Can You Reduce Your Risk of Breast Cancer?
We hear it all the time?lose weight for your health. Few people however, realize the extent to which this is critical to their physical well-being and ultimately their life expectancy.
In January 2003, the Journal of the American Medical Association featured a study finding that obesity appears to lessen life expectancy, especially among young adults. The researchers compared Body-Mass Index (BMI) to longevity and found a correlation between premature death and higher BMIs. For example, a 20-year-old white male, 5'10" weighing 288 pounds with a BMI of greater than 40 was estimated to lose 13 years of his life as a result of obesity.Jamie McManus, M.D., F.A.A.F.P. and author of "Your Personal Guide to Wellness" notes that while this study referenced extreme levels of obesity, there are still millions of overweight people in developed countries with a life expectancy rate that is three to five years less than their healthy-weight counterparts. She also estimates that there are 600,000 obesity related deaths each year in America.
Just how does obesity shorten our lifespan? The answer to this question is complex, yet there is a clear link between obesity and the development of cancer. An extensive study conducted by the American Cancer Institute involving 750,000 people showed that obesity significantly increased the risk of cancer developing in the following organs: breast, colon, ovaries, uterus, pancreas, kidneys and gallbladder.
Michael Thun, MD, vice-president of epidemiology and surveillance research for the American Cancer Society (ACS) says one reason obesity may raise cancer risk is because fat cells produce a form of estrogen called estradiol that promotes rapid division of cells, increasing chances of a random genetic error while cells are replicating, which can lead to cancer. In addition, fat centered around the abdomen may increase insulin and insulin-like growth factors in the blood, which may increase cancer risk.
"Women who are obese after menopause have a 50% higher relative risk of breast cancer," notes Thun, "and obese men have a 40% higher relative risk of colon cancer?. Gallbladder and endometrial cancer risks are five times higher for obese individuals".There is evidence that cancer rates in developed countries are increasing at 5 to 15 times faster than developing countries. A major contributor to this alarming reality has proven to be diet. In populations where the diet consists mostly of fresh fruit and vegetables and whole grains - in contrast to the typical Western diet of fatty meats, refined flours, oils and sugars - the risk of cancer is much lower.
The interaction of diet and the development of cancer is an active field of research and Dr David Heber, M.D., Ph.D. and author of "What Color is Your Diet", says "It appears that diet has its most significant effects after the cancer has already formed, acting to inhibit or stimulate the growth of that cancer". At the risk of oversimplifying a complex set of interactions, the typical Western diet that leads to obesity may actually act to stimulate the growth of cancer cells.It is never too late to improve your health through healthful eating and adopting a more health-giving lifestyle. Here are simple steps to follow which can make an immediate improvement to your health and vitality.
1. Check your Body Mass Index (BMI) to determine if weight has become health risk. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 60% of Americans are overweight, defined as having a BMI (a ratio of height to weight) over 25. Of those, nearly half (27%) qualify as obese, with a body mass index of 30 or more. In 1980, just 15% of Americans were considered obese. You can check your BMI at the website below.
2. Match your diet to your body's requirements. If you eat and drink more calories than your body requires you will put on weight. Learn to control calories and portion sizes, make recipes leaner, and eat infrequently from fast food restaurants. Also learn how to snack with healthful choices.
3. Color your diet with a large variety of colorful, cancer-fighting fruit and vegetables. There are seven different color ranges of both fruit and vegetables and by choosing between 5 to 9 daily serves from a wide range of fruit and vegetables, we are extending our consumption of cancer (and other disease) fighting nutrients.
4. Eat lean protein with every meal. Protein provides a powerful signal to the brain providing a longer sense of fullness. The right source of protein is essential to controlling your hunger with fewer calories and necessary to maintain your lean muscle mass. Choices of protein should be flavored soy shakes with fruit; the white meat of chicken and turkey, seafood such as shrimps, prawns scallops and lobster and ocean fish or vegetarians may prefer soy based meat substitutes.
5. Rev up your metabolism with activity. If you want to enjoy a lifetime of well-being, exercise is a key ingredient. Colleen Doyle, MS, RD, director of nutrition and physical activity for the American Cancer Society (ACS), says adults should do something for 30 minutes each day that takes as much effort as a brisk walk. Children should be active for an hour each day. We are more likely to develop habits around things we enjoy, so seek activities which you enjoy doing. It is also helpful to build physical activity into your daily routine: use the stairs instead of the escalator or lift at work, park your car in the parking bay furthest from the super marketing and don't use the remote control to change TV channels.
