Cancer | Health & Wellness

A Thick Waist Equals Higher Death Risk

298x232 chubby belly pinch 298x232 chubby belly pinch A Thick Waist Equals Higher Death Risk Sometimes even people who aren’t overweight have a big belly. Now, scientists are saying this belly bulge can be deadly.

In a new study that examined the dangers of abdominal fat from the Archives of Internal Medicine, researchers found that both women and men with big waistlines have a greater risk of dying up to a decade sooner than those with average or normal waistlines.

According to the Wall Street Journal, average waistlines have been expanded about one inch per decade since 1960 and seems to be a growing problem. About 50% of men and 70% of women over 50 have larger waistlines than what is deemed as average. The scary truth – even if you’re of an average weight for your height, but have belly bulge, it’s deadly.

Abdominal fat has been most commonly linked to deaths of respiratory illnesses, heart disease and cancer. If you or someone you know more in the midsection than healthy, make sure they start getting plenty of cardiovascular activity. Abdominal exercises won’t help until they cut the fat first.

Breast Cancer: Protect Yourself With Nutrition

breastcancernutrition 220x300 Breast Cancer: Protect Yourself With Nutrition Who among us doesn’t know somebody who has dealt with breast cancer? I count myself lucky that I know many more survivors than I do those who have lost their battle. Getting mammograms as recommended by your doctor is important for early detection, but you can also take proactive measures to protect yourself from breast cancer.

There are many risk factors for cancer; some, such as family history and age, can’t be controlled. But other risk factors, such as your weight, are in your control. While the American Cancer Society states that the link between weight and breast cancer is conflicting and complex, factors such as gaining weight in adulthood and carrying more weight around your waist can increase your breast cancer risk. The ACS recommends staying at a healthy weight to reduce your risk. A light, nutritious diet and a regular exercise routine will help you maintain a healthy weight. But, for added protection, you can also incorporate some diet-friendly foods with cancer-fighting properties.

- Almonds, olive oil and avocados contain oleic acid, an Omega-9 fatty acid that helps kill cancer cells.

- Barley, oats, beans and ground flaxseed contain lignans, a phytochemical that may make estrogen less biologically active and may reduce cancer-related growths.

- Dark chocolate, purple grape juice and red wine contain flavonoids which repel free radicals. Just don’t go overboard on the chocolate and wine!

- Dark-green vegetables (e.g. kale, spinach or broccoli) and deep-orange fruits and vegetables (e.g. squash, carrots or mangoes) contain vitamin A which is thought to reduce the damage free radicals create in the body.

- Green leafy vegetables, peas, beans and citrus fruits contain folate. A Swedish study concluded that women with high folate levels had a 44 percent lower risk of getting breast cancer.

- Tomatoes, watermelon and guava contain lycopene, which may inhibit the growth of breast cancer cells.

- Cruciferous vegetables such as cauliflower, broccoli, cabbage and Brussels sprouts contain sulforaphane which inhibits the growth and spread of cancer cells.

- Fatty fish (e.g. salmon) and eggs contain vitamin D which has been linked to lowered breast cancer risk. You can also find vitamin D in fortified milk and orange juice.

The ABC’s of Skin Cancer

skincancer 298x300 The ABCs of Skin Cancer About 68,720 new cases of melanoma were diagnosed in the United States in 2009 –- which is the deadliest form of skin cancer. If you pay attention to your skin, you may be able to detect the signs of melanoma at an early stage – and if caught early, the chances of survival are far greater.

What changes do you need to look out for? The most important factor is to learn to pay attention to your moles. Learn the ABC’s:

Asymmetry - if your mole is not symmetrical
Border irregularities - if the border seems uneven
Color variations – if it’s not one consistent shade
Diameter – if it’s bigger than an eraser of a pencil
Evolution – if it changes or just recently popped up

If you notice any of your moles have any of the irregularities as mentioned above, consult your dermatologist. You should go for a full body mole-mapping at least once a year. To keep yourself protected year round – make sure you wear an SPF of 15 or higher with UVA and UVB protection.

