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Making hot spicy herbs as part of the diet can be beneficial. For instance, in Indiana, a Hispanic male is 6 times less likely to die from cancer as a black male even though blacks are only 30% more likely to get cancer in IN. (All stats in this comment are computed on an aged-adjusted basis from the CDC - Center for Disease Control for 2007, which are their most recent statistics.)

The lowest Hispanic cancer rates these days in the US are based on migration patterns. New Mexico and Arizona used to have the lowest Hispanic cancer rates, as well as the lowest overall cancer rates of the 50 states.

In recent years, Hispanics males, mostly Mexicans, have flooded the Southeast. Not surprisingly, now the lowest Hispanic incidence rates for cancer are found in Arkansas #1, Mississippi #2, Iowa #3, South Carolina #4, and Alabama #5.

In #1 Arkansas, black males are 6.4 times more likely to get cancer compared to their newest neighbors, the Hispanics/Mexicans, and 4.5 times more likely to die from cancer there.

In other words, the ones sticking the closest to their hot, spicy diets - they haven't blended into the American diet yet - are getting the least cancer and maintaining the lowest death rates.

Lest one think Mexicans are somehow immune to cancer, in Rhode Island, Hispanic men get cancer at a higher rate than any ethnicity in the nation, an astounding 669 cases per 100,000 each year. Hispanic women in RI only get it at a rate of 219. I'd bet dollars to donuts, the Hispanic women have been there a much shorter time.

Finally, the highest overall cancer rates are jam packed into the North East where there is its heavy concentration of nuclear power plants. One exception is Nevada, where much nuclear testing took place. Nevada is surrounded by four states with the lowest overall cancer death rates (UT #1, AZ #3, CA #6, ID #8.) Thank goodness NV has no nuclear power plants.

In the years following the accident at Three Mile Island (TMI), Maryland, which had been a low cancer incident state became a very high cancer incident rate state. In 2007, it has settled back down to #16 after years of being one of the highest.

Delaware and NJ and to a lesser degree MD, are down wind from TMI. Delaware #48 and NJ #46 are among the worst cancer rates in the nation. Rhode Island is the worst at #50.

IL's #45 has six nuclear plants. MI has 3 plants plus two more at their doorstep in WI. WI #32 was smart enough to put theirs on the east side of the state away from prevailing winds.

Ohio #44 is downwind from the notorious MI Enrico Fermi plant and has their own plants as well.

Pennsylvania #45, has four plants including TMI.

There are a bunch more in the north east.

Radiation exposure isn't the only factor for cancer, but a pattern is a pattern.

I'm starting to see a pattern here.

Despite our surroundings, regardless of where I lived, I'd make sure hot stuff was a part of my diet at least sometimes.

If I lived in any of the states mentioned, I'd probably add a little kelp to my diet as well.

I would NOT use my recipe (Kelley Eidem) on a regular/daily basis as a preventative, unless it was sporadic and spaced out.

Hot peppers numb pain. If we numbed our pain with a super hot pepper, the nerves might shut down to the extent that they become insensitive to the benefits of the habaneros.

So now maybe cancer can take hold, and the habaneros would no longer work.

What I do instead is to go to a Chinese buffet about once a month or two and load up on their green horseradish and sliced ginger. I'll also get some of the hot pepper entrees. It's a fun way to get a brain rush and to scare the crap out of any cancer cells that might be plotting against me.