Topical CBD can’t benefit deep joints
Dear Dr. Roach: In your recent column about the rodeo roper with osteoarthritis, you didn’t mention topical CBD. My severely disfigured proximal thumb and index finger have responded, with reduced pain and swelling. I also use a splint and brace.
K.L.F.
Answer: Topical cannabidiol, a chemical component of cannabis, has been shown to be effective in some small studies. The risk of harm is low with topical CBD. As always, there is a risk that the product may contain THC, the main psychoactive component of cannabis. However, THC is not absorbed well (or at all) through the skin, so for topical use, that’s not so much of a concern. Pain creams are most useful for joints very close to the skin, such as on the hand, knee or elbow. Because the hip is so deep, topical agents including CBD or NSAIDs (such as diclofenac) are likely to be ineffective.
Dear Dr. Roach: Is there any truth to the rumor that if you fry with olive oil it is cancer-causing?
H.B.
Answer: No.
Not all cancers can be prevented. Some are due to combinations of genes and bad luck, or environmental factors such as air pollution. However, there are activities that can raise or lower cancer risk compared with a general population. Smoking is probably the biggest one. Alcohol also increases risk of many cancers, as does obesity and a sedentary lifestyle.
Diet is also clearly linked to cancer risk. Eating processed meats, charred meats and ultra processed foods all have been associated with an increase in different cancer risks. So, if you fry a processed meat in olive oil, it is still harmful as it relates to cancer risk. However, the olive oil itself, whether consumed raw like in a salad dressing or used to cook, is not carcinogenic (cancer-causing). Most studies have found that a diet high in fruits and vegetables decreases cancer risk.
What you are frying is more important than what you are frying it in, from the standpoint of cancer risk. For heart disease, olive oil is high in monounsaturated fat, which is associated with a lower risk of heart disease than other types of fats in oils.