Smart choices

"People who eat a lot of red meat and processed meats have a higher risk of several types of cancer, including lung cancer and colorectal cancer, U.S. researchers reported on Monday."





I often times wonder how these studies are done. In todays fast-paced world, the Big Mac is a fast lunch for those on the go. Processed meat, i.e. lunch meat, wrap it up, put it in a box and go. These meats, if thats what you want to call them, are the primary choices for the average working-class person. There is no time out on the construction site to peel an orange or eat grapes. For years my father ate his bologna sandwich and a pack of cheese crackers. He would wash it down with a can of Diet Rite. He died a miserable death at the age of 56 of cancer.




As with all studies and research data, I am sure there is an margin of error of some kind. As much as I would like to poke fun at or belittle this story I can't. There were a ton of factors leading to my father's battle with cancer; smoking, the meat thing, Vietnam, alcohol, his job (electrician PCBs) and his Diet Rite. Artificial sweeteners have been linked to cancer also. There is no one thing we could blame for his illness, not that it would have made a difference.

Cancer seems to be working on replacing heart disease as the #1 killer of humans. There is a crazy amount of information out there on diet and exercise, almost too much. It is hard to sort through the lies and truths. From what I can tell, and I am no dietitian, fruit, yes fruit might be our saving grace.



One study of 183,518 men and women suggests that a diet high in flavonol-rich apples, berries, kale, and broccoli may help cut the risk of pancreatic cancer, especially in smokers.

I have changed the way I eat, I make sure I get a serving of fruit with every meal. Veggies get a greater area of my dinner plate than meat now. With all of these new lunch containers, dinner left overs make it to my lunch box not bologna. It is worth the extra effort to try and change the way you eat, if not for yourself for your family.

My dad was not a fat lazy slob, he was a good man and died way before his time. He deserved much better than six months of pain and agony. A veteran, great father and a wonderful husband to my mother. Cancer was not a good end for such a wonderful man.



Posted by Firefighter