By Nathalie Fiset
Pre-menopause symptoms are actually just a preview of what menopause brings for a woman. Hence, many or all the symptoms experienced during menopause can randomly occur and are included in pre-menopause symptoms.
Menopause is the period is a woman’s life when her menstrual cycle stops and her ovaries start lowering their estrogen and progesterone production thus ending her fertile period .
Pre-menopause symptoms can be perceived as merely unusual to all the way down being debilitating. A woman’s ability to cope with any pre-menopause symptom is generally a reflect of her ability to cope with changes in her life in general.
Fatigue is often felt as a common pre-menopause symptom. To prevent fatigue from getting in the way, a woman experiencing this pre-menopause symptom should make it a regular habit to eat a balanced and healthy diet and exercise regularly. Exercising has many benefits one of them being that it releases endorphine hormones which helps achieve a deeper and more rejuvenating sleep.
An irregular menstrual period or the cessation of the period altogether are pre-menopause symptoms that are essential to pose the diagnosis. Anemia can occur as a consequence of irregular or heavier menstrual bleeding. Any woman suspecting she is experiencing pre-menopause symptom s should consult her qualified physician.
A feeling of increased sadness or even depression is often seen as a pre-menopause symptom. This situation can be caused by the hormone imbalance or even the grief of not being able to give birth anymore. A woman going through an increase state of sadness should consult the proper caregiver and seek help.
Going through menopause can be a very positive experience for a woman if she chooses to. Hence, instead of being set back by every pre-menopause symptom that occurs, a woman can decide that she has the opportunity to evaluate her life and look forward to the future. After all, pre-menopause usually brings more free time for a woman, her tasks as a mother having greatly decreased by her children being on their own.
Many women going through menopause rejoice of having so much free time for themselves. They have the option to invest this newfound free time in their career or hobbies. If she chooses so, a woman can decide to not allow any small pre-menopause symptom prevent her from enjoying the best time of her life.
One has to know that any given pre-menopause symptom do not last forever. Hence, after an adaptation period a woman will feel like her-menopause symptoms are fading away. The human body has the great capacity to adapt to all the changes it is presented. Menopause is no exception. Living a healthy life style free of tobacco and excess of alcohol is a sure way to go through menopause in an easier manner.
Pairing-up with women who are going through the same transition is a very helpful resource. There are many support groups where a woman can discuss with like-minded women any given pre-menopause symptom she is experiencing. By exchanging in this manner, many women will find comfort.
In the case there is not such a group in your area, forming one can be a great idea. The other option is to become a member of an internet forum dedicated to women experiencing pre-menopause symptoms.
Dr Nathalie Fiset is a family doctor and a certified hypnotherapist. For more information go to:Happy menopause , Aperfectharmony or A-1hypnosis
Article Source: Ezine articles
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
Tuesday, August 07, 2007
The Ms. Fitness World Contest 2007
“The Healthy Alternative for Beautiful Nails” celebrates a vision in a sponsor relationship with the Ms. Fitness World Contest 2007. The Event will be held on Friday September 7, 2007 at the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, NV.
For more information on the Ms. Fitness World event visit: www.msfitness.com
For more information on the Ms. Fitness World event visit: www.msfitness.com
Thursday, May 31, 2007
21 Resources for Women's Self-Defense and Victim Assistance
Summary: 21 resources for women's self-defense training, victim assistance, stalking, domestic violence, and advocacy to reduce violence against women.
18.9% of women age 12 and over were a victim of violence in 2004, according to the Bureau of Justice Statistics. The actual number is likely higher, as the number is based on reported crimes. A lot of crime goes unreported.
Let's cut that rate! Whether you are a woman or want to help your loved ones, take action by learning about women's self-defense.
Below are 21 resources for women's self-defense. They include women's self-defense training, victim assistance, stalking, domestic violence, and advocacy to reduce violence against women.
Self-Defense Training
Be prepared when you encounter an attacker. These resources provide women's self-defense and personal protection training programs.
