From a glass of wine to a Torrezno, how can you twist science to make food healthy?

Today we eat better than ever. We have a lot of information about what’s healthy and what’s not, and we can eat with a lot more facts. However, from time to time, the media is full of headlines that turn everything we believed in upside down. The most recent case is the case Torreznos from Soria. Last week, a study went nearly viral on social media that, according to numerous headlines, showed that not only are they not dangerous, but they may even raise cholesterol levels in consumers.

Considering that this fried fat, this is completely implausible. But science says so. How can this be fake? Science also says that a glass of wine a day is good for your heart. He then noted that the only healthy amount of alcohol is no alcohol. Once again, science contradicts itself and goes against what seems obvious. What’s left for us?

In fact, most of these studies are not based on lies. Neither Torreznos nor no wine. They simply cling to that part of the truth that interests them. It is for this reason that we should not trust what a study says without knowing how it was conducted. Unfortunately, this is not always possible for the general population, who may lack the knowledge or time to obtain detailed information. It is whistleblowers who can tell the details of these investigations so that we do not demonize science for lying to us. Of course, scientists can be wrong. They are people. But sometimes they use science correctly to imply something as impossible as torreznos being healthy.

Torreznos case

Before we begin, it is important to clarify that the authors of the Torreznos investigation were not, in fact, as forthcoming about their findings as many media outlets claim. They never try to convince us that eating torreznos is healthy. In fact, they wanted to provide more robust scientific research to replace what last year showed was even better than eating vegetables. They note that they may be harmless if taken. along with fiber-rich foods fried in extra virgin olive oil.. But let’s look at how they conducted their research to understand what led them to this conclusion.

First of all, there are two details that attract attention to this study. Firstly, although it was carried out by scientists from the Faculty of Dietetics of Soria, the funding comes from Caja Rural Foundation and the Association of Producers of Torrezno de Soria. Although they note that there is no conflict of interest, in fact it appears to be quite the opposite. On the other hand, the study only included 40 women, so it’s not a very large sample size.

Now, leaving that aside, let’s look at the procedure. The participants were divided into two groups. First, consumption 150 grams of toreznos weekly accompanied by 200 grams of vegetables, twice a week for fourteen weeks. At the same time, participants in the other group ate the same amount of torreznos, but without vegetables. Otherwise, the weekly diet was the same, since all participants from 18 to 90 years, they lived together in the same institution. It is noted that the portions were distributed by the abbess at the direction of the researchers, and the participants lived in isolation in the institution. This therefore suggests that this is a monastic convent. This is not relevant to the investigation other than the fact of coexistence, but it is interesting to note.

Is Torreznos healthy?

It was observed that parameters related to cardiovascular health did not deteriorate and that when they took toreznos along with vegetables, blood levels dropped. cholesterol and triglycerides and waist circumference was reduced in people with very high body mass index.

This does not mean that torreznos are healthy. However, if a small dose of this processed meat is taken along with good portion of vegetables, health benefits can be experienced as part of the Mediterranean diet. The study authors note that the fiber contained in vegetables has a positive effect on fat metabolism. But this does not mean that it is torreznos that bring benefits. Simply put, if you don’t take too much and the rest of your diet is healthy, the effects don’t seem very harmful.

This happens with any food. It is important know the risks the foods we eat, but not to demonize them. We can continue to take them, but taking into account their effects and, above all, understanding that they should not form the basis of our diet. A good diet should not be based on prohibitions, but on information.

What about wine?

Much more controversial is the case of wine. We shouldn’t forget this Alcohol is a drug. Yes, it is a legal drug for adults in most cases, but it is a drug nonetheless.

Therefore, promoting its consumption under the guise of supposed health benefits is highly unethical. We might debate whether fats or sugars can be considered drugs, but the truth is that in low doses they are essential substances for our health. Without them we would not be alive. On the other hand, alcohol We don’t need this at all.

At the same time, the famous hypothesis about the benefits of alcohol is not based on any lies. Indeed, wine contains very useful substances, such as procyanidins, tannins and resveratrol. All of them have great cardioprotective and antioxidant powers. Most of these ingredients, especially tannins, are found in greater amounts in red wine. This is why it has traditionally been recommended to take care of heart health.

However, more and more research shows that these benefits do not compensate harm from alcohol. It’s true that heart health can be protected with moderate consumption, but even moderate alcohol consumption increases the risk of other diseases, such as cancer. Additionally, it is difficult to set safe limits because each person metabolizes alcohol differently. So the only way to know you are taking a 100% safe dose is to not take it.

Shouldn’t we drink alcohol?

Everyone can do what they want with information at their fingertips. This is also not about demonizing alcohol. But the differences with junk foods like torreznos are clear.

If we drink just one glass of wine a week or even once a day, the likelihood of developing cancer for this reason is extremely low. But not lower than someone who never drinks alcohol. With this in mind, we are the ones who decide what we want to do. Science gives us information, but we are the ones who ultimately use it as we see fit. Ultimately, these studies don’t lie. They just adapt.