Eating The 'Polymeal' Cuts Heart Disease By 76%

[Guest guest]

So THAT'S why I always prefer dark chocolate...

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2004/12/041217104020.htm

Scientists Discover Recipe For Life: Eating The 'Polymeal' Cuts Heart Disease By

76%

Scientists in this week's Christmas issue of the BMJ have discovered the

'Polymeal', a set of ingredients which cuts the risk of heart (cardiovascular)

disease by 76% and significantly increases life expectancy.

Results of dining on the Polymeal were most dramatic for men, who were projected

to live on average 6.6 years longer in total than those not eating the meal. Men

will also live for nine years longer without succumbing to heart disease, and

those that do will suffer it for less years of their lives.

Women eating the Polymeal will also live significantly longer, nearly five years

more than women not eating the meal. They will also put off the onset of heart

disease for eight years longer.

The Polymeal includes wine, fish, dark chocolate, fruits and vegetables, almonds

and garlic, eaten on a daily basis (but four times a week for fish). Scientists

reviewed the medical literature on how much each ingredient cuts heart disease,

blood pressure or cholesterol levels by varying amounts, (150ml wine daily for

instance reduces heart disease by 32%) and worked out the combined effect of the

ingredients. They then calculated the potential effect across an ongoing study

of American adults.

The findings follow research last year (2003) into a 'Polypill', a combination

of drugs taken in one dose which was designed to reduce heart disease by more

than 80%. The authors of the Polymeal study were searching for a

non-pharmaceutical alternative.

In Western society we are all at risk from the causes of cardiovascular disease,

say the authors, and the diseases that accompany it. Following the Polymeal

promises to be an effective, non-pharmacological, safe and tasty means to

increasing life expectancy and reducing heart disease across the population,

they conclude.

[Guest guest]

Now this sounds like a dietary approach that I could thrive on! I also

found a site that provides polymeal recipes and menus. Take a look at

http://bmj.bmjjournals.com/cgi/eletters/329/7480/0-f

Yum yum!

Best regards,

Celeste

Dave N. wrote:

> http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2004/12/041217104020.htm

>

> Scientists Discover Recipe For Life: Eating The 'Polymeal' Cuts

Heart Disease By

> 76%

> Scientists in this week's Christmas issue of the BMJ have discovered the

> 'Polymeal', a set of ingredients which cuts the risk of heart

(cardiovascular)

> disease by 76% and significantly increases life expectancy.

>

> Results of dining on the Polymeal were most dramatic for men, who

were projected

> to live on average 6.6 years longer in total than those not eating

the meal. Men

> will also live for nine years longer without succumbing to heart

disease, and

> those that do will suffer it for less years of their lives.

> Women eating the Polymeal will also live significantly longer,

nearly five years

> more than women not eating the meal. They will also put off the

onset of heart

> disease for eight years longer.

>

> The Polymeal includes wine, fish, dark chocolate, fruits and

vegetables, almonds

> and garlic, eaten on a daily basis (but four times a week for fish).

Scientists

> reviewed the medical literature on how much each ingredient cuts

heart disease,

> blood pressure or cholesterol levels by varying amounts, (150ml wine

daily for

> instance reduces heart disease by 32%) and worked out the combined

effect of the

> ingredients. They then calculated the potential effect across an

ongoing study

> of American adults.

>

> The findings follow research last year (2003) into a 'Polypill', a

combination

> of drugs taken in one dose which was designed to reduce heart

disease by more

> than 80%. The authors of the Polymeal study were searching for a

> non-pharmaceutical alternative.

>

> In Western society we are all at risk from the causes of

cardiovascular disease,

> say the authors, and the diseases that accompany it. Following the

Polymeal

> promises to be an effective, non-pharmacological, safe and tasty

means to

> increasing life expectancy and reducing heart disease across the

population,

> they conclude.

[Guest guest]

Every Christmas the BMJ publishes a Tongue in Cheek article. This is a good

one.

Re: Eating The 'Polymeal' Cuts Heart Disease By 76%

Now this sounds like a dietary approach that I could thrive on! I also

found a site that provides polymeal recipes and menus. Take a look at

http://bmj.bmjjournals.com/cgi/eletters/329/7480/0-f

Yum yum!

Best regards,

Celeste

Dave N. wrote:

> http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2004/12/041217104020.htm

>

> Scientists Discover Recipe For Life: Eating The 'Polymeal' Cuts

Heart Disease By

> 76%

> Scientists in this week's Christmas issue of the BMJ have discovered the

> 'Polymeal', a set of ingredients which cuts the risk of heart

(cardiovascular)

> disease by 76% and significantly increases life expectancy.

>

> Results of dining on the Polymeal were most dramatic for men, who

were projected

> to live on average 6.6 years longer in total than those not eating

the meal. Men

> will also live for nine years longer without succumbing to heart

disease, and

> those that do will suffer it for less years of their lives.

> Women eating the Polymeal will also live significantly longer,

nearly five years

> more than women not eating the meal. They will also put off the

onset of heart

> disease for eight years longer.

>

> The Polymeal includes wine, fish, dark chocolate, fruits and

vegetables, almonds

> and garlic, eaten on a daily basis (but four times a week for fish).

Scientists

> reviewed the medical literature on how much each ingredient cuts

heart disease,

> blood pressure or cholesterol levels by varying amounts, (150ml wine

daily for

> instance reduces heart disease by 32%) and worked out the combined

effect of the

> ingredients. They then calculated the potential effect across an

ongoing study

> of American adults.

>

> The findings follow research last year (2003) into a 'Polypill', a

combination

> of drugs taken in one dose which was designed to reduce heart

disease by more

> than 80%. The authors of the Polymeal study were searching for a

> non-pharmaceutical alternative.

