Google's News feature is cool. Not only did I get the cannibal scoop, but I like getting the headlines-by-topic. Here's what I found in Health this morning:
Moderate Alcohol Consumption Linked To Brain Shrinkage
Red Wine May Protect Against Breast Cancer
Shrunken brain, breast cancer. What to do, what to do...
Okay, lest anyone take me seriously here, I do not base my eating and drink habits on the health story of the day, especially on the popular-press-reporting of the health story of the day. I often follow up by reading the actual medical journal articles (since I have the luxury of a medical library here at work), but even then no one study has ever made me do or not do something.
I just happened to be amused by the juxtaposition of those two headlines.
Incidentally, there is a really good article, How to Understand and Interpret Food and Health-Related Scientific Studies, on the International Food Information Council Foundation web page.
I've just discovered IFIC. It looks to be industry-supported, with "partners" in academia, government, and medical associations. They say they don't "lobby for legislative or regulatory activities."
Maybe this comes from growing up so close to the Beltway, but I assume everybody is lobbying for something somehow. Not that I have a problem with that, I just like to know whose message I'm reading. As I said, I was impressed by the article on how to read studies, and I'll look at IFIC's stuff in more depth soon...that might be a good project for a snowy Saturday morning, in fact.
If I don't shrink my brain too much tonight.
UPDATE: I've read through several of the press releases and educational materials...the spin is definitely agribusiness and big food production. Not that that negates the information (some of which I found to be a bit on the obvious side, but I do read a lot of health- and nutrition-related information)...but like I said, you gotta know who's paid the bills, since there is no Center for Thoughtful and Reasonable Analysis of All Available Data with Appropriate Advisories on the Limitations of Said Data for Informed and Responsible Individuals Who Are Willing to Make Decisions and Accept the Consequences. And heck, even if there was, there'd be spin.
Posted by Nic at December 5, 2003 11:34 AM | TrackBackSweetie, the headline said 'moderate' consumption leads to brain shrinkage. Obviously, we need to start having a bottle of wine each, every night, instead of just a glass or so.
Posted by: Victor at December 5, 2003 12:43 PM