Healthy Women

There are two new reports by cancer prevention specialists at Moores Cancer Center, Univsrsity of California, suggest that vitamin D in new prescriptions may prevent up to one half of all cases of breast cancer.

The study is published online in the current issue of The Journal of Steroid Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. It pooled data from two earlier studies by the Harvard Nurses Health Study and the St. George’s Hospital Study that alleged that people with the highest levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D, 25(OH)D, had the lowest incidences of breast cancer.

The research was based on 1,760 cases of individuals in the two studies and divided them into five equal groups, from the lowest 25(OH)D at less than 13 nanograms per milliliter, to the highest group with 52 nanograms per milliliter.

”The data were very clear, showing that individuals in the group with the lowest blood levels had the highest rates of breast cancer, and the breast cancer rates dropped as the blood levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D increased,” said study co-author Cedric Garland, Dr.P.H. “The serum level associated with a 50 percent reduction in risk could be maintained by taking 2,000 international units of vitamin D3 daily plus, when the weather permits, spending 10 to 15 minutes a day in the sun.”

However, women are warned not to run out and start supplementing their diet. There may be other factors that were overlooked in these studies. While the reports are valid, and the research solid, they only represent 1,760 people out of the entire population.

”Meta-analysis is an important tool for revealing trends that may not be apparent in a single study,” said co-author Sharif B. Mohr, M.P.H. “Pooling of independent but similar studies increases precision, and therefore the confidence level of the findings.”

The authors recommend further research to study individuals for the effect of vitamin D from sunlight, diet and supplements on the risk of cancer.

The dose-response data on 1,448 people in the study were put into order by serum 25(OH)D level and then divided into five equal groups, from the lowest blood levels to the highest.

Co-author Edward D. Gorham, Ph.D said: “We project a two-thirds reduction in incidence with serum levels of 46ng/ml, which corresponds to a daily intake of 2,000 IU of vitamin D3. This would be best achieved with a combination of diet, supplements and 10 to 15 minutes per day in the sun.”

Vitamin D3 is available through diet, supplements and exposure to sunlight, or ultraviolet B (UVB) as long as the skin does not tan or burn. In a white woman, it will only take 10 minutes at noontime on a clear day, with 50 per cent skin exposure, to absorb adequate vitamin D. Darker skin will require up to 25 minutes.

It is important to eat a balanced diet. Vitamin D is linked to Calcium absorption, so overdosing on one will throw out the balance and may result in a depletion of one vitamin.

The reports continued and measured Vitamin D’s ability to prevent colorectal cancer and found similar results.

The association between food and health has been clearly established in recent years with the advance of new fields of science such as molecular biology, biochemistry, and genetics. Results obtained from medical research suggest that nourishing food combined with an sufficient amount of physical exercise boosts the immune system as part of a healthy way of life.

A Beneficial Diet Rich in Vitamins and Minerals

A diet program rich in vitamins, minerals, as well as micro-nutrients lessen the danger of being afflicted with various types of medical conditions such as elevated blood pressure, hypertension, Type 2 diabetes, and osteoarthritis. It in addition reduces the danger of certain types of cancers such as uterine cancer, cancer of the gall bladder, cervical cancer, ovarian cancer, as well as colon cancer in females. In males, the probability of colon cancer, prostate cancers, and cancers of the rectum are reduced. This theory is, however, not applicable on everyone since inherited conditions are also responsible for the growth of cancer cells in the human body.

The best method to establish the association between food and health is to follow a nutritious diet program over a interval of eight to twelve weeks and note down the health benefits achieved by the ending of the cycle. The diet used during the test period must include 2  to 4 servings of fruits and vegetables that are abundant in antioxidants. Antioxidants are essential for maintaining a healthy body as they help lessen the toxins produced in the body during metabolic processes.

