Since the 1970s the American diet has become increasingly filled with processed foods loaded with many types of sugar, especially high-fructose corn sugar. This trend is not only being blamed for the high rates of obesity, ongoing research continues to demonstrate how sugar is sabotaging our health.

A new study shows how fructose may play a role in the obesity epidemic. The scientists used magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans to track blood flow in the brain in 20 young, normal-weight people before and after they had drinks containing glucose or fructose.

Scans showed that drinking glucose “turns off or suppresses the activity of areas of the brain that are critical for reward and desire for food,” said one study leader, Yale University endocrinologist Dr. Robert Sherwin. With fructose, “we don’t see those changes,” he said. “As a result, the desire to eat continues — it isn’t turned off.”

These results mirrored how hungry the people said they felt and may explain the results of earlier animal studies.

Researchers are now testing obese people to see if they react to fructose and glucose in a similar fashion as normal weight people.

What’s the Solution?

As you might expect, the researchers suggest cutting back on processed foods and sugary drinks containing fructose and high-fructose corn syrup. You don’t have to give them up entirely, just make them an occasional “special treat,” not the mainstay of your diet.

They also suggest that you cut back on all forms of sugar as most of us eat way too much of it. Find out if you’re over the limit in the post, How Much Sugar is Too Much?

Sources:

The Seattle Times

HealthFinder

Among colon cancer survivors participating in a recent study, those with the highest dietary levels of glycemic load and carbohydrate intake had an 80% increased risk of colon cancer recurrence or death compared with those who had the lowest levels. Among patients who were overweight or obese, the increase was even greater.

This study adds to the growing body of evidence that diet and physical activity that contribute to high insulin levels may increase the risk of cancer growth and metastasis.

What We Know

Recent studies have shown that colorectal cancer survivors whose diet and activity patterns lead to excess amounts of insulin in the blood have a higher risk of cancer recurrence and death from the disease. High insulin levels can be produced by eating too many starchy and sugar-laden foods.

In a previous study by the same group of researchers, advanced-stage colon cancer patients, who ate a typical "Western" diet marked by high intakes of meat, fat, refined grains, and sugar desserts were three times more likely to have a cancer recurrence than those whose diets were least Western. The new study was conducted to explore which component of the Western diet is most responsible for the increased risk of recurrence.

New Research

This new study involved 1,011 stage III colon cancer patients who had undergone surgery and participated in a clinical trial of follow-up chemotherapy for their disease. Participants reported their dietary intake during and six months after the trial.

Researchers collected data on the patients' total carbohydrates, as well as their glycemic index which measures how quickly blood sugar levels rise after eating a particular food. They also calculated the glycemic load which is based on the amount of a carbohydrate actually consumed. They were then able to find a statistical connection between these measures and the recurrence of colon cancer.

In light of the results, the scientists theorize that factors including a high glycemic load may stimulate the body's production of insulin that, in turn, may increase the proliferation of cells and prevent the natural cell-death process in cancer cells that have metastasized from their original site.

While the study doesn't prove that diets high in glycemic load and carbohydrate intake cause recurrence of colon cancer, the results strongly suggest that such dietary factors play a role. Nonetheless, study authors believe that the findings may offer useful guidance for patients and physicians in ways of improving patient survival after treatment.

Source:

Dana Farber Cancer Institute

It was generally accepted that a young girl’s transition into womanhood and the accompanying increase in estrogen spurred breast development and impacted the risk of breast cancer later in life.

But a new study sheds light on another mechanism that may stimulate breast growth and development and increase the risk of breast cancer—early life diet and metabolic syndrome.

Metabolic syndrome represents a group of symptoms associated with obesity including weight gain, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol that can increase the risk of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

To mimic the effects of metabolic syndrome, the researchers fed mice a fatty acid known as 10, 12, conjugated linoleic acid (CLA). The 10, 12 CLA was added to the diet of the test mice because it is known to disrupt normal metabolic processes. In this study, the supplement stimulated the mammary ducts to grow, despite the fact that the mice lacked estrogen.

The diet-induced breast development also increased the formation of mammary tumors in some of the mice.

"The findings of this study are particularly important when we superimpose them on data showing that girls are experiencing breast development at earlier ages, coincident with a growing epidemic of childhood obesity," said Russ Hovey, senior author on the study.

