“You are what you eat,” goes the saying. And it appears that the Centers for Disease Control and the American Cancer Society think there are a lot of men that are basically just big pizzas, greasy French fries, and supersized milkshakes walking around on two fat legs. From dire warnings they give about eating “man food,” they also seem to believe these men are Dead Men Walking.
The Centers for Disease Control says expanding waistlines increase the risk of heart disease (the number one killer of both men and women in the U.S.), as well as diabetes, stroke, cancer, and plenty of other diseases. The CDC discourages high-fat foods and encourages healthful foods like fresh vegetables.
The American Cancer Society also bangs the fruit and vegetable drum, pointing out that studies have linked overindulgence in red meat or dairy products to prostate cancer. A cup of milk has about 315 mg. of calcium, and they consider “overindulgence” to be 2,000 mg. a day or more, whether it comes from food or supplements. They also have put a fine point on omega-3 fatty acids: they say alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), which is a vegetable-based omega-3 oil found in canola and flaxseed oil, has been found to help the heart, but may increase prostate cancer risk. Men who are at risk, they say, should get their omega-3 fatty acids from olive oil and fish.
As to overindulgence in meat, doctors say the recommended allowance of protein for the average man is 52 grams a day, which is about eight ounces of meat – any kind of meat. They also say a low-carbohydrate/high protein diet may cause kidney problems because of ketosis, which can also lead to insulin resistance, one of the risk factors of coronary artery disease.
So what’s a fellow to do?
If you choose to ignore “You are what you eat,” at least consider following another maxim – “All things in moderation.” That way, your family may not soon be hearing another oft-repeated phrase: “But he was so young!”
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