Toxins in Foods can Damage Cells

Elevated amounts of toxins may damage the cells and lead to the development of cancer cells. The low calorie content from fruits plus greens ensures that even relatively large helpings of these without worrying about their effect on body weight. The working of your digestive system is enhanced by including the required quantity of dietary fibers, that  are found in the cell walls of fruits, greens, grains as well as in whole grain versions of bread, pasta and rice. Food fibers are useful in the prevention of illnesses such as bowel problems and piles. They are frequently integrated in weight-loss diets as they provide a feeling of fullness that prevents overeating.

Another way of establishing the correlation connecting food and health is by reducing the amount of salt within the diet plan and noting the positive effects on the blood pressure level. Salt is essential for the body, but modern diets seem to increase salt content in meals just for satisfying the taste buds. The craving for salt is not based on bodily requirements as it is just a habit and a low salt diet regime is easy to adapt to over time.

Consume Plenty of Water to Help Flush Your Body

The truth that food and health are interrelated implies that plenty of fluids that are essential for removing body toxins and thus keeping the body hydrated. Usually seven to 8 glasses of water per day are required, but these can be drunk in the variety of sugar-free juices, diluted natural fruit juices, fat free milk, or light tea. It is recommended to keep away from sugary and aerated drinks since these do not have any nutritional properties and thus just add calories to your body.

“DIEP flap”? “TRAM flap”? “SIEA flap”? With so many breast reconstruction options available these days it’s difficult to understand what all these terms really mean. What is clear is that breast cancer patients are now rejecting the option of breast implants preferring to use their own abdominal tissue for reconstruction after mastectomy.

A breast that has been reconstructed with the patient’s own tissue looks and feels more natural than a reconstruction with a breast implant, will last longer without the long-term complications that can be associated with implants and will also age more like a natural breast. Since many women have at least a little extra tissue in the lower abdominal region (particularly after having children), breast reconstruction with abdominal flaps (abdominal tissue) is more appealing to most patients than other options. So what are the options if you do have some abdominal tissue to spare?

The DIEP flap procedure is today’s gold standard in breast restoration. Advances in breast reconstructive surgery have made it possible to use the excess skin and fat from the lower abdomen (rather like the tissue removed during a tummy tuck) to construct a new, soft, warm, “natural” breast without the need for implants or the sacrifice of abdominal muscle. The DIEP (Deep Inferior Epigastric Perforator) flap is a sophisticated modification of an existing surgery known as the TRAM (Transverse Rectus Abdominis Myocutaneous) flap.

TRAM flap breast reconstruction is a common technique that requires the sacrifice of at least a portion of the rectus abdominus (sit-up) muscle. Unfortunately, this technique can be associated with significant pain post-operatively, prolonged recovery and a numbe of abdominal complications such as bulging (or “pooching”), loss of abdominal muscle strength (up to 20%), and even abdominal hernia.

The DIEP flap procedure is very similar to the TRAM flap except that it preserves the rectus abdominis muscle and leaves it complete and in place. Only skin and fat are removed from the lower abdomen, transplanted to the chest and connected using microsurgery to create the new breast. No muscle is sacrificed. As the sit-up muscle is spared many of the above complications are avoided. The patient also receives similar benefits to a tummy tuck at the same time. There also tends to be far less pain and a quicker recovery time because the abdominal muscles are left in place.

Like the DIEP flap, the SIEA (Superficial Epigastric Artery) flap completely preserves the abdominal muscles. The main difference between these two procedures is the artery used to supply blood flow to the newly reconstructed breast. The “SIEA” blood vessels are generally found in the fatty tissue just below skin whereas the “DIEP” blood vessels run below and/or within the abdominal muscle (making the latter surgery more technically challenging). Though the technical aspects of each operation are slightly different, the SIEA flap also utilizes only the patient’s skin and fat to reconstruct the breast.

Despite the similarities between these two operations the SIEA flap procedure is used less frequently than the DIEP flap as less than 20% of patients have the anatomy required to allow for the SIEA procedure to be performed. Unfortunately, there are no pre-operative tests to reliably show which patients have the appropriate anatomy and the decision of which procedure to perform is made intra-operatively by the plastic surgeon based on anatomic findings at the time of surgery.