6. Get support to ensure you develop a healthful eating plan and reach your goal weight. Whilst a small percentage of people possess the discipline to lose weight, many obese people have developed strong thoughts and habits concerning the food they eat. In order to establish new habits, most people respond well to some form of consistent encouragement and coaching. A study, "Effects of Internet Behavioral Counseling on Weight Loss in Adults at Risk of Type 2 Diabetes" shows that participants who had the support of weight loss coaching lost more weight than those who didn't. The study concluded that the support of a weight loss coach can significantly improve weight loss results.
Being overweight or obese has been identified next to smoking, as the most preventable major risk to developing cancer. Even small weight losses have been shown to have beneficial health effects. So it's never to late to start and you can never be too young or too old to be concerned about your health and do something about achieving a more healthy weight.
(c) Copyright by Kim Beardsmore
Kim Beardsmore enjoys the flexibility of working from home. Are you interested in earning money from home? We're looking for individuals who have basic phone and internet skills to join our team of work-at-home-ers. If you're serious about earning money from home and are willing to work (this isn't 'get rich quick'), then we'd like to help you grow a profitable business. We offer complete training, online and offline resources and a partnership for success. http://free2liv.com/?refid=EA-567883373
Latest News
Those at risk for breast cancer are having mastectomies Newsday, NY - BY DELTHIA RICKS | delthia.ricks@newsday.com Women at elevated risk for breast cancer -- or a recurrence of the disease -- increasingly are choosing double ... Applegate and other high-risk women act fast against cancer Christina Applegate cancer free after double mastectomy Christina Applegate "100 Percent Clear" of Cancer |
Design Within Reach Fights Against Breast Cancer FOXBusiness - The proceeds from DWR's efforts will go to Susan G. Komen for the Cure -- the world's largest grassroots network of breast cancer survivors and activists. ... American Italian Pasta Company to Provide More Than 6000 Pounds of ... Design Within Reach Presses For Cancer Cure 3:20 pm - Next "Race for the Cure" is October 11 |
Zoledronic Acid Protects Bones of Women Getting Breast Cancer ... Washington Post, United States - 19 (HealthDay News) -- Zoledronic acid prevents bone loss in breast cancer patients undergoing endocrine therapy and improves bone mineral density after ... |
NL health authority revises number of patients retested for breast ... The Canadian Press, N.L. - JOHN'S, NL — Newfoundland's largest health authority has identified an additional 10 breast cancer patients who had their hormone receptor tests sent out of ... 10 more cancer patients' results sent for retesting, Eastern ... NL health corp. admits more patients got incorrect cancer tests |
 Canada.com | Windsor-India collaboration could yield cancer breakthrough Canada.com, Canada - Lab studies have shown that PST is particularly effective in targeting what are known as the estrogen-receptor-negative or "ER negative" breast cancer cells ... |
You Can Thrive! Provides Free Breast Cancer Wellness Services to ... Earthtimes (press release), UK - (http://www.youcanthrive.org), announced today that it has provided free breast cancer wellness services to its one hundredth client, Miranda James of ... |
Pancreatic Cancer Treatment Most Expensive ????(???), South Korea - This was followed by breast cancer treatment and mastectomy (11.1 days on average, W2.877 million), cervical cancer treatment and hysterectomy (8.3 days, ... |
ImClone Begins Phase III Study for Metastatic Breast Cancer FDA news (subscription), VA - ... III clinical trial of IMC-1121B, its antivascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2 monoclonal antibody, in women with metastatic breast cancer. ... |
New breast cancer clinic for Bunbury: Labor ABC Online, Australia - The Labor Party has promised to build a breast cancer screening and assessment clinic in Bunbury by the end of next year if it wins the state election. ... |
Breast cancer rates rise Peninsula On-line, Qatar - Doha • Cases of breast cancer are growing alarmingly in Qatar, according to an expert. On average, at least two cases of the cancer were reported every week ... |
Resources
-
Natural Cancer Treatments
Cure Cancer naturally. Over 350 natural Cancer treatments for Breast Cancer, prostate Cancer, lung Cancer, colon Cancer, skin Cancer, and every other type of Cancer. And over 2,000 testimonials that prove the treatments work!