Cancer Treatment and Prevention

Type 2 Diabetes - Having Had Gestational Diabetes Raises Risk for Certain Cancers

Type 2 Diabetes - Having Had Gestational Diabetes Raises Risk for Certain Cancers
By Beverleigh H Piepers

Scientists at Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University in Taiwan found a higher-than-average risk of particular cancers in women with a history of Gestational diabetes or pregnancy-related diabetes. Their study was published in February of 2019 in the British Medical Journal.

A total of 47,373 women with Gestational diabetes and 943,199 women with healthy pregnancies were admitted to the study and followed for three years. Women with a history of Gestational diabetes had more than twice the risk of developing cancer as women without such a history. They were...

  • more than twice as likely to develop kidney cancer,
  • almost 74 percent more likely to develop cancer of the nose or throat,
  • over 37 percent more likely to be diagnosed with lung cancer,
  • almost 39 percent more likely to develop thyroid gland cancer, and
  • over 23 percent more likely to develop breast cancer.

The researchers concluded women who had a history of Gestational diabetes should be screened for the cancers listed above.

Prevention of Gestational diabetes should begin before women conceive. Gestational diabetes starts during pregnancy, especially in women over age 25. Being overweight is a risk factor, therefore, women planning to conceive need to normalize their weight; and during pregnancy, mothers need to gain only the recommended amount of weight. Getting enough physical activity and rest is important too.

Signs and symptoms of kidney cancer are...

  • blood in the urine,
  • one-sided low back pain,
  • lump in the lower back or side,
  • tiredness,
  • loss of appetite,
  • losing weight without trying, and/or a
  • fever without a known cause that does not go away.

Signs and symptoms of nose cancer include...

  • nasal mucus,
  • pain around the eyes,
  • a blocked side of your nose,
  • postnasal drip,
  • frequent nosebleeds,
  • pus from the nose,
  • a poor or an absent sense of smell, and/or
  • numbness or pain in the face

Throat cancer's signs and symptoms include...

  • a cough that does not go away,
  • hoarseness or speaking indistinctly,
  • swallowing with difficulty,
  • ear pain
  • sore throat, and/or
  • unexplained weight loss

The list of signs and symptoms of lung cancer include...

  • a persistent cough,
  • bloody or rust-colored sputum,
  • chest pain that gets worse with breathing,
  • hoarseness,
  • shortness of breath,
  • tiredness,
  • loss of appetite, and/or
  • weight loss without trying.

Signs and symptoms of thyroid gland cancer are...

  • a lump in the neck may grow quickly,
  • ain in front of the neck may reach up to the ears,
  • hoarseness or other changes in the voice,
  • difficulty swallowing, and/or
  • breathing problems.

Although managing your disease can be very challenging, Type 2 diabetes is not a condition you must just live with. You can make simple changes to your daily routine and lower both your weight and your blood sugar levels. Hang in there, the longer you do it, the easier it gets.

For nearly 25 years Beverleigh Piepers has searched for and found a number of secrets to help you build a healthy body. Go to http://DrugFreeType2Diabetes.com to learn about some of those secrets.

The answer isn't in the endless volumes of available information but in yourself.

Article Source: https://EzineArticles.com/expert/Beverleigh_H_Piepers/123142
http://EzineArticles.com/?Type-2-Diabetes---Having-Had-Gestational-Diabetes-Raises-Risk-for-Certain-Cancers&id=10085059


Type 2 Diabetes - Are Artificial Sweeteners Linked to Diabetes and Obesity?

Type 2 Diabetes - Are Artificial Sweeteners Linked to Diabetes and Obesity?
By Beverleigh H Piepers

While regular sugar is often the most talked about food to avoid when suffering from Type 2 diabetes, artificial sweeteners can be just as harmful. This type of sweetener is a sugar substitute, a food additive providing sweetness similar to the taste of sugar. Usually, an artificial sweetener...

  • contains much less food energy than sugar which means it is a low-calorie sweetener.
  • may be derived through the manufacturing of plant extracts or processed by chemical synthesis.

These sweeteners, while marketed as low or no-calorie will still trigger food cravings. Unhealthy sugar replacement substitutes have been linked to conditions like glucose intolerance and may even lead to prediabetes or full-blown Type 2 diabetes. Not only that, but it has been found that artificial sweeteners can disrupt healthy gut bacteria. When there is a disruption in the bacteria in the gut, you are more likely to experience an increase in fat storage.

So, with all of that being said, let us take a look at a quick breakdown of some of the dangers of artificial sweeteners, and then the top three worst ones you will want to keep out of your diet.

The Dangers of Artificial Sweeteners...

  • can lead to unhealthy food cravings,
  • can disrupt the bacteria in your gut,
  • can bring on digestive upsets,
  • help cause inflammation,
  • can help cause headaches,
  • cause dizziness,
  • may lead to mood disorders,
  • can harm your metabolism, and
  • may even increase your risk of developing cancer.

The Top 3 Worst Artificial Sweeteners...

1. Aspartame. Aspartame is at the top of this list as it has been found to hold carcinogenic effects and can even impact your brain. Aspartame has also been known to cause headaches and dizziness.

2. Saccharin. Saccharin is another hotly debated sweetener you will want to stay away from as it has been linked to digestive upset, and may even cause cancer.

3. Sucralose. Lastly, sucralose is another unhealthy sugar replacement to keep out of your diet. Sucralose can lead to food cravings and has been found to create toxic compounds when it is heated at high temperatures.

It is best to avoid artificial sweeteners altogether as your body cannot recognize them, and they can lead to a cascade of unwanted symptoms and an increased risk of many health conditions. Instead, try using stevia, or small amounts of raw honey or pure maple syrup. Stevia is not synthetic; it has been extracted from the leaves of the Stevia plant. Sticking to natural instead of artificial sweeteners is the best way to support your health.

Although managing your disease can be very challenging, Type 2 diabetes is not a condition you must just live with. You can make simple changes to your daily routine and lower both your weight and your blood sugar levels. Hang in there, the longer you do it, the easier it gets.

For nearly 25 years Beverleigh Piepers has searched for and found a number of secrets to help you build a healthy body. Go to http://DrugFreeType2Diabetes.com to learn about some of those secrets.

The answer isn't in the endless volumes of available information but in yourself.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Beverleigh_H_Piepers/123142
http://EzineArticles.com/?Type-2-Diabetes---Are-Artificial-Sweeteners-Linked-to-Diabetes-and-Obesity?&id=10080079


Type 2 Diabetes and Weight Loss - You Can Control Your Calorie Intake With These Foods

Type 2 Diabetes and Weight Loss - You Can Control Your Calorie Intake With These Foods
By Beverleigh H Piepers

One of the most significant ways to control your blood sugar is through diet and the foods you chose. It is wise to keep your total calories for the day at a low but healthy level. The foods listed below contain almost no calories, and may even end up in the negative because you will burn them for energy. This means you can enjoy as much of each of these foods as you like...

