mark@rochester.UUCP (Mark Kahrs) (08/15/83)
From: Mark Kahrs <mark> <Dangerous flame - watch out!> It seems to me that the last collection of news articles have violated the spirit in which net.med was founded - it has descended into the realm of psuedo-science and hearsay. This all began with an anecdote about caffeine and hearts. I have no reason to dispute this story and in fact, was interested. However, I think that everyone should keep in mind that this report is exactly one thing: an anecdote, not a statement of general principle. I think that it's obvious that there's a connection between nutrition and health - and the surgeon general seems to agree. If you're REALLY interested in good health, I think you ALL know what to do (1) Cut out saturated fats (2) Eat more ruffage (3) Cut down on drugs: alcohol, tobacco and caffeine. (4) Cut down on sugars (cuts down on dental caries) Makes sense, doesn't it? What DOESN'T make sense are the people who advocate removing something from your diet without some good scientific studies. (Like the people who claim brown sugar is better for you than white sugar - pure poppycock!). And while we're being skeptical... The more recent articles have suggested that your local health food store has the latest (and greatest) on how to run your life nutritionally. This can only be the latest in great American trends toward quackery and pseudo-medicine. If you really want to learn something about nutrition, why don't you read Lenninger? Or is this too mainstream? In conclusion, I'd like to remind everyone of my favorite anecdote about food fadism - Adele Davis died of some form of cancer. Trying to eat wisely and sensibly in Rochester, NY... Mark. p.s. Flames to me, if you must.