Depending on the patient’s health breast reconstruction can be performed immediately after the mastectomy so the patient wakes up with new breasts already in place.

While the cosmetic results with immediate mastectomy reconstruction are generally superior (particularly when combined with nipple-sparing or skin-sparing mastectomy), reconstructive surgery can also be performed at a later time once the cancer treatment has been completed (“delayed breast reconstruction”. Regardless of the method of breast reconstruction used, 2 or 3 surgeries a few months apart are often required to complete the reconstruction process and to obtain the best cosmetic result.

Unfortunately, due to the complexity of the surgery very few centers in the US perform the DIEP flap procedure so many patients will have to travel for their surgery. The good news is that some of these specialist centers will accommodate out-of-state and even patients from outside the USA.

Having said that, currently there are only about 40 plastic surgeons in the US that routinely perform DIEP flap breast reconstruction. Before choosing a surgeon ensure that he/she is a plastic surgeon certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and has extensive experience with this type of surgery (preferably over 100 procedures). Ask about the success rate in their hands (most specialists boast a flap survival rate of 97% to 99%+) and how many DIEP flaps they have performed.

Unfortunately, some patients will find it difficult to gain access to specialists offering the DIEP procedure even though insurance companies are federally mandated to pay for the cost of breast reconstruction. Here again it pays to seek out plastic surgeons who specialize in these procedures as typically an insurance specialist is available to help patients with insurance issues.

“DIEP flap”? “TRAM flap”? “SIEA flap”? With so many breast reconstruction options available these days it’s difficult to understand what all these terms really mean. What is clear is that breast cancer patients are now rejecting the option of breast implants preferring to use their own abdominal tissue for reconstruction after mastectomy.

A breast that has been reconstructed with the patient’s own tissue looks and feels more natural than a reconstruction with a breast implant, will last longer without the long-term complications that can be associated with implants and will also age more like a natural breast. Since many women have at least a little extra tissue in the lower abdominal region (particularly after having children), breast reconstruction with abdominal flaps (abdominal tissue) is more appealing to most patients than other options. So what are the options if you do have some abdominal tissue to spare?

The DIEP flap procedure is today’s gold standard in breast restoration. Advances in breast reconstructive surgery have made it possible to use the excess skin and fat from the lower abdomen (rather like the tissue removed during a tummy tuck) to construct a new, soft, warm, “natural” breast without the need for implants or the sacrifice of abdominal muscle. The DIEP (Deep Inferior Epigastric Perforator) flap is a sophisticated modification of an existing surgery known as the TRAM (Transverse Rectus Abdominis Myocutaneous) flap.

TRAM flap breast reconstruction is a common technique that requires the sacrifice of at least a portion of the rectus abdominus (sit-up) muscle. Unfortunately, this technique can be associated with significant pain post-operatively, prolonged recovery and a numbe of abdominal complications such as bulging (or “pooching”), loss of abdominal muscle strength (up to 20%), and even abdominal hernia.

The DIEP flap procedure is very similar to the TRAM flap except that it preserves the rectus abdominis muscle and leaves it complete and in place. Only skin and fat are removed from the lower abdomen, transplanted to the chest and connected using microsurgery to create the new breast. No muscle is sacrificed. As the sit-up muscle is spared many of the above complications are avoided. The patient also receives similar benefits to a tummy tuck at the same time. There also tends to be far less pain and a quicker recovery time because the abdominal muscles are left in place.

Like the DIEP flap, the SIEA (Superficial Epigastric Artery) flap completely preserves the abdominal muscles. The main difference between these two procedures is the artery used to supply blood flow to the newly reconstructed breast. The “SIEA” blood vessels are generally found in the fatty tissue just below skin whereas the “DIEP” blood vessels run below and/or within the abdominal muscle (making the latter surgery more technically challenging). Though the technical aspects of each operation are slightly different, the SIEA flap also utilizes only the patient’s skin and fat to reconstruct the breast.

