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BIKERNET STUDY AIMS TO SORT OUT ALCOHOL USAGE– WASHINGTON (AP) — Alcohol is the Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde of the medical world: Drinking too much causes serious problems, while drinking a little may help many people’s health.
How many drinks provide just the benefits and not the harm? It depends on whether a person is most at risk of heart disease, diabetes or breast cancer. But there is one bottom line: Five or six drinks only on Saturday night will provide no benefits, while a drink or two a night might.
So concludes an exhaustive new analysis by the National Institutes of Health that sorts out a plethora of sometimes conflicting research on alcohol’s effects.
The review was prompted by cardiologists’ complaints that patients suddenly were asking if they should start imbibing, and how much. Other research is overturning the dogma that people at risk of diabetes should abstain; still more links even light drinking to breast cancer.
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Adding confusion, people are vulnerable to more than one disease as they age. A 50-year-old woman with breast cancer in the family might get very different advice on alcohol than one who’s pre-diabetic with high cholesterol.
Hence NIH’s review:
“We are not encouraging anybody to start drinking,” stresses Lorraine Gunzerath of the NIH’s National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcohol, who led the analysis published last month in the journal Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research.
After all, alcoholism remains a major health problem, and people with liver disease may not tolerate even moderate drinking.
Instead, the report, aimed at people who already drink some, concludes that to get alcohol’s potential health benefits, how much those people can consume must be customized by their age, gender and overall medical history.
For many of these diseases, “If you do drink moderately now, fear … is not a reason to stop,” explains Gunzerath. “Some people have said, `Should I stop now because there’s diabetes in my family?’ Well, if you’re a moderate drinker, there’s some protection.”
As population-wide advice, consuming two drinks a day for men and one a day for women is linked to lower mortality and unlikely to harm, the review found. Men shouldn’t exceed four drinks on any day, and women three – bingeing is simply bad.
But NIH’s disease-by-disease findings provide better details:-Studies consistently show that in people 40 or older, consuming one to four drinks daily significantly reduces the risk of heart disease, the nation’s leading killer. In contrast, five or more drinks daily markedly increases heart risk.
However, frequency seems key. Consuming smaller amounts several times a week – one or two daily or every other day – is most heart-protective. It apparently takes low, regular alcohol exposure to help raise levels of the body’s so-called good cholesterol, the HDL type, and to thin blood.
-The alcohol-breast cancer link remains controversial. Some studies suggest a small increase in risk, that roughly 9 in 100 nondrinkers may get breast cancer by age 80 compared with 10 in 100 women who consume two drinks a day. Per person, that’s a tiny risk.
But women whose mothers or sisters had breast cancer, or those taking post-menopausal estrogen replacement, are at greater risk from alcohol. Those women, Gunzerath says, must weigh the fear of breast cancer against their risk of heart disease in deciding whether to avoid alcohol.
-One to two drinks a day several days per week seems to lower the risk of Type 2 diabetes, a disease rising at epidemic proportions.
Low levels of alcohol apparently help the body use insulin to process blood sugar better. The benefit was seen among the overweight and those with “metabolic syndrome,” a cluster of pre-diabetic weight-related symptoms that include high blood pressure and poor cholesterol.
-There’s no known safe level of alcohol consumption during pregnancy, but what about while breast-feeding? Nursing mothers who want an occasional drink should consume it several hours before the next feeding, enough time to metabolize the alcohol so little reaches the infant. And contrary to folklore, alcohol does not aid lactation but temporarily decreases milk production.
How much is a drink a day? Five ounces of wine, 12 ounces of beer or 1.5 ounces of distilled spirits. To help people add that up, consumer groups are pushing for alcohol containers to list serving sizes and the moderate-drinking advice; the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau hasn’t yet responded.
By LAURAN NEERGAARD,AP Medical Writer
–from Rogue
STEALTH RUN FOR BREATH REPORT–The 6th Annual Run For Breath “In Memory of Justin Pullin” was held this past Sunday (July 25) here in Charlotte. It turned out to be our most successful Run For Breath ever. Before I get into the actual run itself, I want to give you some idea of what took place and what it took to make the RFB happen this year, so stay with me!