1. Apples are nutritious, and a cup of a sliced apple contains 57 calories and three grams of dietary fiber.

2. Carrots are mainly orange but are also found in white, purple, yellow and red colors. They contain high amounts of beta-carotene that converts to vitamin A; essential for good eyesight. There are only 53 calories in one cup and more than 400% of the daily value for vitamin A.

3. Mushrooms are often used as a meat substitute by vegans and vegetarians. One cup contains just 15 calories along with vital nutrients.

4. Tomatoes are known as one of the world's most popular vegetables for taste and versatility. Containing lycopene, a beneficial compound, tomatoes can protect against...

  • inflammation,
  • heart disease, and
  • cancer.

4. Strawberries are delicious, versatile and fashionable. Consuming berries may protect against chronic illnesses such as heart disease and cancer, with fewer than 50 calories in a single cup.

5. Spinach is full of minerals and vitamins including vitamins A and K, as well as folate. Spinach contains a lot more protein than many other vegetables of the leafy green variety. Digesting one cup is only seven calories, so it is most likely to be a negative-calorie food.

6. Drinks. Water is the best drink as it has zero calories. Most of the herbal teas have very few or no calories. A cup of black coffee only has two calories. These are the best liquids to drink as everything else has more calories so read the labels if you don't know.

7. Cucumbers are often used in salads. They are mainly water, so half a cup of cucumber is only eight calories.

8. Watermelon is a fruit well-known for its hydrating ability. It is loaded with vitamin C and has a certain amount of nearly all nutrients. A cup of diced watermelon only has 46 calories.

9. Celery is widely acknowledged as one of the best low-calorie foods. It is high in water and has insoluble fiber, meaning it generally goes through your body without being digested. One cup of chopped celery only contains 18 calories.

Summary. There are plenty of other foods also in this category, including...

  • cabbage,
  • Brussels sprouts,
  • garlic,
  • grapefruit,
  • lettuce,
  • lime,
  • lemon,
  • turnips,
  • zucchini and so on.

Among this list of low-to-no-calorie foods, there are sure to be some you enjoy. Make the most of them instead of eating high-calorie processed foods that do not help you control your Type 2 diabetes and overall health.

Although managing your disease can be very challenging, Type 2 diabetes is not a condition you must just live with. You can make simple changes to your daily routine and lower both your weight and your blood sugar levels. Hang in there, the longer you do it, the easier it gets.

For nearly 25 years Beverleigh Piepers has searched for and found a number of secrets to help you build a healthy body. Go to http://DrugFreeType2Diabetes.com to learn about some of those secrets.

The answer isn't in the endless volumes of available information but in yourself.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Beverleigh_H_Piepers/123142
http://EzineArticles.com/?Type-2-Diabetes-and-Weight-Loss---You-Can-Control-Your-Calorie-Intake-With-These-Foods&id=9974101


Type 2 Diabetes and Healthy Living - Is High-Heat Cooking Bad For You?

Type 2 Diabetes and Healthy Living - Is High-Heat Cooking Bad For You?
By Beverleigh H Piepers

As you go on with the fight to control your Type 2 diabetes and blood sugar levels, you might be interested to know how you prepare your meat could impact your risk factor for complications. By now you probably know taking in enough protein is key to controlling your blood sugar at every meal. So you are trying hard to include a reasonable amount of meat in your meal plan. However, are you cooking it healthily?

You could have also read grilling or barbequing your meat can increase the cancer-causing substances you have in your body and even eating a lot of red meat could increase your risk of developing certain cancers as well.

However, did you know there could be a connection between high-heat cooking and Type 2 diabetes? Researchers out of the Health Hospital at Harvard are finding just that. They noted the frequent use of high heat cooking methods including...

  • broiling,
  • barbequing,
  • grilling and
  • roasting

were all increasing the risk factor for Type 2 diabetes based on research carried out on over 289,000 participants. Those who often consumed meats prepared this way were more likely to be also suffering from Type 2 diabetes, showing this direct correlation. Note this may have not necessarily been just the cooking method, but how the food was cooked using sauces and so forth, and the link to weight gain. The test subjects were also more likely to be obese or very overweight, which in itself also increases the risk factor for developing Type 2 diabetes.

What is interesting to note is broiled fish seemed to be okay in the study. While there was not as much information on this, those who ate broiled fish often didn't show an elevated risk, which can lead us to believe it is not just the broiling but the type of protein being cooked that particular way.

Researchers also pointed out another of the reasons why this could be problematic is because there are potentially harmful chemicals that form during this type of cooking which can lead to an inflammatory response in our body. This then sets you down a chain of events that could lead to insulin resistance and Type 2 diabetes.

The take-home message in all this? Try alternative ways of cooking...

  • slow cooking,
  • baking,
  • boiling,
  • steaming,
  • stewing, and
  • stir-frying

are all healthier ways to cook your meat and help to prevent it from going past its succulent endpoint. When you overcook any meat, you are eliminating the fat and liquid, so all you are left with are the toughened muscle fibers.

Although managing your disease can be very challenging, Type 2 diabetes is not a condition you must just live with. You can make simple changes to your daily routine and lower both your weight and your blood sugar levels. Hang in there, the longer you do it, the easier it gets.

For nearly 25 years Beverleigh Piepers has searched for and found a number of secrets to help you build a healthy body. Go to http://DrugFreeType2Diabetes.com to learn about some of those secrets.

The answer isn't in the endless volumes of available information but in yourself.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Beverleigh_H_Piepers/123142
http://EzineArticles.com/?Type-2-Diabetes-and-Healthy-Living---Is-High-Heat-Cooking-Bad-For-You?&id=10066166


Live Healthier and Longer

Live Healthier and LongerLive Healthier and Longer by by Sandra Prior

Old habits die hard. If you�re accustomed to heaping a spoon of sugar into your coffee six times a day, and can�t wait to leave the office at lunch time for a toasted sarmie, then you�re not going to like this home grown advice that you probably heard from your mom a million times over; eating more fruit and vegetables is good for you.

There are very Tangible Benefits for Swapping Fast Foods for Fresh

Everybody is so different that you can�t make blanket claims that eating more fruit and vegetables will definitely result in better skin, glossier hair or fewer infections. But we are confident that a healthy diet will affect how bloated you are, and if you�re eating foods with a low GI index, you will have more energy. Cutting out caffeine and alcohol, especially if you are caffeine sensitive, is also bound to result in better sleep.

But if that�s not enough for you to give up your daily diet of comfort food, the following information might be more convincing.

Fruit and vegetables are the only foods which collectively have been consistently associated with risk reduction in several diseases such as cancer, heart disease, diabetes, hypertension, and age related macular degeneration. In addition, some new data is emerging to support a protective role for fruits and vegetables in the prevention of cataract formation and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

The reason why fruit and vegetables pack such a powerful healing punch has to do with the phytochemicals they contain. Phytochemicals are active compounds in food that prevent disease. Indoles, found in cabbage and Brussels sprouts, have anti cancer properties. Chlorophyll, in green plants, helps to oxygenate the blood and improve energy. Allicin, in garlic and spring onions, boosts the immune system. These are just three of hundreds of the commonly occurring phytochemicals in nature�s pharmacy.

