FitSugar

Study Shows IUDs May Cut Risk of Cervical Cancer in Half

Jenny Sugar — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 09:42:59 PDT

Whether you use a traditional copper IUD or the plastic version that releases the hormone progestin, a recent international study shows that both types of intrauterine devices (IUDs) may lower a woman's risk of cervical cancer. The data was collected from 10 previously published studies comparing women with cervical cancer to women without the disease, as well as data from 16 HPV frequency surveys conducted in 14 countries.

IUD use is already associated with a reduced risk of endometrial cancer, but research discovered that women who used this T-shaped device for at least a year had almost half the risk of developing cervical cancer as women who had never used one. This includes the two major types of cervical cancer known as squamous cell and adenosquamous carcinoma, which is caused by infection from the sexually transmitted human papillomavirus (HPV).

Researchers aren't exactly sure how this little matchstick-sized IUD may help prevent cervical cancer. Since it hangs inside your uterus, the constant low-grade inflammation near the cervix may encourage the immune system to fight HPV, preventing the virus from duplicating.

This news is great for women already using an IUD or those considering it for pregnancy prevention, but IUDs aren't the best method for preventing cervical cancer. Using condoms and getting vaccinated to protect yourself from the HPV virus as well as scheduling regular Pap tests with your gynecologist are top on the list when it comes to cervical cancer prevention.

Are you overdue for a Pap smear? If so, here's your friendly reminder to make an appointment!

Sweat 15 Minutes a Day and Add Three Years to Your Life, Study Says

Jenny Sugar — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 10:18:41 PDT

If your busy schedule doesn't allow for the recommended 30 minutes of daily exercise, a large study from Taiwan should make you feel better. The 13-year study tracked 416,000 participants and found that just 15 minutes of moderate exercise increased their life expectancy by three years, compared to those who didn't exercise. Daily workouts lower the incidence of cancer, and therefore lower the risk of cancer-related deaths.

Now who wouldn't dedicate 15 minutes a day if they could live longer? If you need some ideas for 15-minute mini workouts, check out the list below:

Walk your dog briskly around the neighborhood.
Head to the track and walk a mile, going around four times at a pace of four miles per hour (15 minutes per mile).
Run one and a half miles at a pace of 10 minutes per mile.
Do a mini interval workout on the elliptical or treadmill. Start off walking for two minutes, jog for two minutes, sprint for one minute, jog two, sprint one, jog two, sprint one, jog two, and end with two minutes of walking.

Keep reading for more 15-minute workout ideas.

Spice Up Your Grilled Burgers and Reduce Your Cancer Risk

FitSugar — Thu, 03 Jun 2010 03:00:19 PDT

With Memorial Day kicking off the unofficial start to grilling season, it's likely there are plenty of burgers in your near future. Unfortunately, cooking meat at high temperatures (like grilling) can create carcinogenic chemicals known as heterocyclic amines (or HCAs), which have been linked to cancer risk. The good news? Certain add-ins can make your meat much safer to cook - and more flavorful, too!

Studies have found that adding rosemary to uncooked meat will greatly reduce the amount of HCAs found in your beef after cooking, attributed to the antioxidant carnosol. If rosemary isn't your thing, there are other ingredients that work, too. To find out what they are, keep reading

A Sad Day For Fruits and Veggies?

FitSugar — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 11:30:28 PDT

I am a health food nut who craves broccoli and apples, so the new Europoean study that found that increased fruit and veggie intake doesn't do much to decrease cancer risk won't affect my eating habits. This new eight-year study involved collecting self-reported dietary and lifestyle habits of 478,478 people from 10 Western European countries and found that consuming two extra servings of fruit and vegetables only reduced cancer risk by three percent. And three percent is considered "very weak" results. These new findings contradict previous studies that found eating additional produces decreased cancer risk by 20 to 30 percent.

Cancer is a complex disease as is the relationship between diet and lifestyle in disease prevention. We do know that eating lots of red meat increase one's risk for developing colorectal cancer, and that obesity affects breast cancer risk. And let's be clear, this study is by no means an excuse to eat less produce, since a diet high in vegetable matter can help lower blood pressure and blood sugar, thereby reducing the risk for developing type 2 diabetes. Plus, fruits and veggies provide necessary nutrition for the body regardless of their cancer fighting properties, and they help in weight loss by increasing the feeling of satiety so we consume fewer calories.

Eating right is an essential part of a healthy lifestyle. To reduce your risk of cancer, don't smoke, keep your alcohol consumption to a minimum, and exercise regularly.

Another Reason to Exercise: Cancer Prevention

FitSugar — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 16:00:36 PDT

If you need a reason, one with far-reaching effects, to pull yourself off the couch and exercise, I have one for you: cancer prevention. A large Japanese study found that exercising and staying physically active throughout the day can decrease your risk for cancer by 10 to 15 percent over the course for 10 years. Who knows what the next decade could bring? Being physically active is more than just running or taking a kickboxing class. While exercising regularly is great and part of cancer prevention, being physically active throughout your day, from gardening to walking, helps as well. Researchers believe that physical activity and exercise affect hormones involved in tumor production. Regular exercise combined with an active life can fight cancer - the prescription is in your hands.

