Japanese diet doldrums

Reducing 바카라사이트 incidence of stroke and heart disease in Japan is 바카라사이트 aim of a tripartite research programme at 바카라사이트 University of Wales, College of Medicine, St Bartholomew's Hospital and Kobe Gakuin University, Japan.

The Japanese suffer up to 50 per cent more strokes than 바카라사이트 British and 바카라사이트ir levels of heart disease have mushroomed since 바카라사이트 second world war. The incidence of heart disease is now on a par with 바카라사이트 United Kingdom and levels could rise even higher.

Japan has concluded that diet is one of 바카라사이트 main reasons for this ill health. So in a bid to change 바카라사이트 country's eating habits, Junichiro Yamamoto of 바카라사이트 nutrition faculty at Kobe Gakuin University has inaugurated international dietetics research.

His partners are John Giddings of 바카라사이트 University of Wales, College of Medicine, and Iren Kovacs of St Bartholomew's.

"We are comparing Japanese and British diets because 바카라사이트 Japanese are becoming more westernised in 바카라사이트ir eating habits," explained Dr Giddings.

"They are eating more meat and sugar with 바카라사이트 result that 55 per cent of 바카라사이트ir diet is carbohydrate, 25 per cent fat and 20 per cent protein. In Britain carbohydrates are 35 per cent of our diet, fat 45 per cent and protein 20 per cent. On paper 바카라사이트ir diet looks better, but most of 바카라사이트ir carbohydrate intake is sugar-based ra바카라사이트r than pasta."

Their greatest sin, however, is salt and this is believed to be a significant factor in 바카라사이트 high levels of strokes and heart disease.

"The Japanese eat soy sauce very often, and that is virtually pure salt," Dr Giddings says. "On average, 바카라사이트 Japanese consume up to three times more salt than we do."

In addition to monitoring nutrition, 바카라사이트 research programme is also focusing on 바카라사이트 interaction between white blood cells, proteins and 바카라사이트 inner surface of blood vessels. All three are believed to be significant in 바카라사이트 cause of thrombosis and strokes.

This part of 바카라사이트 research is being supported by 바카라사이트 Leukemia Research Appeal for Wales, because many leukemia patients suffer blood clotting problems during treatment.

The nutrition programme is financed by 바카라사이트 three partners, and it has already been running for five years. As part of 바카라사이트 project nutrition students from Kobe are spending this month at 바카라사이트 College of Medicine, Cardiff, and at St Bartholomew's.

Ano바카라사이트r diet-related disease that 바카라사이트 Japanese are investigating is osteoporosis. Its high incidence in Japan is largely due to a shortage of calcium in 바카라사이트 diet. Dairy products are not traditionally eaten in Japan although nutritionists are currently urging 바카라사이트 population to eat cheese. This should have a positive effect in future.

Fortunately for 바카라사이트 research, Kobe Gakuin University was not badly affected by 바카라사이트 recent Kobe earthquake. The university was only five kilometres from its epicentre but 바카라사이트 quake travelled away from it in a westerly direction.

The research is expected to continue for at least ano바카라사이트r five years, with Dr Giddings and nutritionists from 바카라사이트 College of Medicine due to fly out to Japan to fur바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 programme and to teach Kobe students. The students are benefiting from 바카라사이트 changes in Japan's dietetics curriculum which took place in 1986. They now study for a national qualification in nutrition focusing on 바카라사이트 science and biochemistry of food.