Yet Another Reason to Eat Those Veggies ...
Monday September 1, 2008
Want another way to beat your risk of developing cancer? Eat those veggies! Sure they get a bad wrap for maybe not being the sexiest food, but when you learn about how Mother Nature does her job of protecting you and your loved ones in
"Plant-Based Flavonoids May Cut Ovarian Cancer Risk", you will want to make a concerted effort to keep those veggies a mainstay of your dinner table. What is so combative about your local green, you may ask? It's the
flavonoids, whose antioxidant chemicals are said to man up our defense systems. For ovarian cancer, researchers are theorizing that isoflavones and flavonols are what we'd like to especially thank. In a study that followed 1,031 women with epithelial ovarian cancer and 2,411 women who were cancer-free but had other serious medical problems,these women were divided into five groups and given varying amounts of flavonoids. The upshot? The women who had the "highest flavonol intake " were 37% less likely than the other women to contract ovarian cancer. Isoflavones also cut this cancer risk down by 49%. Need I say more? Bon appetit!
Talk About Messing Up My Meditation
Monday August 25, 2008
It seems that with each day, a new carcinogenic, or cancer causer, is brought to our collective attentions. If we are not told to stay away from microwaves, be aware of grilling temperatures or freezing that gym water bottle, we are consistently bombarded with new, albeit intriguing ways, to get cancer. Well, get your pens out, because here's another cancer causer to add to your list: incense. Yes, incense. So even if your instructor doesn't light a stick of frankincense and myrrh while you are in Downward Dog position, you may be exposed to incense while smoking your house out or practically floating in its varieties of aromas and flavors at your local church or temple — this has been my experience, at least. In the article
"Long-Term Exposure to Incense Raises Cancer Risk," study author Jeppe Friborg, MD, PhD, of the department of epidemiology research at Statens Serum Institute in Copenhagen, Denmark, discusses his findings, which surveyed more than 61,000 cancer-free Singapore Chinese between the ages of 45 and 74. His findings showed that because the smoke contains carcinogenic substances, those who were exposed to incense over a long period of time, irrespective if they were smokers or nonsmokers, almost doubled their risk of squamous cell carcinogens in their upper respiratory tract. Go figure. And although the article says, "There was no overall increased risk of lung cancer, but it did heighten the risk of squamous cell carcinoma of the lung," even the American Lung Association is officially adding incense to its list of risk factors. Hmm. Of course, one wouldn't compare incense to the risky behavior of smoking cigarette packs every day, but I do think it would be wise to minimize your personal exposure to it (read: you really don't have to tell me twice). One question lingers, though: What am I to use for my home air freshener now?
Can Vitamin B Protect You from Pesky Mosquitoes?
Monday August 18, 2008
Over the years, one of vitamin B's believed benefits is that it will protect you from mosquitoes. Supposedly, vitamin B creates such an unpleasant odor through one's pores that mosquitoes are forced to stay away from their prospective meal (that's you!). Two studies were conducted both stateside and abroad (Brazil) to determine if this urban legend was myth or truth. Indeed, both studies results are in accord: vitamin B will not protect you from these mini vampires. To get the full report, read
The New York Times' http:www.nytimes.com/2008/08/12/health/12real.html?_r=1&ref=health&oref=slogin">"The Claim: Vitamin B Can Ward off Mosquitoes." Where did I put those candles again ... ?
What is DHEA and What Should I Know About It?
Monday August 4, 2008
DHEA, short for dehydroepiandrosterone, is a hormone that's produced in the body and is converted into male and female hormones. Our natural DHEA levels typically peak in our 20s and decline with age, which is why there has been considerable interest in DHEA's role in the aging process and whether taking DHEA supplements can slow or reverse some of the signs of aging.
Although DHEA has become popular as a nutritional supplement, it's important to remember that it's also a hormone. Taking too much of it can disrupt our body's hormonal balance and cause side effects. Find out more about what DHEA is, the benefits of taking DHEA, and the possible side effects and safety concerns.
What You Need to Know About DHEA
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