Despite the similarities between these two operations the SIEA flap procedure is used less frequently than the DIEP flap as less than 20% of patients have the anatomy required to allow for the SIEA procedure to be performed. Unfortunately, there are no pre-operative tests to reliably show which patients have the appropriate anatomy and the decision of which procedure to perform is made intra-operatively by the plastic surgeon based on anatomic findings at the time of surgery.

Depending on the patient’s health breast reconstruction can be performed immediately after the mastectomy so the patient wakes up with new breasts already in place.

While the cosmetic results with immediate mastectomy reconstruction are generally superior (particularly when combined with nipple-sparing or skin-sparing mastectomy), reconstructive surgery can also be performed at a later time once the cancer treatment has been completed (“delayed breast reconstruction”. Regardless of the method of breast reconstruction used, 2 or 3 surgeries a few months apart are often required to complete the reconstruction process and to obtain the best cosmetic result.

Unfortunately, due to the complexity of the surgery very few centers in the US perform the DIEP flap procedure so many patients will have to travel for their surgery. The good news is that some of these specialist centers will accommodate out-of-state and even patients from outside the USA.

Having said that, currently there are only about 40 plastic surgeons in the US that routinely perform DIEP flap breast reconstruction. Before choosing a surgeon ensure that he/she is a plastic surgeon certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and has extensive experience with this type of surgery (preferably over 100 procedures). Ask about the success rate in their hands (most specialists boast a flap survival rate of 97% to 99%+) and how many DIEP flaps they have performed.

Unfortunately, some patients will find it difficult to gain access to specialists offering the DIEP procedure even though insurance companies are federally mandated to pay for the cost of breast reconstruction. Here again it pays to seek out plastic surgeons who specialize in these procedures as typically an insurance specialist is available to help patients with insurance issues.

Menstrual cycle is an important part of a woman’s reproductive life. The usual age for the onset of menstrual cycle is 12- 13 years but it may vary from person to person and other environmental factors. The length of the menstruation can fluctuate from 3 to 5 weeks without any prior alarm.

How it occurs?
Menstruation occurs when the endometrium (an inner lining of the uterus) sheds. This menstrual flow contains blood and mucus from the cervix (an opening at the lower third of the uterus) and vagina. The area of the brain called hypothalamus along with pituitary glands control the hormones necessary for the reproductive organs. Six hormones namely, Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) , Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) , Luteinizing hormone (LH) , Estrogen, Progesterone, Testosterone control your menstruation process.

Pain during menstruation
Painful menstruation or dysmenorrhea is the most common problem for any woman. This causes inability to carry day to day responsibilities due to lower abdominal cramping, vomiting, nausea and headache during menstruation. Pain during menstruation can be categorized into two types. One is the primary dysmenorrhea which is quite normal because of painful contractions as a result of release of natural substances called prostaglandins from the uterine walls.

The second one or secondary dysmenorrhea is evident after many years of normal menstruation as a disease of the uterus, fallopian tubes and ovaries. Most common factors include abnormal growth, tumors, pelvic infection, uterine cancer or even endometriosis. Endometriosis is a disease whereby the uterine tissue is found outside the uterus, in fallopian tubes or ovaries. This could also end up in infertility.

Menstruation stopping
Many women also face stopping of menstruation for a period say 6 months or more are said to have amenorrhea or absence of menstruation. Another reason for stopping of menstruation includes stress among women that whether they are pregnant or will have their menstruation in time. Emotional stress, physical and mental health problems can also lead to stopped periods for a long time. Menstruation stops during pregnancy and if a women intakes birth control pills then it takes 6 months to year to resume normal periods.