Although many of these are not classified as essential nutrients, they do impact on the chemistry of the body and on our health as significantly as vitamins and minerals. The superheroes in the fight against disease include; aloe vera, berries, blue-green algae (spirulin), carrots, sweet potatoes, watercress, peas, cruciferous vegetables, essential oils such as omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, fish, garlic, shiitake and reishi mushrooms, quinoa, seeds and nuts, soya products, watermelon, wheat and barley grass.

The exact mechanism that explains the protective role of fruit and vegetables in cancer is yet to be determined, but is likely to be multi factorial. The results of many studies continue to suggest a more complex role for specific micronutrients and non nutritive substances, an area which is being actively and intensely investigated. It�s important to remember that fruit and vegetable consumption may also be an index that reflects differences between individuals who do or do not eat healthily, rather than having an exclusively protective role against cancer.

Not sure what that means? Well, chances are if you�re eating plenty of fruit and vegetables, you�re also probably the kind of person who doesn�t smoke, drink in excess and exercises regularly. So it could mean that your whole lifestyle offers protection against disease, rather than the fruit and vegetables being solely responsible for your good health.

But until we have evidence to the contrary, it seems we should stick to mom�s advice and eat at least five servings of fruit and vegetables a day.

Sandra Prior runs her own bodybuilding website at http://bodybuild.rr.nu.

Article Source: http://www.articlesphere.com/Article/Live-Healthier-and-Longer/161784


Are You Fat on the Inside?

Are You Fat on the Inside?Are You Fat on the Inside? by by Sandra Prior

Crash dieters may be storing high levels of internal fat around vital organs. It�s a health risk, but there�s a solution.

Looking slim makes you feel good but it doesn�t mean you�re healthy. Skinny women, particularly those who have yo-yo dieted and don�t exercise, may actually have unhealthy levels of fat on the inside.

Using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans, doctors have found dangerous internal fat in slim people, wrapped around the heart, liver, kidney and pancreas, and streaked through underused muscles. Fit but overweight people with high body mass index (BMI) might actually have less dangerous internal fat than their skinny counterparts. These thin-obese or thin-on-the-outside-fat-on-the-inside (TOFIs) can�t see their fat � they usually don�t know they have any. And even their tiny kilojoule intake is testament to the fact that dieting alone won�t shift it.

Crash and Burn

All these people walking around thinking they�re thin and healthy might be wrong. 40% of women have high levels of internal fat. Excess internal fat can lead to coronary heart disease, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, and many cancers � including breast and colon cancer.

Stored for a Reason

A woman who crash diets is more at risk, because she can end up with more internal fat than someone whose weight doesn�t fluctuate. Only a small amount of fat is lost from internal stores when you diet. But when you put the fat back on, it�s deposited in the abdominal area first. Starving your body can also eat into muscle, and, once you put the fat back on, the body doesn�t replace that muscle but stores surplus kilojoules as fat � unless you exercise.

For women there are two particularly dangerous times for loading on the internal fat; when they yo-yo diet in their teens, 20�s and early 30�s, and post-menopause, when oestrogen levels drop and fat is deposited internally and abdominally. The biggest risk factor seems to be lack of exercise � an apple shaped body is more dangerous than a pear shaped one.

Other Causes

Other lifestyle factors play a part, particularly smoking and alcohol, which lay down fat in the abdominal region. That may be why, as many women have drunk more over the past 50 years, our average waist size has increased by 15cm, compared with an increase of 4cm around the hips and bust. The kind of fat we eat is important, too; two people of the same weight and height can have vastly different levels of visceral fat because one eats high fat processed foods, while the other eats healthier unsaturated fats. Long term stress also plays a part, triggering high levels of cortisol, a hormone that seems to promote fat storage in the abdominal region. All these factors show that almost anyone can be a TOFI. Even those with a healthy BMI can have large quantities of internal fat.

Good Fat

But fat is not all that bad. Fat produces chemicals, hormones and proteins, and affects every single aspect of the body and brain, two thirds which is made up of fat. This includes fertility, mood changes, our ability to think clearly and our immune response, which is why being too thin might actually make you less sharp, as well as unhappy and unhealthy.

Visceral fat is different from the dimpled, subcutaneous fat that lies beneath the skin, called cellulite. All fat is metabolically active, full of blood vessels and secreting hormones and proteins, which form part of the body�s metabolism. But visceral fat is more active than external fat and more dangerous to your health, because of its position in the body. Internal fat seems to affect glucose levels � and that has major health implications, triggering type 2 diabetes and other chronic health problems.

The Big Shift

Thin or overweight, once you�ve got internal fat, is it possible to lose or shift it to a less dangerous site? Yes, with regular exercise. Thirty minutes of daily aerobic exercise is a good start, then build up gradually. The more active you can be each day, the better.

Experts say that combining a healthy diet with increased exercise is the best way to lose or keep off internal fat.

Sandra Prior runs her own bodybuilding website at http://bodybuild.rr.nu.

Article Source: http://www.articlesphere.com/Article/Are-You-Fat-on-the-Inside-/154816


1-2-3 To Staying Cancer-Free

1-2-3 To Staying Cancer-Free

1-2-3 To Staying Cancer-Free
By Carol Chuang

More and more people have cancer these days. It is almost like the plague that no one wants to talk about, and it keeps getting worse.

    • In the early 1900s, one in 20 developed cancer.

 

    • In the 1940s, one in 16 developed cancer.

 

    • In the 1970s, it was one in 10.

 

  • Today, it is one in three!

Conventional medicine is no where close to finding a cancer cure. Cancer, in fact, is huge business for the pharmaceutical companies. It is a US $125 billion industry! The typical cancer patient spends $50,000 fighting the disease. Chemotherapy drugs are among the most expensive of all treatments, many ranging from $3,000-7,000 for a one-month supply.

The cancer industry spends virtually nothing of its multi-billion dollar resources on prevention strategies, such as dietary advice, exercise, and obesity education. Instead, it pours its money into treating cancer - chemotherapy drugs, radiotherapy, surgeries, and diagnostic technologies.

Why? Many people believe if the drug companies find a cure, the patient base goes away. It is much more profitable to keep a steady stream of cancer patients alive, but sick, so that they will keep going back for more drugs. Is this not the same formula for many other modern chronic diseases, such as diabetes?

Do not ever believe that if you get cancer, it is merely the draw of bad luck or it is inevitable. The most common cause of cancer, in 90-95% of all cases, is acquired mutations, which are directly caused by dietary and lifestyle factors. Even if you have inherited the types of genes that are linked to cancer, which only makes up about 5-10% of all cancers, there is ample evidence that genes interact with their environment. In other words, if you eat and live right, you still stand a good chance of preventing the development of cancer.

Therefore, you need to take preventive steps NOW. It is much easier to prevent cancer than to treat it once it takes hold. The following are three key actions to cancer prevention.

I. Eat REAL Food

A recent study found that Americans obtained:

    • 63% of their calories from highly processed foods (e.g. hots dogs, margarine, frozen entrees, baked goods, ice cream, and candies),

 

    • 30% from moderately processed foods (e.g. white rice, pasta, peanut butter, jam, canned produce, processed dairy products, and processed meats/cold cuts),

 

  • only 7% from unprocessed or minimally processed foods (e.g. fresh or frozen produce, beans, nuts, eggs, brown rice, milk, and fresh meats).

