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A recent large scale study has found that diets high in typical Southern foods (fried foods, sweet tea, etc.) can increase the risk of stroke 41 - 63%.
University of Alabama at Birmingham researchers found that people who regularly ate foods traditionally found in the southern diet had a whopping 41 percent increased risk of stroke -- and in African-Americans, it was 63 percent higher risk.
The researchers presented these results Thursday at the annual International Stroke Conference in Hawaii.
"Diet is an understudied risk factor for stroke," said lead study author Suzanne Judd, PhD, of the University of Alabama at Birmingham. "What was surprising about what we found was that when eating certain foods in the southern diet -- fried foods, organ meats, gizzards, sweet tea -- even when you account for other factors such as smoking, obesity, and physical activity, people still experienced a 30 percent increase in stroke risk."
Not every Southerner eats fried foods everyday, nor do we all cook like Paula Deen. And "organ meats" are just nasty IMO, most younger people won't eat that.
As for sweet tea, on a sweetness scale of 0-10 (zero being totally unsweet), I make mine about a 3.
There's nothing wrong with the occasional sauteed chicken hearts, and chopped liver on a rye bagel. Just like there's nothing wrong with a rare slice of pecan pie, and the twice-yearly barbequed spare ribs with macaroni and cheese and cornbread.
However, southerners who eat this kind of food regularly - are the ones they're talking about in the article. Not the person who has a little respect for his own body and chooses to consider these types of foods as occasional treats and not a standard menu.
I live in the upper south and have friends who were born here and are normal weight. Most are petite women. They love southern food but reserve those fatty dishes only for family gatherings and holidays when they are eaten in moderation.
As I posted in the other thread about this, what is a "southern diet". I've seen more obese people here in Colorado than I ever saw living in Arkansas. Not everyone in "the south" eats fried chicken and waffles every single day.
As I posted in the other thread about this, what is a "southern diet". I've seen more obese people here in Colorado than I ever saw living in Arkansas. Not everyone in "the south" eats fried chicken and waffles every single day.
That's strange because I considered Colorado to be among the leanest. Do you think findings like the ones below are misrepresentative?
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