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The Rural Voice, 1993-02, Page 12can-con� WxEmkii (a division of Steve's Welding) FEED CART 12 8 18 bushel carts or custom sizes available FLOORING - FILTER EEZE -PUNCHED METAL SLATS Also Available - Rotary Feeders - Dry Sow Stalls - Farrowing Crates - Filter Eeze Flooring - Plastic & Stainless Steel Feeders - Plumbing Supplies A division of Steve's Welding R. R. 1, Newton, Ont., NOK 1R0 519-595-8387 INCOME TAX $SERVICE • farm, business, or personal • complete year-round service including tax audit representation • farm debt review assistance and representation Over 12 years' experience Quality work at reasonable rates "FREE CONSULTATION" Stephen Thompson Box 387, Blyth 523-4916 8 THE RURAL VOICE Adrian Vos Animal rights and health myths Every farmer sat up when a group of doctors, led by child rearing guru Dr. Benjamin Spock, released a study that purportedly found that cow's milk is bad for the health of children and adults. How- ever, nothing is quite like it sounds. The group claims that milk promotes juvenile diabetes and that many people have problems digest- ing milk because they are lactose intolerant. The learned men said that two cups of cooked kale replaces the calcium in one glass of milk. The latest newsletter from the University of California, a down-to- earth publication issued monthly, asks if the doctors please would explain how to persuade a child to eat two cups of kale with every meal. As far as the lactose intolerance goes, human milk has the same "problems" as cow's milk and is, in addition, high in fat and lacks iron. The scary claim that milk can cause juvenile diabetes comes from a Finnish study. But the Finns' study showed that this is true only for "children that are genetically disposed to develop juvenile diabetes in childhood." The newsletter asks: "Why would a doctor's group make such state- ments about milk? Because the Physicians Committee for Respons- ible Medicine seeks to promote strict vegetarianism and animal rights — including an end to the use of animals in biomedical research. The Ameri- can Medical Association called them a 'fringe group,' adding that they had 'hoodwinked the press'." * * * There is a fairly widespread fear that a microwave oven contaminates the food cooked in it through radiation. Not long ago an opponent of microwave cooking claimed in the press that the process releases "free radicals" in the food. Free radicals are nasty things that are suspected of contributing to cancer and heart disease. A well-known farm activist, who has had several bouts with cancer, wrote last year that she had thrown her microwave oven in the garbage for that reason. The same newsletter quoted above lays such concerns to rest. They write: "Any type of cooking releases free radicals in foods, but since microwaves radiate at a low frequency and cook foods quickly and with little heat, they are likely to create fewer free radicals than conventional cooking methods." Finns do many health studies. This is understandable for Finland is a country with one of the highest problems with heart disease in the world. A while ago I read somewhere that they are investigating what came first, high blood serum cholesterol levels or heart disease. It appears that no one knows if blood serum cholesterol is caused by heart disease or heart disease is caused by blood serum cholesterol. It has been well known that a diet high in cholesterol has no, or little effect on heart disease. It is more likely that the high density lipoprotein (HDL) in fatty foods is the culprit. Since saturated fat is high in HDL it still makes sense to eat food low in fat, particularly because fat is also connected with some types of cancer (breast, colon). Fibrous food cleans the inside of the arteries and helps in fighting can- cer and the emphasis on fibre in food advertising may be one of the best things happening in preventing illness. In several studies the average lifespan of people with high blood serum cholesterol levels was the same as the average lifespan of people who had, by one means or another, lowered that level. The difference being that they died of a different cause.0 Adrian Vos, from Huron County has contributed to The Rural Voice since its inception in 1975. He is a writer and raises exotic birds on the farm where he raised pigs for many years.