French Fries, Kids and Breast Cancer
Randall Neustaedter
French fries have appeared in the medical research news once
again. This time a large study examined the correlation between
breast cancer incidence later in life and a list of 30 foods
eaten during the preschool years. Interestingly, the food with
the highest correlation to breast cancer was french fries.
For one additional serving of french fries per week consumed
during ages 3 to 5 years, the risk of breast cancer increased
by 27 percent. The other notable findings were reduced risks
of breast cancer for children who consumed whole milk (compared
to skim and low-fat milk), butter and liver.
The study known as the Nurses' Mothers' Study included over
238,000 female nurses. The study identified 582 nurses with invasive
breast cancer and compared them with 1,569 nurses free of breast
cancer. Among cases, 63% were premenopausal at diagnosis, 27%
were postmenopausal and 10% were of uncertain menopausal status.
Mothers of the nurses were asked to complete a mailed, self-administered
questionnaire on early life events of their nurse-daughter including
information on foods consumed by the daughter during preschool
years. Of mothers still living and able to participate, 91% completed
and returned the questionnaire.
No conclusions were drawn about the possible causative factors
in these foods. Frying foods damages fats as they are exposed
to extreme heat. The damaged polyunsaturated oil and cholesterol
release free radicals into the body that may in turn damage tissues
and cells and promote disease processes. In addition, many fried
foods are cooked with hydrogenated fats that are also associated
with inflammatory disease and cancer.
Another problem with fried foods is the presence of a class
of carcinogens called acrylamides. These are formed when starchy
carbohydrates like potatoes, corn, oats, or wheat are subjected
to high temperatures (above 360 degrees) for prolonged periods,
as in deep-frying. French fries, potato chips, doughnuts and
even oven-baked french fries contain acrylamide. This chemical
is monitored in drinking water because of its ability to cause
cancer.
By contrast, children need saturated fats for calcium and other
mineral absorption, for improved retention of omega-3 fats, for
their anti-inflammatory effect and for adequate hormone production.
It is recommended that at least 50 percent of children's dietary
fat should be saturated fats.
It is interesting that this study found a decreased
risk of breast cancer for girls who drank whole milk (compared
to lower
fat milk) and who ate butter. It is important to note that consuming
dairy products can cause health problems for many children. But
for those children who do drink milk and eat other dairy products
(yogurt and cheese), it is preferable for them to use whole milk
products, as outlined my book Child Health Guide: Holistic Pediatrics
for Parents (North Atlantic Books, 2005) and Sally Fallon's book
Nourishing Traditions (New Trends Publishing 2001). The best
and most digestible dairy products are those that are minimally
processed. Raw milk is best. Both pasteurizing and homogenizing
milk cause unique problems. For a more complete discussion, see
the article “Milk: Should Your Child Drink It?” at www.hpakidsorg.
French fries face the heat
California Attorney General Bill Lockyer has filed a lawsuit
against fast food chains and potato chip manufacturers for providing
french fries and potato chips to consumers without adequate health
warnings. The suit claims that acrylamide is a known carcinogen,
and California's laws specifically require foods to contain warnings
of dangerous ingredients. The companies named in the suit include
McDonald's, Burger King, KFC, Wendy's, Frito-Lay, Kettle chips
and others.
California’s Office of Environmental Health
Hazard Assessment estimates consumers who eat french fries
receive as much as 125
times the amount of acrylamide that requires a warning under
current regulations, according to Lockyer. Potato chips deliver
75 times the warning level, he said. Environmental groups have
filed three other lawsuits asking for warning labels on products
like french fries that contain acrylamide, a chemical used to
treat sewage.
In August 2005, McDonald's settled another California lawsuit
for $8.5 million that alleged the fast food giant failed to inform
the public about delays in its efforts to come up with a healthier
cooking oil. McDonald's is still under fire in several other
lawsuits that accuse the chain of causing obesity and other health
problems.
© Holistic Pediatric Association
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professionals in the common goal of improving and transforming
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