The Ramble: Trans Fat Ban, Gates/Bloomberg and Anti-Smoking, Viagra for Gals, Exercise & Alzheimer’s

California enacts state-wide trans fat ban, Bill Gates and Michael Bloomberg want to stop Africans from smoking, Viagra may provide some relief for women taking anti-depressants and exercise might slow the progression of Alzheimer’s.

It’s been a while since the last Ramble – and my Internet radio show - because of vacation and other stuff I have going on, but now I’m back and ready to Ramble.  Plus I figure I’d better get this done before Shark Week kicks off on the Discovery Channel when my free time takes a hit.

California Bans Trans Fats.  The Golden State doesn’t have its golden hue because it’s fried in trans fat laden oil. The state has outlawed trans fats for which it is alleged there is a connection between consumption and coronary heart disease (CHD; try to keep up with the acronyms).  I use “alleged” because there is a not a heck of a lot of real, hard evidence to indicate that trans fats cause CHD.

You see there have been many reports that trans fats contribute to CHD, but when you look at many of the studies used to support this position, there’s not a lot there.  One study that’s used to support the anti-trans fat position consists of data compiled from 239 Bostonians but without any lifestyle or family history questions.  Another study trotted out by those who want to blame trans fat for causing CHD and obesity is a Scottish Heart Study that looked at the correlation of trans fats and the onset of previously undiagnosed CHD.  The researchers that conducted this study concluded that trans fats do not have a major effect on CHD, but that hasn’t stopped other folks from yelling to high heaven that trans fats are the devil’s food.   In general, the studies used by the anti-trans fatters to support their case that these fats cause CHD have resulted in weak and non-significant statistical associations.

I’m not saying that you should go out and gorge yourself on fats or on trans fats.  What I am saying is that banning certain foods, or types of foods or calories, in pursuit of improving the public’s health is a losing proposition.  When this ban proves ineffective – which it will – what foods will the Food Police go after next?  Trans fats do not pose the same risk as smoking and this ban will provide no appreciable benefit.

Bill Gates and Mike Bloomberg Pledge 350 Million Anti-Smoking Dollars.  These 2 titans of profit have decided to spend 350 million clams in an attempt to stop people in developing countries from smoking.  Oh brother.  Get this…all of this money is going to be used to raise tobacco taxes, help smokers quit, ban tobacco advertising and protect non-smokers from cigarette smoke.  Did you notice that this list doesn’t include, ADVOCACY TO TOTALLY BAN TOBACCO? And these guys want to help Africans stop smoking.  Maybe I’m wrong, but I think Africans have some greater concerns like getting enough food, getting basic medical care, cessation of genocide; you know frivolous things like that. Come on already with this nonsense. If these guys want to spend $350 million, spend it to ban smoking or on developing an alternative fuel source.  Spending money on this usual anti-smoking baloney is, well, baloney.  And a waste.

Viagra for Women.  Post-menopausal women who are taking anti-depression medications and suffer from sexual side effects may get some relief from Viagra.  While women in this study did have increased frequency of orgasms, their arousal or desire did not improve.  Kind of a mixed bag.  Half of all people that use anti-depressants suffer from sexual side effects, and while men have a wide variety of pharmaceuticals to help them contend with these side effects, women haven’t been quite so lucky.  So there’s been an effort to find help for women in the area of sexual dysfunction.  Despite these findings Pfizer said they have no plans to seek approval for this treatment.

Exercise May Slow Progress of Alzheimer’s.  Research indicates that people with early stage Alzheimer’s who exercised regularly had less deterioration in the areas of the brain that control memory and balance.  The results of this study were announced Sunday at the International Conference on Alzheimer’s Disease.  Researchers at the University of Kansas found that patients with higher levels of fitness had less brain tissue atrophy where patients with lower levels of fitness had more damage to the brain.  This is yet another of the many feathers in the cap of exercise and Alzheimer’s patients can certainly improve their quality of life if they exercise.

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