*April 2004 issue of Dr. Greger's Newsletter*

[Guest guest]

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April 2004 issue of Dr. Michael Greger's Monthly Newsletter

 

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CONTENTS (online at http://www.veganmd.org/newsletters.html)

 

I. Latest Updates in Human Nutrition

A. Milk and Multiple Sclerosis

B. Macular Degeneration: Go Nuts for Your Eyes

C. Cinnamon: Spice Up Your Life

 

II. Mad Cow Disease: We have until midnight tonight

 

III. Vegan " Iron Chef " Competition!

 

IV. My Thoughts on Violence and Activism

 

V. Personal Update - Back in business

 

VI. MAILBAG: " Meateaters cooking up new AIDS epidemic? "

 

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I. LATEST UPDATES IN HUMAN NUTRITION

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A. Milk and Multiple Sclerosis

 

Multiple sclerosis is a devastating disease characterized by your

immune system attacking the insulation of your own nerve cells,

causing unpredictable short-circuiting within your nervous system,

which commonly interferes with vision, speech and mobility.

 

But why would your immune system do such a thing? We know that other

diseases of so-called immune " autoaggression " may be caused by

something called " molecular mimicry, " in which a foreign protein

looks just like one of the body's own proteins. So then when the body

makes antibodies against the foreign invader, it also unintentionally

makes antibodies against some of the body's own proteins.

 

For example, there is a protein in bovine milk that looks like a

protein in the human pancreas, and so human babies exposed to the

milk of cows may try to fend off the foreign bovine protein and, in

doing so, destroy their pancreas's ability to produce insulin,

leading to type I diabetes.

 

Numerous population-based studies around the world have linked

multiple sclerosis to dairy product consumption,[1-3] but cause and

effect could never be proven. So a prestigious research team of

German, Swedish, British and American scientists set out study bovine

milk proteins and see if they could find any milk protein that

cross-reacted with human nerve-sheath proteins. And now, for the

first time ever, they found it.[4]

 

If a milk protein is causing or contributing to multiple sclerosis,

why don't more people come down with the disease? Like all diseases,

susceptibility has both a genetic and an environmental component. We

don't know why in some people the bovine milk protein is able to

sneak through the blood-brain barrier into the central nervous system

and potentially trigger an inflammatory response that ends with your

own nerves as victims of collateral damage.

 

This research is still in the preliminary stage, and blaming dairy

for multiple sclerosis remains speculative, but evidence is mounting

that this disabling disease may just be yet another problem inherent

to humans eating the bodies and body fluids of fellow mammals.

 

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B. Macular Degeneration: Go Nuts for Your Eyes

 

Macular degeneration is the leading cause of blindness in the United

States. As a physician, every disease is personal, but in this case

particularly so as my 94 year-old grandfather suffers to this day

with this debilitating condition. We've suspected that total fat

consumption increases one's risk for the disease, but for the first

time ever, Harvard researchers studied people in the early stages and

tried to correlate all the different kinds of fat with progression of

vision loss. They took a few hundred folks, found out what kind of

fat they were eating and followed them for 5 years.[5]

 

They found that overall, the more fat people ate, whether in meat,

dairy products or processed baked goods, the faster the progression

of the disease, with only one exception: nuts. Those that ate just

one or more servings of nuts a week seemed to cut the rate of

progression in half. The researchers weren't sure if it was the

cholesterol-lowering fiber, the vitamin E, or the copper or

magnesium, or whether it was the special anti-inflammatory

anti-clot-forming antioxidant phytonutrients in nuts. The hope is

that the 8 million Americans suffering macular degeneration may be

driven less nuts by their vision loss if they can only be driven to

more nuts.

 

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C. Cinnamon: Spice Up Your Life

 

I'm hoping to finish up a new DVD based on my anti-cancer talk next

month in which I delve into the Oxidant Stress Theory of disease and

review some of the unique phytonutrient antioxidants in plant foods.

Most of us remember the blueberry story that soaked the press 5 years

ago describing the antioxidant power of the berry's blue pigment. The

anti-cancer properties of blueberries literally... come out of the

blue. Whether we were talking about the orange beta carotene in sweet

potatoes, or the red lycopene in tomatoes, the colors themselves are

the antioxidants.

 

The blueberry study tested only 40 fruits and vegetables, though.

Newer data shows that blueberries, the previous " number one "

antioxidant food, got their little blue butts kicked down to number

six. Just when we thought blueberries were the winners, someone

tested walnuts, which then took the lead. And now, just when walnuts

were getting cocky, someone looked at herbs and spices, which almost

all blow walnuts out of the water. We now know that lots of the

flavor compounds in herbs are powerful antioxidants as well. The

flavors are the antioxidants. So there's these compounds called

gingerols. Guess where they're found? Don't forget rosmarinic acid...

So for maximum nutrition we should eat colorful and flavorful foods.