The best training involves scenarios that are close to reality. This includes a awareness strategies, oral de-escalation skills, oral threat from an attacker, and padded assailants to allow you to train full force. Being able to perform under adrenal stress is important, as in a real situation, and adrenaline dump into your system could cause you to freeze.
AWSDA - The American Women's Self Defense Association
http://www.awsda.org/
AWARE - Arming Women Against Rape and Endangerment
http://www.aware.org/
IMPACT is a "model mugging" type training that uses a padded attacker. Several of these women's self-defense programs are available throughout the United States; only a few are listed below. Visit one of these websites or my website for affiliates near you or referrals to other similar women's self-defense programs.
California - Los Angeles
http://www.impactpersonalsafety.com/
California - San Francisco/Bay Area
http://www.impactbayarea.org/
New York - New York
http://www.prepareinc.com/
Texas - The Woodlands
http://www.pdtgroup.net/
Victim Assistance
These resources assist victims of violence and crime through hotlines, referrals, criminal and civil justice processes, victim's rights, and support groups. Begin the healing process by calling a hotline and/or talking with someone who is professionally trained to assist you.
The National Domestic Violence Hotline
http://www.ndvh.org/
800-799-7233
The National Center for Victims of Crime
http://www.ncvc.org/ncvc/Main.aspx
National Organization for Victim Assistance
http://www.trynova.org/
Victim Assistance Online
http://www.vaonline.org/
Witness Justice
http://www.witnessjustice.org/index.cfm
Information and Advocacy
Informational resources aiding those who want to remove themselves from abusive situations, including advocacy groups, are below.
RAINN - Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network
http://www.rainn.org/
AARDVARC - An Abuse, Rape, and Domestic Violence Aid and Resource Center
http://www.aardvarc.org/
American Bar Association - Commission on Domestic Violence
http://www.abanet.org/domviol/home.html
Communities Against Violence Network
http://www.cavnet2.org/
National Coalition Against Domestic Violence
http://www.ncadv.org/
National Criminal Justice Reference Service
http://www.ncjrs.gov/
U.S. Department of Justice - Office on Violence Against Women
http://www.usdoj.gov/ovw/
Violence Against Women Online Resources
http://www.vaw.umn.edu/
Stalking
8% of women and 2% of men will be stalked in their lifetimes.
The Antistalking Web Site
http://www.antistalking.com/
Stalking Victims Sanctuary
http://www.stalkingvictims.com/home.htm
Conclusion
If you are a victim of violence, get help immediately! Call a victim assistance hotline or visit the above websites. Start the healing process now.
Keep yourself and your female loved ones safe. Empower yourself, wife, mother, sister, niece, friend, and co-worker. Enroll in a women's self-defense training program so that you and they can defend against an attacker if the situation ever arises.
Read more women's self defense articles at => http://www.selfdefenseresource.com/women/
About the Author:
Secrets of self-defense revealed by SelfDefenseResource.com! Claim the FREE REPORT "10 Secrets to Effective Self-Defense." Click here now => http://www.selfdefenseresource.com/
18.9% of women age 12 and over were a victim of violence in 2004, according to the Bureau of Justice Statistics. The actual number is likely higher, as the number is based on reported crimes. A lot of crime goes unreported.
Let's cut that rate! Whether you are a woman or want to help your loved ones, take action by learning about women's self-defense.
Below are 21 resources for women's self-defense. They include women's self-defense training, victim assistance, stalking, domestic violence, and advocacy to reduce violence against women.
Self-Defense Training
Be prepared when you encounter an attacker. These resources provide women's self-defense and personal protection training programs.
The best training involves scenarios that are close to reality. This includes a awareness strategies, oral de-escalation skills, oral threat from an attacker, and padded assailants to allow you to train full force. Being able to perform under adrenal stress is important, as in a real situation, and adrenaline dump into your system could cause you to freeze.
