Thais get much less cancer than other people

[mike chan]

A recent study showed that eating lemon grass in food or drinks prevents cancer from developing because the citral chemical found mainly in lemon grass kills cancer cells efficiently but not other healthy normal cells.I was also informed by a Thai relative that Thais seldom contract cancer....Is it probable that as a result of Thais consuming lemon grass often, their rate of cancer is significantly lower than that of other countries esp those whose people do not use lemongrass in their foods?Will someone in the know kindly confirm that Thais are quite immune to cancer? Here in Singapore,my relatives and friends are dropping dead one after another from deadly cancer!

[mike chan]

Yes, after waiting so long for verification of the above subj, some kind soul has emailed to me an article written some years back that included a study by WHO that the cancer rate in Thailand was the lowest among 50 countries surveyed.But the author said that it was not solely the lemongrass but the Thai diet as a whole esp the coconut that gave Thais good health and strong immunity from cancer and other deadly disease.I wld be grateful if any reader could post that particular WHO survey here or to me via email.Cheers to Thailand and the Thai cuisine!

[june]

Miky, :-)

I would like to let you know for thai herbals.
well, normally we have many food and herbals and use them for make food.
not only lemon grass.:-)

however, lemon grass is famous ingredient also.

example:
curry paste
have lemon grass, chili, galic and vegetable
tamarin all help to reducing the risk of cancer.


:-) thaks for cheers for thai food.
e\

[Harveychute Boldertude]

I can only comment on cancer caused by asbestos, my area of interest. Officially, here in Thailand, no cases of asbestos related cancer have ever been reported to the relevant authorities. Is this good news? No, it is not! Thailand is the fourth largest asbestos importer in the world today and safety controls as to its use are virtually non existent. Cases of lung cancer and mesothelioma have not been reported because either there is an official cover up of the problem (definitely in my view) to protect powerful commercial interests, or surveillance programs are so inadequate that deaths never reach the books.
Here's something to think about the next time you hear the high pitched wine of a small hand held circular saw: If the material being sawn is cement coloured the chances are that it contains about 15 percent asbestos. The dust released from sawing contains about 25 respirable fibers per ml of air, or 10,000 times the occupational safety limit enforced in the US. Now ask yourself where the dust ends up? Everywhere!
The most ubiquitous source of asbestos is probably Shera, manufactured by Siam Cement. You can buy this product in any builder's supply store and it is extensively used in residential buildings. If you have time,perhaps you might contact Siam Cement to explain why there are no signs on the packaging alerting workers a as to the asbestos content. My enquiries got nowhere, but perhaps you'll be more successful.

Yours sincerely,
Harveychute Boldertude.

[surinfarm]

Sure. Makes sense. Lifestyle, diet, and exposure have much to do with comparative cancer rates. Even 75-100 years ago, cancer was rare in this part of the world. Though, with the introduction of outside influences, those rates tend to be changing.

[wilko]

A whole load of presumptions there too.
Historically the history of cancer is largely guesswork and as pointed out above - accurate reporting of cancers in Thailand - whatever kind will be highly unlikely.

[surinfarm]

A whole load of presumptions there too.
Historically the history of cancer is largely guesswork and as pointed out above.

Indeed. What might not be presumed or guesswork is the overwhelmingly rate of cancers throughout "contemporary" industrial societies and those same that invented a harmful diet.

[wilko]

Actually the histories of the M-MANY types of cancers is very vague - as they were often incorrectly diagnosed. Even the reports of the report above state that it must be taken very carefully as it does not specify which cancers.

Whereas diet and of course alcohol are linked to cancers of various types there are many other factors that make people susceptible to cancers - especially environment in particular smoking - which is hugely prevalent in S.E. Asia. or sm - so sweeping statements about Western diet are not indicative of a league tale of cancer, especially when you label ALL cancers as one. nothing is a given here excet perhaps the sloppy reporting of the research itself.