In recent years more than a few studies suggest that the single most important lifestyle factor in determining good health may be physical activity. It can lower your risk of the leading causes of death and increase your chances of staying active and independent well into your “golden years.”

Regular exercise can help you:

1. Stay mentally sharp. Exercise helps keep blood vessels throughout the body (including the brain) healthy and helps reduce the risk of stroke. Physical activity can also help prevent or slow age-related cognitive decline or dementia.

2. Prevent cardiovascular disease. Exercise benefits heart health in the following ways:

• Raises “good” HDL cholesterol and reduces “bad” LDL cholesterol and triglycerides
• Burns body fat which helps maintain a healthy weight
• Lowers blood sugar levels

And it’s never too late to start exercising—even after a heart attack. Studies show that exercise-based rehabilitation following a heart attack can reduce the likelihood of dying from heart disease by one-third.

3. Lower your risk of cancer. Exercise may reduce your risk of certain forms of cancer including colon, breast and lung cancer.

4. Stable blood sugar levels. Getting regular physical activity doesn’t just help maintain a healthy weight; it also increases sensitivity to insulin which can help stabilize blood sugar levels. This can help people with diabetes better manage their condition or help prevent those at risk for diabetes from developing the disease. One study found that only two-and-a-half hours of brisk walking a week cut the risk of diabetes by 30%.

5. Stay strong and independent. Weight-bearing exercise (walking, running, lifting weights) helps keep bones, muscles and joints strong and healthy. Taken together this means that you can stay active, enjoy life and maintain your independence.

How Much is Enough?

As a general goal, include at least 30 minutes of physical activity in your daily routine — and if you can do more, even better.

If you haven’t been active for awhile, be sure to start slow and discuss any health concerns with your doctor before beginning an exercise routine.

Sources:

Mayo Clinic

Harvard Medical School

Early studies indicate that an experimental cancer drug is effective is spurring the body’s own immune system to shrink tumors in patients for whom other therapies have failed.

The drug acts on a protein called PD-L1 that sits on the surface of cancer cells. This protein makes the cancer “invisible” to the immune system which would otherwise attack the cancer.

When the drug binds to the protein, the immune system can “see” and destroy the cancer cells.

In a recent pilot study of 140 patients with various types of cancer, 29 patients (21%) had significant tumor shrinkage after 3 month on the drug. Of those, 26 study participants have continued to respond over time—up to a year after starting the drug. For one patient, the tumors disappeared completely.

The drug had an effect on a wide range of cancers including some that are difficult to treat: non-small cell lung cancer, melanoma skin cancer, colorectal cancer, kidney cancer and stomach cancer.

Impressive Results

While a 21% response rate for a new drug may not sound like a big deal, in the field of cancer research it’s HUGE! An average response rate for cancer drugs in early trials is about 3% with the best response rates reaching 18%.

"This has all the characteristics of a really amazing drug," said study author Dr. Roy Herbst, chief of medical oncology at Yale University. "I can count on one hand the number of times I've seen response rates like this."

There are currently four other similar drugs in development that target the PD-L1 protein in some way that allows the immune system to take on tumors.

These drugs represent a new wave of cancer drugs that may fundamentally change cancer treatment, say experts.

Source:

Health Finder

A massive study conducted by researchers at Columbia University Medical Center (CUMC) has identified how 22 different types of cancers genetically influence cellular metabolism so they can grow and proliferate.

In the course of their study, they identified hundreds of specific genetic alterations that could be the target of new drugs.

Cancer Hijacks Cells

Normal cell metabolism is a dynamic network of reactions inside cells that process nutrients, such as glucose, to obtain energy and synthesize building blocks needed to produce new cellular components.

To support uncontrolled proliferation, cancer reprograms and “supercharges” a cell’s normal metabolic pathways.

“The importance of this new study is its scope,” said Dennis Vitkup, PhD, associate professor of biomedical informatics at CUMC, the study’s lead investigator. “So far, people have focused mainly on a few genes involved in major metabolic processes. Our study provides a comprehensive, global view of diverse metabolic alterations at the level of gene expression.”

The study demonstrates that there are no single and universal changes in cancer metabolism. That means that to understand changes in cancer metabolism, researchers will need to consider how different tumor types adapt their metabolism to meet their specific needs.