Source:

Science Daily

Farmers have known for some time that antibiotics can promote weight gain in livestock. New research seems to suggest that these drugs could be having the same effect on our children.

A group of researchers from New York University School of Medicine found that infants that received antibiotics before the age of 6 months were more likely to have a higher body mass index score than children who were not exposed to antibiotics.

By 38 months, the children given antibiotics were 22% more likely to be overweight than children who had not received them.

These findings were based on an analysis of health records of 11,532 children born in the town of Avon in the United Kingdom during 1991 and 1992. Other factors such as diet, physical activity and the weight of the children’s parents were factored into their assessments.

Connecting the Dots

Researchers believe that antibiotics disrupt the delicate balance of a baby’s microbiome--the trillions of microbial cells that inhabit our bodies and outnumber our own cells 10 to 1.

“Microbes in our intestines may play critical roles in how we absorb calories, and exposure to antibiotics, especially early in life, may kill off healthy bacteria that influence how we absorb nutrients into our bodies, and would otherwise keep us lean," said lead author Leonardo Trasande, MD, MPP. So while we might think of obesity as an epidemic stemming from an unhealthy diet and/or limited exercise, studies like this one suggest that the problem may be far more complicated.

Furthermore, weight isn’t the only health problem associated with changes in the microbiome. Other studies have linked microbiome damage or imbalance to inflammatory bowel disease, asthma and an impaired immune system.

Sources:

Medscape

Nurse.com

Medical News Today

While juvenile arthritis is considered a rare disorder, incidence rates are rising, prompting researchers to wonder why. A new study may have uncovered a link between the soaring rates of obesity and an increase in rheumatoid arthritis, which can develop as early as childhood.

For the study, researchers from the Mayo Clinic examined the medical records of 813 adults with rheumatoid arthritis from the Rochester Epidemiology Project for the years 1980-2007. Then they matched them by age, gender and calendar year to 813 healthy adults as the control group.

The height, weight and smoking status of the study participants were also noted. About 30 percent of the patients in each group were obese and 68 percent were women.

The researchers found that the incidence of rheumatoid arthritis rose by 9.2 per 100,000 women from 1985-2007 and obesity accounted for 52 percent of the increase.

While smoking is known to be a significant risk factor for developing rheumatoid arthritis, the rate of smokers remained constant over the years studied. Therefore smoking was ruled out as a factor in the rise in rheumatoid arthritis.

Fat Cells and Inflammation

While the researchers don’t know exactly how obesity triggers rheumatoid arthritis, they do think the link has to do with the activity of the fat cells themselves.

Unlike osteoarthritis, a form of arthritis that is caused by wear and tear on the joints, rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease that occurs when the body's immune system attacks the lining around joints. The resulting inflammation leads to the destruction of bone and cartilage. The researchers believe it's the fat cells that spur the inflammation. In the past, other research has found that fat cells are important mediators of inflammation. They are immunologically active and produce proteins that are inflammatory.

Along with many other molecules that increase inflammation, fat cells produce the female hormone estrogen. And given that autoimmune disorders are more prevalent in women, it’s no surprise that three out of four people who have rheumatoid arthritis are women.

While the link between estrogen and rheumatoid arthritis is less clear, the obesity connection is overwhelming. In addition to the current study, past experience treating obese patients tells us that drugs used to treat rheumatoid arthritis generally don't work very well in obese patients.

Is Losing Weight the Answer?

If being obese increases your risk of rheumatoid arthritis, does losing weight help? The researchers say yes. Not only does it help relieve stress on painful and inflamed joints, losing weight usually makes the drugs work better.

About Juvenile Arthritis

Juvenile arthritis affects 300,000 children in the U.S. While there are many forms of juvenile arthritis, one common thread among them is that they can have a serious, even life-threatening impact on a young child.

As July is Juvenile Arthritis Awareness Month, we are joining the Arthritis Foundation in their campaign to help parents recognize signs of the disease and locate resources available for families affected by it.

If your child experiences joint pain, swelling or stiffness in one or more joints for a period of six weeks or longer, seek medical attention as early diagnosis and medical treatment is necessary to prevent permanent joint damage.