 

On a per weight basis herbs and spices rule the plant kingdom, but

how many grams of cloves can people eat? And just because herbs and

spices are at the top of the antioxidant ladder doesn't necessarily

translate into clinical benefit. While U.S. scientists continued to

tinker our tax dollars away force-feeding rodents blueberry pulp,

researchers in Pakistan had the novel idea of actually studying human

beings.

 

Researchers took 30 men and 30 women-all with type II diabetes-and

gave half of them capsules containing cinnamon and half of them

placebo capsules. After 40 days, those eating just 1/4 teaspoon of

cinnamon a day not only had significantly better blood sugar control,

but their cholesterol dropped almost 30%-that's like what you see in

cholesterol-lowering drugs!

 

Why hasn't this study been plastered all over the front pages? It was

certainly published in a prestigious American medical journal.

Perhaps it's because, although the statin medications net drug

companies billions in profit every year, a 1/4 teaspoon of cinnamon

costs me less than a penny a day in the bulk bin at my local co-op.

And the research suggests that even just a pinch a day (less than 1/8

teaspoon) might have a similar effect.[6]. Are other spices as

medicinal as cinnamon? I guess we'll just have to wait for the

government of Pakistan to fund more studies.

 

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II. MAD COW DISEASE: We Have Until Midnight Tonight

 

The USDA is accepting public comments on their new mad cow

regulations (http://www.fsis.usda.gov/OA/news/2004/bseregs.htm) up

until April 12, 2004. They have received over 2600 comments so far,

and the meat industry is madder than the cows-they estimate doing

things like excluding downer-cow brains from hamburgers will cost

them $150 million a year. But that's a drop in the bucket for them.

Please everyone email the USDA at FSIS.RegulationsComments

by tonight and include the docket number " Docket 03-025IF " in the

subject line. And tell your friends to write in too!

 

One proposal is to exclude cattles' small intestines from human

consumption in the U.S. In Europe, though, all of the intestines are

excluded from human food, from the small intestine down to the

rectum,[7] in part because there is concern that the colon may also

be infectious.[8] Tell the USDA that they should follow Europe's

example and exclude all cow and calf rectum, colon, and anus from the

American food supply.

 

I've even written a limerick to signify the event:

 

We do not need meat to sustain us

And what they do to the cow is just heinous

But if you've got to be crass

You should pass on the ass

And surely not dine on the anus.

 

Another proposal is to exclude skull, brain, eyes, vertebral column,

and spinal cord from processing into meat products from cows over 30

months of age, even though infection has been found in the brains of

cattle as young as 20 months.[9] In Europe, these risky tissues are

excluded from any cow over only 12 months of age.[10] In the U.S. the

brains, eyes, and spinal cords from cattle under 30 months " can be

rendered to produce products identified as beef stock, beef extract,

and beef flavoring without any identification of the source materials

other than 'beef'... " [11] This presents an unacceptable risk to the

American public. We should follow the EU's lead and exclude these

tissues from cattle over 12 months of age-it's a no brainer!

 

The most important proposal, though, is to exclude flesh from downer

cattle from the human food supply. Critics of the downer exclusion

will no doubt argue that many downed animals are unable to get up due

to a traumatic injury and are therefore being excluded

inappropriately. In Europe, though, where 1 out of every 4 cows is

tested, hundreds of cases of Mad Cow disease are found in animals who

appear perfectly healthy.[12] In fact, even the Washington State

Holstein who had Mad Cow disease didn't appear sick. Luckily it seems

she had a birthing injury which may have left her unable to stand,

and she was thus flagged to be among the small percentage of downer

cows tested.[13] The Canadian case similarly wasn't displaying CNS

symptoms. Ask the USDA to make the downer ban permanent, exclude all

downed animals-pigs, sheep, and other livestock-and require downed

animals be humanely euthanized immediately wherever they become

downed.

 

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III. Vegan " Iron Chef " Competition!

 

This year is the 30th annual Vegetarian Summerfest to be held July

21-25, and the festive folks at NAVS, the North American Vegetarian

Society, have quite an extravaganza planned. The Summerfest has

always been a fantastic family-friendly five-day feast of

cutting-edge educational sessions (at last year's Summerfest I broke

my speaking record-13 talks in 4 days!), entertainment, and good

wholesome vegan food. But this year they are going to outdo

themselves.

 

First off, how about a vegan " Iron Chef " style cookoff? It's going to

be me and Howard Lyman versus professional Chefs Ken Bergeron (winner

of a mere 3 Gold Medals at the International Culinary Olympics) and

restaurant owner Cathi DiCoco. Looks like the two mad cowboys are

going to have to kick some Bergeron butt.

 

And if that wasn't enough, I just got word that I can finally let the

carrot out of the bag--the original vegan M.D., Dr. Michael Klaper,

is returning to Summerfest for the first time in years to unveil the

preliminary results of his ground-breaking Vegan Health Study. We're

hoping to do some joint sessions-the two Dr. Michael's tag-teaming!

It's going to be quite an event. And you heard it here first! Go to

http://vegetariansummerfest.org/ to register.