This was the most trying and toughest year as far as putting on the RFB. As far as our volunteer staff, we were hit with illness and we lost a member of our staff. Two of our members were diagnosed with breast cancer. They both are doing better. and we are all very thankful for that. Sandy’s (aka Meanest) mom, Jean passed away in April. Not only did we lose a great volunteer, we all lost a great friend. This took a toll on all of us but we pulled together to help the Meanest, and although it will never be the same, life has calmed. On top of all of this, at times I became very frustrated with the way the RFB was progressing. The MEANEST and I had discussed calling it quits after this year and had nearly sealed the deal. A couple of weeks ago, Carmen, the director of Camp Air Care, a camp for kids with asthma, came by to pay us a visit at work. The proceeds from the RFB go to Camp Air Care. Carmen presented us with a framed picture of all the kids at the camp holding a banner saying “Thanks for Supporting Camp Air Care”. It hit me pretty hard and I started to rethink. Rolling into Sunday the fate of the Run For Breath was still not clear.
Then the day started out with 150 riders meeting at the STEALTH headquarters. This was by far the most riders ever, usually we have around 60. As the time approached to pull out, I was startled by how many people were telling us how much they looked forward to the RFB and how much it means to them. The MEANEST noticed also. As we picked up the police escort to Ben’s V-Twins, the sign up location for the RFB, I looked in my mirror and saw the ribbon of bikes that followed, and I told Meanest that this is what makes all the work worthwhile. The riders who followed said the line of bikes was a mile long! Ben Edwards and his wife Robin are the hosts every year for the RFB poker run registration and always do a great job. We rolled out of Ben’s lot and proceeded to the memorial stop at the cemetery. This is always the toughest part of the run for me and I always feel the pain of losing Justin. This year the stop was even harder as we also paid our respects at Jean’s (Sandy’s mom) gravesite, since she was such a big part of the RFB.
We headed onto Tumbleweeds Bar & Grill for the bike show and music. Speaking of music we were in for a BIG surprise later in the day. As things started to unfold, The Meanest asked if she could make an announcement. I told her to go ahead. I had no idea what she had to say. She told the crowd about how much work and time went into the run and how we had pretty much decided to call it quits, but that after everyone had expressed how much the RFB means to the biker community here in Charlotte that there would be a 7th Annual Run For Breath “In Memory of Justin Pullin”. The crowd responded with a big round of applause and I was blown away. The announcement made the day for me! “Thanks Meanest,” my heart really wasn’t into calling it quits!
More bikes rolled into the lot and signed ups for the bike show than ever before. Speaking of the bike show, the awards were unreal! There was a crowd at the awards table all day and the best of show award by Mr. Bandit had it’s own table and was closely guarded all day with threats of bodily harm from me if anything happened to it! A total of 88 bikes competed for the awards and by the pictures you can see they were all top notch sleds. We had modern choppers, old school choppers, mild customs and even stockers, a little of everything!
New to the RFB this year, we gave away three awards for the riders who rode the longest distance. That’s what it is all about, right, RIDING! A lady from Long Island, NY took first, Fritz from Indiana second and Milo from Virginia took third. No matter where you live think about riding to the RFB next year. Also unique to the RFB, we give awards for the top sponsors, so there is always something for everyone!
As the judges’ sheets were being tallied we were paid a surprise visit by the KING himself, that’s right ELVIS! He performed for about forty five minutes and the crowd really got into it.
It was finally time for the bike show awards to be handed out. One thing I noticed about the awards, since they are all built out of motorcycle parts and by bike builders, not only locally but from places as far away as California, Detroit, Indiana and Puerto Rico, there seems to be quite a competition growing among the builders. This can only mean one thing, bigger and better awards! Maybe next year we will let the crowd pick the best of the lot! Thanks to everyone who took the time to make the awards. The list is too long to name you all, but you know who you are and how much your efforts are appreciated.
I have kept you in suspense long enough, the winner of the best of show award was Ben Edwards, owner of Ben’s V-Twins. His ’47 Knucklehead, “old school chopper” is a bike that would make any HORSE reader proud. Ben was blown away and Mr. Bandit’s award will be on display at his parts counter.
One part of the Run For Breath that doesn’t get mentioned much is the people that the MEANEST and I get to meet through the run. People like Bandit, Nyla, Jose, and the list goes on. This year we had the pleasure of meeting Fritz and his wife Brenda who rode in from Indiana. Fritz also made three killer awards for the bike show. Fritz is the real deal as far as bikers go. Fritz, you and Brenda always have a place to stay here in Charlotte!
