In Dyingman 62: The Leafy Green Pill, I spoke of possible benefits of having added canned greens to my diet.  Later in the year I heard of potential hidden drawbacks of my migration towards low fat high fiber lunches.

Canned food has drawbacks I've been aware of before.  It can have slightly lower nutrition and if you get a bad batch, it can taste like the can.  This might have something to do with it having been on the shelf too long.  Progresso soup was a major offender on the metallic taste affront.

I'd not had this problem in quite some time, possibly because canned food manufacturers may have universally adopted the technique of lining their tin cans with polycarbonate plastic epoxy.  This material has been used in the past for plastic water and baby bottles that were banned in Canada because they can release Bisphenol A (BPA) into the contents of the bottle.  United States regulatory agencies mysteriously haven't seen fit to remove this potential health threat.  (but that's a blog entry for someone with a blog more open to political observation) The problem is reportedly even worse with acidic foods such as tomatoes and diet sodas.  Sound like someone you know?  (See Dyingman 68: Dietman)

So, what's the worry?  Science International, an organization contracting with the National Institutes of Health (NIH), found that BPA at low doses is safe. It was later discovered
that Science International also did work for two creators of BPA-containing products.  They were shills.  Once NIH got rid of the bribed "scientists"  (I hear Exxon Mobil hired them to deny global warming) NIH amazingly found links between BPA consumption and cancer, and reproductive problems.

While I'm out of the running for reproduction, the reproductive issues are apparently hormonally based and BPA mimics estrogen.  What this may do to me in regards to activities I have not given up yet is a topic of concern.  Cancer, also, I do not take lightly.

On the other side of the coin, if not for canned vegetables, I wouldn't eat veggies for lunch.  If canned food in general is out, I'm stuck with pouched foods which likely have the same problem, veggies in glass jars which are hazardous and come in far fewer varieties as well as being more expensive.  I can also but food out but they very well may be using canned food in their prep work.  (It's not like I can look in the kitchen to check.)  Some places like Baja Fresh and Subway I can feel confident about, but there's only so much of that you can eat.  Furthermore, getting food out is a drain and yet more expensive than veggies in glass jars.

No, I'm taking my chances until the FDA and USDA have a consceintious Congress and President cracking the whip to remove this health risk.  The problem is the veggies are lowering my health risks by reducing calorie intake, increasing fiber consumption, and boosting nutrient and fiber consumption.  These things fight cancer and atherosclerosis which may have been atthe root of the problem I had experienced before that BPA's threaten to bring back to my life.

It's a damned if you do, damned if you don't situation.  Avoiding dying may be a matter of determining which course is less rife with brimstone and pitchforks.


*DM


Next:   I kinna defy the laws of physics, Cap'n



THE CHART:

Fitness Goals:
60 beats per minute resting pulse.
10 minutes hard cycling. (intensity 5 out of 10)
Weights: 3 days - 100 lbs. - 6 cycles of 5,5,5,10 repetitions (2 cycles/day)

Current Fitness Record: (since last entry)
2 x < 2 min cycling - average intensity 4 - 65 cycles  (Pulse = 126 at last check 2-2008)
0 day - 65 lbs. - 0 cycles

Miscellaneous Activity:
None


Pulse: 59
Blood Pressure:  114/73  7/29/08
BMI 25 (barely overweight)



Workout Partner's Progress:  Position Vacant

RECENT SYMPTOMS : None
ONGOING SYMPTOMS:  Clicking knees, Pain in right knee when kneeling and shifting knee to the right.  Hyperhidrosis.
DIAGNOSIS: Unknown injury to right knee, possible impact from small stumble (c. 2006) onto landing of concrete stairs. Injured knee joints from sprinting (c. 2007)

ONGOING TREATMENT: Tri-Annual dental visits.

DRUG REGIMEN:  Aspartame.  (3 diet sodas daily)  Caffeine (three cups of coffee daily.  two colas.)
PROGNOSIS:  Gradual decay of knee function.
POTENTIAL TREATMENTS:   Fish Oil supplements.  Axillary vacuum curettage.

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