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Vegetarian Diet May Cut Cancer RiskEATING a meat-free, vegetarian diet may reduce the risk of colorectal cancer, new research suggests. Afte...

Vegetarian Diet May Cut Cancer Risk
EATING a meat-free, vegetarian diet may reduce the risk of colorectal cancer, new research suggests. After following more than 10,000 people for 17 years, investigators found that vegetarians were 15 per cent less likely to develop colorectal cancer than meat-eaters. This study adds to the 8216;8216;increasing scientific evidence8217;8217; that a diet rich in fruit, vegetables and fibre and low in meat8212;especially red and processed meat8212;can prevent colorectal cancer, study author Dr Miguel Sanjoaquin of the University of Oxford, UK, said.

The fat in red meat increases the excretion of substances that encourage tumour growth. Furthermore, meat contains natural compounds and substances formed during processing and high-temperature cooking that can disrupt the normal balance of cell growth in the colon, potentially triggering the cancer, Sanjoaquin said. Alternatively, substances in fruits and vegetables 8220;may inhibit these adverse effects,8217;8217; he added.

Limited Surgery can Correct Sleep Apnea
A LESS invasive throat surgery than has been used for sleep apnea appears more effective at correcting the disruptive disorder, Taiwanese researchers have found. While the study involved only 55 patients, they showed an 82 per cent success rate compared to the historical level of less than 50 per cent found in more invasive surgeries.

Obstructive sleep apnea causes snoring and interruptions in breathing during sleep. Surgical correction involves removal of some tissue in the throat to widen the airway. The modified technique removes fatty tissues, soft glands and the tonsils to increase airway space but spares muscle tissue. Patients for whom the surgery worked reported they snored less, were less sleepy during the day and had higher blood oxygen levels.

The report did not explain why the limited technique worked better. 8216;8216;Extended uvulopalatal flap surgery can greatly reduce sleep-related adverse events and proves to be an effective therapy for patients with obstructive sleep apnea,8217;8217; it concluded.