So as the books were closed on the 6th Annual Run For Breath “In Memory of Justin Pullin,” it goes down as the most successful, raising $9000.00! It will also go down as one the most memorable. The one where it almost came to a close. I think, though, it will go down as the one that makes the RFB solid for years to come.
I’m gonna close out now and I want to thank all of our sponsors and all of our volunteers, without you the RFB would not be the success it is. Thanks again to all who made awards, you have made the bike show grow. Thanks to all who came up and expressed their feeling as to what the RFB means to you. Thanks to all who participated, the RFB has always been about you, you all are the stars of the RFB! Finally thanks to MEANEST. You made the most important announcement in RFB history!
As always we will be looking to improve this event for next year’s Run For Breath. Stay tuned right here for upcoming info. All of you are invited to the 7th Annual Run For Breath “In Memory of Justin Pullin.” Mark your calendars for Sunday, July 24, 2005.
The RFB LIVES ON!
–STEALTHMAN
BIKERNET CARIBBEAN REPORT–The calm after the storm. Everything is shipped and on its way to the US. Soon we will be rolling up and down Interstates heading to the Black Hills, as well as half a million others; we are heading to Mecca. This year is pretty cool, as you know the Bob’s Back event by Michael Lichter is taking place at the Journey Museum and we are some of the few chosen ones. It?s a tribute to David Mann, who well deserves it, but at most it will be a very cool reunion of friends who are into old school. I would dare say (without including myself and daring to sound cocky) the best of the best on Old school builders in the nation. There?s a group of friends that I call the band of the hand, at most will be there. These guys are the mark in which old school building is reborn, or not reborn, but those carrying the torch. To anyone that is able to make it, it will be well worth it. I for one can’t wait to see all the other bobbers that will be displayed.
On the same front, I have been getting reports of magazines here and there with a lot of interest on the styles of bikes we are building. Kopteri has done a pretty good spread on Puerto Rico and my friend Lojacks pan in its latest issue (if anyone has it, send me one please). Hardcore choppers from Japan went all the way to the Smoke Out to do the proper and Vibes from Japan as well had a pretty cool spread of the old school stuff in Daytona, including Fabricator Kevin’s shovel and many others. Even the new Chopper mag from Hawaii is jumping on the bandwagon and has just gotten a hold of yours truly as a monthly contributor.
Just as an example, an old school bob was the favorite bike at the Choppers Only show, which means a lot. The ripples on all this are obviously becoming waves. I have been predicting the demise of wide tires and going back to the old ways. We are building 5 right now and they keep coming in through our doors on a weekly basis, so why all this crap about old school bikes?
Well, it’s pretty simple; to me we?re all are part of this lifestyle to be unique, to be different. When the things that are done become mainstream, some of us need to part from that sameness. Don?t get me wrong, many of us have always done the same things and gone against the current trends, but we also need to show, as shop owners and builders what we are capable of doing, and sometimes what the customer wants, since we all have bills to pay. I try to bend people to follow what I like doing, or what I personally believe is cool, but like everything, it?s just an uphill process and struggle.
Like once upon a time (and not so long ago) we did custom bikes to be set apart from the stock Harley cool crowd. Then did whole customs for the same reasons. Now all these choppers are the latest fad, so people went back to jockey shift, kick-start and no front brakes, why? Not everyone can ride a jockey rigid with kick-start and no front brake, as simple as that. There?s some stuff and some talents that can’t be bought, no matter how big the bank account or how bright the credit card. I might not be getting a call from Discovery channel for the next build off nor getting covers on The Horse, but I’m certainly enjoying building the bikes I like and lots of em. Like I have said many times before, my biggest accomplishment is being able to reach all of you. Here, in magazines and any other media outlet, from a place that will not sound like a hot bed for bike building and still brings weird gestures form peoples faces when mentioned. Puerto Rico, with the liabilities and distance that is implies.
There’s very good projects on the making for these upcoming months. Good or bad, nothing beats getting together with a bunch of friends, all on Pans and Shovels and cruising down the beach roads, just like we did 15 years ago at the beginning. No worries, no egos, no nothing, just a gang of big kids having a blast, slapping those jockeys and setting off car alarms with those shotgun pipes…..
I will be on the road next week, but will try to squeeze a short report if possible.
As always……without history, there’s no future.
Jose – Bikernet Caribbean Reporter…..
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