For thousands and thousands of years, human beings have been making food from scratch. Never in human history have we eaten so much convenience food products, microwave meals, packaged snacks, and fast food.

The cancer "plague" is a wake up call for all of us to change our mindset and lifestyle. Yes, it is really tempting after a long day's work to open a package and stick it into the microwave, or to pick up a pizza or take-outs on the way home. But as we all know, these are not nutritious food and in the long-run, they may result in detrimental consequences to our health.

We need to eat REAL food. Processed and packaged foods are not only nutrient deficient (low in antioxidants and phytochemicals), they also contain unhealthy ingredients, such as processed vegetable oils, high fructose corn syrup, excess sodium, preservatives, and additives. The more we eat, the more health problems we develop.

1. Prepare your meals

    • Cook your food from scratch but avoid deep frying or charbroiling as these cooking methods create carcinogenic substances. If you don't have time to cook during the week, prepare your food on weekends and freeze in individual containers. Reheat on the stove or oven.

 

    • Use only good oil for cooking. Restaurants and processed foods generally use cheap vegetable oils derived from canola, corn, soy, safflower, or sunflower. Some may use grape seed oil or rice bran oil. All these are processed, refined oils that are relatively high in omega-6 which promotes inflammation, an instigator for cancer. The best oils to use for cooking are coconut oil and organic animal fats, ghee, and butter. Reserve extra virgin olive oil for low heat cooking and salad dressing.

 

    • Incorporate some raw food into your diet as they are rich in enzymes which can be easily destroyed by cooking. Not everyone can tolerate a lot of raw food in the diet, therefore, it is important to find your own balance.

 

  • Stay away from packaged snacks. It is one thing to bake home-made cookies using organic butter, whole grain flour, and may be a bit of natural sugar like maple syrup or honey. It is a totally different thing when you buy commercially baked goods and cookies. These packaged snacks are often made with processed vegetable oils, some even with trans fat, high fructose corn syrup, and all kinds of additives and preservatives.

2. Watch your sugar

    • Processed and packaged foods are usually very high in sugar. Look at the boxed cereals you eat every morning, the packaged snacks you eat in mid-afternoon, or the fruit juice/soda that you drink. Add everything you eat and drink in one day and see how much it is. Know that a teaspoon of sugar is equivalent to 4 grams. On average, Americans consume 20 teaspoons of sugar a day!

 

    • More than one out of three Americans aged 20 and older has pre-diabetes, a condition in which your blood sugar levels are higher than normal but not yet high enough to be diagnosed as full-blown diabetes. A recent meta-analysis that included data from nearly 900,000 people show that those with pre-diabetes have a 15 percent higher risk of cancer, especially cancers of the breast, endometrium, liver, pancreas, and stomach.

 

    • People who have pre-diabetes generally have higher levels of insulin as well as insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1). IGF-1 plays a key role in cell growth and proliferation. This is why diabetes and pre-diabetes raise your risk of cancer.

 

    • Sugar is the ideal food for cancer cells and promotes their growth. If you currently have cancer or are pre-diabetic, you must absolutely avoid all forms of sugar, both natural and refined. You should also refrain from eating refined carbohydrates as they are broken down very quickly into simple sugars. For healthy people, keep your sugar intake to a minimum and use it only as an occasional treat.

 

    • Some names for added sugars include agave syrup, brown sugar, corn sweetener, corn syrup, sugar molecules ending in "ose" (dextrose, fructose, glucose, lactose, maltose, sucrose), high-fructose corn syrup, fruit juice concentrate, honey, invert sugar, malt sugar, molasses, raw sugar, sugar, and syrup.

 

    • People who have diabetes and pre-diabetes should particularly pay attention to their fructose intake. While every cell in the body can use glucose, the liver is the only organ that can metabolize fructose in significant amounts. The liver turns the fructose into fat, which is exported as VLDL cholesterol, resulting in high blood triglycerides and cholesterol, fat around the organs, and ultimately heart disease. Fructose increases uric acid in your blood and contributes to gout and high blood pressure. Deposition of excess fat in the liver leads to non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Too much fructose brings on insulin resistance, which gives rise to elevated insulin and IGF-1 and may eventually cause cancer.

 

    • Some forms of sugar are especially high in fructose. Agave is the worst, with a fructose content ranging from 70-97%, depending on how it is processed. High fructose corn syrup is 55% fructose, table sugar is 50%, and honey is about 40%.

 

  • Fruits, obviously, contain fructose or fruit sugar. Those who have blood sugar issues or have cancer should limit their fruit intake to just berries as they are much lower in fructose. If you are healthy, you can eat whole fruits but do not drink fruit juice. With juice, it is too easy to overdose and reach a harmful level of fructose.

3. Buy only quality meats and dairy

    • Choose grass-pastured, sustainably-raised, organic meats to reduce your exposure to antibiotics, hormones, herbicides, pesticides, and genetically-modified animal feed.

 

    • If you are on a budget, buy grass-fed ground meats or cheaper cuts of meats that require longer cooking time.

 

  • With dairy products, it is best to buy organic and/or grass-fed.

4. Eat cancer-fighting foods every day

    • A recent study shows that a typical American eats less than 4 tablespoons of vegetables (both cruciferous and dark leafy) every day. Iceberg lettuce, which Americans eat tons of, does not count as a green because it is far too low in nutrients.

 

  • Incorporate more of these cancer-fighting whole foods, herbs, and spices into your daily diet - cruciferous vegetables (such as broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, collards, kale), dark leafy greens, asparagus, tomatoes, berries, pomegranates, green tea, oregano, rosemary, cinnamon, turmeric, garlic, ginger, black pepper, and cayenne pepper.

II. Reduce Your Body's TOXIC Load

It is unfortunate that we now live in a chemical soup. There are 84,000 artificial chemicals in our air, food, water, and household products. More than 10,000 chemical additives with questionable safety (as they have never been tested in humans) are allowed in food and food packaging alone.

Roughly 13,000 chemicals are used in cosmetics, of which only 10 percent have been evaluated for safety. According to the Environmental Working Group, the average U.S. woman uses 12 personal care products and/or cosmetics a day, containing 168 different chemicals. While most men use less products, they are still exposed to about 85 such chemicals daily. Many of these chemicals affect the human endocrine system. Scientists warn that these toxins may fuel breast and prostate cancers.

Children are entering puberty at younger and younger ages. In 2010, the average age of the onset of puberty was 10.5 years for girls, six years younger than in 1860 when it was 16.6 years. Scientific evidence strongly suggest that hormone-disrupting chemicals are likely the cause.

Likewise, exposure to industrial chemicals and pollutants is contributing to a wide array of health problems, including asthma, cancer, and reproductive abnormalities.

The following discusses the eight major sources of cancer-promoting toxins in our bodies - food, skin, dental amalgams, alcohol, air, radiation, vaccines, and water.

