Date: 28 Aug 1994 02:50:30 -0700 From: taltar@helix.net (Ted Altar) Subject: quote on prostate cancer (repost) Newsgroups: rec.food.veg Organization: Helix Internet Lines: 67 QUOTE ON PROSTATE CANCER Here is what Dr. Neal Barnard says in his recent book, "Food for Life", 1993. Cancer cells are found in the prostates of about 20% of men over the age of 45. In most cases, these cancer cells do not develop into cancerous tumors that affect the overall health or lifespan of the individual. However, in many cases the cancer does grow, invades surrounding tissues, and spreads to other parts of the body. Although the disease varies greatly from one person to the next, the average patient loses 9 years from a normal lifespan. Just as countries differ markedly in the prevalence of breast cancer, this hormone-related cancer varies in exactly the same way. Asian and Latin American countries have a much lower prevalence of prostate cancer, while it is very common in Europe and America. Ten men die of prostate cancer in Western Europe for every one who dies in Asia. Cancer of the prostate is strongly linked to what men eat. Again, animal products are consistently indicted. Milk, meat, eggs, cheese, cream, butter, and fats are found, in one research study after another, to be linked to prostate cancer. And it is not just dairy products and meats. Some studies have also pointed a finger at vegetable oils. Who has a lower risk? Countries with more rice, soybean products, or green or yellow vegetables in the diet have far fewer prostate cancer deaths. Vegetarians have less prostate cancer. Scientists have long been interested in members of the Seventh-day Adventist church because of its vegetarian tradition. Adventists men have only 1/3 the prostate cancer risk of other men, although Adventists also generally avoid tobacco, alcohol, caffeine. Some evidence suggests that becoming a vegetarian in adulthood is helpful, but those who are raised as vegetarians have the lowest risk. For the above passage some 14 primary references were cited by Barnard to back up his statements. I'll leave it to the reader to check this very good book out for themselves. In general, the more meat consumed, the higher the cancer rate. For instance, MEAT CONSUMPTION AND OVARIAN CANCER DEATH RATES PER 100,000 ----------------------------------------------------------- Lacto-ovo vegetarian Adventist 15.9 Adventists using meat 1 - 3 times/week 18.0 Adventist using meat 4 or more times/week 26.4 [from Phillips et al. Cancer in vegetarians. In Wydner et al. (eds.), ENVIRONMENTAL ASPECTS OF CANCER -- THE ROLE OF MACRO AND MICRO COMPONENTS OF FOODS. Wesport: Food and Nutrition Press, 1983. ----------------------------------------------------------- Regards, Ted