Govt. Health Warnings. Should we take them with a pinch of salt?

[salymap]

But if they call us 'ladies' do we have to refer to our colleagues here as 'gentlemen'. ? Well, most of them are I suppose.

I only asked.

[Ferretfancy]

salymap,

I once worked on a programme with a director who told me that I was a true gentleman. It had me worried for days !

[David Underdown]

Only joking. The research into red meat and processed meat, cancer and heart disease. They crunch data from a group of lifestyle records over time, but ... how do they isolate red / processed meat consumption from other factors, variables - other lifestyle factors, genetic elements? The answer I suspect is that they can't. Fortunately I gave up eating food in 1985, so that's OK.

There are various statistical means for doing so. Go and read Ben Goldacre's blog for detail

[3rd Viennese School]

They say not drinking is good for you.
Well, I havent had a drinkbinge session since Monday and I feel xxxxing awful today!

3VS

[french frank]

But seven units per week? That sounds extremely low, even by the standards of the nanny state.

Perhaps he did mean per day, then. He certainly followed up by recommending a wine shop where they had a very nice Fleurie. Judging from his size and shape I don't imagine he takes very much notice of the dietary recommendations of the nanny state.

I'm currently much enjoying the flights of fancy in Hugh F-W's Veg Book. Wonderful soups (e.g. parsnip and ginger w. toasted flaked almonds, chestnut and sage, both with a twirl of cream to finish). And interesting salads (e.g. sliced raw sprouts with sliced apple, tasty cheddar cheese crumbled in and toasted hazelnuts). And two bottles of Pouilly Fumé to wash it down. Very healthy

Hope this isn't off-topic, HS!

[salymap]

salymap,

I once worked on a programme with a director who told me that I was a true gentleman. It had me worried for days !

I know what you mean Ferret. One friendly poster often refers to me as 'dear lady' and I wonder what I've said to annoy him. .

[cloughie]

salymap,

I once worked on a programme with a director who told me that I was a true gentleman. It had me worried for days !

I thought a true gentleman was a man who knew how to play the banjo* but didn't.

*substitute bagpipes, harpsichord or any other instrument which on continued hearing does you harm.

On the question of health warnings why do they continually change the goalposts. The lazy newsgatherers pick up on some headline-making research and then plug it to death on every news programme of the day then its forgotten until the next one comes along, and why oh why are there so many people paid to do research on the bl...ing obvious.

[teamsaint]

I thought a true gentleman was a man who knew how to play the banjo* but didn't.

*substitute bagpipes, harpsichord or any other instrument which on continued hearing does you harm.

On the question of health warnings why do they continually change the goalposts. The lazy newsgatherers pick up on some headline-making research and then plug it to death on every news programme of the day then its forgotten until the next one comes along, and why oh why are there so many people paid to do research on the bl...ing obvious.

They move the goalposts, because moving the goalposts suits them.
Its part of the fear agenda that they love.

Mind you there is plenty of toxic C**p in our food and environment.
But the government don't do much about most of it

Oh, and the "newsgatherers" frequently just churn out the lines given to them by governments departments.......

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

It's not so long since a government department said that Marmite was more dangerous than Coca Cola, simple because the former contained a higher percentage of salt. No consideration of the fact that one was a concentrate and the other a liquid.

(Where is the emoticon when you need it?)

[Bryn]

It's not so long since a government department said that Marmite was more dangerous than Coca Cola, simple because the former contained a higher percentage of salt. No consideration of the fact that one was a concentrate and the other a liquid.

(Where is the emoticon when you need it?)

Right here.

[johnb]

Only joking. The research into red meat and processed meat, cancer and heart disease. They crunch data from a group of lifestyle records over time, but ... how do they isolate red / processed meat consumption from other factors, variables - other lifestyle factors, genetic elements? The answer I suspect is that they can't. Fortunately I gave up eating food in 1985, so that's OK.

One major flaw in the way this kind of news is presented is that no attempt is made to interpret the alleged increase risk. A rare exception to the coverage of the risks associated with eating red meat happened in one of R4 news programmes (I think it was World at One) where they brought in someone to quantify what that increased risk. It amounted to a decrease in life expectancy of one year.

[amateur51]

I thought a true gentleman was a man who knew how to play the banjo* but didn't.

Whereas I thought that gentleman is someone who uses a butter knife even when he is alone

[Mr Pee]

Whereas I thought that gentleman is someone who uses a butter knife even when he is alone

Butter?? Don't mention butter!! Haven't you heard? It's lethal!!

[Vile Consort]

and why oh why are there so many people paid to do research on the bl...ing obvious.

Well actually it's because what we always thought was obvious sometimes turns out to be wrong when you actually do some measurements! For example, it used to be common knowledge that smoking was good for you and that asbestos was totally harmless.

The problem is not with the research at all but with the way it is reported.

And certainly, if I go to the doctor's and he advises me to eat less of one thing and more of another, I would rather that were the result of proper scientific research rather than a bunch of people just making it up or declaring that God told them.

[amateur51]

Butter?? Don't mention butter!! Haven't you heard? It's lethal!!

As Granny used to say, Mr Pee - "Sunnink's gotta kill ya!" and having got to 60, I'm putting my money on butter