EDITOR'S DIARY:

Grace before meals

Wednesday 25, June-2003

by HARRY MAYERS

A few weeks ago when I revealed my decision to welcome bacon and eggs back to my table along with beef, pork, chicken and whatever else, friends said they wouldn’t try to stop me but would wait to see the results of the experiment.

Their prayer was that they would not have to call my friend Peter, the undertaker.

Well I’m still up and about. I’ve shed a couple of pounds and am getting back into some pants which had apparently shrunk.

However, this is not my report on the Dr Atkins diet plan. That will come later.

This is about the frightening discovery that all those vitamin pills you are taking can kill you!

No, I’m not trying to shock anyone. It is the scientists who are warning that the use of certain supplements containing vitamin A or beta carotene increase the chances of developing cardiovascular and death from other causes.

No joke. Here are the words of one Dr Marco Penn who led the study by the Cleveland Clinic Foundation in the United States:

“Given the results, the use of vitamin supplements containing beta carotene and vitamin A should be actively discouraged because this family of agents is associated with a small but significant excess of all-cause mortality and cardiovascular death.”

The findings were recently published in the medical journal, the Lancet.

However, the health food people in Britain where the report was published are not swallowing this latest health news pill at all.

“I think this is an active campaign to discredit vitamins,” declared Ralph Pike of the National Association of Health Stores, adding that the concept of people being responsible for their health is anathema to big business.

Pike may have a point. But while the alternative health care givers slug it out with the conventional fellows, I’ll take a lesson from the long livers, which really is “listen to your body”.

I’ve read of centenarians who wouldn’t touch alcohol and those who couldn’t go a day without a shot.

So why not just say grace before meals, dig in and enjoy?

******

A CHRISTIAN LIKE ME:

This is a slight variation of a story a respected colleague shared with me a few months ago.

There was this gentleman who professed Christianity. At the end of a retreat in a remote area, he decided to take a stroll in a nearby forest.

How he admired the birds, the smell of the leaves and wild flowers and the tree branches dancing in the breeze!

His peace was shattered when he realised that a big bear was stalking him. He started to run back to the retreat house but tripped on a tree root and fell.

All he could do was pray: “Dear Lord, I have served you all my days; help me, please turn this beast into a Christian like me,” he cried.

The man was amazed when the bear stopped growling, got down on its knees, clasped its hands and prayed: “Oh, how I thank you for this meal today.”

****

TEA WITH WESLEY:

The James Street Methodist church folk have asked me to remind you of their tea party at Hastings Rocks at 3 p.m. on Saturday. They tell me that John Wesley will be there telling stories of his experiences 300 years ago and his brother Charles will be mingling with patrons.

There will also be a fashion show and other attractions for the family.

I was afraid of this: another lazy report on a medical journal. Take a look at what Dr. Mercola has to say about this meta-analysis. I can't vouch for his views on iron, but his comments on the nature of the journal article are worth keeping in mind.