"Chet Hayes" wrote in message
om...

Leave the arguing to me I'd like to see how in the hell this
study could come to such a specific and direct conclusion. People eat
all kinds of foods and it would be impossible to reach this conclusion
based on one study. It's very possible that there are other things
these people are doing that are causing the desired effects. Without
more studies, the most one could conclude from this is that it's
interesting and warrants more research.

A good case in point is the constant advice that we hear to add more
fiber to one's diet, that it reduces the risk of colon cancer. Lot's
of people are taking pysillium husks, eg Metamucil to add fiber. Yet
a recent study showed that people taking ph actually had a higher rate
of colon cancer than those not taking it. Now some researchers are
rethinking their advice and what the mechanism is, ie that it may be
something else other than the fiber in the foods people are eating
that contribute the real benefit and fiber by itself may do no good.

Absolutely right. So many studies focus on one item of diet or behavior and
extrapolate highly dubious conclusions. I would guess that in any group
those people whose consumption of whole grains is higher share other
health-conscious behaviors which taken together may well result in better
health. Another example is the heart-healthy claims made for walnut oil,
but the people who use walnut oil are likely to be richer, pickier about
their food and with access to better health care than those who do not.
Infuriating.