Newsbriefs: Tree Nuts; Parasites in Fish; PAD Risk
Eating Tree Nuts Boosts Colon Cancer Survival
Among patients with stage III colon cancer, consumption of nuts is associated with reduced risks of disease recurrence and mortality, according to a study presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology’s annual meeting in June 2017. The study followed 826 patients for a seven-year period after they had completed surgery and chemotherapy treatments. The researchers found a 42 percent improvement in disease-free survival and a 57 percent improvement in overall survival among patients who ate at least two servings of nuts a week compared with those who ate no nuts. The benefits were seen only for tree nuts, such as walnuts, hazelnuts, cashews, and almonds, and not for peanuts (which are legumes that grow below ground) or peanut butter. Five-year survival rates for people with stage III colon cancer range from about 50 to 90 percent.
Beware of Parasites in Fish
An unseen hazard of eating raw or undercooked seafood is on the rise in Western countries where sushi is becoming increasingly popular, warns an article published May 11, 2017 in BMJ Case Reports. The warning comes after doctors treated a man who had had severe upper gut pain, vomiting, and fever for a week. It was only when the man revealed that he had recently eaten sushi that the doctors suspected that he might have anisakiasis (also known as herring worm disease), which is caused by eating raw or undercooked fish or seafood infected with a parasite called anisakis. An endoscopy revealed the parasite inside the man’s stomach; once it was removed, his symptoms eased. Most reported cases of anisakiasis occur in Japan, where consuming raw fish is very common. If you develop abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting after eating raw or undercooked fish, mention the possibility of anisakiasis to your doctor.
More Produce May Help Lower PAD Risk
Your risk of developing a serious circulation problem called peripheral artery disease (PAD) may be reduced if you eat several servings of fruits and vegetables every day, according to a study published in the American Heart Association journal Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis and Vascular Biology (May 18, 2017).
For the study, researchers reviewed health and diet data from about 3.7 million people with an average age of 64. The data showed that people who ate at least three servings of fruits and vegetables daily were 18 percent less likely to have PAD than those who ate fewer servings. PAD is a narrowing of the arteries in the legs, which restricts blood flow to the muscles in the legs. As a result, walking can be painful after just a few minutes.
Vitamins C and E, as well as iron and various antioxidants, are among the key nutrients in fruits and vegetables that are associated with blood vessel health. Unfortunately, less than 30 percent of the study participants reported eating at least three servings of fruits and vegetables daily.
Other ways to reduce your PAD risk include not smoking, getting regular exercise, maintaining a healthy weight, and controlling your cholesterol.
The post Newsbriefs: Tree Nuts; Parasites in Fish; PAD Risk appeared first on University Health News.
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