Good news for Cinnabon sales — junk science for the rest of us. Continue reading
Category Archives: Magical food
Magical Food: Soy and tomato combo may be effective in preventing prostate cancer
This is junk science because… Continue reading
Posted in Magical food
Magical Food: Coffee (plus tamoxifen) prevents return of breast cancer
“One theory we are working with is that coffee ‘activates’ Tamoxifen and makes it more efficient.” Continue reading
Posted in Magical food
Magical Food: Eating fish associated with lower risk of dying among older adults
Even if the statistical association is true (and it is weak), this is probably a socio-economic effect. Continue reading
Posted in Magical food
Magical Food: Does Greek coffee hold the key to a longer life?
Only 0.1% of Europeans live to be over 90, yet on the Greek island of Ikaria, the figure is 1%. Continue reading
Posted in Coffee, Magical food
Magical Food: Green tea extract interferes with the formation of amyloid plaques in Alzheimer’s disease
“Researchers at the University of Michigan have found a new potential benefit of a molecule in green tea: preventing the misfolding of specific proteins in the brain.” Continue reading
Posted in Magical food
Magical Supplement: Prenatal DHA reduces early preterm birth, low birth weight
Nonsense. 350 pregnancies over 6 years. Gestation is complex. Much of the data are self-reported. The result is clinically insignificant anyway — e.g., 2.9 day longer average gestation in treated group. Continue reading
Posted in Magical food
Magical Food: Coffee decreases risk of death
“A large study of nearly half a million older adults followed for about 12 years revealed a clear trend: As coffee drinking increased, the risk of death decreased.” Continue reading
Posted in Coffee, Magical food
Magic Vitamin: Folic acid supplements early in pregnancy may reduce child’s risk of autism by 40 percent
So there was a lot more autism before folic acid supplementation became commonplace? Continue reading
Posted in Magical food, Vitamins
Magical Food: Vitamin D, omega-3 may help clear amyloid plaques found in Alzheimer’s
But test tubes don’t get Alzheimer’s. Continue reading
Posted in Magical food
Claim: Vegetarianism can reduce risk of heart disease by up to a third
Self-reported, weak statistical garbage. Continue reading
Posted in Magical food
Magic Food: Brightly colored veggies war off Lou Gehrig’s disease
From the perpetual junk science machine of the Nurses Health Study. Continue reading
Posted in Magical food
Harvard’s at it again
And Harvard media department is at the ready with a press release to hype the results of yet another Nurses’ Health Study. Continue reading
Posted in Health, Magical food
Magic Food: Strawberries, blueberries may cut heart attack risk in women
If true, most likely a socio-economic effect. The graveyards are full of flavonoid consumers. Continue reading
Posted in Magical food
Magic Food: Caffeinated coffee may reduce the risk of oral cancers
“A new American Cancer Society study finds a strong inverse association between caffeinated coffee intake and oral/pharyngeal cancer mortality. The authors say people who drank more than four cups of caffeinated coffee per day were at about half the risk of death of these often fatal cancers compared to those who only occasionally or who never drank coffee.” [EurekAlert]
Posted in Magical food
Diet may protect against melanoma
A diet rich in antioxidants and omega-3 fats could help protect against skin cancer, research suggests. Continue reading
Posted in Magical food
Fish oil lowers air pollution risk.
Fish oil supplements might protect against adverse effects on the heart that are associated with particulate air pollution, a laboratory study with people has found. Continue reading
Posted in Air pollution, Health, Magical food
Research pours cold water on alleged benefits of sports products
Study reveals there is a ‘striking lack of evidence’ to back up claims made for trainers, drinks and supplements Continue reading
A bit fishy: nutraceuticals, marketing and procedural justice
Pills made from “wild krill” (apparently so much better for you than domestic krill)? Antioxidants from exotic plants, chlorophyll or the “Sicilian Blood Orange”? Promises of extra vitality, vim and vigour? Endorsements by celebrities? Continue reading
Can you eat your pain away? Maybe so, in some cases…
Medical doctors are often accused of paying little attention to dietary interventions for many diseases. On the other hand, dietary fads and commercial supplements are frequently based on little, if any, reliable clinical evidence. Continue reading
Posted in Health, Magical food