 

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IV. My Thoughts on Violence and Activism

 

Every year I facilitate discussions on violence at the national

animal rights conference (July 8-12 this summer-check out

http://ar2004.org/). As a neutral facilitator, I try to get people to

arrive at their own conclusions on the matter, but for anyone

interested in my thoughts, I was privileged enough to have an article

published in the latest issue of the best animal rights publication

currently out there, Satya. You can read the whole issue online at

http://www.satyamag.com/thismonth.html or, even better, at

http://www.satyamag.com/.html

 

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V. PERSONAL UPDATE - Back in Business

 

I am typing this on my new laptop (!) thanks to the incredible

generosity of this movement. Eight people stepped forward with

donations large and small to support my work after my emergency

appeal last month as my computer fell ill. One organization came

forward as well-the Boston Vegetarian Society-promising to chip in

whatever extra I needed to make my new laptop a reality.

 

The Boston Vegetarian Society is probably the most active vegetarian

society in the United States. Soon to celebrate their 20th

anniversary, in addition to all their monthly programs, they put on

the Boston Vegetarian Food Festival, an all-volunteer endeavor which

brings thousands of people from all over to learn about vegetarianism

and veganism in a free fun friendly setting. Mark your calendars-it's

October 23rd this year. For more info check out

http://www.bostonveg.org They are doing such good work in the world;

I'm honored they considered me part of their mission.

 

You never know how dependent you are on something until it's gone. My

laptop is my life (how sad is that?), and I got my life back. Thank

you everyone.

 

I'm sorry this issue came out so late-I was busier than usual doing

everything from debating the USDA in Alabama to speaking a half a

dozen times at the swanky Conference on World Affairs. Now that I'm

settling down to hopefully finish the vegan nutrition book this

Summer I should be able to get the newsletter out closer to the first

of the month.

 

Snail-mailing me is always a frustrating experience since I don't

really live anywhere, and it can take me months before I'm able to

get back to my mail drop addresses. But, if you don't need me to get

anything in a timely fashion, I always update my latest " mailing "

address depending on what area of the country I'm in on my website at

http://www.veganMD.org/bio.html

 

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VI. MAILBAG: " Meateaters cooking up new AIDS epidemic? "

 

One astute reader caught a story[14] a few weeks ago about Simian

Foamy Virus, another AIDS-like retrovirus infecting people eating

monkey meat in the area of Africa where blood consumption originally

caused HIV to jump species. It took 20 years for HIV to incubate in

the human population before it's genetic material had a chance to

mutate into AIDS. Is Simian Foamy Virus the next AIDS? We should know

in a few decades.

 

Providing economic alternatives to help people move away from hunting

and eating gorillas, monkeys and chimps would not only help preserve

these endangered species, but development efforts might also reduce

the risk that ongoing cross-species transmission of retroviruses

could spark future epidemics similar to AIDS.

 

Meanwhile, bird flu continues to threaten. A few weeks ago the-General of the World Health Organization got on TV and

warned that another influenza pandemic was inevitable.[15] Why? As a

virologist at the University of Ottawa explained, " If you get a virus

into a high-density poultry operation and give it a period of time,

generally a year or so, then you turn that virus into a highly

virulent virus. That's what always happens... You have to say that

high intensity chicken rearing is a perfect environment for

generating virulent avian flu virus. " [16]

 

Quoting the WHO Director-General, " We know another [human] pandemic

is inevitable, " he said. " It is coming. " [17]

 

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REFERENCES:

(Full text of specific articles available by emailing

article-request)

[1] Medical hypotheses 19(1986):169.

[2] Neuroepidemiology 11(1992):304.

[3] Annals of Neurology 49(1997):55.

[4] Journal of Immunology 172(2004):661.

[5] Archives of Ophthalmology 171:1728.

[6] Diabetes Care 26(12):3215.

[7] Official Journal of the European Communities. Commission Decision

of 27 December 2000.

http://europa.eu.int/comm/food/fs/bse/bse23_en.pdf

[8] European Scientific Steering Committee. Listing of Specified Risk

Materials. http://europa.eu.int/comm/food/fs/sc/ssc/out22_en.pdf.

[9] http://www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/bse/bse-statistics/bse/yng-old.html

[10] Official Journal of the European Communities. Commission

Decision of 27 December 2000.

http://europa.eu.int/comm/food/fs/bse/bse23_en.pdf

[11] Federal Register. Docket No. 03-038IF.

http://www.fsis.usda.gov/OPPDE/rdad/FRPubs/03-038IF.htm

[12] European Commission. BSE Cases in Cattle.

http://europa.eu.int/comm/food/fs/bse/testing/bse_12evol09-03_en.pdf

[13] December 2003. http://www.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0312/29/ltm.09.html

[14] The Times (London) March 19, 2004.

[15] BBC News March 18, 2004.

[16] Canadian Press April 07, 2004.

[17] BBC News March 18, 2004.

 

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If anyone missed previous months, check out my newsletter archive at

http://www.veganMD.org/newsletters.html

 

Until next month,

peace, love, and broccoli,

Michael

 

 

--

(206) 312-8640

mhg1

http://www.veganMD.org

 

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