i subscribe to prevention mag. i have for years. i started way back in my lowfat days. prevention strongly advocates low fat eating; especially saturated fats. gradually they have started saying we should eat some fat, like fish oils and olive and canola oil. this month there's an article on page 65. ACCIDENTAL DISCOVERY MAY PRODUCE ANTICANCER PILL FROM FAT. "scientist michael pariza,phd was investigating how cooking hamburger meat triggers the formation of cancer-causing compounds. curiously, he noticed that something else in the meat was actually lessening the harmful effects of these compounds that something he eventually identified as a special type of fat call CLA (conjugated linoleic acid) and scientists have been studying it ever since - with some amazing results." the article goes on to say that in animal studies CLA is proving to be on of the most potent of all natural cancer fighters against colon and breast cancers. research has also strongly suggested that CLA can also clear up clogged arteries, bolster the immune system, and even regulate body fat. the source of this miracle: animal products such as beef and whole dairy products. they think that this is a problem because these are the foods that we need to eat less of to avoid the saturated fat they contain. then they advise taking supplements of CLA. what a laugh! they can't read the writing on the wall! take supplements instead of eating the natural source.
needless to say i really only read prevention now because it's usually the first magazine to release the latest health studies. plus they have a great exercise section.



[Edited by debbiedobson on 02-02-01 at 10:05]

Just shows to go you, the whole issue of health and nutrition is way more complicated than the 'don't eat fat and you won't get fat' crowd would have us believe.

Thanks, Debbie!

Rachel

hi Debbie and everybody,

I cancelled my subscription to Prevention last year. That being said, I do visit prevention.com now and then, as you said, their fitness section is excellent - I especially appreciate that they give detailed pictures and diagrams showing the muscle(s) worked by the specific exercise, and how NOT to do it to avoid injury. And I do like the info. on herbs and nutritional supplements.

I've been an avid reader of Prevention right from the early days of Rodale, when they advocated the completely wholistic, natural approach to preventive health and well-being. Now, it has become so mainstream, and the major sponsors and advertisers are pharmaceutical companies plugging antidepressants, Xenical and cholesterol-lowering drugs. My god, they're even pushing drugs you can get the vet to prescribe for your pets! ..

I resent the fact that the picture on the cover is ALWAYS a thin, young white female. Never a man, never a person of colour, never a plus-size or mature person, and nobody wears glasses or is in a wheelchair.

Last March 2000, the feature article was a write-up about the high-protein, low-carbohydrate diets. I could just picture the author being dragged, kicking and screaming, long fingernail-drag-marks in the carpet, as she grudgingly admitted that MAYBE these diets were healthy, and MAYBE they were better for you than a steady diet of white bread and sugary foods. Prevention usually posts its feature articles on the website. Strange, last March's entry is mysteriously blank.

As for prevention.com, I read an email from a woman who stated her doctor had put her on a lowcarb diet to correct blood chemistry. She was having trouble sticking with the diet due to boredom. She wrote to prevention asking for help and ideas. The response was (no big surprise here) don't follow a lowcarb diet, it'll kill you in a flash. Eat more whole grains and cereals. First, this response was not from a trained nutritionist it was from the FITNESS editor. Second, who is this person to tell someone to NOT follow their doctor's orders. I'm a nurse; I'd lose my license to practise if I ever did that!

Ok, I'll get down off the soapbox now...

Doreen

[Edited by doreen T on 02-02-01 at 11:15]

doreen, i think i'm going to cancel my subscription to prevention and just check out the website. i too have been really disillusioned with the whole magazine. ever since they changed editors about 1&1/2 years ago, the magazine hasn't been the same. it seems to me now like any women's mag that you find in the check-out line at the grocery store. you are so right in how they have got away from their original style of leading edge holistic health. i think i'll do what you do and just check out the website monthly. i'd never thought of doing that until you mentioned it.
thanks doreen, AGAIN!!!
love debbie