New Drug Targets

Developing new drugs that target tumor cell metabolism may be a way to strike cancer at its roots.

“Cancer cells usually have multiple ways to turn on their growth program,” said Dr. Vitkup. “You can knock out one, but the cells will usually find another pathway to turn on proliferation. Targeting metabolism may be more powerful, because if you starve a cell of energy or materials, it has nowhere to go.”

Source:

Columbia University Medical Center

The incidence of head and neck cancer caused by the human papilloma virus (HPV) has tripled since the 1970s and could reach epidemic levels in the future, say healthcare experts. However the work of a group of Ohio researchers may bring hope for a safer, more effective therapy for these cancers.

They have discovered how the human papilloma virus (HPV) causes head and neck cancer and designed a drug to block that mechanism.

The research, which focused on head and neck cancer cells, shows that a protein produced by the HPV virus blocks a protein made by the host cell. The cell protein, called p300, regulates a gene called p53. This gene both controls cell division and protects the body against cancer by causing cells to die before they become malignant.

The prospective new drug, called CH1iB, prevents the viral protein from binding with the cell protein. This restores the function of the p53 “tumor-suppressor” gene and triggers the death of the cancer cells.

Currently the standard of care for HPV-positive head and neck cancer uses high-dose cis-platinum, a chemotherapy drug that causes serious side effects that are difficult for patients to tolerate.

Although further testing is necessary, combining CH1iB with a low dose of cis-platinum might one day provide an alternative.

Head and Neck Cancer Awareness

As part of Oral, Head and Neck Cancer Awareness Week®, April 21-27, we want to share important information about these cancers and promote early detection through free screenings.

Quick Facts:

• Oral, Head and Neck Cancers includes cancer in the nasal cavity, sinuses, lips, mouth, thyroid glands, salivary glands, throat, or larynx (voice box).
• The sixth-most-common form of cancer in the world.
• Over 100,000 cases (including thyroid) diagnosed annually in the United States.
• Many dentists conduct an oral cancer screening as part of your annual checkup.
• While symptoms may not always be present, see a doctor if you have:
  • A sore in your mouth that doesn't heal or that increases in size
  • Persistent pain in your mouth
  • Lumps or white or red patches inside your mouth
  • Difficulty chewing or swallowing or moving your tongue
  • Soreness in your throat or feeling that something is caught in your throat
  • Changes in your voice
  • A lump in your neck
• Risk factors for Oral, Head and Neck cancers include: tobacco use, family history, and HPV infection.
• Every adult should get screened, even non-smokers.

Sources:

Ohio State University

Head and Neck Cancer Alliance

An expert FDA panel voted 12-9 against continued marketing of the inhalable osteoporosis drug calcitonin salmon because the drug’s risks--which include a higher risk of cancer--are too great in light of little evidence that the drug prevents bone fractures.

Calcitonin salmon, marketed under the name Miacalcin and Fortical has been prescribed for osteoporosis in postmenopausal women since the 1980s.

The drug’s safety came into question after two recent studies showed a slightly higher rate of cancer (2.4%) among patients taking calcitonin pills.

When the panel weighed the risk of cancer against the fact that the drug has not shown to be very effective at preventing bone fractures, the panel voted against continued use of the drug.

Some panelists did disagree citing that for some patients who can’t take the newer bisphosphonate drugs such as Fosamax (which are not without serious side effects), calcitonin salmon is an important option. Others argued that the risk of cancer was somewhat low and more research was needed to confirm this risk.

Despite safety concerns and the introduction of newer drugs, calcitonin is still used by an estimated 205,000 women in the U.S.

The FDA originally approved the drug based on early but flawed studies showing that the drug increased bone mineral density. However, no studies have shown that higher density results in fewer bone fractures.

To address this issue of efficacy, the recent FDA panel voted 20-1 to require that any future calcitonin drugs will be required to show that they indeed help prevent bone fractures.

Source:

MedScape

A landmark study published this week indicates that smoking can cut a decade off your life, but quitting before age 35 may give it back.

The research also revealed that the death rate for current smokers is three times higher than those who never smoked. Most of these smoking-related deaths were due to cancer, heart disease, stroke and respiratory diseases.

Another troubling trend confirmed in the study was the fact that women’s death rates from smoking, which had lagged behind men for decades, now match men’s.