1. Food

Pesticides

Vegetables and fruits are among the healthiest foods you can eat, but they are also foods that are commonly contaminated with pesticides and herbicides. The U.S. uses about 1.1 billion pounds of pesticides each year. It is not uncommon for your apple or strawberries to contain multiple pesticides. Pesticides are the most harmful to kids' brains. Pregnant women should watch out for their exposure to pesticides.

Genetically modified crops are often heavily sprayed with herbicides such as Roundup (glyphosate). Eating organic is one of the best ways to lower your overall pesticide and herbicide burden.

If you cannot afford to go all organic, at least opt for organic versions of these heavily contaminated produce - apples, carrots, celery, cherry tomatoes, collard greens, cucumbers, grapes, hot peppers, kale, nectarines, peaches, pears, potatoes, snap peas, spinach, strawberries, and sweet bell peppers.

Mercury

Many ocean fish, especially the larger kind contain copious amounts of mercury. Bluefish, grouper, mackerel (King, Spanish, Gulf), marlin, orange roughy, Chilean seabass, shark, swordfish, tilefish, and tuna are the worst among all.

Beware that farmed fish may not have mercury, but they can be contaminated with PCBs. Wild caught Alaskan salmon, sardines, herrings, and anchovies are your best bet.

Antibiotics

Multi-drug-resistant typhoid, tuberculosis, and gonorrhea kill hundreds of thousands of people each year, and it is increasingly getting worse. Scientists have been warning about this for a number of years, but now it seems the antibiotic apocalypse is really close at hand.

Researchers recently discovered a new gene, called mcr-1, in pigs and people in China. It is a gene mutation that makes bacteria resistant to our last-resort class of antibiotics. What's more, this resistance can reach epidemic potential as the rate of transfer between bacteria is exceptionally high.

    • To combat antibiotic resistance, livestock farmers must end the use of low-dose antibiotics. Eighty percent of all antibiotics used in the U.S. are for livestock, to ward off disease and to promote weight gain.

 

    • We should only buy meats that are raised without antibiotics. If we buy USDA organic meats, we know that no antibiotics could be used for growth promotion.

 

    • Antibiotics can only treat bacterial infections, therefore, avoid the use of antibiotics to treat viral illnesses, such as colds and flus. One course of antibiotics may disrupt your microbiome (gut flora) for a year. Reserve antibiotics for severe, life threatening bacterial infections only.

 

  • Avoid using antibacterial household products, such as hand soap.

Food Additives

If you buy any packaged or processed foods, it is most likely that they will contain a number of food additives. These chemicals are added to improve the look, taste, and texture of the food you buy. Some of these chemicals are probably innocuous but the following are the ones that you should definitely avoid:

Artificial Colorings

  • All food dyes

Artificial Flavors

Artificial sweeteners

    • Acesulfame Potassium

 

    • Aspartame

 

    • Saccharin

 

  • Sucralose

High Fructose Corn Syrup

Monosodium Glutamate

Potassium Bromate (E924)

  • Flour improver

Preservatives

    • Butylated hydroxyanisole

 

    • Butylated hydrozyttoluene

 

    • Propyl gallate

 

    • Sodium benzoate or benzoic acid

 

    • Sodium nitrate and nitrite

 

  • Tertiary butylhydroquinone

Trans fats

- Partially hydrogenated oils such as those made from canola, corn, cottonseed, soy, safflower, and sunflower.

2. Skin

Your skin is your largest, most permeable organ in the body. Just about anything you put on it will end up in your bloodstream and be distributed throughout the body. Once these chemicals enter the body, they accumulate over time. Putting toxins on your skin is worse than eating them. At least if you were to eat these ingredients, your liver would have a chance to detoxify and eliminate them before any permanent damage could be done.

Beware that products boasting "all natural" labels may still contain harmful chemicals. Of course, the safest bet is to buy USDA 100% organic.

Check your shampoo, conditioner, soap, lotion, cosmetics, mouthwash, toothpaste, hair dye, and nail polish to make sure they do not contain the following toxins. Only use aluminum-free antiperspirants.

    • Artificial colors

 

    • Coal tar

 

    • DEA/TEA/MEA

 

    • Formaldehyde

 

    • Methylisothiazolinone

 

    • Mineral oil

 

    • Oxybenzone

 

    • Parabens

 

    • Parfum or synthetic fragrances

 

    • Petroleum-based compounds - polyethylene and propylene glycols (PEG)

 

    • Phthalates

 

    • Sodium lauryl sulfate or sodium laureth sulfate (SLS)

 

    • Synthetic musks

 

    • Talc

 

    • Toluene

 

  • Triclosan

3. Dental Amalgams

Amalgam fillings contain 50 percent mercury. Every time you chew, you release toxic heavy metals into your body. If you have any amalgam fillings in your mouth, find a biological/mercury-free dentist to safely remove your amalgam fillings.

4. Alcohol

    • Alcoholic drinks contain ethanol, which is produced by the fermentation of sugars or starches by yeasts. When we drink alcohol, the body has to break down the ethanol to acetaldehyde, which is a toxic chemical. One of the functions of the liver is to neutralize all sorts of toxic substances we consume. That is why it is not a smart idea to overload the liver with too much toxins. Chronic heavy drinking can result in fatty liver and ultimately liver cirrhosis, where healthy liver tissue is replaced with scar tissue, preventing the liver from proper functioning.

 

    • Drinking alcohol can increase your risk of cancer of the mouth, throat, esophagus, larynx (voice box), liver, breast, and colon. The more you drink, the higher your risk. The risk of cancer is much higher for those who drink alcohol and also use tobacco.

 

    • If you don't drink, do not start. If you do drink, do so moderately. Moderate alcohol consumption is up to one drink per day for women and up to two drinks per day for men. One drink is 12 oz of beer (5% alcohol), 5 oz of wine (12% alcohol), and 1.5 oz of hard liquor (40% alcohol).

 

  • Studies show that moderate alcohol consumption, especially red wine, is linked to reduced risk of heart disease and diabetes, and may actually increase life expectancy. The bottom line is if you drink, do not drink every day because alcohol is very addictive. Drink moderately and responsibly.

5. Air

Many industries release thousands of toxins into the environment every day, heavily polluting the air that we breathe in. The biggest culprits are the mining, chemical, paper, and transport industries.

The smaller the diameter of the particle, the greater its risk of health damage. These particles can easily pass deep into your lungs, causing damage to not only your lungs, but also your heart and brain. Research shows that long-term exposure to fine particulate matter air pollution is associated with atherosclerosis and significantly faster cognitive decline in older adults.

    • If you happen to live in a heavily polluted area, the ideal option is to move.

 

    • If it is not possible, it may be best to stay indoors as much as possible.

 

    • However, indoor air can be 5-10 times more polluted than outdoor air due to lack of ventilation. Therefore, consider using a high quality air purifier.

 

    • Vacuum your floors regularly using a HEPA filter vacuum cleaner.

 

    • Get some house plants.

 

    • Leave your shoes by the door when you enter the house.