Reasons or factors for stopping menstrual cycles:

Sometimes women don’t have menstruation as their ovaries don’t respond properly to the hormones releasing egg

Ovarian cysts and obstruction in the reproductive tracts

Poor nutrition

Vigorous exercises

Diabetes

Tuberculosis

Non alcoholic liver disease

Chronic illness

Medications such as birth control pills

Obesity

You can find more about women reproductive health at womensreproductivehealth.info

A wide variety of alternative breast cancer treatments exist today.  While “alternative” treatments are defined as practices that replace traditional treatments, most breast cancer patients use them in combination with conventional medicine.  Generally, alternative treatments are not acknowledged by the medical community as standard medical practices and therefore, many patients do not inform their doctors when using these therapies.  Examples of alternative treatments include acupuncture, massage, megavitamins, herbal supplements, nutrition, and magnetic therapy, to name a few.

Practiced for thousands of years, acupuncture involves the stimulation of specific points on the body using a hair-thin needle, or other method, to restore the body’s internal balance and energy flow.  Acupuncture may be used for pain relief and to control side effects from chemotherapy.

Massage involves manual manipulation of muscles and soft tissue.  It is believed that massage enhances the function of those muscles and tissues involved, while promoting relaxation.  It is often used together with other therapies.  Available scientific evidence does not support claims that massage slows or reverses the growth or spread of cancer.

Megavitamin treatments usually involve very high doses of vitamins A, C and E.  While the body requires these and other vitamins for optimal health, too much of a single vitamin may be harmful and even interfere with other treatments.  A healthy diet, one that offers lots of fruits and vegetables, eliminates the need for vitamin supplements.  More is not always better.

Good nutrition is always important, but for anyone fighting breast cancer, or any cancer, it’s crucial.  Though there are many, one alternative nutrition treatment is the macrobiotic diet. This diet is strictly vegetarian and includes whole grains, vegetables, beans, seaweed and soups. This diet is promoted for both cancer prevention and treatment, though there is no proof that is has any affect on either.  In general, a healthy diet—one that includes fruits, vegetables and protein—provides the reserves of nutrients needed to maintain a strong immune system and cope with the adverse side of effects of treatments.

Herbal supplements are plant extracts and have long been used for a variety of health purposes.  While they may be labeled as “natural,” it doesn’t mean that they are safe or even good for the body.  The fact is that herbal supplements can act like a drug and may be harmful when taken in large amounts.  There are few regulations in place to control the quality and safety of these products.  In 2007, the FDA did initiate new regulations to help improve this, but many are not effective until 2010.  Cancer experts often recommend that patients avoid dietary supplements altogether.

These are just a few of the many alternative breast cancer treatments available.  When facing a life threatening illness, such as breast cancer, a feeling of desperation may be experienced while searching for treatments.  As a result, the patient may develop an “I’ll try anything” mentality.  While it’s important to keep an open mind about new treatment options, it’s more important to approach alternative treatments with caution.  Be upfront and honest with everyone involved in treating your disease before starting any alternative therapies.  Many of these may be safe, but there may also be risks involved when combining alternative and traditional medicine.  Ultimately, the decision for any treatment is up to the patient.  Choosing one treatment over another should be based on knowledge, not fear.  Remember, knowledge is power.

Let us start from the top of the Body – Brain Hair, Eyes, Nose, Teeth, Gums, Mouth, Throat …. One could go on right to the Legs and Feet and everything in between (Pun intended) In other words Smoking affects the entire body and in numerous ways, too. Not to mention people who are around you who are forced to be passive smokers just by inhaling the deadly smoke from your cigarette. And last but not the least affected are the children you will parent who will end up having cancer and other fatal diseases due to mutations in genes and chromosomes. Cool! Thank You Very Much!

Every smoker will suffer from some illness as a direct result of smoking, one half will die because of it and the other half will not make it past middle age. In fact smoking is the single greatest preventable cause of disease and premature death. Contrary to popular perception that smoking causes lung cancer, it also causes Cardiovascular diseases, mouth and throat cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, emphysema, bronchitis, cancer of the colon, cancer of the stomach, cancer of the pancreas, cancer of the kidney, uterine cancer, cervical cancer, cancer of the vulva, cancer of the penis, cancer of the bladder and leukemia. WOW! Quite an impressive list, one must say!

