Eat to live, not live to eat

Most of the prevailing chronic diseases in the world have an important nutritional component by directly causing a specific disease, enhancing the risk through phenomena of promotion, exerting a beneficial effect in decreasing risk, or preventing the disease. international studies in geographic pathology have shown that a given disease may have vastly different incidence and mortality as a function of residence. Laboratory research in animal models can reproduce fairly accurately what is learned through international research and provide the basis for examining relevant hypotheses and, more importantly, proposed mechanisms of action. Validation of these approaches can be the basis for public-health recommendations and health-promotion activities. Through such techniques, it has been found that regular intake of foods with saturated Fats such as meat and certain dairy products raise the risk of coronary heart disease. The total mixed-fat intake is associated with a higher incidence of the nutritionally linked cancers, specifically cancer of the postmenopausal breast, distal colon, prostate, pancreas, ovary, and endometrium. The associated genotoxic carcinogens for several of these cancers are heterocyclic amines, which also play a role in heart-disease causation, and these are produced during the broiling and frying of creatinine-containing foods such as meats. Monounsaturated oils such as olive or canola oil are low-risk fats as shown in animal models and through the observation that the incidence of specific diseases is lower in the Mediterranean region, where such oils are customarily used. High salt intake is associated with high blood pressure and with stomach cancer, especially with inadequate intake of potassium from fruits and vegetables and of calcium from certain vegetables and low-fat dairy products. Vegetables, fruits, and soy products are rich in antioxidants that are essential to lower disease risk stemming from reactive oxygen systems in the body. Green and black teas are excellent 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.