Re: evolution and diet (was: FITNESS: Diet and Exercise)

From: Brian Atkins (brian@posthuman.com)
Date: Tue Apr 15 2003 - 18:44:53 MDT

  • Next message: Damien Sullivan: "Re: evolution and diet (was: FITNESS: Diet and Exercise)"

    gts wrote:
    > Brian Atkins wrote:
    >
    >
    >>gts wrote:
    >>
    >>>On the other hand I do know some paleodiet purists who are willing to
    >>>risk infectious disease by eating raw meat. Evidence that we are not
    >>>adapted to cooked meat: meat produces carcinogenic heterocyclic
    >>>amines when cooked over a fire. Paleodieters who prefer cooked meat
    >>>(most of them) therefore try to broil or boil it, or at least to
    >>>cook it very slowly and lightly over a very low fire so as reduce
    >>>the production of heterocyclic amines.
    >>>
    >>
    >>I don't think that qualifies as evidence.
    >
    >
    > No? If a substance causes cancer in humans then how can you say humans are
    > adapted to it?
    >

    I don't believe it has been shown to do so.. at least to my satisfaction.

    >>http://www.applesforhealth.com/WomensHealth/redmeacolc4.html
    >
    >
    > I don't see any problem with the conclusions in that article:
    >
    > "As to why the Western-style of diet might increase colon cancer risk, Fung
    > said it might be a combination of factors. Processed meats and red meat
    > cooked at high temperatures contain chemicals that can increase cancer
    > risk,..."
    >
    > This is exactly my point. "Processed meats and red meat cooked at high
    > temperatures contain chemicals that increase cancer risk."
    >

    Yes, but it is all circular logic. The study itself did not control that
    one variable. Rather it simply showed that eating a "Western-style diet"
    consisting of many other potentially damaging types of food raised the
    risk of colon cancer. If you looked at that other beyondveg link I sent,
    the table from that study showed a probably decreased risk of colon
    cancer in those who cooked their food the most.

    So IMO the whole HCA thing is likely overblown, possibly even
    nonexistent in terms of a health threat. I think something more
    interesting is this article in the May issue of LEF magazine regarding
    how overcooked foods are higher in AGEs ("glycotoxins"), and a study
    published last November showing how eating foods high in AGEs may
    increase their levels in your body along with an increase in
    corresponding inflamation response.

    Even with that though there is some tradeoff... limiting fats and meats
    from your diet to avoid this new problem will mean you will find
    yourself eating carby foods more likely to generate glucose spikes in
    your blood which in turn also help generate higher amounts of
    glycotoxins. It appears the perfect diet is still elusive....

    -- 
    Brian Atkins
    Singularity Institute for Artificial Intelligence
    http://www.singinst.org/
    


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