AWSDA - The American Women's Self Defense Association
http://www.awsda.org/
AWARE - Arming Women Against Rape and Endangerment
http://www.aware.org/
IMPACT is a "model mugging" type training that uses a padded attacker. Several of these women's self-defense programs are available throughout the United States; only a few are listed below. Visit one of these websites or my website for affiliates near you or referrals to other similar women's self-defense programs.
California - Los Angeles
http://www.impactpersonalsafety.com/
California - San Francisco/Bay Area
http://www.impactbayarea.org/
New York - New York
http://www.prepareinc.com/
Texas - The Woodlands
http://www.pdtgroup.net/
Victim Assistance
These resources assist victims of violence and crime through hotlines, referrals, criminal and civil justice processes, victim's rights, and support groups. Begin the healing process by calling a hotline and/or talking with someone who is professionally trained to assist you.
The National Domestic Violence Hotline
http://www.ndvh.org/
800-799-7233
The National Center for Victims of Crime
http://www.ncvc.org/ncvc/Main.aspx
National Organization for Victim Assistance
http://www.trynova.org/
Victim Assistance Online
http://www.vaonline.org/
Witness Justice
http://www.witnessjustice.org/index.cfm
Information and Advocacy
Informational resources aiding those who want to remove themselves from abusive situations, including advocacy groups, are below.
RAINN - Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network
http://www.rainn.org/
AARDVARC - An Abuse, Rape, and Domestic Violence Aid and Resource Center
http://www.aardvarc.org/
American Bar Association - Commission on Domestic Violence
http://www.abanet.org/domviol/home.html
Communities Against Violence Network
http://www.cavnet2.org/
National Coalition Against Domestic Violence
http://www.ncadv.org/
National Criminal Justice Reference Service
http://www.ncjrs.gov/
U.S. Department of Justice - Office on Violence Against Women
http://www.usdoj.gov/ovw/
Violence Against Women Online Resources
http://www.vaw.umn.edu/
Stalking
8% of women and 2% of men will be stalked in their lifetimes.
The Antistalking Web Site
http://www.antistalking.com/
Stalking Victims Sanctuary
http://www.stalkingvictims.com/home.htm
Conclusion
If you are a victim of violence, get help immediately! Call a victim assistance hotline or visit the above websites. Start the healing process now.
Keep yourself and your female loved ones safe. Empower yourself, wife, mother, sister, niece, friend, and co-worker. Enroll in a women's self-defense training program so that you and they can defend against an attacker if the situation ever arises.
Read more women's self defense articles at => http://www.selfdefenseresource.com/women/
About the Author:
Secrets of self-defense revealed by SelfDefenseResource.com! Claim the FREE REPORT "10 Secrets to Effective Self-Defense." Click here now => http://www.selfdefenseresource.com/
Thursday, April 19, 2007
Menopause and Diet
By Steven Quid
Menopause is called by some people “ the change” because it is the time in a woman’s life when her period or “cycle” stops. During this time a woman’s body slowly produces less of the hormone Estrogen and Progesterone. When a woman has not had a period for 12 months in a row, she has reached menopause. This often happens around the ages of 45 to 55 years old. Every woman’s symptoms are different when reaching this stage in their lives. As we get older our digestive tract becomes less efficient and digestion takes longer. Calorie counting women sometimes find that long hours in a gym has minimal effect on their weight loss. The reason for this is the imbalance of estrogen in their body.
Growing up, Estrogen protects women from some effects of a high fat diet. Postmenopausal women have lower levels of Estrogen, and this leads to lower levels of HDL or (good cholesterol) and a rise in LDL (bad cholesterol) which is why rates of heart disease among menopausal and postmenopausal women are as high as those among men in similar age group. Estrogen is important and vital function for orchestrating menstruation. This imbalance of Estrogen is characterized by an abundance of symptoms. Some of these symptoms include: mood swings, feeling anxious, painful periods, hot flashes, and low libido. Should we try to use hormone therapy to balance out the imbalance in our bodies? As with all drug therapy’s you should consult a physician .