Next, let us consider the cost of smoking. When people consider the cost of smoking, they usually focus on the cost of the cigarettes alone, which could go up to $2,000 a year.

But when you add to that the cost of various medical ailments, the actual cost could go up to $200,000 over a lifetime. Every pack of cigarettes that an adult male smokes knocks off $222 from the value of that man’s life, estimate W. Kip Viscusi and Joni Hersch of Vanderbilt Law School. Ouch! That Really Hurts!

Not only is smoking bad for the smoker’s health, it is even worse for those around him. When a smoker decides to light up, he takes an active decision to risk his health, whereas when passive smokers are made to inhale the deadly potion of over 4000 chemicals, their health is compromised upon for no fault of theirs. In most cases, it is innocent children who are at risk from passive smoking. Not to mention the children who are yet to come into this world. Great! What a Welcome!

Last but not the least, every smoker must remember that tobacco companies WANT you to smoke. Each smoker is worth more than $40,000 to them over his or her lifetime. Recent studies suggest that over a period of time, the levels of nicotine, the primary addictive agent in cigarettes, has steadily been on the rise, which means more profits for the cigarette companies. Cha Ching! Roll in the Moolah!

At the end of the day, what’s in it for the smoker?

Women, conventionally socialized to play the role of caregivers, often find it difficult to spontaneously disclose the diagnoses of their disease to family members.

Not only is it an onerous task for them to confess it to their family, but when they actually break the news they do it tactically, an American Sociological Association (ASA) research uncovers.

When women learn about the diagnoses, even though they are themselves in the need of support and reassurance, they have to make an emotional effort and consider the vulnerabilities of their family members too while informing them.

Aside from emotional support it’s also the progress being made in cancer research and cancer drugs these days that’s reassuring. In fact the power of some natural compounds has also shown promise.

To conduct the research, the scientists comparatively and qualitatively examined how breast cancer survivors from different racial and ethnic backgrounds went about sharing the news of their illness with family, friends and acquaintances.

Research participants included 164 breast cancer survivors, who were examined for the “emotion work” involved in disclosing a breast cancer diagnosis. The mode of data collection was interview. Furthermore, The survivors were a mix of racially diverse women born in the United States and immigrants.

On the one hand women found it difficult to share the news with their family, but on the other, these women reported to have shared their diagnosis with their peers quite spontaneously. And following which they were themselves surprised by the extent of the support they got as a result of these spontaneous conversations from their own social networks.

The researchers believe that those women who limit their emotions in discussing their breast cancer diagnosis also limit the possibilities for support they might receive. So the take away seems to be, that involving others in an illness, increases intimacy among friends and family in addition to opening up newer doors to get additional support that is so much needed at times of stress, such as during breast cancer diagnoses.

America is experiencing an older population boom, which means healthy living and aging is more important than ever. The 76 million Americans born between 1946 and 1964(1) – known as the baby boom generation – will soon be turning 65. Aging statistics show that people over age 65 in 2008 represented 12.8% of the population, or 38.9 million people. That number is expected to grow to 20% of the population by 2030. Which means, those who reach the age of 65 can realistically look forward to another 20 years of life expectancy.(2)

But what will those extra 20 years be like? We certainly don’t want them to be spent suffering some chronic disease while spending endless hours in the doctor’s office and becoming dependent on others to make it through everyday life! Healthy living and aging not only means living to a ripe old age, but living the “golden years” as vibrantly as possible. Combining the ideas of healthy living and aging will keep you younger, longer, even as the years go by.

Natural Anti Aging Secrets

Conventionally, aging has gone hand in hand with degenerative disease but modern research is providing anti aging secrets we can all take advantage of. One of those secrets is phytosterols, also called plant sterols and stanols. These are compounds that occur naturally in plants used for food such as vegetable oils, nuts, grains, legumes, fruits and vegetables. So getting them in our diet should be a no-brainer, right?

Wrong.

