European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - November 4, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse Observations a n healthy scepticism Best approach to latest food studies Janet do Agostino staff writer pm giving up a a healthy eating. As the newspapers medical writer in be tried to set an example for my less health conscious colleagues by doing what the so called experts advise. I eat cereals fruits and vegetables for their vitamins and fiber drink no More than two cups of Coffee a Day unless it is decaffeinated and of course have made fat an outlaw in my Kitchen. In be been so successful i can to even eat a Candy bar at my desk without someone staring in disbelief. But i done to care anymore. The results of two new studies into caffeine and cholesterol have me ready to head for the nearest Mcdonald so and one that Isnit frying its French Fries in vegetable Oil. A study published in the hallowed new England journal of Medicine revealed that caffeine once thought to increase the risk of heart trouble is harmless. Instead a High intake of decaffeinated Coffee was fingered As the trouble maker. So who is doing the right thing the editor who is never without a cup of Strong Coffee nearby or my colleague who switched to decaffeinated cappucino another study said that people who Are successful in lowering their cholesterol Levels Are More Likely to die a violent death from accidents suicides or murders. One possible explanation is that people find it a chronically frustrating to give up the food they like and this makes them More Apt to die tragically a the newspaper Story said. My husband happily waved that article in front of my face As he headed for a Kentucky Fried Chicken. I did no to Stop him. Maybe i should let him decide if he wants to die of a heart attack or a gunshot wound. I can to be the Only one who is confused and frustrated by All this. Open the newspaper one Day and fiber is the cure All for High cholesterol. The next Day the stuff is As useless As eating sawdust. But turn around again and fiber has been Given a reprieve. Now the debate is Over what kind of fiber is Best to use a water soluble or water insoluble a whatever that Means. If that a not bad enough there is also confusion Over whether apples Are covered with a Poison chemical if bottled water is indeed any purer than tap water and if there is harm in eating hormone injected beef. I wont even get into the controversy Over which Type of cooking Oil is most beneficial for a Low fat diet. Who Are you supposed to believe my guess is that a lot of folks Are just saying to Heck with it All and eating and drinking any Damn thing they please. I believe that a the harm done when the Public is overloaded with conflicting information. Those who resisted making changes in the Way they live can choose the study they want to justify their harmful habits. People who want to be healthier feel deceived when they read they May have made useless changes in their diets not to mention they May be wasting Money on products that done to live up to their advertised health benefits. Perhaps the Public would be better served if the scientific Community did not release certain studies until the findings were More definitive. Maybe the Media should be More selective in the stories they choose to publish. Researchers in the Coffee Story admitted that the link Between decaf and heart trouble is statistically weak and it was too soon to conclude that this kind of Coffee is harmful. The same with the recent cholesterol findings. The experts cautioned against reverting to cheeseburgers Fries and ice Cream because the discovery was so difficult to understand. So Why bother to Tell us done to we have enough to worry about what with air pollution the destruction of the rain forests and a potential War in the Mideast As for myself ill choose the Middle of the Road. In be been involved with health issues too Long to convert to a High fat sugar Laden caffeine and alcohol saturated diet. However maybe ill indulge in a Side of Fries or a Candy bar now and then without feeling guilty. And i think ill get rid of that bag of decaf. It never tasted As Good As the real stuff anyway. Feedback what is the first thing you read when you open a newspaper Richard Wydler custodian at Kazara club Vogel Weh housing area Kaiserslautern Germany the sports Page because in a from san Francisco and in a a 49er fan and its football season. Alyssa Wakely High school family member living in Munich Germany Ann Landers and the comics. I like the funnies and i think its neat to read about other Peoples problems. Pfc. Mike Ferguson he co 1st in 41st inf 2nd army div fwd Karlstedt Germany in Man infantryman so lately its been the front Section stories about the Gulf. I usually read the front Page because that a where the main stories Are. Lotrice Harris cafes Woodland employee Karlstedt Germany i read the news Section first because i like to get the latest on what a going on in the world. I prefer the print Media because it gives More depth to the stories. Spec. Jose Perez 38th signal in Neu Ulm Germany comics. I think its pretty funny How they can make fun about what a happening in the world a like compiled by stars and stripes staff november 4,1990 sunday to plus c Page 3
