Eat to live, not live to eat

Most of the prevailing chronic diseases in the world have an important nutr itional component by directly causing a specific disease, enhancing the ris k through phenomena of promotion, exerting a beneficial effect in decreasin g risk, or preventing the disease. international studies in geographic path ology have shown that a given disease may have vastly different incidence a nd mortality as a function of residence. Laboratory research in animal mode ls can reproduce fairly accurately what is learned through international re search and provide the basis for examining relevant hypotheses and, more im portantly, proposed mechanisms of action. Validation of these approaches ca n be the basis for public-health recommendations and health-promotion activ ities. Through such techniques, it has been found that regular intake of fo ods with saturated Fats such as meat and certain dairy products raise the r isk of coronary heart disease. The total mixed-fat intake is associated wit h a higher incidence of the nutritionally linked cancers, specifically canc er of the postmenopausal breast, distal colon, prostate, pancreas, ovary, a nd endometrium. The associated genotoxic carcinogens for several of these c ancers are heterocyclic amines, which also play a role in heart-disease cau sation, and these are produced during the broiling and frying of creatinine -containing foods such as meats. Monounsaturated oils such as olive or cano la oil are low-risk fats as shown in animal models and through the observat ion that the incidence of specific diseases is lower in the Mediterranean r egion, where such oils are customarily used. High salt intake is associated with high blood pressure and with stomach cancer, especially with inadequa te intake of potassium from fruits and vegetables and of calcium from certa in vegetables and low-fat dairy products. Vegetables, fruits, and soy produ cts are rich in antioxidants that are essential to lower disease risk stemm ing from reactive oxygen systems in the body. Green and black teas are exce llent sources of antioxidants of a polyphenol nature, as is cocoa and some chocolates. Nutritional lifestyles that offer the possibility of a healthy long life can be adopted by most populations in the world. (C) Elsevier Sci ence Inc. 2000.