Category Archives: Cancer

Foods that may prevent Type-2 diabetes in children

As our lives have become more fast-paced, the way we feed our children has also changed. Running from one activity to the next can make it easy to justify the convenience of quick food, even if it means not providing the best nourishment. Research has shown that the top sources of energy for children between the ages of two and 18 come from grain desserts, pizza and soda - with nearly 40% of their consumed energy coming in the form of empty calories.  The mentality that a quick bite is better than nothing may be ruining our children’s health. Learning disorders, fatigue, depression, obesity and diabetes among children is becoming the norm rather than the exception. However, Type 2 diabetes can be prevented and even reversed with the right diet.  One of the best gifts a parent can give a child is a strong nutritional start and healthy eating habits. Children need nutrient dense foods to provide them with adequate energy to grow and play. The easiest way to do this is by sticking with fresh food and avoiding anything that can sit on a shelf without decomposing for years. From a child’s first bite of food, their tastes begin to form. Feeding them salty and sugary foods and juice will create cravings for more. Instead, offer a variety of different flavors and create a natural desire for fresh foods. Bone broth  Real bone broth made from chicken, beef, fish or other bones is simple to make and full of minerals that can boost immunity. Aside from healthy minerals, bone broth is rich in gelatin and glycosaminoglycan which promote the healthy development of bone and dental structures. Bone broth can easily be incorporated into soups, casseroles, stews and sauces – and can even be frozen in ice cube trays for reuse. Saturated fats Children need saturated fats and cholesterol in order to develop a healthy brain and nervous system. They are also vital for developing strong teeth and bones, healthy tissues and strong immune systems. The key is to buy the highest quality you can afford. Meats and eggs from pasture-raised animals are significantly higher in vital nutrients such as Omega-3 fatty acids and are free of antibiotics and hormones. Buying produce from local farms can guarantee freshness while keeping costs down.  Vegan sources of saturated fat also provide amazing health benefits and are usually kid-friendly. Olive and coconut oil are great for cooking with and nuts and avocado make great nutrient-dense snacks that can keep children from craving junk food. Fermented foods From pickles to yogurt, finding a few fermented foods to add to your child’s diet can help keep them healthy. Fermented foods are rich in probiotics, which increase healthy gut bacteria, and have been linked to stronger immunity, better digestion and fewer allergies.  Since fermented foods come in so many different flavor and texture profiles, finding at least one that your child enjoys should be relatively easy. Almost any vegetable can be pickled and sauerkraut, kimchi and pickles can be refrigerated for long periods of time. Organic, plain yogurt and kefir are great additions to smoothies and can make a quick breakfast when you’re on the go. Children have a natural drive to be active and get the right kind of exercise, so take advantage of it. With recess being shortened and physical education being cut out of many schools, having the opportunity to exercise at home is crucial.  Turn your back yard into a mini gym by providing heavy things to play with, obstacles to jump around and sand for digging in. If you don’t have a yard, make it a daily habit to do an outdoor activity together such as going for a walk, riding a bike or kicking a soccer ball back and forth. Keep the exercise fun and enjoy the bonding time.Jacqueline Banks is a certified holistic health counselor and busy mother. & Her focus is on helping other busy moms in all stages of motherhood keep themselves and their little ones healthy and happy. & She uses natural and organic solutions to solve individual health problems and promote clean living. Check out her website at www.jbholistic.com.& & source : http://www.foxnews.com/health/2013/05/28/foods-that-could-prevent-type-2-diabetes-in-children/

New app helps to boost weight loss by tracking calories

Nutritionists often advise individuals to keep a journal of all the foods they eat, so people can track their calories and boost weight loss.  But “calorie counting” can be a tedious endeavor. Now, there is an app that can do the counting for you.  “My Fitness Pal” is a free app that allows you to note everything you eat throughout the day.  Users can look up popular food brands and dishes from restaurants to calculate their nutritional value.  There is even a section for logging calories burned through exercise. A recent study from Northwestern Medicine in Chicago, Ill., found that people who used a mobile app to track eating and activity lost an average of 15 pounds – and kept the weight off for at least a year. However, the study authors noted that technology alone is not enough to ensure weight loss.  Of the 69 overweight and obese adults the researchers examined, all were offered nutrition and exercise classes to help maintain their body weight throughout the rest of the year.source : http://www.foxnews.com/health/2013/05/29/new-app-helps-to-boost-weight-loss-by-tracking-calories/