Thankfully, advances in research have produced new treatments that moderate the effects of juvenile arthritis and can enable a child with the disease to live an active, full childhood. For additional information and resources, contact the Arthritis Foundation.

Sources:

Arthritis Care and Research

NPR

PR Newswire

A new study finds that a class of chemicals called phthalates, which are found in many household and personal care products, may be linked to higher rates of obesity in children.

The researchers measured blood levels of a particular phthalate, di-ethylhexyl phthalate or DEHP, in 204 children ranging from 6 to 13 years old. Of those, 105 were considered obese and 99 were of normal weight.

Children with higher amounts of body fat had higher DEHP levels. The increased risk of obesity with elevated DEHP levels remained independent of physical activity or calorie intake.

While the exact mechanism for this effect is unknown, the researchers believe that DEHP may trigger the master regulator of fat creation and fat metabolism. It may reduce the effect of the male sex hormone androgen, which lowers body-mass index (BMI). DEHP may also disrupt thyroid function, which contributes to weight gain.

Other studies have linked phthalates to breast growth in boys, reproductive problems in men and low birth weight.

How Common are Phthalates?

Phthalates are added to a type of plastic called polyvinyl chloride (PVC) to make it flexible. They are also used to help some products retain their color and scent.

Sometimes referred to as plasticizers, phthalates can be found in a wide range of consumer products, including: perfumes, nail polish, vinyl floors, detergents, lubricants, food packaging, soap, paint, shampoo, toys, air fresheners and plastic bags. They are also used to make certain medical devices including intravenous bags, blood bags and different kinds of tubing.

Avoiding Phthalates

In recent years the U.S. banned (permanently or temporarily) six specific types of phthalates including DEHP in any amount greater than 0.1 percent in children’s toys and certain other child care articles related to feeding and teething. However the bans don’t include all children’s products, including topical creams or shampoos which may contain phthalates.

As for other household or personal care products, U.S. manufacturers are not required to indicate phthalate content on the package or label. If listed at all, you may find these commonly used phthalates in products:

• DBP (dibutyl phthalate)
• DINP (diisononyl phthalate)
• DEP (diethyl phthalate)
• DEHP (di 2-ethylhexl phthalate)
• DMP (dimethyl phthalate).
• BBP (benzyl butyl phthalate)
• DNOP (di-n-octyl phthalate)
• DIDP (Diisodecyl phthalate)

Phthalates are often added to perfumes and fragrances so it’s a good idea to avoid products with “fragrance” in the ingredients list if you wish to avoid phthalates.

Fortunately, the growing awareness of phthalate concerns has led to an increasing number of “natural and organic” brand products that are “phthalate free.”

To find out whether a product contains phthalates or other potentially harmful chemicals, call the manufacturer or visit the company's website, or use the Environmental Working Group's Safety Guide to Cosmetics and Personal Care Products and search by product, ingredient, or company.

Sources:

Healthfinder

Medical News Today

U. S. Consumer Product Safety Commission

National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences

Exercise has many benefits for the body and mind but how the body triggers some of these benefits--like improving our metabolism--is unknown.

Earlier this year, researchers at Harvard Medical School identified a new hormone produced during exercise that helps turn energy-storing white fat into energy-burning brown fat. In doing so, it improved glucose control, insulin levels and led to weight loss.

The discovery has exciting potential for many metabolic health problems including obesity, metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes.

White vs. Brown Fat

White fat--commonly referred to as body fat--accumulates throughout the body but most notably around the hips, thighs, buttocks and midsection. Its purpose is to store fat until it is needed for energy later.

Brown fat is virtually the opposite in that these cells are full of mitochondria that burn fat.

In the Harvard study, the researchers found that exercise, in both mice and humans, stimulates a chain reaction that leads to the production of a previously unknown hormone they named “irisin.”

This hormone makes white fat act like the metabolically active brown fat which burns more calories.

Irisin levels rose by 65% in mice after three weeks of free-wheel running. In humans, 10 weeks of regular endurance exercise doubled irisin levels.

Irisin also improved glucose tolerance and insulin balance, suggesting that it may be helpful in treating diabetes.

Proof Positive

To confirm that irisin was responsible for these benefits, the researchers injected a small amount of irisin into the muscles of sedentary adult mice that were obese and pre-diabetic. After 10 days of treatment, the mice had better blood sugar control and insulin levels and had lost a little weight—all without exercise.

