Posts Tagged ‘Cancer’

Best Of Dietary Fiber and Cancer

December 31, 2010 Written by JP

Some types of foods are easier to incorporate into one’s diet than others. If your doctor advises you to eat more fruits or vegetables, you can quite easily select the varieties that you like best and up your intake. The same can be said for other commonly recommended health foods such as fish, nuts and seeds. But adding more fiber into your daily routine requires some planning because not all fruits and vegetables contain much and animal based foods are completely devoid of it. In my opinion, being reminded of the importance of fiber, while becoming more aware of foods that are abundant in this dietary component is the key to making it a priority.
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Posted in Detoxification, Food and Drink, Nutrition | 8 Comments & Updates

Best Of Food Chemistry News

December 27, 2010 Written by JP

When you think of the word ‘chemistry’ an image of a science lab filled with beakers, flasks and petri dishes probably comes to mind. But you don’t need a Ph.D., safety goggles or a white lab coat to apply the power of this science as it relates to food. There are already scientists hard at work doing research in the field of food chemistry. All we have to do is pay attention to the papers they publish in the medical literature.
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Posted in Detoxification, Food and Drink, Nutrition | 7 Comments & Updates

Italian Brussels Sprouts

November 23, 2010 Written by JP

Brussels sprouts. You either love them or hate them. My goal today is to provide support to those who already enjoy them and change the minds of the many who don’t. My reason is simple: eating more vegetables from the Brassica family, which includes bok choi, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, kale and mustard greens, can assist you in achieving many health goals. How they do so is no mystery. Simply put, they yield a broad array of potent nutrients and phytochemicals that are often lacking in modern diets.
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Posted in Diabetes, Heart Health, Recipes | 5 Comments & Updates

Best Of Red Wine Cancer Connection

November 11, 2010 Written by JP

Red wine has a mixed reputation in the medical community. Some health authorities cite evidence that indicates it may be the one form of alcohol that provides actual health benefits. Generally speaking, the positive research regarding red wine has to do with its impact on cardiovascular health. In recent years, scientists have begun to analyze the specific chemical make up of this popular beverage. In doing so, they’ve discovered several phytochemicals that could be the reason why fermented grapes discourage heart disease. Furthermore, some of these substances have exhibited benefits in other arenas, such as anti-cancer activity in animal models and in-vitro (test tube) experiments. However, these laboratory findings are often at odds with population studies that find negative associations between alcohol consumption and cancer incidence. Today I’ll examine the most recent findings regarding the alcohol cancer connection.
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Posted in Food and Drink, Men's Health, Women's Health | 3 Comments & Updates

Best of Natural Cancer Fighters

November 5, 2010 Written by JP

The other night I found myself at a local card room. I was sitting at a “No-Limit Texas Hold ’em” table playing poker with a motley group of strangers. Poker isn’t your standard form of gambling. It does involve a certain measure of luck, but it mostly requires a particular set of observational and social skills. It so happens that these same skills can be extremely beneficial in parts of life that extend far beyond the confines of the felt table, the clattering chips and shuffling cards. About half way through the evening, a rather gruff looking gentleman took a seat at the table. He looked like the kind of guy you wouldn’t want to upset or even look at the wrong way. But if there’s one lesson that poker teaches you it’s that you should never entirely trust the obvious. So I began chatting with this biker-type fellow as he devoured an enormous ice cream sundae with plenty of peanuts on top. In the course of about 15 minutes, he revealed to me that was suffering from terminal cancer. He didn’t much care about dressing well or shaving because he didn’t expect to be around for much longer. Talk about a punch to the gut!
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Posted in Alternative Therapies, Nutrition, Nutritional Supplements | 17 Comments & Updates

Cancer, Candy and Willpower

October 28, 2010 Written by JP

What do cancer, Halloween candy and willpower have in common? The connection they share may not be readily apparent. Cancer is generally thought of as a life threatening disease. Halloween candy is a once-a-year treat and tradition in which most children are permitted to indulge. Willpower is the fortitude we all hope to possess when we’re in the presence of temptation. To my mind, they’re all linked by one common thread: health. Without willpower you’re likely to consume excess amounts of sugar which is documented as supporting the growth of malignant cells. Do you think that’s too big a leap? See if you still think so after today’s column.
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Posted in Children's Health, Diet and Weight Loss, Mental Health | 6 Comments & Updates