Chaga: A potent immune enhancing fungus

Recently my wife and I were walking in the woods when I spotted a rotting birch tree. All over the decaying trunk were clusters of a gnarly black growth, which I quickly recognized as chaga (Inonotus obliquus).  Relatively unused in the west, chaga is a potent immune enhancing agent that is highly popular in Russia and parts of Europe, and it enjoys a major body of science for its health benefits. Unlike most fungus, chaga is hard and woody, bearing no resemblance to mushrooms. Instead, it looks more like a cracked piece of burned charcoal. Chaga’s black color is due to a concentration of melanin, the same pigment that colors human skin. Because chaga can be used to start fires, it is also known as the “tinder fungus.” The name chaga derives from the Komi-Permyak language of Russia’s Kama River Basin, where the fungus has played a role in traditional medicine for centuries. Chaga can be found throughout northern Asia and in Canada, Norway, northern and eastern Europe and northern parts of the United Sates. Chaga is rich in natural antioxidant and anti-inflammatory phenols, containing the compounds betulin and betulinic acid – which derive directly from host birch trees. Both betulin and betulinic acid demonstrate anti-tumor effects, which explain why chaga is known as an anti-cancer agent. Additionally, some science shows that betulin can play a beneficial role in controlling metabolic disorders, such as obesity and metabolic syndrome. A group of compounds in chaga called lanostanoids also appear to play significant anti-cancer roles. The exact anti-cancer activity of chaga is not completely understood, but some compounds in the fungus boost immune activity, some specifically prevent cancer cells from replicating, and others cause premature cancer cell death. This argues for the utilization of a whole chaga extract, rather than isolating a single compound. In chaga, many agents appear to be active against cancer. One of the most surprising benefits of chaga is in regards to psoriasis. In one Russian study, psoriasis patients who took chaga recovered from their condition. Given that psoriasis is notoriously difficult to treat and responds to very little therpaies, this effect alone could be of enormous benefit to many. The compound ergosterol in chaga, along with related agents, shows anti-inflammatory activity. This may account for why chaga is thought of as a life-extending agent in China, as inflammation is part of every chronic, degenerative disease. Reducing systemic inflammation can mitigate or help prevent a variety of health problems, leading to a healthier life – and presumably a longer one. Traditionally, chaga has been used for a variety of purposes. Scientific investigation chaga’s use as an anti-allergy agent shows that in animals, the fungus has the ability to prevent anaphylactic shock – a serious and potentially fatal consequence of a severe allergy. In another study, administration of an extract of chaga reduced infection due to the Herpes simplex virus. In a cell study, chaga showed potent activity against the hepatitis C virus. Whether this same activity will prove true in living humans remains to be seen, but if it does, then chaga will benefit thousands of people who often suffer for many years with this crippling disease. Chaga products are widely available in natural food stores and on the Internet. One chaga product I like is made in Vermont and is available at www.Mariefrohlich.com. Considering that spring is here and chaga demonstrates value against allergies, this may be an excellent time to try chaga, whose nickname “Mushroom of Immortality” appears to be far more than just a clever slogan.Chris Kilham is a medicine hunter who researches natural remedies all over the world, from the Amazon to Siberia. He teaches ethnobotany at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, where he is Explorer In Residence. Chris advises herbal, cosmetic and pharmaceutical companies and is a regular guest on radio and TV programs worldwide. His field research is largely sponsored by Naturex of Avignon, France. Read more at& MedicineHunter.com.source : http://www.foxnews.com/health/2013/05/29/chaga-potent-immune-enhancing-fungus/

A guide to 6 types of yoga

Don’t get in a twist over which type to choose. This guide will help you find a practice—whether you’re looking for muscle tone or peace of mind. 1. Hatha Ideal for: Beginners. What it is: Hatha refers to any practice that combines poses, or asanas, with breathing techniques, or pranayamas. The goal of a basic hatha class is to develop flexibility and balance and to integrate breath into every movement, so it is generally relaxing and restorative. In fact, a study published in the Journal of Nursing Research found that just one 90-minute hatha class significantly reduced women’s feelings of stress. Participants often begin by chanting the syllable om, then move into a series of poses and finish on the floor in a supine position called shavasana for 5 to 15 minutes, Julie Wood, the director of programming for YogaWorks, in New York City and California, said. Related: 10 Things Trainers Wish You Knew About Your Workout Good to know: You can gauge the intensity of a class by asking the instructor how quickly you’ll be moving (or “flowing”) between poses. If the answer is rapidly, you may want to find a slower-paced class for your first few sessions. 2. Vinyasa Ideal for: Weight loss. What it is: This fairly fast-paced style, sometimes called power yoga, requires you to move continuously throughout the class. The most well-known vinyasa sequence is the sun salutation, a flowing series of lunging, bending, and stretching asanas. Expect to do standing and seated poses that develop strength, flexibility, and balance. You’ll also spend some time on inversions, such as a shoulder stand or a headstand, in which the feet are raised above the head. (Don’t worry: You work up to them over time.) Related: Fun Hula-Hoop Exercise Routine Good to know: Vinyasa burns up to seven calories a minute, according to a study published in the journal Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise. 3. Iyengar Ideal for: Anyone with neck or back problems. What it is: Developed by yoga guru B.K.S. Iyengar in the 1930s, this method emphasizes proper alignment to strengthen the muscles and support the joints. You often use props, like blocks and straps, to help you get into poses. In the 90-minute to two-hour class, you’ll do standing, seated, and twisting asanas, as well as inversions and backbends. (If your pain is due to an injury, be sure to check with your doctor first before starting a program.) Related: How to Start Running Good to know: This style of yoga can improve chronic neck pain, according to the Clinical Journal of Pain. 4. Bikram Ideal for: Building flexibility. What it is: Founder Bikram Choudhury popularized this style of “hot yoga” in the 1970s. To mimic the climate in Choudhury’s hometown in northern India, studios are heated to a sauna-like 105 degrees Fahrenheit, with a 40 percent humidity level. “The heat loosens your muscles, increasing your ability to stretch,” Raffael Pacitti, the owner of Bikram Yoga Manhattan, in New York City, said. Each 90-minute class includes a series of 26 poses done twice through, sandwiched between two sessions of breath work (think rapid inhalations and exhalations). Good to know: Avoid eating at least two hours before class, as being too full in high heat can make you feel nauseated. And don’t forget your towel and water bottle. 5. Kundalini Ideal for: A more spiritual experience. What it is: This form of yoga was developed to calm the mind and energize the body through movement, the chanting of mantras, and breathing. “The average session is made up of 50 percent exercise, 20 percent breath work, 20 percent meditation, and 10 percent relaxation,” Hari Nam Singh Khalsa, the director of Yogaheaven.com, said. The goal is to release the energy that kundalini devotees believe is stored at the base of the spine. Good to know: Consider this style the most “out there.” If chanting is not for you, simply repeat the mantras in your head. 6. Ashtanga Ideal for: Seasoned yoga practitioners. What it is: This physically challenging style consists of an unvarying sequence of poses. “Typically, you execute 70 poses in one 90-minute to two-hour session,” Coni Pappas, the owner of White Orchid Yoga, in Clearwater, Fla., said. These will include 10 sun salutations, backbends, and inversions. Good to know: Ashtanga requires strength and endurance, so you’ll get the most out of it if you practice regularly. Make a commitment to do the routine at least three times a week.source : http://www.foxnews.com/health/2013/05/28/guide-to-6-types-yoga/