Our ancestors, who only ate unprocessed food from natural sources, got a lot of plant sterols and stanols in their diet – often as much as 1,000 mg per day.(3) Today, with the refined foods we live on, our intake is estimated to be only 150-450 mg per day.

Why is this so important?

Lowering Cholesterol – One Key to Healthy Living and Aging

More than 50 years of research have shown that phytosterols are structured very much like the body’s cholesterol, so when you consume them, they compete with cholesterol for absorption in the body’s digestive system.(4) In fact, they act so much like actual cholesterol that they can serve as building blocks for hormones, vitamins and cell walls. Even better, when they travel through the digestive tract, they get absorbed instead of cholesterol that can clog arteries. All while not affecting the good HDL cholesterol.(5)

Keep in mind that plant sterols and stanols are NOT a replacement for prescribed medications, but they can be one of your most powerful anti aging secrets when added to your diet. Especially because they have proven effective in addition to any prescribed regimen.

Intervention trials have resulted in a 10% reduction in LDL cholesterol, whether by medication or diet, which translates to a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease by as much as 20%.(6) One study, involving a one month adherence to a diet of cholesterol-lowering foods, including plant sterols, lowered LDL levels by an average of 30%. That decrease was pretty much the same result as using statin drugs to lower LDL cholesterol.(7)

How Much Do You Need?

The effectiveness of phytosterols has led to the FDA approval of a health claim which may appear on sterol-enriched foods, which says: “Foods containing at least 0.65 gram per serving of vegetable plant sterol esters, eaten twice a day with meals for a daily total intake of at least 1.3 grams, as part of a diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol, may reduce the risk of heart disease.”(8)

So if you’ve seen foods in the market or advertised on TV as having cholesterol-lowering benefits, then you’ve encountered plant sterols and stanols without realizing it. Things like orange juice, yogurt, margarine and butter may boast these heart-healthy claims on their packaging.

The American Heart Association recommends 2 grams per day of phytosterols. This is confirmed by a study published in the journal Metabolism which outlined that an intake below 1.2% was ineffective, but provided no further benefit above 2.4%.(9)

More Good News

The latest research is showing that phytosterols are not just beneficial for lowering cholesterol. Other diseases, such as various cancers and cases of non-cancerous enlarged prostate may show improvement as well.

A series of studies conducted in Uruguay found that phytosterol intake was lower in people who had stomach, lung or breast cancer than those in the cancer-free control group. The same was true in women with uterine cancer and men with prostate cancer.(10, 11, 12)
In a six month study of 200 men with non-cancerous enlarge prostate, herbal preparations of plant sterols improved urinary flow and decreased the volume of urine left un-voided. A follow up study showed that the improvements were maintained for up to 18 months in the men who continued the treatment.(13)

Natural sources of phytosterols are corn oil, sunflower oil, beans, corn, peanut butter and olive oil. And keep an eye out for sterol-fortified foods at the market. They can be a healthy addition to your diet and one of your best anti aging secrets for healthy living and aging.

As always, please consult your personal physician before making any changes to your diet, exercise or supplement routine.

Sources:

