Breast Cancer

‘Healthy Foods and Breast Cancer Awareness’-http://www.laurelonhealthfood.com, 02/10/08

Apparently October is National Breast Cancer Month.

Concord Grape Juice- the Journal of Medicinal Foods published a study that found that the Concord grape extract in purple Welch’s 100% Grape Juice has “breast cancer chemopreventive potential” because it protects healthy breast cells fron DNA damage.

Apple- according to research from Cornell University, natural chemicals in apple peels can inhibit breast, liver, and colon cancer cell growth

Milk- a study from the Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School found that pre-menopausal women who consume high amounts of vitamin D and calcium may reduce their risk of breast cancer by 40%.

Brussel Sprouts- a recent study has found Brussels sprouts to be powerful cancer fighters. Less than one cup of Brussels sprouts a day may reduce the risk of breast, liver,  colon, and bladder cancer and heart disease by up to 59% in women and 71% in men.

Broccoli Sprouts-the American Cancer Society says that a compound in broccoli sprouts, sulforaphane, may prevent and treat breast cancer, by causing the body to make more of the enzymes that fight-off cancer-causing chemicals

Olive Oil- Dr. Roizen and Dr. Oz say that a healthy fat in olive oil, oleic acid, “may help disarm a gene that prompts breast cancer cells to grow and divide.”

Fibre-Rich Foods- University of Leeds researchers have found that pre-menopausal women who eat 25-30g of fibre a day are 50% less likely to develop breast cancer than those who eat less fibre. Their findings showed that a high fibre diet helps to regulate estrogen levels which are associated with breast cancer.

 

This post would have interested worried about breast cancer, but for the majority of those who think ‘they’re ok’ the article may have seemed as if it didn’t concern them.

Each of the foods found to have a defending effect against breast cancer were separated into different paragraphs and highlighted in bold, so readers could easily just read the headings and know what food was good for defending breast cancer. Although the article included a picture at the end, it was quite long and would not have attracted many to read the post.

An apple a day keeps the doctor away

‘Apples Reduce Colon Cancer Risk’

- http://www.laurelonhealthfood.com, 10/09/08

 

The journal Nutrition published findings by German researchers; apples and apple juice can help you avoid colon cancer. In the body, the fruit causes biological mechanisms to produce compounds that have anti-carcinogenic effects in the colon.

The researchers believe that apple pectin (a soluble fibre and natural gelling agent) and apple juice extracts increase the level of a compound called butyrate. Butyrate works to decrease histone deacetylyases (HDAC). The smaller amount of HDAC produced, the less growth of precancerous cells and tumours.

 

Apples are a great source of fibre and I see many people in London eating apples as a snack since the government introduced the ’5-a-day’ campaign. It’s good to know there’s another benefit of eating apples.

The entry tended to repeat what it had already said in more difficult scientific terms, making it hard to follow.

 

Aging fine with resveratrol

‘New Research on Resveratrol’- http://www.laurelonhealthfood.com, 28/08/08

 

Studies have found resveratrol has strong anti-aging, anti-cancer and cardiovascular health benefits.

 

Summary-

Zhejiang University researchers in China found that resveratrol (compound found in red wine, grapes, grape juice, some berries, and peanuts) can significantly reduce blood pressure, heart rate, and renal sympathetic nerve activity, which implies that it could have a useful role in anti-aging therapy. In another study, the researchers found that resveratrol inhibits the accumulation of blood clots (which can cause a heart attack).

The Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry published a research that found that resveratrol selectively targets malignant (cancerous) cells and destroys them while allowing healthy cells to adjust. This is different to what happens in chemotherapy, where it kills cancerous cells but is also toxic to healthy cells.

The Apoptosis journal published findings that resveratrol and quercetin are able to prevent adeoxycholate from killing cells and causing disease. The findings show that resveratrol may help reverse the cell damage that causes colon cancer.

The Experimental Gerontology published research that found resveratrol can imitate calorie restriction by controlling ‘mitochondrial biogenesis and turnover, critical factors in the maintenance of energy production, the prevention of endogenous oxidative stress, and the promotion of healthy aging.’

 

Though the findings do not mean it’s okay to be drinking lots obviously. I’ve read a few articles in newspapers before about the benefits of drinking one or two glasses of red wine a day. The benefits of red wine are a popular topic discussed in the media, as with coffee.

This blog entry is easier to follow since it discusses just one topic, but sounds more medical and difficult to understand for those who simply want to stay healthy.

 

Filtering coffee

‘Sorting out coffee’s contradictions’ – Jane E. Brody, International Herald Tribune, 7/08/08

Another article I missed out in print.

The International Herald Tribune has recently published an article summarising coffee’s health pros and cons.

Just as I said in 2 posts before, ‘ Hardly a month goes by without a report that hails coffee, tea or caffeine as healthful or damns them as potential killers.’

‘Can all these often contradictory reports be right? Yes. Coffee and tea, after all, are complex mixtures of chemicals, several of which may independently affect health.’

I am going to condense the article a bit simpler.

 

Hydration- Although caffeinated beverages have long been thought as diuretics (something that increases the flow of urine), studies reviewed last year showed that people who drank up to 550mg of caffeine produced no more urine than when they drank caffeine-free beverages. Above 575mg, caffeine was a diuretic. Therefore, drinks containing usual amounts of caffeine (less than 550mg), are hydrating.

Heart disease- Heart patients, especially those with high blood pressure are often told to avoid caffeine (a known stimulant). But studies have found that there is “little evidence that coffee and/or caffeine in typical dosages increases the risk” of heart attack, sudden death or abnormal heart rhythms.  

In a separate study that followed women, those who drank 1-3 cups a day reduced their risk of heart disease by 24%…although this benefit lessened as the quantity of coffee rose.

Hypertension- Caffeine simulates a small, temporary rise in blood pressure. However, studies showed that coffee played little overall role in the development of hypertension. A higher risk of hypertension was found from drinking colas.

Cancer- Scientists found coffee drinking had little effect on the risk of developing pancreatic or kidney cancer in a review last year. Another review suggested that those who drink coffee have half the risk of developing liver cancer than those who don’t drink it.

Bone loss- caffeine very slightly reduces calcium absorption. This negative effect on calcium can be offset by as little as one or two teaspoons of milk.

Weight loss- Caffeine speeds up metabolism, (100mg burning an extra 75-100 calories a day) but no long-term benefit to weight control has been demonstrated. In fact, a study showed that an increase in caffeine consumption gained more weight than those who didn’t.

Mood and mental and physical performance- reports have been made that drinking up to 200mg of caffeine improves sense of wellbeing, happiness, alertness, energy and sociability. However, higher amounts sometimes cause anxiety and stomach upset.

Parkinson’s disease- those who drank caffeinated coffee had lower risk of Parkinson’s disease than those who didn’t.

Diabetes- those who drank 4-6 cups of caffeinated or decaffeinated coffee a day had 28% lower risk of Type 2 diabetes, probably because of coffee’s antioxidants and chlorogenic acid

 

Hmm…I still find it confusing.

The article put in a lot of facts about coffee, but I don’t think many can remember all the benefits and not-so good points about coffee. It often explained that one study found something about coffee, but another found something else. Put together with the various figures, it is quite difficult to follow.

I was surprised to learn that coffee is hydrating. Personally, I found that coffee and tea makes my throat dry.

To conclude…I guess drinking your daily cup of coffee doesn’t hurt.

Oh, but one thing I experienced after working in a coffee shop for one and a half years is that coffee can stain your teeth. Be careful…