African-Americans experience longer delays between diagnosis and treatment of prostate cancer

To see if there is a difference in the time from cancer diagnosis to initiation of treatment for African American men compared with Caucasian men with prostate cancer, Ronald Chen, MD, MPH, of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and his colleagues analyzed data from the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER)-Medicare registry, which links cancer diagnosis data to a master file of Medicare records. Their analysis included 2,506 African American and 21,454 Caucasian patients diagnosed with early (non-metastatic) prostate cancer from 2004 to 2007 and treated within 12 months of diagnosis…

Small molecule could have big impact on cancer

In a study published online May 28 in the journal Nature Communications, Ahn and his colleagues at UT Southwestern Medical Center describe the rational design of the molecule, as well as laboratory tests that show its effectiveness at blocking the cancer-promoting function of proteins called androgen receptors. Androgen receptors are found inside cells and have complex surfaces with multiple "docking points" where various proteins can bind to the receptor. …

GATA-3 is important for regulation and maintenance of immune system

GATA-3’s role in CD4 T-cells has been widely studied, but its role in CD8+ cells has received much less attention. "We want to know what the basic function of GATA-3 in regulating cell biology is, although it has been shown that GATA-3 is important for the function of CD4+ T cell type to clear extracellular parasites," said Yisong Wan, PhD, assistant professor of microbiology and immunology at the UNC School of Medicine and member of UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center. The research, published online May 26 by Nature Immunology, shows that GATA-3 is required for the maintenance and function of CD8+ T-cells, a T-cell type mediating the immune response to clear pathogens, eradicate tumors and promote inflammation. …

4 ways to keep yourself young

Everyone wants the secret to living longer. But, guess what? There isn’t just one way to prevent aging. Here are some tips that may help keep you young. 1. Always wear sunscreen. Applying it daily will reduce the sun’s harmful effects on your skin – and make you appear younger. Use a product that has UVA and UVB protection. This will ensure you are blocking out both the cancer-causing and aging rays. 2. Try to eat a Mediterranean diet.  Consuming vegetables, olive oil, fish and wine – in moderation – has been shown to slow an aging mind. This type of nutrition is also linked to a lower risk of heart disease, diabetes and certain cancers. 3. Exercise in order to stay sharp. Doing crossword puzzles, reading and catching up with friends will work your brain muscles. Don’t forget to incorporate some physical activity into your day as well. 4. Reduce stress. Deep breathing exercises, such as yoga, or even a change of pace, can help. Keeping your anxiety at bay will ward off signs of aging. If you are stressed, you will look and feel much older.source : http://www.foxnews.com/health/2012/07/25/4-ways-to-keep-yourself-young/

Shape-shifting nanoparticles flip from sphere to net in response to tumor signal

Spherical nanoparticles labeled with red or green dye shift their shapes and accumulatte into netlike structures when they encounter a protease secreted by some kinds of cancerous tumors (Click on image for larger view). Targeting treatments specifically to cancerous or other diseased cells depends on some means of accumulating high levels of a drug or other therapeutic agent at the specific site and keeping it there. Most efforts so far depend on matching a piece of the drug-delivering molecule to specific receptors on the surface of the target cell. …