No smoking, light drinking good for health

[FarCenter]

The Yomiuri Shimbun http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/national/20090223TDY02304.htm

Refraining from smoking and consuming small quantities of alcohol work more effectively than weight loss to prevent cancer and heart disease, according to recent research by a Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry study group. The group, led by Shoichiro Tsugane, chief of the National Cancer Center's Epidemiology and Prevention Division, studied about 96,000 people aged 40 to 69 over a period ranging from 10 to 13 years. The researchers monitored three lifestyle-related factors--smoking, drinking and obesity--and studied their links to cancer and circulatory diseases, including those of the heart.

According to the research, refraining from smoking and consuming small amounts of alcohol helped prevent cancer, heart disease and other diseases at every age. But improving body-mass index did not have the same effects. BMI is calculated by dividing a person's weight in kilograms by their height in meters squared. The national benchmark BMI for women and men is 22.

The study found that nonsmoking men who occasionally imbibe alcohol and have a BMI ranging between 25 and 27 have the highest rate of avoiding cancer or circulatory diseases over the 10-year study period.

In contrast, men who on a daily basis smoked more than 40 cigarettes and drank alcohol equivalent to more than two go of sake (360 milliliters) and had a BMI of 30 or higher had the highest levels of cancer, circulatory disease and other diseases.

Researchers found during the 10-year study period that men aged 50-54 in the most unhealthy group had greater risk of developing cancer and circulatory diseases--2.8 times and 4.8 times higher, respectively--than men in the most healthy group in the same age bracket.

[Odin2005]

1. Don't forget the occasional joint!

:evilgrin:

[davidwparker]

2. Define "small amounts of alcohol." The only place I've seen a recommendation

was in the South Beach diet. Men could have two glasses of red wine a day.

I thought that was a lot, but hey ...

Anybody here a doctor or nurse who can shed some light?

I've found wine to be a fantastic substitute for Coke (the beverage).

[virgogal]

3. They used men who smoked more than 40 cigs a day? Quite a study!

Ridiculous.

[spanone]

5. i was a 2-pack a day addict for a long time

[catnhatnh]

4. GOOD! Tonight I'm working on those small amounts of alcohol...

I owe my body from birth to age 14....