Benefits for Non-Smokers, Quitters

On the flip side, non-smokers are twice as likely to live to age 80 compared to smokers.

The good news in this study is that the sooner you quit, the more years you may get back. According to the data, here’s how quitting can extend your life compared to someone who keeps smoking:

• adult smokers who quit at ages 25 to 34 may get up to 10 years back
• quitting by ages 35 to 44 could give you nine years more
• if you quit by ages 45 to 54 you may gain six years back
• stop smoking by age 64 and you could add four years to your life

Solid Research

The size and scope of this study make the results particularly impactful. American, Canadian and British scientists analyzed data on the smoking status of nearly 217,000 adults between 1997 and 2004.

Prior smoking studies are now decades old or didn’t represent the entire population. Since smoking among women didn’t peak until the 1980s, this research is the first to really capture the true impact of smoking among men and women.

Deadly Impact

Despite a decline in the overall smoking rate, which is now at 19.3% among adults, there are still 45.3 million smokers in this country and 443,000 deaths attributed to smoking each year.

When you consider that these figures don’t take into account the number of people exposed to second- and third-hand smoke, the deadly impact of smoking may be significantly underestimated.

Sources:

Medline / HealthDay

Los Angeles Times

January is Cervical Cancer Awareness Month, and while there is some good news to report, we have a long way to go on many fronts.

Mixed News

• Thanks to women getting regular pap smears, the incidence and death rate from cervical cancer—the leading cause of cancer deaths among women a century ago—have plummeted by 75%.
• However, the same virus that causes cervical cancer, the human papillomavirus (HPV) is now behind an increase in oral and genitourinary cancers.
• While a vaccine against HPV is available and recommended for girls and boys before they become sexually active (or before age 26), vaccination rates in the U.S are low. Only 32% of girls are covered--far from the goal of 80% coverage. In Australia, at 70% coverage, females-only HPV vaccination has substantially reduced HPV among women, but also among young heterosexual men.
• Unlike cervical cancer,  ovarian and uterine cancers rates have not declined in the last century. The reason? We still lack reliable screening tests to detect these cancers. But that may soon change.

New Screening Tool

Researchers at Johns Hopkins University’s Kimmel Cancer Center have developed a new DNA screening tool for ovarian and uterine cancers that holds promise. In a pilot study, DNA analysis of cervical fluid obtained during a routine Pap test, detected 100%of uterine cancers and 41% of ovarian cancers in a small group of women, with no false-positive results.

This is an improvement over current detection methods that lead to ambiguous results, which cause a lot of anxiety in patients and unnecessary diagnostic procedures and costs, say experts. The new test -- which is years away from being available clinically -- would cost less than $100 and perhaps substantially less after more research has been completed.

Currently, the presence of abnormal bleeding in postmenopausal women is one way uterine cancer can be detected before reaching advanced stages. But ovarian cancer typically presents with vague symptoms easily mistaken for other conditions, making early detection extremely difficult.

Therefore, even a screening test detecting ovarian cancer 40% of the time is far superior to what's available now, said the researchers.

Prevention and Checkups

The bottom line for women is to:

• Take steps to prevent HPV infection
• Follow current guidelines for regular pelvic exams and Pap smears.
  • Females should begin having Pap tests at age 21, regardless of when they become sexually active.
  • Women with normal test results can safely have Pap tests once every three years.
• Speak with your doctor about having an HPV test along with a Pap test. HPV tests actually find the "high risk" types of HPV that cause most cases of cervical cancer.
• The HPV test/Pap test combination is now the recommended way to check for cervical cancer in women age 30 and older.

Even though screening for cervical cancer can occur less often, it is still important for you to see your healthcare provider annually for other female-related health care needs. Ask your provider what he or she recommends.

Sources:

National Cervical Cancer Coalition

Health Finder

Medscape News

HealthDay

Children encounter pesticides daily in air, food, dust, and soil and on surfaces in the home and in public places. Beyond the real danger of acute poisoning, the effects of low-level exposure on children’s health are an increasing concern. Prenatal and early childhood exposure to pesticides is associated with pediatric cancers, decreased cognitive function and behavioral problems.

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics’ recent policy statement, Pesticide Exposure in Children, “recognizing and reducing children’s exposure to pesticides will require improved medical training, public health tracking, and regulatory approaches.”