Then the researchers conducted yet another test to prove their theory. They injected antibodies to stop the production of irisin in the mice and then put them through an exercise regimen. After 10 days, there were none of the previous improvements seen with the exercise program.

Irisin Pill?

So does this mean that irisin may be “the ultimate diet pill” giving you a fat-incinerating metabolism without breaking a sweat? We’re still a long way from knowing that for sure. But even if it did help you burn fat, all the other benefits of exercise—including muscle strength, tone and endurance will still require physical effort.

Nonetheless, the irisin discovery clearly has therapeutic potential.

Sources:

Harvard Medical School

Los Angeles Times

Obesity is one of the risk factors associated with Fibromyalgia (FM), a condition characterized by widespread aches and pains all over the body. Now researchers find that obesity may be more than just a marker for the disorder, it seems to make the condition worse.

Fibromyalgia (FM) affects approximately 1 in 50 Americans, mostly women (about 80-90%). In addition to pervasive pain, symptoms may also include: cognitive and memory problems, headaches, numbness or tingling in hands and feet, temperature sensitivity and irritable bowel syndrome.

Risk factors for FM are being female, being overweight, and having a family history of FM or a rheumatic disease such as rheumatoid arthritis or lupus.

Study Details

The study found that obese people with fibromyalgia experienced more severe symptoms than those who were of normal weight and that symptoms worsened as weight increased.

In conducting the study, the researchers measured symptom severity and body mass index (BMI) of 888 patients with fibromyalgia. The BMI measurement takes into account height and weight. A BMI score of 30 or greater is deemed obese, and about half of the patients were in this category. One-quarter of the participants were considered severely obese with a BMI score greater than 35.

The patients answered questions about their fibromyalgia symptoms and ability to function in daily activities. The researchers found a direct correlation between the patients' weight and the severity of their symptoms. Those who were severely obese reported the most severe symptoms. Not surprisingly, participants reported that quality of life dropped as symptoms intensified.

Chicken and Egg Paradox

The study noted that the higher rate of obesity among people with fibromyalgia may be due to chronic pain and inactivity, posing the eternal question, which came first, weight gain or chronic pain. More research will be needed to answer this question.

"BMI has already been singled out as an independent risk factor for fibromyalgia," study author Dr. Terry Oh. "Our results underscore the importance of incorporating weight management strategies in treatment programs for fibromyalgia patients."

Moving Through the Pain

If you have fibromyalgia, pain and fatigue may make exercise and daily activities difficult, but it is crucial to be as physically active as possible. Research has shown that regular exercise is one of the most effective treatments for fibromyalgia. If you have too much pain or fatigue to do strenuous exercise just begin to move more and become more active in routine daily activities. As you move into exercising, start with walking (or other gentle exercise) and build your endurance and intensity slowly.

Sources:

Health Finder

Mayo Clinic

Women’s Health

Medicine Net

Rates of obesity and insulin resistance have climbed sharply over the past 30 years. And researchers have established that the parallel rise in fast food consumption and sugary drinks has had a direct effect on obesity in America. But is this message reaching consumers? Or is it that we are so ‘hooked’ on these foods that we can’t seem to kick the habit?

“The evidence that fast food and soft drinks are drivers of the pandemic of childhood overweight and obesity is very impressive,” said Philip James, President of the International Association for the Study of Obesity. James is also one of the authors of the World Health Organization (WHO) report on the prevention and management of obesity.

Despite the warnings, every day nearly one-third of U.S. children aged 4 to 19 eat fast food, which likely packs on about six extra pounds per child per year, a study of 6,212 youngsters found. The study also noted that fast-food consumption has increased fivefold among children since 1970.

Consumption of sugary drinks has also increased dramatically. U.S. consumption of carbonated soft drinks alone, which is now around 50 gallons per person (including children) per year, has risen ten-fold since the 1940s.

A new report from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) says about half the U.S. population indulges in sugary drinks on a daily basis. Boys age 2 – 19 drink the most with 70% drinking sugary drinks every day. The amount of calories this adds to our diet is staggering: Teen boys average 273 calories a day from sugary drinks, teen girls add 171 calories, men age 20-39 add 252 calories and women 138 calories. Based on a 2,000 calorie diet, that’s as much as 13% of total calories or an additional 4-6 pounds per year.

