SCIENTIFIC REDUCTIONISM 281by increased intakes of fruits and vegetables, or reduced by exercise
(either during the teenage years or during adulthood), dietary fiber,
monounsaturated fats or polyunsaturated fats. Also, the mineral sele-
nium, long considered to be protective of certain cancers, has no effect
on breast cancer. In other words, we might as well conclude that diet is
completely unrelated to breast cancer.
I can understand the frustration of Professor Meir Stampfer, one of
the leading researchers in this group, when he was quoted as saying,
"This has been our greatest failure and disappointment-that we have
not learned more about what people can do to lower their risk."6 He
was making his comment in response to an opinion that "the Single big-
gest challenge for the future [is] sorting out the mess of contradictory
findings and lack of information on breast cancer."6 I applaud Professor
Stampfer for his candor, but it's unfortunate that so much money has
been spent to learn so little. Perhaps the most rewarding finding, ironi-
cally, was the demonstration that tinkering with one nutrient at a time,
while maintaining the same overall dietary patterns, does not lead to
better health or to better health information.
Yet Harvard researchers have been steadily cranking out their find-
ings, despite these challenges. From their slew of studies, here are some
findings that I would consider as very troubling contradictions when
comparing disease risks for men versus women:
- Men who consume alcohol three or four times a week have a lower
heart attack risk.^31 - Men with Type 2 diabetes who consume a moderate amount of
alcohol have a lower risk of coronary heart disease.32
And yet ...- Alcohol consumption increases breast cancer incidence by 41%
for women consuming 30-60 glday of alcohol compared to non-
drinking women.^33
Apparently alcohol is good for heart disease and bad for breast can-
cer. The husband can have a drink with dinner but should never share
it with his wife. Is this a difference between men and women, or is this
a difference in response between heart disease and cancer? Do you feel
more informed or more confused?
Then there are those wonderful omega-3 fatty acids. Some types of
fish contain relatively large amounts of these fats and have been getting