Here’s a story that gives me an opportunity to discuss something that’s been on my mind for a couple of years.

I had been visiting my brother-in-law at his silicon factory when we began to speak about research studies.

My brother-in-law is a scientist.

He explained to me how many “studies” that were being released took data that was collected for other reasons and re-purposed that data to extract other conclusions.

So we see many of these studies that are long-term and involve thousands of people cropping up.

But most of these “new” studies are based on the same data set.

Here’s the point.

We already live in a society in which obesity is a problem.

Now, is it more responsible to recommend to people that they minimize sweets and eat nutritious foods to minimize the risk of heart disease, or is it better to tell them to eat chocolate – but just a little!

Who on earth eats “just a square” of chocolate?

Come on.

I’m beginning to resent studies like this getting widespread media coverage when real solutions don’t receive a nod.

It’s almost like there’s money in it for them if obesity remains a problem …

Daily aspirin use is known almost as a panacea for heart attack and stroke prevention. Although for some it is indeed beneficial, the bottom line is you need to check with your doctor before starting on a daily aspirin regimen.

The report offers detail, but in broad strokes, the following people should NOT take aspirin daily:

Men under 45 years old
Women under 55 years old
Anyone over 80 years old

In general, men over 45 and women over 55 who have risk factors for heart disease should consult with a doctor and weight the benefits against the risks. Risks include upper and lower GI bleeding.