How these foods make you fat

Some of the properties of fast food, including its high glycemic index and its fatty acid composition, induce hyperinsulinemia (too much insulin in the blood) and the development of insulin resistance. Insulin resistance manifests in weight gain, especially around the abdomen and can lead to high blood pressure and cholesterol levels, type 2 diabetes, and heart disease.

Researchers believe that hyperinsulinemia and insulin resistance may in part be responsible for leptin resistance. Leptin is a principal modulator of body weight and metabolism. Leptin resistance occurs when the body fails to transport leptin to the hypothalamus where it would normally signal the body that it is satiated or full. Without leptin, food cravings and weight gain occur because the body believes that it is hungry and goes into a state of continued fat storage and food consumption.

Furthermore, insulin resistance interferes with the “pleasure and reward” system in the brain which is controlled by dopamine and dopamine receptor sites. When dopamine signalling is impaired, we feel compelled to consume more food in order to achieve an acceptable level of satiation and reward. There is some research to support that this pattern may also lead to a form of “sugar addiction” in which increasing amounts of sugar are required to satisfy a “sweet tooth.”

Therefore, the consumption of fast food and sugary drinks affects neurochemical processes that set in motion a viscous cycle of increasing hunger without satiety or satisfaction.

Kicking the habit

Recent studies suggest that obesity is now a bigger threat to the country's health than tobacco. In the past 15 years, the smoking rate fell by more than 18 percent, but the rate of obesity jumped by 85 percent. While smoking is said to shorten your life by an average of 10 years, obesity could shorten your lifespan by as much as 13 years.

Can you live without fast food or sodas?  Follow the conversation on Facebook. 

Sources:

American Heart Association

World Public Health Nutrition Association

Beverage Daily

American Journal of Clinical Nutrition

CBS News

WebMD

In separate studies in the U.S. and Portugal, researches have made some discoveries that are increasing our understanding of obesity triggers and promising new treatment options. Both studies involve the “hunger hormone” ghrelin.

At the UT Southwestern Medical Center, researchers found that the level of ghrelin rose in mice subjected to extended levels of stress and it appeared to stimulate cravings for less healthy foods and an increase in appetite. In humans, this translates to stressed-out people indulging in chocolate, mashed potatoes, ice cream and other comfort foods.

“This helps explain certain complex eating behaviors and may be one of the mechanisms by which obesity develops in people exposed to psychosocial stress," said Dr. Jeffrey Zigman, assistant professor of internal medicine and psychiatry and senior author of a study. “We think these findings are not just abstract and relevant only to mice, but likely are also relevant to humans."

In previous studies Zigman found that chronic stress also causes elevated ghrelin levels. While this lessened behaviors associated with depression and anxiety, it lead to overeating and weight gain in the mice. The study suggests a mechanism for weight-related issues observed in people with chronic stress and depression.

Across the pond, researchers in Portugal recently developed an anti-obesity vaccine containing ghrelin that curbs the appetite and increases calorie burning in mice. The vaccine was developed using a noninfectious virus carrying ghrelin, which was designed to provoke an immune response--development of antibodies against ghrelin-- that would suppress the appetite stimulating hormone. They then vaccinated normal-weight mice and mice with diet-induced obesity three times and compared them with control mice that received only saline injections.

Compared with unvaccinated controls, vaccinated mice -- both normal-weight and obese mice -- developed increasing amounts of specific anti-ghrelin antibodies, increased their energy expenditure and decreased their food intake. Within 24 hours after the first vaccination injection, obese mice ate 82 percent of the amount that control mice ate, and after the final vaccination shot they ate only 50 percent of what unvaccinated mice ate.

Vaccinated obese mice also displayed a reduced expression of neuropeptide Y (NPY)--the most potent signal that increases appetite in the central nervous system.

The effects of each vaccination lasted for the two months of the study, which corresponds to four human years. They reportedly saw no toxic effects in the mice as a result of the vaccine.

"An anti-ghrelin vaccine may become an alternate treatment for obesity, to be used in combination with diet and exercise," said Mariana Monteiro, MD, PhD, an associate professor at the University of Porto in Portugal and lead investigator of the study.