The AAP also provides these tips to parents to limit their child’s exposure to pesticides:

• Reduce exposure to pesticides in foods. (This is the primary source of pesticides for most children.)
  • Organic produce has been found to have less pesticides and a potentially lower risk of exposure to drug-resistant bacteria. However, the most important thing for children is to eat a wide variety of produce, whether it’s conventional or organic.
  • Wash and scrub fruits and veggies with water. This will reduce any pesticide residue remaining on the surface. 
  • The Environmental Working Group (EWG) Shopper’s Guide to Pesticides in Produce is also a good resource.
• Do not use toxic pesticide in your home, garden and places children play.
  • Use chemical-free pest control products or the least toxic method for common household and garden pest problems. 
• Work with schools and government agencies to encourage the use of products with the least-toxic pesticides. Promote community “right-to-know” procedures when pesticide spraying occurs in public areas.
  • Use pest control methods that don’t require pesticide chemicals or use the least toxic methods available for common household and garden problems.
  • Avoid using pesticides, even periodically, for preventive purposes.
• If you use pesticides, follow the directions on the label carefully. Store pesticides safely out of children’s reach. 
  • Never use bug bombs or broad spraying pesticides. Choose localized crack and crevice treatments instead. They can limit exposure to children.
• Talk with your child’s pediatrician about lice control without pesticides. Do not use lindane on children. 
• If you work with pesticides, be sure you don’t “take them home” on your clothes and shoes. Try to change clothes before coming home and remove and store shoes outside.

Sources:

American Academy of Pediatrics

Pediatrics

Healthy Children

A team of UCLA physicians and engineers have developed a new tool to identify and biopsy suspicious prostate tissue to better detect aggressive prostate cancer. Their discovery may eliminate painful, hit-or-miss biopsies that are often unnecessary or ineffective in detecting prostate cancer.

Nearly all of the 1 million prostate biopsies performed annually in the U.S. are triggered by elevations in PSA levels, a substance that may indicate the presence of cancer. About 240,000 new cases of prostate cancer are discovered each year. Thus, about 75 percent of biopsies are negative for cancer.

However, many men with negative biopsies but elevated PSA levels may still harbor malignant tumors — tumors missed by conventional biopsies, said the study's senior author, Dr. Leonard S. Marks, a professor of urology and director of UCLA's active surveillance program.

"Early prostate cancer is difficult to image because of the limited contrast between normal and malignant tissues within the prostate," Marks said. "Conventional biopsies are basically performed blindly because we can't see what we're aiming for. Now, with this new method, which fuses MRI and ultrasound, we have the potential to see the prostate cancer and aim for it in a much more refined and rational manner."

Early Testing Results

In the study, the volunteers first underwent MRI to visualize the prostate and any lesions. That information was then fed into a device called the Artemis, which electronically fuses the MRI pictures with real-time, three-dimensional ultrasound, allowing the urologist to see the lesion during the biopsy.

"With the Artemis, we have a virtual map of the suspicious areas placed directly onto the ultrasound image during the biopsy," Marks said. "When you can see a lesion, you've got a major advantage of knowing what's really going on in the prostate. The results have been very dramatic, and the rate of cancer detection in these targeted biopsies is very high. We're finding a lot of tumors that hadn't been found before using conventional biopsies."

Prostate cancer was found in 53 percent of 171 study volunteers. Of those tumors found using the fusion biopsy technique, 38 percent had the characteristics of an aggressive tumor that is more likely to spread. Once prostate cancer spreads, it's much more difficult to treat, and survival decreases.

This UCLA video demonstrates how the MRI–ultrasound fusion biopsy is an improvement over traditional biopsies to detect prostate cancer.

Source:

University of California - Los Angeles

A new study provides more evidence that aspirin may do more than relieve everyday pain or help prevent a stroke or heart attack. The research builds on a growing number of studies that found a link between aspirin use and a reduced risk of cancer. In this case, the study found a significant reduction in liver cancer.

Among 300,000 people age 50-71, those who took aspirin were 45 percent less likely to die from chronic liver disease and 41 percent less likely to be diagnosed with liver cancer. People who took non-aspirin NSAIDs were 26 percent less likely to die from chronic liver disease but had no reduction in the risk of liver cancer.

