Fiber Prevents Cancer?

“Does dietary fiber really lower your risk of colorectal cancer?”

For years, practitioners of “natural” medicine have been telling us that a diet high in fiber, especially insoluble fiber, can significantly lower the risk of colorectal cancers. The fact is, most of the research doesn’t support this claim. A study published in the May 2007 issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found no correlation between total dietary fiber intake and colorectal cancer. This study of nearly 300,000 men and nearly 200,000 women confirms the finding of numerous studies which have also found minimum, if any, reduction of cancer risks associated with high-fiber diets.

The Role of Red Meat in Colon Cancer

What can we learn from this mountain of (sometimes conflicting) information? Whether fiber is ultimately found beneficial or not, one point does stand out in nearly every study looking at colorectal cancer and diet. Diets high in red meat and saturated fat are directly associated with high rates of cancer. Perhaps that’s the real answer to lowering your risk of colorectal cancer—lowering your intake of meat and fat.

“Perhaps the real answer lies not with fiber but with red meat.” 

Around 100,000 Americans will be diagnosed with colorectal cancer this year, making cancers of the colon and rectum the fourth most commonly diagnosed cancers and the second leading cause of death in the United States. If you would like more information about colorectal cancer, talk to your primary care physican. Only your doctor can accurately evaluate your risk of colorectal cancer and help you develop a plan to minimize your risk..

References:

National Heart Lung and Blood Institute. (1999). The CARDIA Study. (Statement from Dr. Claude Lenfant, Director).

Doyle, V. (2007). Nutrition and colorectal cancer risk: a literature review.

FDA Regulations

“Is it true the new FDA laws can make it illegal to sell oranges as health food?”

The 2007 FDA regulations regarding the manufacturing and sale of herbal supplements is on a lot of our minds lately. But despite the propaganda-laden spiels you’ll see on some “natural” web sites, the new regulations aren’t going to change things all that much. Here’s why:

Contrary to what many people believe, the FDA already regulates the sale and marketing of herbal supplements. This new policy won’t change that. It simply clarifies the rules a little more.

Will The FDA Put Herbs Stores Out Of Business?

These new policies absolutely do not apply to retail stores. The idea that the FDA is going to rush in and confiscate a store’s entire inventory of everything from herbal supplements to fresh vegetables is a scare-mongering lie spread to undermine consumer confidence in the various regulatory agencies.

Nor will these new regulations change the way legitimate practitioners of herbal medicine work. The only people who should be worried are those making unproven claims about herbs and other natural therapies. But that’s already illegal, anyway.

Legitimate Herbal Experts Support These New Regs

The American Botanical Council, the single largest and most legitimate resource for herbal information in this country has this to say, “The new rules will probably have minimal impact on many responsible and foresighted manufacturers of herbs and other dietary supplements.”

My Final Word

In this industry (herbal medicine) it’s considered trendy to bash the government, mainstream medicine, science and anyone else who plays by the rules. But if herbal medicine is ever going to gain the trust of the American public, is HAS to distance itself from the snake-oil salesmen of decades past and the charlatans of late-night infomercials.

If nothing else, these new FDA regulations for herbal and dietary supplements are a big step in the right direction.

References:

American Botanical Council. (2007). FDA Publishes Final GMP Rules for Dietary Supplements. New Rules Offer Flexibility; Not As Stringent as Expected.

US Food and Drug Administration. (2007). FDA issues dietary supplements final rule.

Rosemary Oil & Abortion

“Is it true that using rosemary oil can cause a miscarriage?”

This one of the most common myths in all of aromatherapy and one that’s been repeated and repeated in every “DIY” aromatherapy book I can think of. Fortunately, it doesn’t seem to hold up to scientific scrutiny.

“Think about it for a moment. How can just smelling rosemary cause a miscarriage if eating and gardening with rosemary are considered perfectly safe? It just doesn’t make sense, does it?”

If you’ll think about this for a moment, it will make perfect sense to you. Aromatherapy books are full of warnings for pregnant women yet nutritional, gardening and recipe books never mention any warnings associated with rosemary. Since we know that rosemary is readily absorbed through both the skin and the digestive tract, doesn’t it seem odd that working around the essential oil is considered highly dangerous while eating, cooking with or gardening around rosemary isn’t?

The fact is, I can’t find a single scientific study that proves that rosemary oil poses a miscarriage danger. I did find a very interesting study from Brazil that suggests that rosemary may pose a very real risk to not-yet-implanted embryos. This study was by no means conclusive but it does suggest that exposure to rosemary extracts may slightly lower the implantation rate of fertilized embryos. However, the study’s authors were very explicit in their belief that rosemary poses no known risk to already-implanted embryos.

Does This Mean That Rosemary Is Safe For Pregnant Women?

Obviously, only your obstetrician is qualified to give you advice about your pregnancy. If you have any questions about the safety of any herbal product or its potential effect on your unborn child, talk to a qualified health care professional for the information that fits your unique situation.

References:

Lemonica, I., et al. (1996). Study of the embryotoxic effects of an extract of rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L.).