Sources:

UT Southwestern Medical Center

Science Daily

If you are like most Americans, chances are you are not getting enough sleep. And according to researchers, lack of sleep isn’t just a problem with teenagers, college students and multitasking adults, it’s also found in infants and children of all ages.

How much sleep do we need? The requirements for each person depend on many factors including age.  For example, in general:

• Infants need about 16 hours a day
• Children under 5 should have 12 - 15 hours of sleep per day
• Children ages 5 to 12 should have 10 – 11 hours of sleep each night
• Teenagers need about nine hours on average
• Most adults need seven to eight hours a night
• Women in the first three months of pregnancy often need several more hours of sleep than normal

The amount of sleep you need also increases if you’ve been deprived of sleep. Gettng too little sleep creates a "sleep debt." Much like being overdrawn at the bank, our bodies will crave additional sleep to repay the debt.  And the sooner ou “pay up” the better, say sleep experts. Many adults think sleeping in on the weekend is good enough to repay an entire work week of six-hour-a-night (or less) sleep.

However, researchers have found that this is not true. It’s better to get adequate sleep on most nights and when that doesn’t happen, make up for lost sleep as soon as possible. That said, a recent study cited that gender differences were linked to the restorative portion of sleep, or deep sleep. Women who experienced more deep sleep handled the effects of one work week of mild sleep deprivation better, and recovered better after two nights of extended sleep.

So what happens if we make a habit of being in “sleep debt?”  It starts to take a toll on our mental and physical well-being, including:

• Impaired cognitive function – Children and adults who are not fully rested may have difficulty with their memory or understanding new concepts, learning new skills, or making good decisions.
• Obesity - Sleep deprivation may contribute to obesity in children and adults. Researchers found that poor sleep at 30 months can predict obesity at age seven.  Teenagers and adults also eat more and exercise less when they are lacking sleep.
• Emotions and stress tolerance – When we are tired, symptoms of depression, anxiety, aggression and increased stress levels can result.
• Weakened immune system – Your body uses down-time to recharge and recover from the day’s stress on the body. Over time, lack of sleep may increase your chance of becoming sick. Poor sleep has been linked with high blood pressure, atherosclerosis, heart failure, heart attack and stroke, diabetes, and some forms of cancer.
• Motor skills and reaction time – Sleep deprivation can be dangerous behind the wheel of a vehicle. Sleep-deprived people who are tested by using a driving simulator or by performing a hand-eye coordination task perform as badly as or worse than those who are intoxicated. Driver fatigue is responsible for an estimated 100,000 motor vehicle accidents and 1,500 deaths each year, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
• Income – At the end of the day, all of the above can have an effect on our ability to earn a living.

For some helpful tips on getting enough zzzzs, read more here...

Sources:

U.S. Department of Health & Human Services

WebMD

Harvard Medical School

WebMD

Natural News

Business Insider

We devote a lot of space in this blog to the role obesity plays in cancer. But we rarely address diets because many diet plans fall short of providing the nutrition your body needs to support your immune system and ward off disease.

Diets that help protect against cancer focus on long-term changes in eating habits and include all food groups with an emphasis on fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, lean protein and healthy fats.

The Mediterranean-style diet meets many of the exercise and dietary guidelines for preventing cancer and heart disease, including:

• Plenty of fruits, vegetables and other plant-based foods.
• Limiting consumption of red meat and alcohol.
• Using healthy fats such as olive and canola oils instead of butter.
• Eating fish and poultry at least twice a week.
• Using herbs and spices to flavor foods instead of salt.

Another good diet is the “whole-body” diet, which involves eating six to seven small meals a day instead of the three large meals. It offers the following cancer prevention benefits:

• Fruits, vegetables and whole grains in at least half your daily meals.
• Limiting foods high in fats.
• Eating lean protein.
• Daily physical activity.

By contrast, weight loss plans that exclude some food groups or recommend short-term changes usually don't provide the nutrients your body needs on a daily basis.
For example, gluten-free diets exclude many whole grains which are high in fiber, vitamins and minerals—all important in protecting cells from damage that can lead to cancer.  Therefore, experts don’t recommend the diet unless you have celiac disease (gluten intolerance).