 

    • Do not allow tobacco smoking in the house. Smoking is terrible but second hand smoke is almost as harmful. Each year, because of exposure to tobacco smoke, an estimated 3,000 nonsmoking Americans die of lung cancer and 300,000 children suffer from lower respiratory-tract infections.

 

    • Use non-toxic, environmentally friendly, and VOC-free household cleaning products.

 

    • Avoid using air fresheners and scented candles.

 

  • Avoid non-stick or Teflon-type cookwares, which release toxins into the air when heated. It is much safer to use ceramic cookwares instead.

6. Radiation

    • Minimize your exposure from radiation-based medical scans, including body and dental x-rays, CT scans, and mammograms. This form of ionizing radiation has been proven to increase your risk of cancer over time. Each exposure to radiation builds up in the body and the risk of cancer increases with each radiation exposure. So even though a single source of exposure to radiation is unlikely to cause cancer by itself, the combined exposures add up throughout our lifetime and increase our risk of cancer in the long-run.

 

    • Mobile phonesgive off radio frequency energy, a form of non-ionizing electromagnetic radiation. In 2011, the World Health Organization (WHO)/International Agency for Research on Cancer classified the electromagnetic field produced by mobile phones as a Class B carcinogen in humans.This classification came in part in response to research showing wireless phones increase the risk for brain cancer.

 

    • An Israeli research group found a four-fold increase in parotid gland cancers from 1970 to 2006, with the steepest increase happening after 2001. Parotid gland is a type of salivary gland, located closest to your cheek, the same area where most people typically hold their cell phones. Study showed that rates of other salivary gland cancers remained stable.

 

    • Never hold cell phone close to your ear. Instead, use the speaker phone feature or a wired headset.

 

    • Never carry your cell phone on your body. For women, do not tuck the phone into your bra. For men, do not put the phone in close proximity of your reproductive organs.

 

    • Children and teens are at greatest risk for both parotid gland tumors and brain tumors as their thinner skull bones allow for greater penetration of cell phone radiation, all the way into their midbrain. Also, children's cells reproduce more quickly, so they are more susceptible to aggressive cell growth.

 

  • Pregnant women would also be wise to avoid cell phones as much as possible.

7. Vaccines

Vaccination is a very controversial subject. There are benefits and risks involved, therefore, it is best to educate yourself before making a decision.

The truth about vaccines is that they are not as effective as the medical community and the media promote, nor are they as safe as promised. Yet, they are also not as ineffective as many in the alternative health community believe.

Nevertheless, do bear in mind that vaccines may contain chemicals (like formaldehyde), heavy metals (such as thimerosal which is 50% mercury, or aluminum), and allergens (such as egg protein or MSG). Toxins tend to accumulate in your body over time. Therefore, before you get any vaccines, do your own research.

Flu vaccines in multi-dose vials have thimerosal as a preservative. Single-dose thimerosal-free flu vaccines is better but, in actuality, do contain "trace" amounts of mercury as well. The Flu Mist is truly thimerosal-free.

8. Water

    • Tap water is cheap, quick, and easy. However, the Environment Working Group (EWG) tested tap water in 45 states a couple of years ago and found 202 chemical contaminants that are not subject to any government regulation or safety standards for drinking water.

 

    • Bottled water, depending on its source, may not be the cleanest. It is expensive and plastic bottles have a devastating impact on the environment.

 

    • Distilled water can lead to long-term health problems because it lacks the important minerals that the body needs.

 

    • Alkaline water is best used for short-term (1-2 weeks max) detoxification purpose only. Also, the alkalization process does not filter the water.

 

    • Clean, filtered tap water is the most convenient, economical, and healthy source of water. Look for carbon-type filters (for above and under counter filtration systems) that can remove heavy metals like lead and mercury, chlorine resistant cysts like giardia and cryptosporidium, pharmaceuticals, and organic chemicals like herbicides, pesticides, and VOCs.

 

    • Do know that Brita, Pur, Zero, and all pitcher-type water filters only remove 5 ingredients - cadmium, copper, chlorine, mercury, and zinc. They are not effective in removing the other contaminants.

 

  • To remove fluoride, you can add bone char filters to your existing water filtration system.

III. Strengthen Your IMMUNE System

Your immune system continually battles against colds, flus, and all sorts of infections. It also constantly works to snuff out cancer cells long before they have a chance to develop into life-threatening illnesses. As one example, immune cells in your bloodstream called natural killer (NK) cells can inject poison into a cancer cell, so the cell wall breaks down, and the contents spill out, nipping cancer in the bud.

The immune system can also stop the growth of a cancerous tumor without actually killing it. This explains why some tumors suddenly stop growing and go into a long period of dormancy.

When your immune system is not strong enough to suppress cancer cell growth, you will get cancer. Thus, maintaining a strong and healthy immune system is a mandatory step in preventing cancer and attaining robust health.

1. Gut Health

When it comes to the immune system, optimizing your gut health is the most important.

One of the reasons why your gut has so much influence on your health has to do with the 100 trillion bacteria, about three pounds worth, that line your intestinal tract. This is an extremely complex living system that aggressively protects your body from outside offenders.

Generally speaking, if you have frequent digestive symptoms and/or discomfort, such as gas, bloating, heartburn, constipation, diarrhea, and bad breath, you likely have an issue with the balance of good and bad bacteria in the gut. Sometimes the issues are due to an overgrowth of pathogenic bacteria like H. Pylori or the Candida yeast, but other times, they may result from weaknesses in the gut membrane.

Healthy gut bacteria produce byproducts that help keep the intestinal lining strong, and without enough good bacteria to manufacture these substances, the intestinal tract becomes highly susceptible to damage.

Inflammation, caused by food sensitivities such as gluten, and toxins such as heavy metals or chemicals, destroys areas of the mucosal lining of the intestinal wall. This condition, called leaky gut, allows disease-causing bacteria, toxins, and undigested food particles to pass directly into the bloodstream, where they disrupt the body's normal function in many ways.

Therefore, most diseases originate in your digestive system. This includes both physical and mental illnesses. Once you heal and seal your gut lining and make your digestive system work properly again, you can address the root cause of your illnesses.

    • Optimize your gut flora by adding naturally fermented foods, such as sauerkraut, kimchee, unsweetened yogurt, and kefir, to your daily diet, or add a high quality probiotic supplement as well.

 

    • If you have digestive symptoms such as excessive gas, belching, burping, or acid reflux, it may be a sign that your body is not excreting sufficient pancreatic enzymes for digestion. These symptoms can be even more apparent when you eat too much protein and fats. Take digestive enzymes with every meal, not just when you experience discomfort.

 

    • Majority of the population unknowingly harbor some sort of infections in the gut, such as H. Pylori bacteria, Candida yeast, or parasites. Researchers have found a microbe-dependent mechanism through which some cancers develop and grow. For this reason, it is essential that our gastrointestinal system is free of these low-grade chronic infections which can become a big hindrance to the optimal functioning of our immune system. There are many natural botanicals that can effectively address such infections. For example, Biocidin is a company that makes excellent products for such purposes. (Author does not receive commission from or is related to the company.)

