Dumb Question...

NanoSecond said:

Is it half empty or half full?

I think you meant to write 1-2 glasses of red wine per day.  Preferably at dinner with food (it is never a good idea to drink on an empty stomach - that can cause a rapid spike in insulin levels).

Red wine contains an potent anti-cancer agent called resveratrol.

Resveratrol helps protect the arteries by improving their elasticity, thus inhibiting blood clots. It also lowers blood pressure and is a strong anti-oxidant. Resveratrol is a polyphenol. Polyphenols are said to mimic caloric restriction. That is, they can work to restrict carbohydrate utilization.

 

 "Resveratrol is a polyphenolic compound. Its primary functions include anti-mutagenic, anti-inflammatory, and anti-oxidant activities. Due to its potent anti-oxidative effect, its ability to regulate cell proliferation, and ability to help decrease blood supply to tumor cells, Resveratrol is strongly associated with inhibiting tumor growth while promoting beneficial effects in preventing cardiovascular disease." - Block Center for Integrative Cancer Treatment

 

My doc said 1-2 per week - Now ,do I care? Not really. I have long been aware of the positive effects of red wine and fully believe in them. My doctor on the other hand seems to have his own opinions about limiting alcohol consumption in any form ( he will also talk to you at length about the 'American' diet and its role in cancer) , which I respectfully disagree with... I am perfectly fine with differing opinions, at least he is honest about his beliefs, that is all I ask.

MeMeJoy said:

Actually no...

My doc said 1-2 per week - Now ,do I care? Not really. I have long been aware of the positive effects of red wine and fully believe in them. My doctor on the other hand seems to have his own opinions about limiting alcohol consumption in any form ( he will also talk to you at length about the 'American' diet and its role in cancer) , which I respectfully disagree with... I am perfectly fine with differing opinions, at least he is honest about his beliefs, that is all I ask.

What are your reasons for respectfully disagreeing with your onc about the "American" diet's role in cancer?

MeMeJoy said:

Oh no...

I didn’t mean that I necessarily disagree with him on the diet issue (I don't know if I do or not), more so on the only having 1-2 glasses of wine per week.

However:

Honestly, I feel that as a whole, we (society/science) are just now starting to scratch the surface of understanding cancer. Do diet and other environmental factors play into the body’s ability to fight cancer, sure probably so- makes sense to me. Do they cause cancer, maybe . That said, I don’t know, I’m not a doctor and have no credentials what-so-ever that would qualify me to have a valid opinion. However, it’s my understanding (through very limited research mind you) that documented cases of possible cancer date back as far as the ancient Egyptians, and they certainly didn’t eat today’s typical “American” diet… Even if you look to more recent history, diet and environment has changed drastically over the last 100 years. Are there more cases of cancer today than before or are there simply better/more diagnostic techniques available to more people, who are also living longer?

Now, I’m not saying that there isn’t or can’t be a correlation between certain behaviors and types of cancer. Smokers have a higher chance of getting lung cancer, that makes sense. But not all smokers get lung cancer, so it’s not a direct result. Something else must be at play. Something causes the cells to crazy.

Perhaps all that is required is a perfect storm of genetics, environment, behavior, and plain old luck of the draw?

Again, I have no reason or research or anything to back up what I said, just my own random thoughts on the matter. And I reserve the right to change my mind at any time lol  Until then, I’m still going to eat a Whopper Jr. and have a glass of wine if and when I so desire 

 

Thank you for your thoughts.  I am pleased you made that distinction.  Just as cancer is not one solitary disease - there is not one "cause" for it occuring in the first place.  However, aside from those cancers that are known to be hereditary, there should be no doubt that environmental factors are at the root of the problem.  And that includes whatever we eat or breathe.

Yes indeed, there is evidence of cancer to be found in mumified remains that are thousands of years old. However, what has changed most recently is the frequency of its occurance.  There are quite a few studies regarding isolated (i.e. non-westernized) societies that showed they had little or no occurance of cancer at all.  For example, Dr. Albert Schweitzer wrote in 1957: "On my arrival in Gabon, in 1913, I was astonished to encounter no cases of cancer..."

