Just this week, The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) announced that it has classified cell phone radiation as “possibly carcinogenic to humans,” based on an increased risk for a malignant type of brain cancer associated with mobile phone use. The IARC is a part of  WHO, and it’s main purpose is to research the causes of human cancer and try to find strategies for prevention and control of it.

Their research also identified an association between cell phone use, salivary gland tumors, and a tumor of the nerve that links the ear to the brain.

For the IARC to announce these findings, should give pause to those who regularly have a cell phone at their ear. There are alternatives available via blue tooth capabilities with headsets and GPS units, etc. Although, it may require a minor inconvenience initially, the benefits outweigh the inconvenience.

In addition to the health hazards associated with holding a cell phone while using it, there are also the safety issues while operating a motor vehicle.  These factors alone, should be significant enough to look for alternatives.

The Environmental Working Group has been talking about cancer and it’s relationship to cell phone usage since 2009. They have a guide published on their website that addresses this very topic and provides information on specific cell phones and how much radiation is emitted from each of them.

Remember when people dismissed the Surgeon General’s warning on the side of cigarette packs over 30 years ago? “May be hazardous” has been proven true in regards to tobacco and could very well be true in this situation. The questions is whether or not the public wants to wait and gamble with their lives or be proactive now, just in case.

For me personally, I was forced to research nutritional supplements about 5 years ago, for my health issues. It was that or give into constantly being drained, fatigued and having a general lack of motivation. It took a little time and experimentation with some different products, but it was totally worth it! Today, I live an VERY active and fulfilled lifestyle, working my full-time job, working my home based business and then also being involved in numerous community groups and activities.

Even if you’re not plagued with health issues such as I had experienced, the daily demands that society puts on each of us, as well as the demands that we put on ourselves, are literally making many people sick and/or having a poor quality of life. Maintaining some type of healthful balance, must be a priority to stay on your game.

Diet and exercise are on the top of the list, to maintaining your health. Unfortunately, they are usually the first to be overlooked.  The exercise doesn’t have to be extensive, but it needs to be consistent. Diet should to be wholesome foods that aren’t full of a bunch of additives. Normally, shopping the perimeter of the grocery store, will help you meet that goal pretty easily. Additionally, supplementation with quality nutritional products will provide many of the necessary nutrients that we aren’t getting from our actual diet.

First and foremost, is the need for a good multi-vitamin. That means identifying a vitamin that can provide even more than the RDA (recommended daily allowance) of vitamins and minerals. The RDA standards are good, but don’t always represent an optimal amount for a person.

There are also many other vitamin products that have multiple health benefits. Many have overlapping benefits and should be considered, based upon one’s own personal health issues. A few of the more common ones and some of their benefits are listed here:

Omega 3 / Fish Oil ~ Decrease inflammation, brain health, cholesterol reduction, stress reduction

Vitamin D ~ Heart, bone health, immunity

Vitamin C ~ Stress reduction, cardiovascular, eye health, immunity

Vitamin B ~ Migrane issues, cancer

I am not a health professional or expert, but I don’t have to be. All, I have to do is some basic research to find out which supplements are the best for my personal health concerns. And you can do the same for your health. Don’t wait another day to take some type of positive steps to improving your health. Even one small change is a step in the right direction.

For more helpful information on how supplements can improve your health, go to http://www.betterhealthin31days.com/sowing4health

Picture info: This picture is not of me, but of a friend of mine.  Caitlin is a constant reminder to me on why we all need to take care of ourselves. You always want to be able to seize the moment, no matter where you might be!

Statistically, studies have shown that women in the United States have breast cancer rates that are 4 to 7 times higher than women in China and Japan. Also, there have been studies showing that when Chinese or Japanese migrate to this country, their risk of breast cancer is no different from that of any other US citizen by the second or third generation.

Based on that, it seems pretty clear to me, that increased risk of cancer in US women is not a matter of genetics. It very possibly is caused by the US lifestyle.

A study by Dr. Larrisa Korde and her colleagues at the National Cancer Institute studied 1563 women of Chinese, Japanese or Filipino descent aged 20 to 55 years (597 with breast cancer and 966 without) and determined their intake of soy-containing foods during childhood, adolescence and as adults.