 

  • Reserve the use of antibiotics for life-threatening infections only. One course of antibiotics may disrupt your gut flora for a year. In addition, researchers found that patients taking antibiotics had reduced levels of cytokines, the hormone messengers of the immune system. When your immune system is suppressed, you are more likely to develop resistant bacteria and become very sick in the future.

2. Good Nutrition

    • We are what we eat. If we put junk into our bodies, we cannot expect healthy outcomes. Not only does junk food fail to provide the nutrients, antioxidants, and phytochemicals that the body needs, it also contains toxic ingredients that become a burden to the system in the long-term.

 

  • If we are nutrient deficient, we will not be able to get the enzymes to work, which impairs the cells' ability to use oxygen and produce energy.

3. Quality Sleep

    • Scrimping on sleep has a powerfully detrimental effect on immunity. Poor sleep is associated with lower immune system function and reduced numbers of killer cells that fight diseases.

 

    • Optimize your melatonin (sleep hormone) production by not watching TV, playing video games, or being on your computer until the wee hours of the morning as these activities may halt your body's melatonin production. Melatonin is essential for the proper functioning of your immune system. Multiple studies have demonstrated its anti-cancer ability.

 

  • Most adults need 7-9 hours of sleep a night. Ideally, you should go to bed between 10-11. If you wake up tired in the morning, you are either not getting enough hours of sleep or not enough quality sleep.

4. Reduce Chronic Stress

    • Chronic stress, the day-after-day kind you experience over job dissatisfaction or insecurity, a sick relative, or a bad relationship, takes a toll on many aspects of your health, including immunity. There is compelling scientific evidence that this kind of chronic stress causes a measurable decline in the immune system's ability to fight diseases. Periods of extreme stress can result in a lower natural killer cell count, sluggish killer T cells, and diminished macrophage (a type of white blood cells) activity.

 

  • Negativity also takes a toll on your immune system. Researchers have found that the positive emotions associated with laughter decrease stress hormones and increase the number of immune cells.

5. Exercise Regularly

    • According to the National Cancer Institute, studies on colon cancer found that adults who increase their physical activity, either in intensity, duration, or frequency can reduce their risk of developing colon cancer by 40-50% relative to those who are sedentary.

 

    • On breast cancer, the risk reduction was 30-40% in both premenopausal and menopausal women.

 

    • On uterine cancer, the risk reduction was 38-46%.

 

    • On lung cancer, the risk reduction was 20%.

 

    • By being physically active, you are less likely to be overweight or obese, which increases the risk of cancers that use hormones to grow and spread, such as breast and uterine cancers. Studies found that women who are overweight and obese have higher levels of estrogen in the blood.

 

    • Regular exercise helps improve insulin sensitivity, resulting in lower levels of insulin and the cancer-promoting Insulin Growth Factor-1 (IGF-1).

 

    • Exercise increases blood and oxygen flow in the entire body. Cancer cells share a common vulnerability with viruses, bacteria, and fungi, all of which hate high levels of oxygen. Oxygen stimulates the growth of new blood vessels in tumors, however, instead of boosting a tumor's growth potential, it has the opposite effect - it weakens the cancer cells from the inside.

 

  • Exercise increases the production and circulation of macrophages, a type of white blood cells, throughout the system. After exercising, the body returns to normal within a few hours, but regular exercise appears to extend periods of immunity.

6. Get Enough Vitamin D

    • There is scientific evidence that you can decrease your risk of cancer by more than 50 percent simply by optimizing your vitamin D levels. The optimum blood level for a healthy person is 50-70 ng/ml. If you are being treated for cancer, it should be 80-100 ng/ml.

 

    • The best way to get vitamin D is to expose your face, arms, and legs to sunshine for 15-20 minutes every day. Some people are very sensitive to sun and need to build up gradually. If you have darker skin, you may need up to 30 minutes of daily exposure.

 

  • Alternatively, you can take a vitamin D3 supplement. Most people need about 5,000 I.U. to achieve the optimal range. If you take a D3, you should supplement with vitamin K2 as well. D3 enhances calcium absorption. Too much calcium can be harmful to the body, especially if it is deposited in the wrong places like the arteries. By using K2 in conjunction with D3, you ensure that the calcium will go to the right places such as the bones.

Carol Chuang is a Certified Nutrition Specialist and a Metabolic Typing Advisor. She has a Masters degree in Nutrition and is the founder of CC Health Counseling, LLC. Her passion in life is to stay healthy and to help others become healthy. She believes that a key ingredient to optimal health is to eat a diet that is right for one's specific body type. Eating organic or eating healthy is not enough to guarantee good health. The truth is that there is no one diet that is right for everyone. Our metabolisms are different, so should our diets. Carol specializes in Metabolic Typing, helping her clients find the right diet for their Metabolic Type. To learn more about Metabolic Typing, her nutrition counseling practice, and how to get a complimentary phone consultation, please go to http://cchealthcounseling.com/

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Carol_Chuang/545843
http://EzineArticles.com/?1-2-3-To-Staying-Cancer-Free&id=9339858


The Benefits of Abdominal Toning for Women

The Benefits of Abdominal Toning for WomenThe Benefits of Abdominal Toning for Women by by Machelle Lee

Abdominal toning for women isn't just about getting that six pack look - it's about creating better health for your body. While it might seem to be an exercise in vanity, you can reap far more benefits than just a more shapely set of abs. Because willpower isn't always the easiest thing to muster, you need the reasons why abdominal toning for women is so good for you. Maybe that will send you to the gym more often.

The first benefit of abdominal toning for women is that you get to decrease the mass of your abdomen. While the exercises themselves can not reduce the size of a stomach, they can add muscle mass which will then increase your fat-burning power. Each pound of muscle that you add to your body needs more energy to maintain itself, so when you do abdominal exercises (as well as other weight bearing exercises), you can increase this muscle mass and help to speed up the unveiling of your abs.

Another concern for many women is the prevention of injuries. And abdominal toning for women can help in that as well. By helping to strengthen your core, you're not only going to get in shape, but you will also help support the opposing muscles in the lower back. Since the lower back is the site for most everyday injuries, performing abdominal exercise is the best form of prevention. Try adding abdominal training to your workout routines to see just how much stronger your back becomes. At the same time, you will also learn to stand up taller, which will make you look sleeker.

When you are stressed out, abdominal toning for women can also come in handy for your health. Many people that become anxious are stressed on the long term. This creates a release of cortisol in the body which then can contribute to deep layers of abdominal fat. When you start to add muscle to your body, you can help to offset this cortisol release and thus this dangerous fat. This fat has been linked to a number of cancers as well as heart conditions that can lead to premature death in women.

With abdominal toning for women, you can increase your health by simply adding a few more minutes onto your exercise routine. Though the results will take some time to reveal themselves and you will have to add a cardio workout routine as well, your health will thank you for the effort.