For some women hormone therapy may increase their chances of getting blood clots, heart attacks, strokes, and breast cancer. Before embarking on hormone replacement therapy, investigate a natural alternative. Diet is a primary factor in keeping blood sugar levels consistent, which is critical for keeping tissues healthy and preventing degenerative diseases. Stay away from junk foods. When cooking don’t use processed cooking oils switch to unprocessed oils, like virgin olive oil, canola, and flaxseed oil. Try to reduce intake of animal proteins, choose lean meats and low fat dairy. To get you through this stage in life women emotional help from people around her and understanding on the processes that are going on with her body.
A good diet and some natural supplements to balance out our hormonal imbalances at this stage in our life is highly recommended.Zalestra is an ALL-NATURAL product we recommend. No synthetic chemicals no artificial hormones, and you can try it Risk Free Simply go to: ZalestraSite.com
Menopause is called by some people “ the change” because it is the time in a woman’s life when her period or “cycle” stops. During this time a woman’s body slowly produces less of the hormone Estrogen and Progesterone. When a woman has not had a period for 12 months in a row, she has reached menopause. This often happens around the ages of 45 to 55 years old. Every woman’s symptoms are different when reaching this stage in their lives. As we get older our digestive tract becomes less efficient and digestion takes longer. Calorie counting women sometimes find that long hours in a gym has minimal effect on their weight loss. The reason for this is the imbalance of estrogen in their body.
Growing up, Estrogen protects women from some effects of a high fat diet. Postmenopausal women have lower levels of Estrogen, and this leads to lower levels of HDL or (good cholesterol) and a rise in LDL (bad cholesterol) which is why rates of heart disease among menopausal and postmenopausal women are as high as those among men in similar age group. Estrogen is important and vital function for orchestrating menstruation. This imbalance of Estrogen is characterized by an abundance of symptoms. Some of these symptoms include: mood swings, feeling anxious, painful periods, hot flashes, and low libido. Should we try to use hormone therapy to balance out the imbalance in our bodies? As with all drug therapy’s you should consult a physician .
For some women hormone therapy may increase their chances of getting blood clots, heart attacks, strokes, and breast cancer. Before embarking on hormone replacement therapy, investigate a natural alternative. Diet is a primary factor in keeping blood sugar levels consistent, which is critical for keeping tissues healthy and preventing degenerative diseases. Stay away from junk foods. When cooking don’t use processed cooking oils switch to unprocessed oils, like virgin olive oil, canola, and flaxseed oil. Try to reduce intake of animal proteins, choose lean meats and low fat dairy. To get you through this stage in life women emotional help from people around her and understanding on the processes that are going on with her body.
A good diet and some natural supplements to balance out our hormonal imbalances at this stage in our life is highly recommended.Zalestra is an ALL-NATURAL product we recommend. No synthetic chemicals no artificial hormones, and you can try it Risk Free Simply go to: ZalestraSite.com
This article is free for republishing
Source: http://www.womensarticles.com/article_148976_28.html
Source: http://www.womensarticles.com/article_148976_28.html
Tuesday, March 13, 2007
Men and Women Use Brains Differently
University of Alberta researchers say that using magnetic resonance imaging they found a man's brain works differently than a woman's brain.
Study author Dr. Peter Silverstone, a psychiatrist, said the research team analyzed the MRIs of 23 men and 10 women and found that the sexes use different areas of the brain even when working on exactly the same task, The Washington Times reported Friday.
Wired Differently?
The larger implication of this work is that we may increasingly find out that there are differences in the "hard wiring" of male and female brains, said Silverstone.
Volunteers were given several different types of tasks to perform while their brains were monitored by the MRIs.
Men and women clearly met the challenges differently, the researchers said.
Study author Dr. Peter Silverstone, a psychiatrist, said the research team analyzed the MRIs of 23 men and 10 women and found that the sexes use different areas of the brain even when working on exactly the same task, The Washington Times reported Friday.
Wired Differently?