Eat This to Help Prevent Skin Cancer

salmonmedley 200x300 Eat This to Help Prevent Skin Cancer Being a huge beauty junkie and health freak – I will never tell you not to apply (and re-apply) your SPF. However, research shows that what you eat can also help protect you from sun.

If you’re a fan of Mediterranean food, then you’re in luck. The diet consisting of fish –- which is filled with omega-3 fatty acids –- veggies and herbs may help prevent you from getting melanoma. Studies in the International Journal of Epidemiology suggest a Mediterranean diet, which has a host of other health benefits as well, can actually cut your risk of getting deadly skin cancer in half.

The news sounds as delicious as the meal. One of my favorite Mediterranean inspired meals? Salmon Medley — it’s simple to whip together, low-fat and oh-so-good for you: 4 oz. grilled salmon coated in pistachios, 1 cup of spinach, 1/4 cup of carrots, 1/4 cup of cucumbers and a 1/2 cup of wild rice.

Yum!

Can The Pill Make Your Life Longer?

thepill 300x200 Can The Pill Make Your Life Longer? New research finds that women who take birth control pills may live longer — despite warnings about blood clot risks associated with the pill. In a long-term study of more than 45,000 women, Scottish researchers found that women who use oral contraceptives had lower rates of death due to cancers, heart disease and stroke.

Because the study looked at women over the past forty years, lead researcher Philip Hannaford did qualify the findings, saying:

“It would be wrong for me to say these results directly apply to today’s pills, today’s women, but from the few studies that have been done on the newer pills we are finding similar effects as the older pills. So one would suppose that the overall benefit from the newer pills is equally as good.”

But ultimately, the findings do indicate that birth control pills do protect women from serious illness and could make us live longer.

Red Wine, Dark Chocolate Kill Cancer

redwinechocolate1 199x300 Red Wine, Dark Chocolate Kill Cancer Even though we knew that red wine and dark chocolate have health benefits, a new study finds that the two are actually potent medicine for killing cancer.

In addition to blueberries, garlic and some teas, Angiogenesis Foundation leader William Li told attendees at the TED Conference in California that red wine and dark chocolate also have cancer-fighting qualities.

“What we eat is really our chemotherapy three times a day,” he said. The foods appear to cut off the blood supply to tumors and quite literally starve them to death. The Foundation went as far as to say that certain foods — like soy, parsley and red grapes — are as effective if not more than FDA approved drugs in battling cancer cells.

So, this Valentine’s Day, indulge in a nice glass of Cabernet and some chocolates without the guilt!

Soda Linked to Pancreatic Cancer

soda 300x198 Soda Linked to Pancreatic Cancer A new study links sugary sodas to pancreatic cancer — a rare, deadly cancer that recently took the life of actor Patrick Swayze.

Researchers at the University of Minnesota found that people who drink only two or more sugar-sweetened, carbonated beverages per week have a much higher risk of pancreatic cancer. The study of more than 60,000 people found that those who drank mostly fruit juice instead of soda did not have the same risk.

“The high levels of sugar in soft drinks may be increasing the level of insulin in the body, which we think contributes to pancreatic cancer cell growth,” lead researcher Mark Pereira said.

7000 Women Misdiagnosed with Breast Cancer Each Year

breastcancer 201x300 7000 Women Misdiagnosed with Breast Cancer Each Year In a new study by UK’s NHS, more than 7,000 women were found to be misdiagnosed with breast cancer. Researchers claim that thousands of women who get routine breast cancer screenings are mistakenly told that they have life-threatening cancer and undergo unnecessary treatment each year.

In the cases cited by the study, women who have non-malignant tumors undergo surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy — treatments that are potentially harmful themselves. The non-life threatening tumors can alternatively be removed by conventional methods.

Researchers are suggesting improvements in treatment, rather than detection through screening, however. The study cautions physicians from ‘over-diagnosing’ their patients.