FitSugar

Support Breast Cancer Awareness With Beyond Yoga

FitSugar — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 08:00:03 -0700

In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Beyond Yoga, one of my favorite brands of fitness clothes, is offering some unique pink products. The company is donating 30 percent of the proceeds from the sale of these I Am Beyond . . . Hopeful water bottles ($36) and its Lift and Support Bra ($64) to the Women's Cancer Research Fund. Every sale will support research, education, and outreach for the early diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of female cancers. A minimum of $4 will be donated for every water bottle sold, and a $10 donation will be made for every bra sold.

To hear more about these products and see some other photos, keep reading

13 Ways to Reduce Breast Cancer Risk

FitSugar — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 08:00:22 -0700

In America, a woman has a one in nine chance for developing breast cancer. While that statistic is extremely depressing, here are some lifestyle choices you can make to help decrease your risk.

Source: Getty

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Is Your Underwire Bra a Breast Cancer Risk?

FitSugar — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 03:00:51 -0700

Teaching at a yoga studio means I meet a lot of free-spirited folks. One student told me she stopped wearing underwire bras because she heard they can lead to breast cancer. This idea has been circling around that wearing a bra all day compresses the lymphatic system of the breast, resulting in accumulation of toxins that cause breast cancer. Just about every woman I know wears a bra, and most opt for the ones with supportive underwires, so are we all at risk?

To find out read more.

Here are some reassuring words straight from the American Cancer Society.

"We do not know of any epidemiologic studies published in scientific journals that suggest bras directly contribute to breast cancer risk or that lymphatic compression by bras might cause breast cancer. "

Another fact to chew on. If wearing an over-the-shoulder-boulder-holder was linked to an increased risk in breast cancer, statistics would have shown a drop in breast cancer diagnoses in the 60s when most women were burning their bras and going braless. But stats didn't drop.

So wear your push-ups, underwires, demi cups, and sports bras without fear, especially if not wearing a bra is not an option for your girls.

Handling a Loved One's Breast Cancer

FitSugar — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 10:00:30 -0700

When someone in your life tells you that they have been diagnosed with breast cancer, it's difficult to know how to respond or the best way to help. Glamour and Bright Pink, a nonprofit support group for women with breast and ovarian cancer, offered these helpful tips on how to make the conversation easier:

Don't try to guess what she wants - ask how can you help. Some women may want a special girls' night in, while others may need a friend to go with her to doctor's appointments.
Don't burden her with your sadness. She's carrying the weight of her own fear and grief, try not to give her yours as well - she needs all the strength you can offer.

There are more tips, so keep reading.

Sheryl Crow Is the Picture of (and on) Health

FitSugar — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 08:00:53 -0700

When I think of breast cancer survivors, Sheryl Crow is one of the first people to pop into my mind. Three years ago, she was diagnosed with the disease and is now happy to say she's cancer-free. These days, this down-to-earth, single mom is a breast cancer advocate, and in a candid interview with Health magazine, she talks about ways she's taking care of herself to stay healthy. Here's what she said about her diet.

"When I first got diagnosed, I went to this great nutritionist who specializes in disease prevention and well-being, and I still incorporate her tips like eating omega-3s - I eat salmon or other fish at least three times a week. I eat a lot of walnuts, almonds, colorful vegetables, and prunes, which get such a bad rap but are loaded with antioxidants. I also drink pomegranate juice and keep a vat of tomato soup around or some kind of tomato sauce, because it has lycopene. And one big thing I learned was that so much of wellness depends on your body getting rid of waste. So I eat a lot of Fiber One, which has 14 grams of fiber per serving."

Getting your fill of omega-3s, antioxidants like lycopene, and fiber have all been found to help prevent breast cancer, so following Sheryl's advice is a great way to put prevention into your own hands.

To hear what Sheryl said about her exercise plan, read more.

"I try to do something every day that’s sports-related, and I like to be outside. I love riding my bike, and playing tennis, and paddle surfing. I don’t love going to the gym, but I’ll do it if it’s rainy."

Research has shown that vigorous exercise (running, fast jogging, aerobics, bicycling on hills, etc.) can reduce the risk of breast cancer by about 30 percent in normal-weight women, so get moving like Sheryl to help prevent this disease. The singer also tries to rid her life of stress, lets out her emotions rather than bottling them up, and doesn't deny herself one of her favorite guilty pleasures - Lay's potato chips.

