::Previous Health Topics::

Vegetarianism is on the rise. Sister and brothers are realizing that a more holistic way of living is a better and more fulfilling way of life. Less trips to the doctor for food borne illnesses and less money spent on OTC medications for problems caused by not eating properly.
There are several types of vegetarians:
(1) Lacto-ovo vegetarian - eats dairy and eggs but no other meat or animal products
(2) Lacto-vegetarian - eats dairy but no eggs, meat or other animal proudcts.
(3)Pesco-vegetarian- eats fish, but no other animal products
(4) Vegan - pure vegetarian - eats no dairy, meat or animal products.

(5) Pollo vegetarian- now this one is new to me. But it is a vegetarian who also eats chicken (baked or grilled breast). This is considered one who is in-between or on their way to a vegan diet. This one along with the pesco is supposed to be very good for you because it helps you eat less if you are a lacto-ovo vegetarian becase they tend to eat more fatty cheese, yogurt and milk to make up for not eating meat. It is easier to become a vegan in stages. First start by cutting pork (which is unclean) from your diet. Then red meat. Beef causes a severe strain on the digestive system. Not to mention that the health risk of e-coli are not even worth it. Just eliminating beef and pork from the diet can bring you a feeling of well being. Then gradually eliminate chicken/eggs and turkey. Try drinking soy milk as opposed to cow's milk. We (in the US) are the only country that preaches the drinking of cow's milk as a dietary need. Cow's milk is for the baby calf, not us!

Also, a vitamin/mineral supplement is essential. One from a health food store is best because they don't contain any synthetic substances.

Some other ways to live more holisticlly is to detox the body. Drink 1 - 3 gallons of water a day. At least a quart of that water should be the first thing you drink upon waking in the morning. It rids the body of toxins and mucus that build-up over night. A good guide is your body needs at leat half your weight in water to not become dehydrated. So if you are 100lbs you should drink at least 50oz of water a day. Most of us walk around in a semi-dehydrated state daily. If your urine is darker than lemonade your body needs more water. (source: 'African Holistic Health' by Llaila Afrika')

Eat less dairy and commit to more fresh friuts and veggies. Drink 100% juices instead of soda. Herbal teas instead of coffee.

A one day a week fast is a way to bring balance to your mind, body and soul. Fasting is not to be abused but to give your spirit a chance to regenerate and return to it's purest state.

Fasting is done by consuming only spring/distilled water, 100% juices and broths.

Also deep meditation is essential to a holistic lifestyle.

And of course before you start on any new plan you should consult your doctor(just gotta say that!).

Article from: http://www.geocities.com/HotSprings/Falls/8860/index2.htm (back to top)

Breast Cancer Prevention

By Carolyn Chambers Clark, RN, EdD
BellaOnline's Holistic Health Editor

There are many things you can do to prevent breast cancer. Research evidence has provided answers for what is best to eat, and it can help you lose weight (being overweight is correlated with breast cancer) as well as reduce your risk of breast cancer.

Eat more fiber, less animal fat and more organically-raised foods to prevent breast cancer
Animal studies have shown that a high intake of saturated (read animal products from meats to dairy foods) fats may increase the risk of breast cancer. Based on this, a research team from the University of Malmo in Sweden devised a study using information gathered on more than 11,000 postmenopausal women. They found women who had the highest intake of dietary fiber were 40 percent less likely to develop breast cancer compared with those with the lowest fiber intake. But for women who combined a high fiber diet with a low intake of dietary fats, the risk dropped even more.

What does this mean? It means cut out fatty meats, cheeses, whole milk, chicken and turkey skin and fried foods for starters.

Everyone needs some fat to keep the skin, hair and nervous system from drying out, but the best source is olive oil. (It is a general lubricant that can help with joints and digestion, too, and one study provided evidence that a high consumption of olive oil was significantly related to a lower risk of breast cancer, while eating saturated fats is highly correlated with dying from the condition.)

Eat water-soluble fiber from fruits, vegetables, dried beans, whole oatsand barley, nuts and seeds.
Most people don't eat enough water-soluble fiber to produce the positive results shown in the Milan study. But good quality, water-soluble fiber is easy to come by when a little care is taken to find unrefined sources of these foods:

* Fruits, including oranges, peaches, apples, and grapes
* Vegetables, including carrots, squash (both high in carotenes), raw spinach (lutein-rich) and anything with tomatoes in it (lycopene-rich). Women with the highest levels of these nutrients had an incredible 400% less risk of breast cancer than those low in these antioxidants and those who ate foods high in vitamin E reduced breast cancer risk by 50% to 90%. Vitamin-E rich foods include asparagus, cabbage, broccoli and cauliflower (eat especially the outer leaves contain DIM that improves breast cancer suppression genes).
* Nuts and seeds (in particular, psyllium seeds; a health food store item.)
* Legumes, including peanuts, lentils, peas, and kidney, black, and pinto beans
* Whole grain oats and barley, eggs, and sweet potatoes (contain vitamin E to lower risk)
* Flax seeds or flax seed oil. Find them at your health food store. Either toast the seeds and put them in cereal or on top of soups or salads or use the oil. (A number of studies have shown that a water-soluble fiber called lignan, found in flax seeds, may have a protective effect against breast cancer and also protects your heart!)

