By Lubna Abdel-Aziz An air of confusion pervades every aspect of our lives. Should it not at least stay out of our kitchens! Too many mixed messages from the scientific/ medical communities border on the absurd, leaving us lost and baffled. We have two classes of scientists who are at each other's throats constantly; we are ultimately left to decide for ourselves, which is what we would have done in the first place, without their intervention.. Have you wondered lately if eggs are good for us, or bad? Is butter better than margarine, or vice-versa? What about milk, Nature's perfect food? Is there disagreement about that too? No, not milk! It is delicious, nutritious and beneficial to children of all ages. Those are given truths, are they not? only until new researches come along, and they keep coming along. Consider the case of salt. First it was good for you then it was bad for you, now, it is good for you again. How can a scientific fact be so easily discarded? What are we poor mortals to do? Dr Wanda Howell, professor of nutritional sciences at the University of Arizona analyzed over 100 cholesterol studies for us, and concluded that there is no life for man without cholesterol. What a comforting revelation! Cholesterol is an essential component of every cell membrane; that is why our bodies produce most of the cholesterol which probably ends up in our bloodstream. Since cholesterol clogs the arteries causing heart disease, the no 1 killer, then we should avoid eggs that are loaded with cholesterol. No, says Dr. Andrew Rochford who conducted his own high-egg diet experiment. After feeding his patients 18 eggs a day for 18 days, their cholesterol levels were lower than when they first started. So, go ahead, eat 18 eggs a day if you wish, and blame all the heart attacks on saturated fats. Having removed butter and replaced it with margarine, for the last half century, now we discover that that was a big mistake. Margarine contains trans-fatty acids that raise LDL levels, which is the "bad" cholesterol. It also contains very toxic contaminants such as nickel and cadmium, causing lung cancer, kidney disease, depression, artero- sclerosis, high blood-pressure and malignancy. Moreover, were it not for the artificial colouring, it would look like bicycle grease. In short, margarine is a disaster and a human killer, so look for the butter dish and save your life with all its excellent fat soluble vitamins, such as A D E and K, and absolutely no toxic metals. Surely milk is off-bounds to critics, or is it? Dr. Julian Whitaker, editor of "Healthy Healing", has concluded from several studies that cows' milk is good for calves, but not for humans. Milk and other dairy products weaken the bones and accelerate osteoporosis. What? That's right. Studies have found that high consumption of milk causes the very condition it is supposed to prevent. So, the ultimate health drink is just a myth? Is there nothing sacred anymore? Salt was fingered by the British government as harmful, if intake exceeds six grams a day. Salt-shakers were promptly removed, but soon after three European studies contradicted the government's warning. The Netherland University's Medical Centre found there was no material variation to the risk of mortality. A Rotterdam study involving 8000 people in their 50s and above, concluded that 16 grams of sodium cause no significant effect on blood pressure. Professor Markus Mohaupt of Bern, Switzerland, found that pregnant women who took less than 20 grams a day resulted in still births. In Germany, cardiovascular specialist, Professor Ingo F. Sgen concluded that a low-salt diet puts the elderly at risk, resulting in a nervous disposition, hallucinations, muscle cramps and hip fractures. Naturally, every theory has its detractors, and back in Britain Dr. Graham MacGregor of St. George's Hospital, London, warns that salt is responsible for many strokes and heart attacks. Take your pick! If " confusion now hath made its masterpiece", what say you about proteins and carbohydrates? Which is it we should stuff ourselves with? I forget. The case is rather complex, because there are the good carbs and the bad carbs. Complex carbs are the good carbs, and they are your whole grains, starchy vegetables and beans. Bad carbs are the non-complex or simple carbs, such as white sugar and flour; but is not fresh fruit a simple carb? Filled with enzymes, vitamins, minerals and fibre, are we to avoid fruits? No. because there are bad carbs and bad carbs, and then there are the good carbs that turned bad, like refined whole grain, corn and rice. Here comes the protein dilemma. If fats are bad, and carbs are suspect, protein is definitely safe. They build muscle and collagen, enzymes and hormones, and our general immunity. According to Harvard's Lillian Cheung, protein is rich in fat calories, and too much protein can be too much. The good fat is Omega 3 fatty acids found primarily in fish, but do not go overboard because of the fat. Explain that to the Alaskans who have a very high cholesterol, high fat diet, and very little heart disease. Are we right back where we started? Scientists' conflicting studies banish all common sense, leaving us to find it on our own . Food is one of the joys of mankind and ultimately, each one is responsible for his/her body and destiny. Never depend on anyone except yourself. -- Jean de la Fontaine (1621-1695)