No-carbohydrate diets are another bad choice. These diets deprive the body of its primary source of energy and some important cancer-fighting foods: vegetables, fruits, whole grains and beans. Instead of eliminating all carbs, choose “good carbs” in whole foods, (i.e. natural, unprocessed plant sources such as grains, vegetables and beans) rather than cookies, cakes, and other processed foods containing refined grains and sugar.

For more nutritional tips about cancer: check out these five all-star foods for preventing cancer, and these top five cancer causing foods to avoid.

Source:

US. Department of Health and Human Services.

While we wish this post was just another April Fool's joke... sadly, it's not. Last year, we warned you how the epidemic of childhood obesity may prevent a significant number of young American adults from serving in the Armed Forces and local police and fire departments because they're too fat to fight anything more strenuous than a video game.

Seems the epidemic is filtering even further down the local level, very likely affecting the designs of the buses we ride -- perhaps, fewer spots too -- and the ambulances that take us to the hospital.

Considered by some transit experts "a bow to reality," the Federal Transit Authority has filed a proposal (see the Federal Register link below) to revise its bus testing regulations for the first time in a half-century, reflecting an upward change in the weight of the average passenger from 150 to 175 pounds, and the average floor space occupied by a standing passenger from 1.5 to 1.75 square feet, changes that could cost taxpayers (that's us) some $25,000 per vehicle. And that doesn't take into account higher fuel prices and lower miles per gallon due to weighted down buses.

The obesity epidemic is also affecting to the design of ambulances, adding as much as $12,000 to the cost of these vehicles in Boston and $7,000 in Ft. Worth, Texas.

Another not-so-subtle sign the obesity epidemic is getting out of hand: Children are starting that downward health spiral at 9 months old…

Federal Register Watch.com, Vol. 76, No. 49, March 13, 2011

Occupation Health & Safety March 15, 2011

USA Today March 21, 2011

AltTransport March 15, 2011

If you needed any more incentive to get on the lifestyle changes bandwagon, today's post links obesity and physical activity among Baby Boomers and Seniors, not only to breast cancer but an unusual and aggressive form of the disease.

Triple-negative breast cancer is a rare form of breast cancer marked by the lack of three receptors that commonly trigger it. Based on data collected on more than 155,000 patients participating in the Women's Health Initiative (ages 50-79), scientists compared the health of the 307 patients who had triple-negative breast cancer with the 2,610 suffering from estrogen receptive-positive breast cancer over nearly eight years.

Not surprisingly, higher BMI numbers pointed to a greater risk of breast cancer (39 percent) as well as triple-negative breast cancer (35 percent). What's more, higher amounts of physical activity suggest a reduction in a woman's risk of triple-negative breast cancer (23 percent) and estrogen-receptor positive breast cancer (15 percent) too.

Interestingly, one health expert pointed out that there may be much more going on behind the scenes in those extra fat cells that trigger the growth of cancer cells, something we've discussed in this space too.

Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention March 1, 2011

healthfinder.gov March 1, 2011

American Association For Cancer Research March 1, 2011

Hard to imagine something as simple as adding detailed nutritional information to fast-food restaurant menus not having SOME impact on the buying habits of Americans, but that's exactly what happened in a 13-month study that tracked the purchases made at Taco Time outlets in Seattle and King County, Wash.

The study tracked the effectiveness of menu labeling at fast-food restaurants, mandated by King County health officials at chains with more than 15 locations in hopes of slowing down the epidemic of obesity. Despite revamped menus, the total number of sales and average calories per transaction at Taco Time locations was unchanged, a surprise even to researchers who had expected results to be small as seen in previous studies.

These results are certainly a major letdown, particularly with new FDA regulations (part of health care reform legislation passed in Congress last year) mirroring such changes in fast-food restaurants with more than 19 outlets nationwide coming in March.

The one glimmer of a silver lining: Taco Time restaurants already had targeted healthier food options with special logos on their menu boards before the local change, meaning customers were already aware which items were more nutritious.

Of course, if people can justify feeding their pets fried chicken nuggets or tidbits from restaurant "doggie" bags without a care in the world what it will do to shorten the lives of their four-legged companions over the long haul…

DukeHealth.org January 17, 2011

MSNBC January 16, 2011

Scientific American January 14, 2011