ENS 2010: German Study on Processed Foods and MS

[cheerleader]

Increased production of certain types of industrially produced foods - specifically of margarine, processed meat and sausage, jam and marmalade, chocolate and chocolate confectionary, sugar confectionary and beer - correlates statistically with an increased incidence of multiple sclerosis (MS). This conclusion from analysis of data from seven EU countries is presented today by the German epidemiologist Dr. Klaus Lauer at the 20th Meeting of the European Neurological Society (ENS) in Berlin. ''This data is not as yet evidence of a causal connection, but is a clear indication that such a connection may exist and thus should be closely investigated,'' says Dr. Lauer.

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/193051.php

Another vascular connection. For those who haven't read the Endothelial Health Paper I posted a couple years back, here's a link. I discussed the current research (at that time) linking processed foods and endothelial disruption as it related to MS-

http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=123456602210

cheer

[Ruthless67]

Hello Joan,

I always find your research posts to be extremely informative, thank you so much. (For EVERYTHING you do for MS & CCSVI, by the way!)

This latest research you posted about Industrialized/Processed Foods and how it correlates statistically with an increased incidence of multiple sclerosis (MS) really hits home to me. I just spent last night watching the FOOD, INC movie for the third time! I want to be sure it stays with me as I fight the urges to eat processed foods. Anyone who hasn't seen this CD, you can order it from your local library. It was a PBS special.

Lora

[1eye]

I wonder if this is connected with the Sclafani Ratio?

[cheerleader]

Lora---good suggestion. We loved Food, Inc--incredible film, and Michael Pollin's books are must reads...

Processed food messes with nitric oxide distribution and creates endothelial disfunction, which can lead to vasoconstriction and weakened blood vessels. Whole foods are best. Found it interesting that butter or milk wasn't a problem, but margarine was. It's all about molecular composition. And I'm sure the nitrates used in processed meats don't help.

No idea what the Sclafani ratio is, but if it deals with outside influences worsening endothelial function and worsening venous stenosis, I'm there.
cheer

[Cece]

The Sclafani ratio, yes.

I read the paper and it makes plenty of sense. There could be other things that cause both (processed foods are more commonly eaten in highly industrialized countries where pollution is higher and people don't exercise, that sort of thing, so that it's not the processed foods directly but the whole lifestyle)...but it could also be as simple and direct as it looks. This encourages me to keep moving our family to healthier eating, thanks.

This is the first summer we've done a farm CSA share, fresh veggies every week, we're all eating more.

[thisisalex]

Found it interesting that butter or milk wasn't a problem, but margarine was.

Cheer,

margarine is rich in trans fat, which is a .... hm .. poison. please take a look at this:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trans_fat

yes. it could cause vascular problems...

alex

[shye]

I grew up with margarine--it was advertised and sold as a healthy substitute for butter, but was much cheaper. If your parents were not inclined to question authority, margarine was quite okay.

[cheerleader]

oh, yeah...I know. I write about trans fats in the endothelial health paper--
from the paper-
Endothelial Disrupters:

2. Eating Bad fats
Itʼs really true....some fats are just not good for our bodies and should be
avoided. Heavily saturated animal and dairy fats, trans fats, hydrogenated
fats and chemically-altered fats from vegetable shortening and oils damage the endothelium. (6)

What to do--

Healthy fats
Salmon, trout, herring, avocados, olives, walnuts and olive oil. An omega
3 fish oil supplement is essential, especially if you do not have fish in your
diet- Recently, the scientific community has been concentrating on the
benefits of these fatty acids. The most important fish oil fatty acid is one
called docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). We have long known that fish is
healthy, but it is now proven that the omega-3s in fish fat improve
endothelial function by enhancing Nitrous Oxide production, increasing
HDL (good) cholesterol levels and reducing LDL and triglyceride levels.
Further, fish oils have been shown to reduce production of free radicals
and substances that cause inflammation in the body.

6. Cholesterol-independent endothelial dysfunction in virgin and pregnant rats fed a diet high in saturated fat
Authors: Robert T. Gerber;Kathleen Holemans;Ivan O'Brien-Coker;Anthony I. Mallet;Rita Bree;F. André Assche;Lucilla Poston
Source: The Journal of Physiology, Volume 517,Number 2, June 1999 , pp. 607-616(10) Publisher: Blackwell Publishing (13)

[Cece]

Margarine vs butter:

Choose soft margarine: The American Heart Association recommends the use of margarine as a substitute for butter. We are excited that many brands of soft margarine do not contain trans fat anymore. Check the Nutrition Facts label and choose one with zero trans fat and no more than 2 g of saturated fats per tbsp and with liquid vegetable oil as the first ingredient.

http://www.healthcastle.com/butter-or-margarine.shtml

[hwebb]

looks like my favourite treat - smoked salmon - is off the menu

[cheerleader]

looks like my favourite treat - smoked salmon - is off the menu

...have the salmon without the smoke??? (roasted in bit of olive oil, capers and spritzed w/ lemon or maybe a tasty fresh mango salsa...)
I think I'm hungry...

[ikulo]

looks like my favourite treat - smoked salmon - is off the menu

sorry but why is this bad?

[Cece]

looks like my favourite treat - smoked salmon - is off the menu

sorry but why is this bad?

I was wondering too, salmon has the good kind of fat in it with all the omega3s.

Just don't top it with a tablespoon of trans fat.

[cheerleader]

it's the smoking process...too many nitrates. Same thing with smoked meats. not good for the blood vessels.

[1eye]

The S Ratio I was referring to is the total angiogenic properties of a specific diet divided by the total anti-angiogenic properties of the same diet. One guess is that the Swank diet has a value greater than one. Remember, this is the same property that promotes cancer, so ya gotta be careful. Eat yer broccoli.