An Apple a Day, and Other Myths

New York Times ^ | APRIL 21, 2014 | George Johnson

[nickcarraway]

A trip to almost any bookstore or a cruise around the Internet might leave the impression that avoiding cancer is mostly a matter of watching what you eat. One source after another promotes the protective powers of “superfoods,” rich in antioxidants and other phytochemicals, or advises readers to emulate the diets of Chinese peasants or Paleolithic cave dwellers.

But there is a yawning divide between this nutritional folklore and science. During the last two decades the connection between the foods we eat and the cellular anarchy called cancer has been unraveling string by string.

This month at the annual meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research, a mammoth event that drew more than 18,500 researchers and other professionals here, the latest results about diet and cancer were relegated to a single poster session and a few scattered presentations. There were new hints that coffee may lower the risk of some cancers and more about the possible benefits of vitamin D. Beyond that there wasn’t much to say.

In the opening plenary session, Dr. Walter C. Willett, a Harvard epidemiologist who has spent many years studying cancer and nutrition, sounded almost rueful as he gave a status report. Whatever is true for other diseases, when it comes to cancer there was little evidence that fruits and vegetables are protective or that fatty foods are bad.

About all that can be said with any assurance is that controlling obesity is important, as it also is for heart disease, Type 2 diabetes, hypertension, stroke and other threats to life. Avoiding an excess of alcohol has clear benefits. But unless a person is seriously malnourished, the influence of specific foods is so weak that the signal is easily swamped by noise.

[raybbr]

Ping

[Veto!]

Interesting article. The 1997 the World Cancer Research Fund and the American Institute for Cancer Research published a report, thick as a phone book, concluding that diets loaded with fruits and vegetables might reduce the overall incidence of cancer by more than 20 percent.

But they go on to say that the 2007 report pretty much reversed those findings.

I'm reading that as a clear indication that the ever-increasing use of pesticides, and also GMO's to some extent, caused the difference. In other words, you cannot eat a pesticiide-laden bushel of apples and expect the health benefits that once were there.

I live in WA, the country's premier apple producer, and I won't touch them. They no longer have any flavor whatsoever, and they are sprayed with pesticides. Unless you pay extra for organics, you might as well eat pictures of apples.

In ten years, I expect to see another study saying as much, and perhaps in 20 years, another study reporting the increase in organic farming and matching increase in health benefits of fruits and veggies.

I'm not waiting around for "official" studies.

[entropy12]

In my opinion, #1 preventive of cancer is regular exercise.
Because exercise stimulates every organ in the body, including ability to fight disease and enhance immunity.

Nothing will guarantee against cancer, but some things are better than others. Good nutrition is #2 IMO. Which should include many vegetables, some fruits, protein, and only complex carbs. Refined dough is about the worst thing such as white bread, and anything made from refined wheat.

[cuban leaf]

The entire movie, The Beautiful Truth, is on Youtube. It is about the Gerson treatment. We saw it and thought it was actually pretty interesting. Then we met a woman who had cancer. She was diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer. She denied all treatment but did the Gerson plan.

She is now cancer free, but the odd thing is that the doctors seem kinda irritated by that and are warning her that it may not be gone.

I’ve heard some condemn this plan because it gives people false hope. But then, don’t all the “established” treatments do the same in most cases, even though they cost unbelieveable amounts of money?

Whenever I see a pink ribbon, I see a scam.

[minnesota_bound]

Apples er... helps clean out your innards.

[Veto!]

I’ve heard some condemn this plan because it gives people false hope. But then, don’t all the “established” treatments do the same in most cases, even though they cost unbelieveable amounts of money?... Whenever I see a pink ribbon, I see a scam.

Agree, and agree. The breast cancer industry is particularly frightening, with their cutesy pink shoes and shirts and tumors.

Thanks for mentioning Gerson's work. He seems to be a continuation of Dr. Norwalk's work. Someone I knew went to him in the early 80s in Arizona and was cured of prostate cancer. So I bought a juicer and Norwalk's books on Salads and on Juices and have been at least aware of the benefits since then. I wonder how I'd look and feel today if I'd stayed with it on a daily basis since then. Probably not a wrinkle.

[Veto!]

Refined dough is about the worst thing such as white bread, and anything made from refined wheat.

I have less and less interest in bread, which was never a large part of my diet. But I'm doing this sort of intuitively. What are your reasons, entropy12?

As for exercise, I'm back at the gym and truly amazed at how fast the bod responds and becomes more energetic after a year away.

[cuban leaf]

Gerson died many decades ago - under questionable circumstances.

[Zhang Fei]

Interesting article. The 1997 the World Cancer Research Fund and the American Institute for Cancer Research published a report, thick as a phone book, concluding that diets loaded with fruits and vegetables might reduce the overall incidence of cancer by more than 20 percent.

But they go on to say that the 2007 report pretty much reversed those findings.

Jobs was a fruitarian. He died of cancer.

[entropy12]

Because after they remove the outer shell from the wheat or any other grain from that matter, it becomes a low quality simple carbohydrate. That is not a problem for a very young person, but as you get older, those type of carbs make you insulin resistant. That can lead to diabetes.

By the way my travel history is pretty close to yours. I was in Singapore-Bangkok-Hong Kong 2 months ago.

[buridan]

Maybe part of the inconsistency results from a failure to take gut bacteria into account.

[Veto!]

Thanks for wheat info. I am tempted only occasionally by Trader Joe’s tiny 99-cent sourdough boule; at least it’s non-GMO.

AS for Singapore, I was there a very long time ago— 1978. It was wonderful then and I’m sure it still is.

Have you read Lee Kwan Yew’s book, From Third World to First : The Singapore Story: 1965-2000. He was remarkable and so is his book. Someone should send a copy to BoyBarack, who is missing the Leadership gene.

[entropy12]

Singapore has the highest concentration of rich people in the world. 1 out of every 6 is a millionaire!

Their formula is simple> No unemployment comp program, no food stamp program, no welfare to working age adults. Result is the unemployment rate is Minus 40%. (40% more jobs than there are citizens) So this country of 3.5 million imports 2 million foreign workers on 2 year work permits.

You can always indulge on foods you enjoy, in moderation. So no need to give up Trader Joe’s tiny 99-cent sourdough boule :-)

[Veto!]

Singapore has the highest concentration of rich people in the world. 1 out of every 6 is a millionaire!

It's a miracle of a place. And the strong-man leader started it by fining people who spit on the streets or smoked in elevators. No kidding, every inch of Singapore was under surveillance. And anyone caught bringing drugs into Singapore faced the death penalty.

I wonder how many of our "beginner" capitalists would put up with this. They'd rather get on the dole and whine and sue for "defamation" than take advantage of opportunities. Most, anyway. Sad and ridiculous.