Creators Syndicate

FIGHT BACK!  BY DAVID HOROWITZ RELEASE: MONDAY, AUGUST 8, 1994 
                         Meat, Fat and Cholesterol 
         
        Millions of health-conscious Americans have cut back on  beef
in their diets in order to reduce their fat intake and  cholesterol
levels. In general, that seems to be good  nutritional advice. But does
that mean that red meats should  be eliminated from our diets entirely?
Not according to one  recent study. 
        Researchers at Baylor University followed a group of men  with
elevated blood cholesterol levels. All were placed on  low-fat diets.
Half of them ate chicken, and the other half  ate lean beef. In both
groups, cholesterol levels fell by 8- 10 percent. There was no
discernible difference between those  who ate chicken and those who ate
beef. 
        What this seems to mean is that it's not the meat but  the fat
in the meat that raises blood cholesterol. That  sounds obvious, but it
could have a powerful impact on how we  eat. Lean beef, chicken, pork
or lamb, properly prepared and  served with other low-fat foods, can
still be part of a  healthful, well balanced diet. 
        A much different report comes from researchers at New  York
University. The study compared the diets of 180 women  who had breast
cancer with those of 800 cancer-free women --  and found that those who
ate red meat each day have twice the  risk of developing breast cancer
as women who ate little or  no fresh meat or processed luncheon meats. 
        Surprisingly, the study found only a very small  statistical
correlation between the women's fat intake and  their risk of cancer.
It also supported earlier research that  showed no link between cancer
and protein from fish, poultry  and dairy products. It was only their
consumption of red meat  that appeared to raise the women's risk of
developing breast  cancer. 
        But, as with other such studies, this one does not  answer all
the questions. It does not explain why the cancer  risk does not go up
continuously with meat intake in a  matching curve. And it does not
address the many other risk  factors, including a genetic
predisposition, that may cause  breast cancer. 
        This was a preliminary study that points toward further  study.
It does not prove that red meat causes cancer. It  simply identifies
one more risk factor in an extremely  complex chain of factors
concerning this disease. It is  important research, but it is not yet
the final answer. *** 
        Physicians say that if more people knew their blood 
cholesterol levels, more of them would modify their diets and  health
habits to reduce their risk of a heart attack. Now,  Johnson and
Johnson is marketing a home test kit for  cholesterol. With only one
drop of blood, this $20 test kit  can measure a person's total serum
cholesterol in about 15  minutes. If it measures above 200, you should
see your  doctor. 
        Compared to a test in a doctor's office, this home test  is
simple, quick and inexpensive. But it does have its  limitations. For
one thing, it measures only total serum  cholesterol. It does not
differentiate between HDL and LDL  cholesterol, the so-called good and
bad cholesterol, that are  more accurate predictors of heart attack
risk. 
        Nor is the home test kit as accurate as a laboratory  blood
test, and it is not intended as a substitute for a  comprehensive
clinical examination. But many doctors believe  that if it raises our
cholesterol awareness, this new test  kit will prove to be a valuable
home health aid. 
        If you have questions or comments, please write to David 
Horowitz at 72662,1775. COPYRIGHT 1994 CREATORS SYNDICATE, INC.