McDougall discusses the potential positive effects of a low-fat vegan diet on Parkinson’s Disease, taking Michael J. Fox’s foundation to task: “Even though he has been reported to have an interest in vegetarian diets, his foundation has focused on stem cell research, which has been, and will likely continue to be, a dead-end path.”

This newsletter also features a lot of holiday recipes from chef Miyoko Schinner, including: Pumpkin Chestnut Soup, Squash Stuffed with Kale and Almond Risotto, Earthy Farro Risotto with Mushroom Medley, Yuba Turkey Loaf with Roasted Mushroom and Chard Stuffing or Wild Rice and Fennel Stuffing, Roasted Mushroom and Chard Stuffing, and Pumpkin Bread Pudding.

Overweight adults are more likely to die at any given point in time, compared with their normal-weight friends, according to a new study that looked at 1.46 million white adults in the National Cancer Institute Cohort Consortium studies. Overweight women were 13 percent more likely to die over a 10-year follow-up, while obese women had a 44 percent to 151 percent increased risk of dying, compared with those of normal weight. Men had similar increased risks.

Prior studies have shown nonvegetarians have higher BMIs than those who consume plant-based diets, putting them at greater risk.

de Gonzalez AB, Hartge P, Cerhan JR, et al. Body-mass index and mortality among 1.46 million white adults. N Engl J Med. 2010;363:2211-2219.

Spencer EA, Appleby PN, Davey GK, Key TJ. Diet and body-mass index in 38000 EPIC-Oxford meat-eaters, fish-eaters, vegetarians, and vegans. Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord. 2003;27:728-734.

It takes an average of 6.8 years for a pancreatic cancer cell to spread to other organs, and an average of 2.7 years from then until the patient’s death, according to a new study published in the journal Nature. Researchers used genetic testing methods to detect cancer progression by identifying specific genes thought to influence cancer growth. These timelines for disease progression may be useful for new screening methods in hopes of detecting cancer earlier.

Meanwhile, an Italian study in Cancer Causes and Control shows that diets rich in fruits and vegetables can reduce pancreatic cancer risk. Those who consumed the most fruits and vegetables had an estimated 40 percent decreased risk, compared with those who ate the least. The study found that frequent meat consumption can double risk and that table sugar and white potatoes also increase risk. The researchers suspect insulin resistance may play a role in pancreatic cancer.

Yachida S, Jones S, Bozic I, et al. Distant metastasis occurs late during the genetic evolution of pancreatic cancer. Nature. 2010;467:1114-1117.

Polesel J, Talamini R, Negri E, et al. Dietary habits and risk of pancreatic cancer: an Italian case-control study. Cancer Causes Control. 2010;21:493-500.