Don’t use cobra venom for arthritis

Dear Dr. Roach: A friend of mine who is a physican has recommended cobra venom for my arthritis. Have you heard of this?

M.G.

Answer: Cobra venom has been used in traditional Chinese medicine and in Ayurvedic medicine for many years, and there is evidence in animal models of effectiveness. Clinical trials in Western medicine, some dating back to the 1940s, have generally failed to show a benefit of snake venoms in arthritis, although (perhaps surprisingly) there was not much toxicity.

I have read some promising research, but in absence of good data, I can’t recommend it.

Dear Dr. Roach:

Iam 40 and have been diagnosed with three separate primary cancers in my life. My genetic testing came back normal. I am wondering if there are any dietary changes I can make (other than a standard healthy diet) for prevention?

Answer:

T.W.

I can understand why you would want to do anything you can to prevent future cancers given your history.

Most cancers are, essentially, bad luck. You ran across something to cause cancer at the wrong time. That could be environmental (there are many carcinogens — cancer-causing chemicals — in the air, water and soil).

Your DNA might have been hit by a gamma ray from the cosmos (literally), or you might have been affected by radiation in building materials. There is no way, unfortunately, to protect yourself 100% from cancer.

There are dietary factors that protect against cancer. A diet rich in fruits, vegetables, legumes, nuts and whole grains has been shown to reduce cancer risk.

Processed meats, including smoked meats, increase cancer risk and should be avoided. The jury is out on red meat, but meat cooked at very high temperatures is clearly carcinogenic.

While this is a standard healthy diet, it’s not what most North Americans eat. If it were, there would be a whole lot less cancer and heart disease.