In 1915, Dr. Frederick L. Hoffman wrote an 826-page volume, The Mortality from Cancer Throughout the World. Under 'Cancer among Primitive Races' Hoffman reported that: "The rarity of cancer among native races suggests that the disease is primarily induced by the conditions and methods of living which typify our modern civilization... cancer is exceptionally rare among the primitive peoples..."

Anyway, this is an immense topic for research.  For more "food for thought" while sipping on your red wine, there is this:

http://ajcn.nutrition.org/content/81/2/341.full

MDCinSC said:

I Believe

I'll join you on this kind of research!  As you point out, the incidence of cancer is at near monumental proportions compared to even when I was young.

Prima facie reasoning tells me that it is our so-called "modern" lifestyle of better living through chemistry and manipulation of our food sources as well as the ever increasing incidence of solvents and sources of radiation in our increasingly "convenient" mode of existence.

I say again, this is just my knee jerk observation, but it is hard to ignore.

That'll be two cents please!

Michael

...I am hoping that my health insurance can cover your bill. 

NanoSecond said:

Thanks

Thank you for your thoughts.  I am pleased you made that distinction.  Just as cancer is not one solitary disease - there is not one "cause" for it occuring in the first place.  However, aside from those cancers that are known to be hereditary, there should be no doubt that environmental factors are at the root of the problem.  And that includes whatever we eat or breathe.

Yes indeed, there is evidence of cancer to be found in mumified remains that are thousands of years old. However, what has changed most recently is the frequency of its occurance.  There are quite a few studies regarding isolated (i.e. non-westernized) societies that showed they had little or no occurance of cancer at all.  For example, Dr. Albert Schweitzer wrote in 1957: "On my arrival in Gabon, in 1913, I was astonished to encounter no cases of cancer..."

In 1915, Dr. Frederick L. Hoffman wrote an 826-page volume, The Mortality from Cancer Throughout the World. Under 'Cancer among Primitive Races' Hoffman reported that: "The rarity of cancer among native races suggests that the disease is primarily induced by the conditions and methods of living which typify our modern civilization... cancer is exceptionally rare among the primitive peoples..."

Anyway, this is an immense topic for research.  For more "food for thought" while sipping on your red wine, there is this:

http://ajcn.nutrition.org/content/81/2/341.full

Thanks for sharing! I haven’t read all of that yet, but did skim quite a bit. Definitely a good read!! And much’ food’ for thought! hehe

Also, I hope I didn’t offend you or anyone with any of my comments! In hindsight I see how my comments may have come off as argumentative. I’m just quite the skeptic of… well just about  everything  I guess lol You know the saying. “it’s like arguing with a brick wall” , well my mom used to say I’d argue with a brick wall just to do it lol

Thanks again for the info and all of the other info you share on this site! It really is fabulous!

todd121 said:

Aspartame and MSG

Good to know.

I actively try to avoid MSG. I often get headaches when I eat a meal high in MSG. Some Asian restaurants use it to excess.

I'm avoiding aspartame now too. If I really must sweeten something, I'm using honey. I just bought some raw agave nectar and I like it.

I bought coconut milk this time. But I bought a large carton, and noticed after I opened it that it should be drunk in 1-2 days after opening. That means I need to buy a much smaller carton next time! When it comes out, it's not well homogenized. Is it supposed to look like that? Even after shaking, it comes out separated. It does stir out eventually in the coffee. It's ok. I think I can get used to it.

Todd

I am not sure which version you have.  We store our coconut milk in the refrigerator with no problems.  It lasts about as long as a carton of regular milk in the 'frig used to.  But it's my wife who is fond of drinking it. I only drink Almond milk.

For our coffe we use "So Delicious" coconut milk cremer - which apparently does contain some thickening agent in it.  It does not separate and does not require shaking.