The study followed the participants for 10-12 years. In that time, more than 400 participants died from chronic liver disease and 250 developed liver cancer.

Previous research has linked chronic inflammation associated with liver disease to cellular processes that could promote cancer development. Other research has also suggested that aspirin and other types of NSAIDs may help reduce the risk of some cancers.

The known causes of chronic liver disease and liver cancer are hepatitis B and C virus infections and alcohol use. A link with obesity and diabetes also has been suggested. In fact, studies have found that the diabetes drug metformin may reduce the risk of liver cancer by preventing fatty liver disease.

Sources:

HealthDay

Science Daily

About 35 years ago a flame retardant used on baby pajamas called chlorinated Tris was banned after researchers discovered it could cause cancer.

Now the same chemical has resurfaced. This time researchers found it on 41% of the 102 couches they tested. Even more disturbing--85% of the couches were treated with chlorinated Tris or other chemical flame retardants known to be toxic or lacking sufficient safety testing.

Many of these chemical flame retardants have been linked with cancer, hormone disruption and neurological damage in numerous animal and human studies.

In the manufacture of furniture, flame retardant chemicals are used on foam cushions. Over time these chemicals become airborne like dust and settle onto household surfaces. Children are especially susceptible as they are closer to the floor and put their hands in their mouths.

Another recent study found two types of cancer-causing flame retardants in the dust of all the homes they studied. Furthermore, most of the homes had levels that exceeded health guidelines.

One group representing furniture manufacturers said they are caught between two competing mandates: make products fire-resistant and at the same time, free of hazardous chemicals.

Since current regulations do not require that furniture labels list specific chemicals used in the manufacture of furniture, consumers are left in the dark.

Source:

Health Finder

Researchers measuring the amount of food-borne toxin exposure in children and adults found that preschool children in particular, are at high risk for exposure to compounds linked to cancer, developmental disabilities, birth defects and other conditions. However, the study also details dietary modifications that could reduce the risk.

The researchers used data from a 2007 study that surveyed households with children between two and five to determine how their diets and other factors contribute to toxic exposure. They focused on 44 foods known to have high concentrations of toxic compounds: metals, arsenic, lead and mercury; pesticides chlorpyrifos, permethrin and endosulfan; persistent organic pollutants dioxin, DDT, dieldrin and chlordane; and the food processing byproduct acrylamide.

They assessed risk by comparing toxin consumption to established benchmarks for cancer risk as well as the risk for other health conditions.

All 364 children in the study (207 preschool children between two and seven and 157 school-age children between five and seven) exceeded the cancer benchmarks for arsenic, dieldrin, DDE and dioxins. In all, preschool-age children had higher exposure to more than half the toxic compounds measured.

In addition, more than 95% of preschool children exceeded non-cancer risk levels for acrylamide, a chemical that can form in some foods during high-temperature cooking processes, such as frying, roasting, and baking. It is often found in snack foods such as crackers, potato and tortilla chips.

Pesticide exposure was particularly high in tomatoes, peaches, apples, peppers, grapes, lettuce, broccoli, strawberries, spinach, dairy, pears, green beans and celery.

This study is particularly disturbing because relatively low exposures of toxins in children can greatly increase the risk of cancer or neurological impairment.

"We need to be especially careful about children, because they tend to be more vulnerable to many of these chemicals and their effects on the developing brain," said study principal investigator Irva Hertz-Picciotto.

Reduce Your Family’s Risk

Though these results are cause for concern, the study also outlines strategies to lower family exposure:

• Choose organic produce to help reduce exposure to pesticides.
• Varying your diet can help reduce exposure as toxin types vary in different foods. This can help protect you from accumulating too much of any one toxin.
• Families also can reduce their consumption of animal meat and fats, which may contain high levels of DDE and other persistent organic pollutants. Also switch to organic milk.
• While mercury is most often found in fish, accumulation varies greatly by species. Smaller fish, lower on the food chain, generally have lower mercury levels.
• Acrilomides are relatively easy to remove from the diet by reducing the amount of chips and other processed grains.

While the study has important implications for dietary habits, the researchers stress that more work needs to be done to quantify risk. Specifically, we need to determine how these food-borne toxins interact collectively in the body. Currently, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency only measures risk based on exposures of individual contaminants.