Limit Your Consumption of Red Meat, Reduce Cancer Risk

FitSugar — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 11:00:00 PDT

By now, hopefully we all know that eating too much red meat is unhealthy. It can raise your cholesterol, lead to obesity, and put you at risk for heart problems. Now there's more bad news for red meat lovers: a large study found eating red and processed meat regularly leads to an increased risk of cancer.

In the 10-year study, 545,000 people were monitored based on their red meat consumption - some ate it every day, and others only ate five ounces a week. Men who ate a quarter-pound hamburger everyday (yikes) increased their risk of dying from cancer by 22 percent and their risk of dying from heart disease by 27 percent.

What about women? To find out

For women, those who ate a ton of red meat increased their risk of dying from cancer by 20 percent and their risk of dying from heart disease by 50 percent - 50 percent ladies! That means it's absolutely crucial that people, especially women, limit their intake of red and processed meats such as steak, hamburgers, hot dogs, bacon, and cold cuts.

When it comes to getting protein, stick to healthier meats such as chicken and fish. Barry Popkin, director of the Interdisciplinary Obesity Center at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, also says that limiting your meat consumption can have a positive effect on global warming. So it's good for you and good for the planet. If you're trying to eat lower on the food chain, check out these three cheap and natural meat substitutes.

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You Can Help Prevent Cancer

FitSugar — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 03:00:00 PDT

During a discussion about cancer, my friend recently said, "There's nothing you can do to stop yourself from getting cancer, so everyone should just enjoy their lives."

True, some cancers are inevitable, but many of them are preventable. In fact, WebMD has outlined a few simple things you can do in your own life to keep cancer at bay. The tips may not be the end all be all, but they're certainly not going to do any harm either. They are:

Not using cigarettes or other tobacco products
Avoiding second-hand smoke
Not drinking too much alcohol
Avoiding weight gain and maintaining a healthy weight

There are many more simple tips so

Eating five or more daily servings of fruits and vegetables and a low-fat diet
Balancing calories with physical activity
Being physically active
Protecting skin from sunlight
Supporting community efforts to develop a healthy social and physical environment

Are you doing all you can do to prevent cancer? Tell me in the comments section below.

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Check Yourself: Skin Cancer Self-Examination

FitSugar — Fri, 30 May 2008 12:00:00 PDT

The best ways to spot (and treat) skin cancer is with early detection. Early detection does not always start in the doctor's office, it begins at home. A simple self-evaluation of your skin allows you to detect the early warning signs of basal-cell carcinoma, squamous-cell carcinoma, and melanoma. Try and do the following once a month and look for a new growth or any changes in your skin:

Examine head and face, using one or both mirrors. Use blow-dryer to inspect scalp.
Check hands, including nails. In full-length mirror, examine elbows, arms, underarms.
Focus on neck, chest, torso. Women: Check under breasts.
With back to the mirror, use hand mirror to inspect back of neck, shoulders, upper arms, back, buttocks, legs.
Sitting down, check legs and feet, including soles, heels, and nails. Use hand mirror to examine genitals.

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Food Pairings to Fight Cancer

FitSugar — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 02:30:00 PDT

Looking for a food pairing that does more than just intensifies taste and nutrition? Researchers out of the U.K. are suggesting that combining two food components called sulforaphane and selenium - two naturally occurring cancer fighting components found in foods - make them up to 13 times more powerful in attacking cancer together than if they are alone.

OK, so what foods contain these components? Well, foods high in sulforaphane are broccoli, sprouts, cabbage, watercress, and salad rocket (aka arugula). Foods high in selenium include nuts, poultry, fish, eggs, sunflower seeds, and mushrooms. So while we wait for the scientists to learn more, why not sprinkle some mushrooms and/or sunflower seeds onto your arugula? Not only will it be tasty, but the benefits may be hefty in terms of cancer prevention.

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Learn to Love: Cauliflower

FitSugar — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 02:00:00 PST

With all this talk about eating colorful fruits and veggies, pale cauliflower often gets left out in the cold. Just because it lacks color doesn't mean you should neglect this veggie.

First off, cauliflower is in season from December to March, so it should be easy to find a nice head of it at your grocery store. Plus, seasonal produce tends to be less expensive.

Secondly, one cup of cauliflower contains 91 percent the recommended daily intake (RDI) of vitamin C. That is nothing to scoff at, especially if you don't enjoy drinking OJ. One cup also contains over three grams of fiber.

Cauliflower is considered a cruciferous vegetable, placing it in the same family as broccoli and kale. Cruciferous veggies may help prevent cancer, and they are known to reduce the risk of lung, colon, breast, ovarian and bladder cancers. This class of veggies, cauliflower included, also benefit the liver and the cardiovascular system. The reasons to love cauliflower are plentiful!

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