Grex Health Conference

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Grex Health Item 11: Reasons to stop smoking
Entered by mcpoz on Sun Dec 24 15:00:21 UTC 1995:

Last week there was an article in the AA news which indicated the dangers of
snuff as a substitute for cigarettes.  The thing that surprised me was the
discussion of "tsna's" which stands for "Tobacco Specific Nitrosamines."

I have never heard of tsna's before, but I know of nitrosamines in general
- they are powerful carcinogens.  The article went on to say that you received
several times the amount of carcinogens in snuff as compared to cigarettes.

I know this shouldn't surprise anyone that tobacco causes cancer, but I always
thought it was the particulate factor plus some unknown effect of the "tar",
and the link was strong but circumstantial.  Apparantly not the case!

Good reason for smokers to reconsider their habit.

8 responses total.

#1 of 8 by popcorn on Tue Dec 26 15:32:48 1995:

This response has been erased.

#2 of 8 by mcpoz on Tue Dec 26 16:45:24 1995:

Also bacon.  The nitrosamines (as i recall) come from high cooking
temperatures of meats which are preserved with nitrites.  (Rane could help
here).  I have steered my diet away from lunch meat and hot dogs because of
the fear that these chemicals add to the unknown load of carcinogens we get
daily.  There was an article in the ann arbor news recently which touted the
tomato as having chemicals (Lycopene) which somehow interact with nitrosamines
and counter their carcinogenic effect.  The article concluded that the "t"
in a "BLT" was a healthy addition.

#3 of 8 by rcurl on Wed Dec 27 06:36:40 1995:

Nitrites are added to meats not to *preserve* them but to prevent them
from a natural darkening on exposure to air. It is for entirely cosmetic
reasons that we are exposed to the hazard of nitrosoamines - "the
public demands it". 

The article I saw about "lycopene" from tomato products was that it
appeared to reduce the probability of prostate cancer, though it did
not mention nitrosoamines specifically in the connection.

#4 of 8 by zook on Wed Dec 27 13:46:41 1995:

Lycopenes are antioxidants similar to beta-carotene.  Different structure
means different color.  Antioxidants are felt to have a variety of health
benefits, although carefully done scientific studies have not (yet) been
performed to substantiate or refute the majority of the claims.

#5 of 8 by simcha on Wed Dec 27 16:58:18 1995:

We have long avoided foods with nitrites except for special 
treats as we've long heard that they are carcinogens.  I buy
nitrite/nitrate free beef hot dogs so when the kids want them I don't
have to feel such guilt.

#6 of 8 by stacie on Mon Jul 31 18:15:46 2000:

 Reasons to stop smoking? Everyone who I know that smokes knows a ton 
of reasons they should stop but that isn't the issue. They can't 
control themselves.

#7 of 8 by eeyore on Sun Aug 13 14:47:41 2000:

My mother always said that if she was going to stop smoking, it was going to
be for herself, not for anybody else.  That it had to be something that she
was ready for.

So she and my dad waited until the allergic to smoke kid moved out of the
house before stopping. *sigh*  But I'm really happy that they don't anymore.

#8 of 8 by pulsedriver on Mon Nov 21 20:34:32 2005:

Easy, makes you stink, causes alot of health probolems, is it worth it for
dizzyness and nausia? I think nicotine itself is metabolised into a
nitrosamine.

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