They then divided the women into three groups – those with high frequency of soy intake (more than 1.5 times/week), those with medium frequency of soy intake (1 to 1.5 times/week), and those with low frequency of soy intake (0 to 1 times/week – not unlike the average American).

The results are very interesting:

A high level of soy intake in childhood was associated with a 58% reduction in breast cancer. A high soy intake during adolescence and the adult years was associated with a 20-25% reduction in breast cancer (Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers and Prevention, 18: 1050-1059, 2009).

Additionally, a December 2009 report in the Journal of the American Medical Association, showed that soy consumption decreases the risk of breast cancer recurrence in those women who do develop breast cancer.

An excellent soy product is Soy Protein from Shaklee. It’s a non-GMO product with natural ingredients and is Kosher certified. Not only is it great for breast cancer prevention, it increases energy, helps with menopausal symptoms, prostate issues, as well as heart health benefits.

I personally use Shaklee’s weight management Cinch Shake Mix, but also substitute in a little of their regular Soy Protein. I have seen a dramatic improvement with mood swings and other peri-menopausal symptoms.

Being aware of the facts and making informed decisions, may very well affect you and your family’s general health and well being. Take the time to learn about natural health solutions and don’t be afraid to share them with others. Early preventative health decisions may help someone you know and love down the road.

These exposures come from products right off the shelf. Plastic baby bottles, baby clothes, cleaning products, personal care products, to name a few. And, since all of these products are for sale to each and every consumer, a natural assumption would be that they are safe, or they wouldn’t even be available to the consumer. Right?

WRONG !!!!

Unfortunately, that assumption is incorrect. Of, over 80,000 chemicals being used in the manufacturing of everyday products, only about 200 of them have been tested by a 34 year old program, the Toxic Substances Chemical Act (TSCA) of 1976. In addition, all chemicals developed prior to the TSCA were grandfathered in, without being tested!

There is a very large voice right now, demanding an update to the Toxic Substances Control Act. It’s called the Safe Chemicals Act of 2010. The reports are in, the facts are clear, and something must be done and quickly.

Please watch the below video and go to SaferChemicals.org to educate yourself and to take the pledge. Without action by each of us, the exposures will continue and so too, will the health issues to go along with them.

A balanced and healthy diet is essential to help prevent cancer and other health problems. Although malignant mesothelioma is not a type of cancer that can be prevented by good nutrition, mesothelioma patients can certainly benefit from a more balanced and healthy diet in a number of ways. Better nutrition can not only alleviate mesothelioma symptoms and treatment side effects, but also fight the cancer itself.

One of the most common side effects of mesothelioma treatment is nausea. There are a number of dietary changes that can be made to help this problem. Dry grain products like crackers and toast can help calm an upset stomach. Bland foods will also help with nausea, as well as acid reflux problems.

Garlic can be useful for mesothelioma patients as it generates a chemical called allicin. Garlic appears to have the most affect on stomach cancer and prostate cancer in men, but affects have been noted in all types of cancer and on different carcinogens. Animal trials have been performed with positive effects. In one such study, a number of mice with cancer were injected with allicin. The control group (those not injected with the compound) lived an average of two months, while those receiving the injection lived an average of six months or longer.

Fruit is also a must. There are many types of berries mesothelioma patients can fit in into your diet to benefit from the cancer-fighting nutrients they contain, including blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, strawberries, loganberries, cranberries. Berries contain a number of cancer-fighting phytonutrients like anthocyanins, ellagic acid, pterostilbene and resveratrol. In one study, extracts of six types of berries were tested for their ability to prevent the growth and spread of different types of cancer cells. Amazingly, each different type of berry was found to have an entirely unique combination of phytonutrients, and all six varieties of berry extract were able to kill cancer cells in the laboratory.

Low white blood cell count is another trait found often in cancer patients. This raises the risk of contracting an infection. To avoid this side effect, a number of changes can be made in the foods you eat. It is most important to avoid “bad” bacteria, which is common in foods that are spoiled or not prepared well. Avoid buffets when eating out, wash your hands before preparing meals, avoid raw meats and fish (like sushi), and throw away any foods that are bruised or damaged.

Cancer is a complex medical condition, with many factors playing various roles in development and treatment. However, most patients will undoubtedly benefit from a healthy diet in a number of ways.