Sources:

UC Davis Health System

U.S. Food and Drug Administration

Cancer and the therapies used to treat it can cause a host of side effects like fatigue, “chemo brain” and dry mouth which can last for years after treatment ends—some may be permanent. Increasingly patients and caregivers are turning to alternative therapies like acupuncture as a growing number of studies indicate that they may provide some relief.

Acupuncture for Fatigue

A recent UK study found that breast cancer survivors who had been experiencing fatigue, anxiety, and depression for a year or more following treatment felt better after six weekly acupuncture sessions compared to a group of women who didn’t get the sessions.

All participants were also given a booklet about cancer-related fatigue at the start of the study.

Study Details

The researchers used a questionnaire and scoring system to rate the effectiveness of their treatment. Women receiving acupuncture improved in several key areas:

• General fatigue dropped by almost four points on a 0-20 scale compared to a decline of less than one point in the comparison group.
• Anxiety and depression dropped by two additional points post-acupuncture, compared to scores in women who received educational materials only.
• On scores of overall emotional and physical well-being, women got a greater boost with acupuncture therapy as well.

While the researchers haven’t determined what produced the benefits—the needles themselves or a “placebo effect,” they say their research proves that acupuncture is an effective therapy for managing chemo-related fatigue and improving patients’ quality of life.

Dry Mouth Relief

Another recent study found that acupuncture may provide relief for people who have chronic dry mouth as a result of treatment for head and neck cancers.

The study involved 144 patients from several cancer centers in the UK who had chronic dry mouth following radiation therapy. For all participants, it had been at least 18 months since their last treatment.

The participants were assigned one of two treatment groups:  one group received two hour-long educational sessions on oral care and the other received eight weekly 20-minute sessions of group acupuncture targeting traditional points in the head and fingers believed to influence the salivary glands. After the first round of treatment the patients switched groups

At the end the course of acupuncture sessions, participants were between 1.65 and 2.08 times more likely to report improvements in five of six dry mouth symptoms than with learning about oral care alone. For patients with severe dry mouth only about one-quarter reported an improvement.

Despite only modest improvements, the researchers and other experts say that acupuncture is still a viable option for chronic dry mouth considering that:

• There is only one prescription drug used to treat dry mouth and it comes with its own side effects.
• Other therapies such as special toothpastes or mouth rinses don’t provide relief for everyone.
• When given in a group setting such as those provided at cancer centers, the cost is relatively low.
• Acupuncture is non-invasive and when delivered by a qualified practitioner, acupuncture is very safe.

So, if you suffer from dry mouth, acupuncture may be worth a try. As one radiation oncologist said, “If you don’t achieve a benefit, there’s no harm done outside the cost.”

Sources:

Reuters

Journal of Clinical Oncology

Reuters

As the weather turns colder, soups and stews just seem to hit the spot. And the good news is that many of these dishes are loaded with healthy ingredients that support your immune system, suppress inflammation and even help prevent cancer. Studies have shown that eating soup regularly can also help you maintain a healthy weight.

Of course there are some exceptions to the general rule that soups and stews are healthy, so here’s some tips on choosing ingredients:

• Vegetarian soups or those made with a clear, low-fat chicken or beef stock are better for you as they contain fewer “bad fats” (animal fats). By contrast, cream-based soups or those containing large amounts of full-fat cheese are less healthy.
• Use herbs for flavor rather than salt. If buying canned soup, choose low sodium varieties.
• With regard to meat, choose lean cuts and drain off any excess fat. If you want a smoked flavor, choose lean Canadian bacon or turkey bacon over traditional bacon.
• If your soup recipe includes pasta, rice or another grain product, chose a whole grain version such as whole wheat pasta, brown rice, quinoa or barley.
• Beans or legumes can be a healthy addition to your soup as they are a good source of protein fiber, vitamins and minerals.
• With regard to typical soup/stew vegetables, consider this:
  