Machelle Lee owns and operates, The Invisible Gym in Santa Cruz, CA. Her mission is to inspire people to become physically active and enjoy the benefits of a balanced, healthy lifestyle. For more information and questions you can visit her website. www.the-invisible-gym.com

Article Source: http://www.articlesphere.com/Article/The-Benefits-of-Abdominal-Toning-for-Women/95378


Secret to Staying Fit and Young at Age 70

Secret to Staying Fit and Young at Age 70Secret to Staying Fit and Young at Age 70 by by Mamiko Ito

When running your own business, you need a lot of stamina and energy. It is not like working for a regular Job. For example, when you wake up with a bad headache from the previous night's party, you could just call in for a sick day. But if you are your own boss, not being in the best condition could cost you and your business a lot of money; especially when you have an important meeting or speaking event on that day.

Changing your eating habit is the best anti-aging tips. Your body, skin and health are direct reflection of your diet. If you want to stay young, healthy and energetic, eat energy-rich food such as fresh organic vegetables and fruits. Processed food, canned food and meat are dead food filled with chemicals, high sodium, growth hormone and antibiotics, and they slowly kill our body. Watch Paul McCartney's video "If Slaughterhouses had glass walls, everyone would be vegetarian" to know the dirty secret behind the curtain. No wonder more and more diseases, obesity, cancer, crime and violence are on the rise and affecting more people around us.

About two years ago I made a significant change in my diet and it completely changed my life. Now I have more energy and I don't need to worry about my weight. My skin is in great condition and I don't need to use expensive cosmetics. I used to catch cold quite easily, but now I hardly fall sick, and even if I do get sick, I recover fairly quickly. What is the secret? Well one of the biggest changes I made was to stop eating meat and dairy products. After I watched a documentary about how farm animals are treated and how destructive it is to our eco-system as well as our body to maintain a meat and dairy-based diet, I decided to change my eating habits, and I have never regretted my decision. I'm proud of myself for opting for sustainable lifestyle and I become healthy as a result.

A couple of years ago, I've got to know an amazing woman named Mimi Kirk from San Diego. She was selected as the sexiest vegetarian woman above 50 at age 70! She is a gorgeous and lovely woman with a beautiful spirit, and the secret on her health and longevity is a raw food diet. Today I want to share this mouth-watering Key Lime Pie, Ice Cream or Pudding - it's perfect for a hot sunny day!

KEY LIME PIE, ICE CREAM OR PUDDING - Recipe by Mimi Kirk

2 T. lecithin, ground fine in spice or coffee grinder
1/4 cup coconut milk (made with young Thai coconut meat and water, blend)
2 T agave, coconut nectar - or sweetener of choice to taste
5-6 limes, juiced
2 avocados
1/2 cup coconut oil and coconut butter, melted - (or just coconut oil)
Pinch of Himalayan salt
Blend all together until smooth
Pie crust - 1 c almonds and 5-6 medjool dates. Pulse chop in food processor .
For ice cream, just put in freezer.
For pudding just refrigerate
Pie can be put in freezer to set, and then moved to refrigerator
You can also watch her recipe video in YouTube.

Mamiko Ito is a Global Entrepreneur, Success Coach and Business Mentor for Women. She established businesses on 2 continents, and alongside her partner grew them into half million dollar ventures in less than a year. As founder and CEO of Abundant Women and Co-Founder and Master Trainer of The Learning Partner - the fastest growing personal development company in Latin America -she is devoted to empowering women to build and grow successful businesses and achieve financial freedom. She has worked with successful women entrepreneurs in Asia and started the women empowerment movement in Singapore.

Article Source: http://www.articlesphere.com/Article/Secret-to-Staying-Fit-and-Young-at-Age-70/269295


Women and Exercise - The Basics and FAQs

Women and Exercise - The Basics and FAQsWomen and Exercise - The Basics and FAQs by by Sarah Cohen

There are plenty of reasons why women should exercise, but some aren't as obvious as others.

To decrease anxiety
To increase flexibility
To build bone density
To increase lean muscle mass
To improve athletic performance
To control weight and eating habits
To increase cardiovascular health
To increase motor coordination and balance
To decrease risk factor for heart disease, uterine cancer, breast cancer and diabetes

But what constitutes exercise in the first place? There are two main types of exercise:

1. Cardiovascular Exercise walking, running, biking, swimming, rowing, water running, dancing
2. Strengthening Exercises weight training, yoga, pilates, plyometrics, exercise bands

Osteoporosis - The Silent Thief
Osteoporosis is a disease that causes a decrease in bone mass density, resulting in weakened bones that are vulnerable to fracture and deformation. It's referred to as the "silent thief" because fractures are often the first symptom - though by then, the disease is often very advanced. Fractures commonly affect the spine, hips and wrist area. Approximately 12 million Americans are affected by this disease, and it's estimated that nearly 40 per cent of U.S. Caucasian women and 13 per cent of U.S. Caucasian men aged 50 or older will experience at least one fragility fracture (caused by osteoporosis) in their lifetime.

Frequently Asked Questions About Women and Exercise

How does Exercise Help Increase Bone Mineral Density?

Exercise can help to build up your bone mineral density. The vertical trabeculae in the bone are the "weight bearing" structures, and their density can be increased with exercise.
How Does Exercise Decrease the Risk of Heart Attacks?
Regular exercise can alter your cholesterol in just a few months. As little as 30 minutes a day can decrease your LDL (Bad Cholesterol) and increase your HDL (Good Cholesterol).

What is the Best Form of Exercise for Weight Control?

For the majority of the population, a combination of both cardiovascular training and weight training is the most efficient way to control your weight. Recent research shows that a shorter period of interval cardio training (20 minutes divided into alternating 30-second intervals of intense and easy cardio training), along with a 30 to 40 minute weight training program produces the best results in terms of decreased body fat percentage and an increase in lean muscle mass.

How Early Can a Child Begin Regular Exercise?

Children of all ages can and should be exercising regularly. The rates of American childhood obesity are alarmingly high (tripling from 6.5 per cent 20 years ago to 19.6 per cent today). Heavy weight-bearing exercise should be avoided until after puberty, but cardiovascular activity is encouraged at any age.
How Can Walking or Running Alter Premenstrual Symptoms?

Just as our heart and muscles adapt when exercising, so does the endocrine system. Exercise can cause the ovaries to adapt by decreasing the level of estrogen that they produce, which can lead to a decrease in fluid retention, breast soreness, and irritability. Exercise also releases "feel good" hormones called endorphins.

How Does Exercise Help Pre and Post-Menopausal Women?

Studies have shown that exercise helps to relieve and prevent many menopausal symptoms such as hot flashes, night sweats, vaginal and urinary irritation, insomnia and depression. Post-menopausal women who exercise are half as likely to develop diabetes.

As a Chiropractor, Kinesiologist and a Personal Trainer Dr. Cohen has ten years experience in athletic training and rehabilitation and is currently working with runners and triathletes at the city, varsity, national and professional levels. Dr. Cohen has been a guest speaker for trainers and athletes at the Toronto and Whistler Can-Fit-Pro Conference, HSBC Triathlon Series Awards Event and Running Room Clinics on various topics including running biomechanics, training techniques and injury prevention and treatment. http://www.fitnessrepublic.com

Article Source: http://www.articlesphere.com/Article/Women-and-Exercise---The-Basics-and-FAQs/251870