This article was generously provided by Richard Moyle of The Mesothelioma Center:

Richard Moyle
National Awareness Coordinator
Mesothelioma Center
Asbestos.com

Inflammatory Breast Cancer often goes undiagnosed or improperly diagnosed. You’ll see in the video story, that even some cancer centers contacted during the story, were uneducated on the subject. After watching the video and learning something that I’ve never really heard about, I decided this information was well worth passing on. Please share it with every woman you know and even every man.

There is also a lot more information available online. A good resource that explains this disease is the National Cancer Institute’s website. On their site, it explains Inflammatory Breast Cancer (IBC) as:

Inflammatory breast cancer is a rare but very aggressive type of breast cancer in which the cancer cells block the lymph vessels in the skin of the breast. This type of breast cancer is called “inflammatory” because the breast often looks swollen and red, or “inflamed.” IBC accounts for 1 to 5 percent of all breast cancer cases in the United States (1). It tends to be diagnosed in younger women compared to non-IBC breast cancer. It occurs more frequently and at a younger age in African Americans than in Whites. Like other types of breast cancer, IBC can occur in men, but usually at an older age than in women. Some studies have shown an association between family history of breast cancer and IBC, but more studies are needed to draw firm conclusions (2).

The National Cancer Institute’s site also addresses the symptoms, diagnosis and treatment of the Inflammatory Breast Cancer.

Here’s the video for you to view:

Cancer is caused by changes in genes that control the growth and death of cells. The disease develops when cells continue to grow and divide instead of dying off when they get older as they would normally do. As cancer cells multiply, they can damage nearby tissues and can also spread to other parts of the body and develop into new tumors. While improvements in detection, diagnosis, and treatment have increased the survival rate for many types of cancer, we also encourage doing all you can do to prevent the disease as a core strategy of your prescription for optimal health.

With prevention in mind, here are 10 things we can all do to reduce the risk of developing cancer:

1. Avoid tobacco products and second-hand smoke

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States for both men and women. Ironically, it’s also the most preventable type of cancer. Some 87-percent of lung cancer deaths are attributable to exposure to tobacco smoke including roughly 3,000 deaths each year in non-smokers due to second-hand smoke. Of the 45 million Americans who still smoke in 2007, 30-percent of male and 21-percent of female high school students reported using some form of tobacco in the prior month. If you smoke, take the necessary steps to quit for the health of you and your loved ones.

2. Achieve and maintain a healthy weight

Being overweight increases your chance of developing certain types of cancer, including cancer of the esophagus, colon and rectum, and pancreas. Obesity also increases the risk of breast cancer in postmenopausal women by roughly 50-percent, and endometrial cancer by about three fold. And carrying too much extra body weight is believed to account for up to 30-percent of kidney cancers in both men and women. Make smart food choices, control portion sizes, and fill up on fruits and vegetables to help manage your healthy weight and reduce your risk of cancer.

3. Get moving

The American Cancer Society recommends regular exercise as a way to prevent cancer. Regular exercise burns calories and can help you reach and maintain a healthy weight. Pick something that gets and keeps you moving like walking, hiking, cycling, swimming, team sports, and even dancing. Consider biking or walking to work, or take a walk during your lunch break. Be sure to gradually work up to 30-45 minutes of exercise a day for five or more days per week.

4. Eat more fruits, vegetables, and whole grains

Fruits and vegetables are naturally rich in dietary antioxidants like vitamin C, vitamin E, and a whole family of carotenoids that may help to protect your healthy genes from oxidative damage. Recent research suggests that eating tomatoes may help to protect against developing prostate cancer, while eating cruciferous vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower, and brussels sprouts may help to protect against bladder cancer. Fruits and vegetables are also rich in fiber which can speed the transit of food through the digestive system and may reduce the absorption of cancer-causing chemicals. So eating a wide variety of fruits and vegetables may be the best way to ensure broad spectrum protection.

5. Fresh is best

Until about 20 years ago, stomach cancer was the most common cancer worldwide, perhaps due to cultural preferences for eating large amounts of salt-preserved foods such as cured meats and pickled vegetables. This finding underscores the point that when it comes to eating most foods, it’s generally best to eat fresh rather than salted, cured, or pickled. In general, the less processed the food, the healthier it will be for you.