  
  • Allium vegetables (onions, garlic, leeks, scallions) have been used for medicinal purposes throughout the recorded history. Through studies, we know that constituents of allium vegetable support cardiovascular health, immune function, and healthy blood glucose levels. They also provide radioprotection, protection against microbial infections, and have anti-cancer effects including breast cancer.
  • Carrots contain high amounts of the antioxidant vitamins A and C as well as carotenoid antioxidants beta carotene and lutein that protect our bodies from free-radical damage. Carrots also contain vitamin K and potassium that support bone and hearth health.
  • Bell Peppers and Tomatoes are packed with vitamin C and E over 30 different types of carotenoids—plant based antioxidants. This includes alpha- and beta-carotene, lycopene, lutein, cryptoxanthin, and zeaxanthin. These vegetables provide antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and cancer preventative properties.
  • Celery contains vitamin C and several other active compounds that promote health, including phthalides, which may help lower blood pressure and cholesterol, and coumarins, that may be useful in cancer prevention.

• Herbs and spices commonly used in soup such as turmeric, oregano, thyme, rosemary, cayenne pepper also have numerous health benefits.

Cookbook Fights Cancer

Here’s an easy soup recipe from the cookbook, Wholesome Temptation, which was developed by experts in supporting good health through nutrition.

Caramelized Onion Soup

1/8 c. extra virgin olive oil
1 lb. sweet yellow onion, julienned
½ c. leeks, diced
½ tsp. garlic, chopped½ tsp. thyme
1 T. unbleached all–purpose flour
½ tsp. tomato paste
2-¼ c. low-sodium, beef broth
2-¼ c. low-sodium, chicken broth
Salt and pepper to taste
2 tsp. Parmesan cheese

Heat olive oil in a pot over medium heat. Add onion and leeks. Sauté until lightly caramelized. Stir in garlic and thyme. Add the flour and stir cooking for 2 minutes. Stir in tomato and broths. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer for 45 minutes. Add salt and pepper to taste. Ladle soup into bowls and garnish with a sprinkle of parmesan cheese. Makes 4 servings.

Nutrition information per serving: Calories: 149; Total Fat: 9 g; Saturated Fat: 1 g; Sodium: 152 mg; Carbohydrate: 12 g; Fiber: 0 g; Protein: 5 g.

Get more recipes like this and support cancer research by purchasing your own copy of Wholesome Temptation.

Sources:

American Institute for Cancer Research

BBC News

WHFoods

PubMed

After pressure from a coalition of health and environmental groups and the public regarding the safety of certain chemical in personal care products, Johnson & Johnson has announced a plan to remove these “chemicals of concern” from adult toiletries by 2015.

The healthcare products giant launched a similar plan late last year to begin removing many of the same chemicals from its baby products by 2013.

The list of chemicals being phased out or reduced includes:

• 1,4 dioxane and formaldehyde (or formaldehyde-releasing chemicals like quaternium-15). -- Both are probable human carcinogens and formaldehyde is also a skin, eye and respiratory irritant.
• Triclosan – The ubiquitous antibacterial agent is suspected of contributing to “superbugs,” and altering our immune systems and hormones (thyroid and sex hormones).
• Phthalates – This class of chemicals is often added to personal care products to help retain color or scent. Phthalates are known endocrine disruptors that have been linked to higher rates of obesity and eczema in children, breast growth in boys and reproductive problems in men.
• Parabens – A common type of preservative in many personal care products, parabens can mimic estrogen which is known to play a role in breast cancer. Parabens may also affect the male reproductive system.

However, the plan will allow chemicals that release formaldehyde when no safe alternative will work and is reducing levels of 1,4 dioxane to below 10 parts per million.

How Safe Are Your Personal Care Products?

Most people would assume that personal care products have undergone safety testing or are subject to FDA or other federal regulations.

In reality, the personal care and cosmetics industry has been operating in an “anything goes” atmosphere with little regulation except for color additives and a few banned ingredients.

But, even if you wanted to investigate product ingredients on your own, you’d be faced with another road block. There is no requirement that all ingredients must be listed. Some are merely listed as “fragrance,” “preservative,” or “stabilizer.”

This is where consumer health and environmental groups have made a difference through research and public pressure to bring transparency, safety and sustainability issues to the forefront.

For example, the Environmental Working Group’s Safety Guide to Cosmetics and Personal Care Products helps you find out whether a product contains potentially harmful chemicals with a searchable database of thousands of products.

Sources:

The Washington Post

Environmental Working Group

The Real Cost of Beauty: Dangerous Toxins Lurking in Your Cosmetics