Stuffed Mushroom Recipe

October 5, 2010 Written by JP

This week’s recipe was a surprise to me, literally. One evening I was writing away in my office and an enticing aroma caught my attention. I thought to myself, “That’s odd. I thought we were having leftovers for dinner”. So, I walk into the kitchen and find Mrs. Healthy Fellow removing a pan from the oven. On it is an armada of stuffed mushrooms. Immediately, there’s a conflict going on in my head. Part of me thinks, “Ugh. Mushrooms!”. But my senses and stomach are singing a different tune. Whatever this creation was smelled absolutely fantastic. Could this be, at long last, the mushroom dish that converts me from a a mushroom-avoider to a mushroom-lover?
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Posted in Heart Health, Nutrition, Recipes | 11 Comments & Updates

Delicious Vegetables

September 27, 2010 Written by JP

When I’m not writing content for this site, I’m frequently consulting with individual clients. One of the first things I tell them is that it’s imperative that they’re 100% honest with me. I need to know the unvarnished truth about how they really eat, exercise, manage stress and sleep. If they binge, I need to know. If they starve themselves, that too. Do they abuse caffeine or drugs to compensate for a lack of rest? Is exercise a daily activity or a monthly exception? It’s all pertinent information that I need to factor in when putting together a comprehensive wellness program. One of the most common admissions I hear is, “I don’t like healthy vegetables” or some variation on that theme. My Healthy Monday tip of the week is to transform healthy vegetables into something that you’ll actually crave.
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Posted in Food and Drink, Nutrition, Recipes | 12 Comments & Updates

Patient’s Bill of Rights

September 24, 2010 Written by JP

If you’ve been following the news lately you probably know that the new Patient’s Bill of Rights has just gone into effect. There’s been plenty of analysis, controversy and debate about just what this means for our country and the future of health care. But what hasn’t been made clear enough is exactly how the enacted changes will affect the everyday health care decisions that insured consumers will make.
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Posted in Children's Health, Mental Health, Women's Health | 4 Comments & Updates

Bad Breath, Blueberries and Cancer

September 23, 2010 Written by JP

It’s no secret that health status plays a major role in the overall quality of one’s life. But it doesn’t necessarily require a serious medical condition to significantly impact day-to-day life. Something as benign as chronic halitosis (bad breath) can cause stress during the most basic activities such as interacting with colleagues, family and friends. Likewise, working hard to prevent a disease like type 2 diabetes can also feel like a burden. However, both of these hurdles pale in comparison to the stress experienced by those living with a life-threatening illness such as cancer.
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Posted in Dental Health, Diabetes | 2 Comments & Updates

Real Alternatives

September 2, 2010 Written by JP

On any given day, countless patients make the decision to visit a health care professional who practices alternative medicine. Sometimes they do so as an adjunct to the care they’re already receiving from a conventionally trained physician. In other instances, they simply want something different. Hence the term “alternative medicine”. But not every alternative is created equally nor does it need to be administered or monitored exclusively by a holistic physician.
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Posted in Diabetes, Heart Health, Memory | 9 Comments & Updates

Coffee Milk Controversy

August 11, 2010 Written by JP

A reader recently asked me whether adding cow’s milk to coffee negates any of its health benefits. My investigation into the topic lead me down a few different roads. However, all of the paths ultimately ended at the same destination – how to make a healthier “cup of Joe”. The solution is simpler and tastier than you might think. Read more »


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Posted in Bone and Joint Health, Food and Drink | 19 Comments & Updates

Herbal Confusion and Skepticism

August 4, 2010 Written by JP

When it comes to herbal medicine, doctors and patients often share similar reservations. Among them is a question about the utility of natural remedies in a real world setting. They frequently doubt that the positive results found in animal and in-vitro (“test tube”) experiments will hold true in human subjects. Another area of skepticism has to do with the breadth of activity that many dietary supplements claim to possess. For instance, how is it possible that an herbal extract can improve seemingly disparate health conditions? It might surprise you to know that I sympathize with both of these points of view, but only up to a point. When there’s evidence that some natural remedies do, in fact, benefit human beings and support a variety of systems in the body, that data needs to be reckoned with and acknowledged. Read more »


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Posted in Heart Health, Nutritional Supplements | 13 Comments & Updates