Here are some specific ways to lower yor breast cancer risk:

* Eat more fish, which is the No. 1 source of cancer-inhibiting omega-3 fatty acids. But to avoid high mercury content, specifically tuna, tilefish, swordfish, shark, king mackerel, red snapper, moonfish and orange roughy.

* If you must eat meat and fowl, buy organically raised, 'grass-fed' beef and pork and free-range chicken and turkey. See your health food store about ordering you some. Organic and free-range meat contains less omega-6 (the "bad" fatty acids) and much more omega-3 fatty acid content (the "good" fatty acids) as well as less residue from pesticides, insecticides and herbicides (all of which have been linked to breast cancer).

* Whenever possible, eat organic food. If you live in or near a rural area, check with farmers to see whether they raise animals organically. Also, ask your grocery store manager to order it. If you look around your grocery store, you'll no doubt see organically grown produce mixed in with the pesticide/herbicide full kind. How do you think that got there? Folks just like you asked for it and if there's a market for it, your manager will get in, rest assured. If you can't find or afford organic, you can still decrease your breast cancer risk by at least cutting back as much as possible on 'regular' sources of saturated fat and animal protein -mostly the sort you find in supermarkets, such as grain-fed beef, chickens raised in cages, etc.

* Get rid of the margarine! Margarine is made from hydrogenated oil, which is rich in trans fatty acids and omega-6 fatty acids. Use olive oil. It can even be drizzled on toast!

* Avoid cow's milk. Studies have shown an association between milk intake and an increased risk of breast cancer.

* Avoid alcohol in any form. Even a modest amount is correlated with increased risk of breast cancer.

Exercise to Reduce Breast Cancer Risk

One study showed that women who exercised regularly may reduce their risk of one of the most common types of breast cancer (breast carcinoma in situ, which is confined to the milk glands and is a very common type) by as much as 35 percent, even if they only exercise lightly. This could be gardening, a daily walk or going dancing with that special someone.

Drink Green Tea to Reduce Breast Cancer Risk.
One study demonstrated how extracts of green tea inhibited breast cancer cells from manufacturing the new blood vessels necessary to promote cancer cell growth. Another study shows a relationship between chlorination in drinking water and cancer; install a water filter, reverse osmosis is best, or drink distilled water.

Help Your Breasts Filter out Toxins to Reduce Breast Cancer Risk.
One epidemiological study showed that women who wear a bra, especially a push-up design, for more than twelve hours a day, are at a greater risk for breast cancer. The researchers theorize this may be because restrictive bras prevent the lymph system from filtering out toxins. Never wear a bra for more than twelve hours a day and never wear a bra that feels tight when you put it on or that leaves red marks or indentations near the bra line. Purchase a larger bra that does not constrict your tissues.

Get Enough Vitamin D to Reduce Breast Cancer Risk.

Get into the sun daily or take a supplement that provides vitamin D. This vitamin's metabolites may reduce breast cancer risk.

Obtain Counseling to Reduce Breast Cancer Risk after Abuse

If you've been sexually abused, obtain psychotherapy from a mental health nurse practitioner or psychologist. One study found that past sexual assault was associated with an increased risk of breast cancer.

Avoid Exposure to Magnetic Fields to Reduce Breast Cancer Risk

Power lines, radio, TV or cellular phone towers, sitting or working close to microwave ovens, electric blankets, may increase your risk of breast cancer. A study of 1.1 million women showed that those exposed to a potential magnetic field had an increased risk of breast cancer.

Avoid Hormone Use to Reduce Breast Cancer Risk

Taking oral contraceptives and estrogen are both correlated with breast cancer.

Follow these simple lifestyle guidelines, and you may dramatically lower your chances of receiving that dreaded diagnosis of breast cancer. Article from: BELLAONLINE (back to top)

Old Wives Tales

Old wives' tales are perhaps as old as language itself. They're part of our oral tradition, originating long before pen and ink, books and movies, and certainly before the Internet. Why do we cling to such tales about common ailments and our health when we live in a world rich with medical expertise and proven treatments and cures?

Some probably have survived through the ages because they offer comforting advice about experiences we all share, have little control over, and usually worry about, such as birth and sickness.

Many old wives' tales, especially those surrounding pregnancy and childbirth, have been proven false or ineffective by advances in medicine and technology. One example is the use of prenatal ultrasound to detect the sex of a fetus instead of dangling a ring suspended on a string over the expectant woman's belly. According to the tale, if the ring swings from side to side, it's a girl, and if it swings in a circle, it's a boy. An ultrasound reading may not be as much fun, but the test results are certainly more accurate.

Some old wives' tales about health and sickness have some basis in fact, whereas other, newer ones seem to reflect a kind of technophobia, such as those related to watching television. Some old wives' tales are true, most are harmless - and at least one described here is dangerous...
Click here for examples of old wives tales and more information. (back to top)