Health Treats - Food For Thought

Food For Thought

How Health Friendly are your favorite foods?

Looking forward to a night out with beer and pizza, and some guilt pangs later? Check this to find out about how food affects your health...

Pizza

Pros - Who would have thought pizza could be good for you? Italian researchers claim eating pizza every week could reduce you risk of developing esophageal cancer by 59 percent and colon cancer by 26 percent. The secret, they say is the tomato sauce, which contains anti cancer chemical lycopene.

Cons - Pizzas are usually high in saturated fat and calories. Meat stuffed crust pizza could set you back 950 calories and 67g of fat. Most are also high in salt.

Best Bet - Critics of the pizza study claim it could be more to do with the mediteranian diet in general which includes olive oil, fruit, veg and very few processed foods. But there is no reason why pizza lovers shouldn't indulge themselves now and then - just share one with a friend, ask for extra vegetable toppings instead of extra cheese and skip the garlic bread.

Fish

Pros - Eating fish - especially oily fish such as mackerel, salmon and sardines - is known to protect against heart disease. It may also prevent strokes, asthma, boost mental health, ease arthritis and psoriasis and even reduce the risk of premature birth.

Cons - Farmed salmon contains cancer causing toxins. Various kinds of fish also contain high levels of mercury.

Best Bet - Don't overdo it. Two portions of fish a week, one of which should be oily fish, is good. If you're worried about toxins in salmon, switch to the non farmed, organic variety.

Beer

Pros - Portuguese scientists say that beer could help slow the growth of breast cancer cells. Other studies suggest it protects against osteoporosis and kidney stones, and reduces cholesterol.

Cons - In addition to piling on weight and raising blood pressure, US scientists found a link between beet and gout, while the Danes claim drinking more than 14 units a week may increase risk of rectal cancer.

Best Bet - Don't shun it altogether, especially if you're a man over 40 or a post menopausal woman, as it may protect against heart disease. But do stick to the medical guidelines of 14 units per week for women and 21 for men.

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