Greenberg, Saadia, “The Growth of America’s Older Population,” Administration on Aging, Jul 16, 2009
“Aging Statistics,” Administration on Aging, Department of Health and Human Services, aoa.gov
Jenkins DJ, Kendall CW, Marchie A, et al, The Garden of Eden – plant based diets, the genetic drive to conserve cholesterol and its implications for heart disease in the 21st century. Comp Biochem Physiol A Mol Integr Physiol. 2003;136(1):141-151
“Phytosterols: Sterols & Stanols,” ClevelandClinic.com, 2009
Upton, Julie, “Fortify Your Diet With Nature’s Heart Healers,” msnbc.com, Aug 12, 2007
National Cholesterol Education Program. Third Report of the National Cholesterol Education Program Expert Panel on Detection, Evaluation and Treatment of High Blood Cholesterol in Adults. National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, 2002
Jenkins DJ, Kendall CW, Marchie A, et al. Direct comparison of a dietary portfolio of cholesterol-lowering food with a statin in hypercholesterolemic participants. Am J Clin Nutr. 2005;81(2):308-387
“Phytosterols: Sterols & Stanols,” ClevelandClinic.com, 2009
Xu G, Salen G, Shefer S, Tint GS, Lien BN, Batta AK, Pcolinsky M, Plant stanol fatty acid esters inhibit cholesterol absorption and hepatic hydroxymethyl glutaryl coenzyme a reductase activity to reduce plasma levels in rabbits, Metabolism, Vol 50, Issue 9: 1106-1112, Sep 2001
De Stefani E, Boffetta P, Ronco AL, et al. Plant sterols and risk of stomach cancer, Nutr Cancer. 2000;37(2): 140-144
Mendilaharsu M, De Stefani E, Deneo-PellegriniH, CarzoglioJ, RoncoA. Phytosterols and risk of lung cancer. Lung Cancer 1998;21(1):37-45
Ronco A, De Stefani E, Boffetta P, Ceneo-Pellegrini H, Mendilaharsu M, LeborgneF. Vegetables, fruits and related nutrients and risk of breast cancer. Nutr Cancer. 1999;35(2):111-119
Berges RR, Windeler J, Trampisch HJ, Senge T, Treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia with beta-sitosterol, BJU Int. 2000;85(7):842-846

If you have been recently diagnosed as having breast cancer, your doctor may recommend a full mastectomy or a partial one.

On the other hand, you may already have had a mastectomy or a partial mastectomy and you’re left with a number of questions about how to best take care of yourself at this point. This article will try to answer some of your unanswered questions if you’re facing surgery or have already had it.

To help you organize your questions, it will be beneficial for you to carry around a small notebook on which you can jot your questions as well as the answers your doctor gives you. For example, you need to know what your doctor recommends — should you have a full mastectomy or a partial one? Do you want a second opinion at this point? How long will your hospital stay be? Have your lymph nodes been affected by cancer? How will your body react after one or more lymph nodes has been removed? What is the best method of taking care of your incision? How much scarring is anticipated by your doctor after surgery? Will removing one or more lymph nodes affect the range of motion of your shoulder and arm? Have you considered how you will care for the areas of your body that are effected by surgery after your operation?

It’s often a good idea to have a support group standing behind you at this tough time of your life. Having someone who’s already been through this experience to share what they went through could help you get an idea of what’s going to happen to you as well.

You’ll be wanting to know how long a full recovery will take when you are back on your feet again. After the removal of one or both of your breasts, your sense of balance may be affected. In time your body will adjust to this. However, the services of a physical therapist may help you a lot to regain your former agility. There are special exercises you can do to help remove the stiffness and help you feel better after surgery.

After breast cancer surgery, you will need to take care of yourself and be specially careful about the arm and hand on the side where lymph nodes were removed — if any lymph nodes were found to contain cancer cells.

Following surgery, your arm on the side where your lymph nodes were removed may swell. You need to protect your arm and hand on that side after your operation by paying attention to the following tips:

1. Don’t use that arm to carry heavy packages or other items.

2. Avoid wearing tight clothing.

3. Don’t wear snug bracelets or watches.

4. Don’t receive shots or other medical procedures on your affected arm and hand.

5. Don’t use harsh cleaning solutions unless you protect your arms and hands by wearing plastic or rubber gloves.

6. Be sure to wear protective gloves when you do heavy-duty cleaning or gardening.

7. Be on your guard against sunburn.

8. Be especially careful when trimming your nails and cuticles to avoid cutting them.

9. Wear an elastic sleeve if your arm swells.

10. Protect your affected arm from cuts and insect bites.

If your lymph nodes are going to be removed or have already been removed, be sure to see your doctor if your arm bothers you.

Today there are numerous medical advancements that help women overcome the effects of breast cancer, so take advantage of the medical advice your doctor can provide for you.