6. Limit alcohol intake

Excess alcohol consumption is associated with increased risks of cancers of the oral cavity, throat, voice box, esophagus, liver, breast, and possibly the colon and rectum. Breast cancer is the most common form of cancer diagnosed in women, and aside from carrying too much body weight, alcohol intake is the only other established risk factor for this disease. It’s recommended that men who drink alcohol should limit their intake to no more than 2 drinks per day, while women should limit their intake to no more than 1 drink daily.

7. Practice sun safety and check for changes in your skin

Ultraviolet radiation from the sun is damaging to your skin. The genetic damage it can cause to skin cells can lead to skin cancer, a disease that is increasingly common, especially among young people. Be aware that the sun’s peak time is between 10 am and 3 pm and that sunlight exposure can be intensified by up to 50-percent when reflected from sand, water, snow, ice, and concrete. When outdoors, cover up exposed areas and wear sun screen with an SPF of 15 or more. Know your skin and be aware of the location, size, and shape of moles and skin spots, and report any changes promptly to your physician.

8. Reduce your exposure to potential carcinogens

There are many substances in the environment with the potential to put you at higher risk for developing cancer. On the job, minimize your exposure to fumes, dust, solvents, and chemicals. Try to reduce your everyday exposure to potentially-toxic environmental chemicals in the home and…

Dust and vacuum regularly to rid your home of toxins attracted to dust
Open windows and use fresh air to freshen and minimize indoor pollution
Filter your drinking water to remove pollutants
Switch to green cleaning products that are safe but still powerful
9. Know your family history and get screened

Some 5-10-percent of cancers are due to a genetic predisposition to cancer. Family history is a risk factor for common types of cancer including breast, ovarian, colon, and prostate cancer. If you have a family history of cancer your physician may recommend genetic testing to see if you have the type of gene that can increase your chance of developing cancer. For individuals with an average risk of cancer, the following cancer screening guidelines are recommended:

Breast cancer: Women should begin yearly mammograms at age 40 and conduct regular breast self exams starting in the 20’s.
Colon and rectal cancer: Men and women should have one or more screening tests including a colonoscopy starting at age 50.
Cervical cancer: All women should begin cervical cancer screening no later than 21 years of age.
Prostate cancer: Men should have the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test and digital rectal examination annually beginning at age 50.
10. Choose your dietary supplements wisely

Whether it’s vitamin D, folic acid, calcium, the antioxidants like vitamin C, vitamin E, and the carotenoids, fiber, or emerging phytochemicals, nutrition surveys have made it clear that your diet is unlikely to be providing all the essential nutrients and other dietary factors you need to be at your healthiest. And dietary supplement studies have yielded compelling evidence that supplements can help to reduce the chance of developing cancer in undernourished individuals.

Researchers at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center and the University of Washington published a study in Nutrition and Cancer1 that evaluated the association between dietary and supplemental zinc and prostate cancer in 35,242 men participating in the VITAL cohort, a study specifically designed to evaluate the impact of dietary supplements on cancer risk. In this study, long-term supplemental zinc intake was in fact associated with reduced risk of clinically relevant advanced disease.

And as reported in the Archives of Internal Medicine2, National Cancer Institute researchers found that among postmenopausal women, the greater their total calcium intake from dietary supplements and food up to about 1,300 mg per day, the lower was their risk of developing cancer. For men and women, a diet rich in calcium from supplements and food was associated with a lower risk of developing cancers of the digestive system such as colon cancer. These findings are consistent with randomized clinical trials which have shown that calcium supplementation reduces the recurrence of colon polyps, which are precursors to colon cancer

Clearly, dietary supplements play a key role in making up the nutrient shortfalls in your diet, and they provide a means of achieving optimal nutrient levels needed to achieve and maintain the best of health.

1Zinc intake from supplements and diet and prostate cancer. Gonzalez A, Peters U, Lampe JW, White E. Nutr Cancer. 2009;61(2):206-15

2Dairy food, calcium, and risk of cancer in the NIH-AARP Diet and Health Study. Park Y, Leitzmann MF, Subar AF, Hollenbeck A, Schatzkin A. Arch Intern Med. 2009169(4):391-401

Above information provided by Shaklee.