so I can quit trying to wake everyone up to what the heck reality is....and then the critics can say “See, he was full of it...he died at 65, so what does he know..” People, start learning the truth - God made your body to last a LONG time if you FEED it what it needs, not what looks good! Looks today are deceiving!
Someday when I have too much time on my hands I’m gonna compile a list of all the contradictory studies. Then again...nah.
You lye!
Not surprised re: cancer risk. Genetics trump with some environmental factors such as ionizing radiation, chemicals and ingested irritants also important.
What about heart disease / stroke?
>> I can eat an entire 8-slice pizza and weigh the same the next day, and the ladies I meet are never disappointed.
Why? Did they get their own pizza?
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