Re: A Great Week for Cancer Prevention

Jacques E. Bouchard said:

I see this story bandied about too many times without the very
imporrtant caveat about Italian vs. American-style pizza. I can already
see scores of Americans gorging themselves with Pizza Hut's cheese-in-
the-crust coronary pie with this news cliipping in their back pocket.
jaybee

Quoted message said:

In misc.writing.screenplays,
in article <[email hidden]>,
MC <[email hidden]> posted:

Quoted message said:

A few days ago it was announced that masturbating would prevent prostate
cancer.

Just when you thought things couldn't get any better:

Eating pizza 'cuts cancer risk'
Italian researchers say eating pizza could protect against cancer.

Researchers claim eating pizza regularly reduced the risk of developing
oesophageal cancer by 59%.

The risk of developing colon cancer also fell by 26% and mouth cancer by
34%, they claimed.

The secret could be lycopene, an antioxidant chemical in tomatoes, which
is thought to offer some protection against cancer, and which gives the
fruit its traditional red colour.

But some experts cast doubt on the idea that pizza consumption was the
explanation for why some people did not develop cancer.

They said other foods or dietary habits could play a part.

Lifestyle

The researchers looked at 3,300 people who had developed cancer of the
mouth, oesophagus, throat or colon and 5,000 people who had not
developed cancer.

They were asked about their eating habits, and how often they ate pizza.

Those who ate pizza at least once a week had less chance of developing
cancer, they found.

Dr Silvano Gallus, of the Mario Negri Institute for Pharmaceutical
Research in Milan, who led the research: "We knew that tomato sauce
could offer protection against certain tumours, but we did not expect
pizza as a complete meal also to offer such protective powers."

Nicola O'Connor, of Cancer Research UK, told BBC News Online: "This
study is interesting and the results should probably be looked at in the
context of what we already know about the Mediterranean diet and it's
association with a lower risk of certain types of cancer.

"But before people start dialling the pizza takeaway, they should
consider that pizza can be high in saturated fat, salt and calories.

"In contrast to the classic Italian pizza, UK varieties are often loaded
with high fat cheeses and fatty meats, a high intake of which can
contribute to obesity, itself a risk factor for cancer.

"Our advice is to enjoy pizza in moderation as part of a balanced diet
that includes plenty of vegetables and fruit."

Mediterranean diet

And Carlo La Vecchia, a Milan-based epidemiologist said pizza-lovers
should not see the research as a licence to indulge their fondness for
the food.

"There is nothing to indicate that pizza is the only thing responsible
for these results."

He told AFP news agency: "Pizza could simply be indicative of a
lifestyle and food habits, in other words the Italian version of a
Mediterranean diet."

A Mediterranean diet is rich in olive oil, fibre, vegetables, fruit,
flour and freshly cooked food - including non-frozen, home-made pizza.

Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/health/3086013.stm

Posted by MC <[email hidden]>

Distribution widened.

Jai Maharaj
http://www.mantra.com/jai
Om Shanti