Strong and Courageous: 10 Celebrity Breast Cancer Survivors

FitSugar — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 07:00:17 -0700

In honor of October being Breast Cancer Awareness Month, FitSugar pays tribute to some of the celebrities who fought their breast cancer in a very public way. We applaud the courage of these women and the efforts they have made in speaking out for the cause.

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Would You Undergo a Mastectomy to Protect Yourself From Breast Cancer?

FitSugar — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 03:47:44 -0700

A diagnosis of breast cancer is a life-changing moment that will affect almost 200,000 women this year. If faced with the diagnosis, one question your doctor will ask you to consider is whether or not you would remove a non-cancerous breast to protect yourself against the disease. The procedure is called prophylactic mastectomy, and a recent study shows that it's on the rise.

The study, conducted by the American Cancer Society, found that patients in New York who had cancer in one breast but also removed their non-cancerous breast doubled during the period of 1995-2005. During that same period there was also a slight increase in cancer-free patients who chose to remove both healthy breasts. It's likely that these women were at high risk because of family history, or they tested positive for the gene mutation associated with the disease. This is why actress Christina Applegate opted for the double mastectomy.

Although prophylactic mastectomy dramatically reduces the risk of developing breast cancer in the future, it has not been shown to increase the chances of survival from already existing breast cancer. However, many patients choose to undergo the procedure to quell anxiety.

As we begin our coverage of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, I am curious to know what you would do in this situation . . .

More Evidence That Healthy Living Combats Breast Cancer

FitSugar — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 14:30:04 -0700

Add this to your list of reasons to live healthily: more research is showing that exercising, maintaining a healthy weight, and avoiding excessive alcohol can help prevent breast cancer. According to data released today from the World Cancer Research Fund charity, at least four out of 10 breast cancer cases in the UK could be prevented by healthy lifestyle changes.

The conclusions are based on data culled from 950 research papers around the world. The study found that breastfeeding is also a major factor in reducing one's risk of breast cancer. Here's more from the study:

The charity recommends that both men and women aim to be as lean as possible without becoming underweight. A healthy body mass index (BMI) is between 18 and 25. . . . The charity also recommends at least 30 minutes of exercise a day and, if alcohol is drunk at all, it be limited to two drinks a day for a man and one for a woman.

If you're looking for ways to prevent breast cancer, it's hard to argue with exercise. Physical activity reduces body fat, thereby lowering cancer-promoting hormones such as estrogen. Researchers have also found that women with a higher body mass index have a higher likelihood of developing breast cancer.

Do you count cancer-prevention among your reasons to exercise?

Cabbage and Your Breasts

FitSugar — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 03:00:35 -0700

Although cabbage is unfortunately associated with the soup diet bearing its name, this leafy veggie is a nutritional powerhouse, and as it turns out, it fights breast cancer too. The American Association for Cancer Research believes it is the phytonutrient sulforaphane found in cabbage that stimulates cells to kill carcinogens. In a Polish study, women who ate cabbage or fermented cabbage in the form of sauerkraut at least four times a week, if not more, were 74 percent less likely to develop breast cancer. If that is not a strong enough reason to add cabbage to your diet, know that it has been found to protect against lung, stomach, and colon cancers as well. High in vitamins K and C, the mineral magnesium, cabbage even a little bit of omega-3 fatty acids. Be sure to eat some coleslaw this Summer, but look for recipes that go easy on the mayo.

The connection between cabbage and breasts doesn't end there. To learn more continue reading.

Exercise After Age 30 May Reduce Breast Cancer Risk

FitSugar — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 03:00:00 -0700

The reasons to exercise range from weight loss to stress reduction, but I have another reason to keep you sweating it out at the gym. A new study presented at the American College of Sports Medicine's annual meeting shows that women who exercise after age 30 - for more than an hour a week - may help to significantly cut their chances of developing breast cancer. Of the 4,296 women studied, those who exercised over 60 minutes a week developed fewer cases of breast cancer when compared with women who were less active. Exercising an hour a week to prevent breast cancer is a great motivator, especially when you consider 13 percent of women will develop breast cancer in the US.

Are you over 30? How many minutes a week do you exercise?

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