>

> In Western society we are all at risk from the causes of

cardiovascular disease,

> say the authors, and the diseases that accompany it. Following the

Polymeal

> promises to be an effective, non-pharmacological, safe and tasty

means to

> increasing life expectancy and reducing heart disease across the

population,

> they conclude.

Note: This forum is for discussion of health related subjects but under no

circumstances should any information published here be considered a

substitute for personal medical advice from a qualified physician. -the

owner

[Guest guest]

This was not a tongue-in-cheek article, though. This is the real deal.

(It's OK, Sharon. I know you're really just kidding.)

Additionally, one of the polymeal ingredients (red wine) has been

found to reduce the incidence of periodontal disease in seniors (thus

further reducing the risk of heart disease).

And on the news this morning I heard of a recent study that showed

that the regular consumption of whole grains also reduced the

incidence of periodontal disease by 25% in the test group. I have been

looking for the study, but have not found it yet. I will post it when

I do.

Best regards,

Celeste

Sharon wrote:

> Every Christmas the BMJ publishes a Tongue in Cheek article. This is

a good

> one.

>

> Dave N. wrote:

> > http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2004/12/041217104020.htm

> >

> > Scientists Discover Recipe For Life: Eating The 'Polymeal' Cuts

> Heart Disease By

> > 76%

> > Scientists in this week's Christmas issue of the BMJ have

discovered the

> > 'Polymeal', a set of ingredients which cuts the risk of heart

> (cardiovascular)

> > disease by 76% and significantly increases life expectancy.

> >

> > Results of dining on the Polymeal were most dramatic for men, who

> were projected

> > to live on average 6.6 years longer in total than those not eating

> the meal. Men

> > will also live for nine years longer without succumbing to heart

> disease, and

> > those that do will suffer it for less years of their lives.

> > Women eating the Polymeal will also live significantly longer,

> nearly five years

> > more than women not eating the meal. They will also put off the

> onset of heart

> > disease for eight years longer.

> >

> > The Polymeal includes wine, fish, dark chocolate, fruits and

> vegetables, almonds

> > and garlic, eaten on a daily basis (but four times a week for fish).

> Scientists

> > reviewed the medical literature on how much each ingredient cuts

> heart disease,

> > blood pressure or cholesterol levels by varying amounts, (150ml wine

> daily for

> > instance reduces heart disease by 32%) and worked out the combined

> effect of the

> > ingredients. They then calculated the potential effect across an

> ongoing study

> > of American adults.

> >

> > The findings follow research last year (2003) into a 'Polypill', a

> combination

> > of drugs taken in one dose which was designed to reduce heart

> disease by more

> > than 80%. The authors of the Polymeal study were searching for a

> > non-pharmaceutical alternative.

> >

> > In Western society we are all at risk from the causes of

> cardiovascular disease,

> > say the authors, and the diseases that accompany it. Following the

> Polymeal

> > promises to be an effective, non-pharmacological, safe and tasty

> means to

> > increasing life expectancy and reducing heart disease across the

> population,

> > they conclude.

[Guest guest]

It's just another educated guess, nothing more, a point that is

made by the assumptions the authors had to include as data and

the gulf between actual supportive data and the contention that

applying this theory WILL cut heart disease by 76%?

Here, a quote, " Concerns might be raised about the validity of

the source evidence and the multiplicative model used to

calculate effects of the ingredients of the Polymeal. However,

these are shared by the Polypill analyses, as we used a similar

approach. None the less, a greater possibility of interaction

exists between dietary factors as less information is available

about underlying mechanisms of action. This might result in an

overestimation of the effect of the Polymeal. "

The abstract reads that its a postulate based on figures from

other studies about risk factors. Similarly, the longevity figure

is a projection based on the theory. Because no study has been

done that might prove the theory, it's pretty bold to come up

with a definite figure based on what they have.

The researchers haven't even properly addressed inflammatory oil

intake or several age related disease factors. For example the

following quote belies their less than rudimentary grasp of the

inflammatory effect of omega-6 oils: " Some other ingredients

could be added to the Polymeal (olive oil, echium oil, soya oil,

soya beans, tomatoes, oat bran, cereals, nuts, tea, chickpeas,

and so on), but this will only improve its effect on

cardiovascular disease risk reduction. "

Further, I note the authors recommendation that statin drugs be

added to fortified flour, though statins are known to cause

wasting of the very organ the authors are trying to protect.

Clearly they don't know the first thing about cholesterol's

relationship to cardiac risk: There isn't one. Here's the quote:

" For those people earnestly seeking to prevent cardiovascular

disease, the Polypill can be combined with the Polymeal. The

fortification of flour with Polypill ingredients (a statin, two

antihypertensive drugs instead of three, folic acid, and aspirin)

certainly merits further study. " Does it now?

I think the comments beg the question, " is this simply a lark or

a study aimed at discovering what can get published as

scientific? " , a question even made more understandable

considering their final sentence, " Ethical approval: Not needed

as this was a secondary data analysis. " Hoo boy!

Someone's yanking our chain.

Duncan

[Guest guest]

> " Sharon " <sharon-anderson@...> wrote:

>

> Every Christmas the BMJ publishes a Tongue in Cheek article. This is

a good

> one.

Thanks for verifying that, Sharon; I thought it sounded a like a

tongue in cheek article but I didn't know the journals printed them.

Duncan

[Guest guest]

Sharon did not verify anything. All she offered was her own joking

opinion.

Best regards,

Celeste

Duncan Crow wrote:

> Thanks for verifying that, Sharon; I thought it sounded a like a

> tongue in cheek article but I didn't know the journals printed them.

>

> Sharon wrote:

> > Every Christmas the BMJ publishes a Tongue in Cheek article. This is

> a good

> > one.