The larger implication of this work is that we may increasingly find out that there are differences in the "hard wiring" of male and female brains, said Silverstone.
Volunteers were given several different types of tasks to perform while their brains were monitored by the MRIs.
Men and women clearly met the challenges differently, the researchers said.
Monday, January 15, 2007
Casual sex is a con: women just aren't like men
Former groupie Dawn Eden explains how she realised morality made more sense for women than free love..(Read more)
Wednesday, January 03, 2007
Recipe for Today : MINESTRONE SOUP
Makes: 16 servings
Ingredients
1/4 C olive oil.
1 clove garlic, minced or 1/8 tsp garlic powder.
1-1/3 C coarsely chopped onion.
1-1/2 C coarsely chopped celery and leaves.
1 can (6 oz) tomato paste.
1 Tbsp chopped fresh parsley.
1 C sliced carrots, fresh or frozen.
4-3/4 C shredded cabbage.
1 can (1 lb) tomatoes, cut up.
1 C canned red kidney beans, drained and rinsed.
1-1/2 C frozen peas.
1-1/2 C fresh green beans.
Dash hot sauce.
11 C water.
2 C uncooked, broken spaghetti.
Directions
Heat oil in a 4-quart saucepan.
Add garlic, onion, and celery and saute about 5 minutes.
Add all remaining ingredients except spaghetti, and stir until ingredients are well mixed.
Bring to a boil. Reduce heat, cover, and simmer about 45 minutes or until vegetables are tender.
Add uncooked spaghetti and simmer 2-3 minutes only.
Nutritional Information
Calories: 153
Total fat: 4 g
Saturated fat: less than 1 g
Cholesterol: 0 mg
Sodium: 191 mg
Source :Find more delicious and healthy recipe here : Woman Fitness
Ingredients
1/4 C olive oil.
1 clove garlic, minced or 1/8 tsp garlic powder.
1-1/3 C coarsely chopped onion.
1-1/2 C coarsely chopped celery and leaves.
1 can (6 oz) tomato paste.
1 Tbsp chopped fresh parsley.
1 C sliced carrots, fresh or frozen.
4-3/4 C shredded cabbage.
1 can (1 lb) tomatoes, cut up.
1 C canned red kidney beans, drained and rinsed.
1-1/2 C frozen peas.
1-1/2 C fresh green beans.
Dash hot sauce.
11 C water.
2 C uncooked, broken spaghetti.
Directions
Heat oil in a 4-quart saucepan.
Add garlic, onion, and celery and saute about 5 minutes.
Add all remaining ingredients except spaghetti, and stir until ingredients are well mixed.
Bring to a boil. Reduce heat, cover, and simmer about 45 minutes or until vegetables are tender.
Add uncooked spaghetti and simmer 2-3 minutes only.
Nutritional Information
Calories: 153
Total fat: 4 g
Saturated fat: less than 1 g
Cholesterol: 0 mg
Sodium: 191 mg
Source :Find more delicious and healthy recipe here : Woman Fitness
Monday, January 01, 2007
Can You Reduce Your Risk of Breast Cancer?
The more you understand about any subject, the more interesting it becomes. As you read this article you'll find that the subject of cancer is certainly no exception.
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.
The best time to learn about cancer is before you're in the thick of things. Wise readers will keep reading to earn some valuable cancer experience while it's still free.
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.
Now might be a good time to write down the main points covered above. The act of putting it down on paper will help you remember what's important about cancer.
About the Author
Keith Londrie is the creator of the http://treat-breast-cancer.info/ website that provides guidance and information to people about cancer. Visit today to answert all of your questions.
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.
The best time to learn about cancer is before you're in the thick of things. Wise readers will keep reading to earn some valuable cancer experience while it's still free.
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.
Now might be a good time to write down the main points covered above. The act of putting it down on paper will help you remember what's important about cancer.
About the Author
Keith Londrie is the creator of the http://treat-breast-cancer.info/ website that provides guidance and information to people about cancer. Visit today to answert all of your questions.
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