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Can You Reduce Your Risk of Breast
Cancer(c) Copyright by Kim
Beardsmore
We hear it all the time…lose weight for your health. Few people
however, realize the extent to which this is
critical to their physical well-being and
ultimately their life expectancy.
In January 2003, the Journal of the American Medical
Association featured a study finding that obesity appears to
lessen life expectancy, especially among young adults. The
researchers compared Body-Mass Index (BMI) to longevity and
found a correlation between premature death and higher BMIs.
For example, a 20-year-old white male, 5’10” weighing 288
pounds with a BMI of greater than 40 was estimated to lose 13
years of his life as a result of obesity.Jamie McManus, M.D.,
F.A.A.F.P. and author of “Your Personal Guide to Wellness”
notes that while this study referenced extreme levels of
obesity, there are still millions of overweight people in
developed countries with a life expectancy rate that is three
to five years less than their healthy-weight counterparts. She
also estimates that there are 600,000 obesity related deaths
each year in America.
Just how does obesity shorten our lifespan? The answer to this
question is complex, yet there is a clear link between obesity
and the development of cancer. An extensive study conducted by
the American Cancer Institute involving 750,000 people showed
that obesity significantly increased the risk of cancer
developing in the following organs: breast, colon, ovaries,
uterus, pancreas, kidneys and gallbladder.
Michael Thun, MD, vice-president of epidemiology and
surveillance research for the American Cancer Society (ACS)
says one reason obesity may raise cancer risk is because fat
cells produce a form of estrogen called estradiol that promotes
rapid division of cells, increasing chances of a random genetic
error while cells are replicating, which can lead to cancer. In
addition, fat centered around the abdomen may increase insulin
and insulin-like growth factors in the blood, which may
increase cancer risk.
"Women who are obese after menopause have a 50% higher relative
risk of breast cancer," notes Thun, "and obese men have a 40%
higher relative risk of colon cancer…. Gallbladder and
endometrial cancer risks are five times higher for obese
individuals”. There is evidence that cancer rates in developed
countries are increasing at 5 to 15 times faster than
developing countries. A major contributor to this alarming
reality has proven to be diet. In populations where the diet
consists mostly of fresh fruit and vegetables and whole grains
– in contrast to the typical Western diet of fatty meats,
refined flours, oils and sugars – the risk of cancer is much
lower.
The interaction of diet and the development of cancer is an
active field of research and Dr David Heber, M.D., Ph.D. and
author of “What Color is Your Diet”, says “It appears that diet
has its most significant effects after the cancer has already
formed, acting to inhibit or stimulate the growth of that
cancer”. At the risk of oversimplifying a complex set of
interactions, the typical Western diet that leads to obesity
may actually act to stimulate the growth of cancer cells. It is
never too late to improve your health through healthful eating
and adopting a more health-giving lifestyle. Here are simple
steps to follow which can make an immediate improvement to your
health and vitality.
1. Check your Body Mass Index (BMI) to determine if weight has
become health risk. According to the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention, 60% of Americans are overweight,
defined as having a BMI (a ratio of height to weight) over 25.
Of those, nearly half (27%) qualify as obese, with a body mass
index of 30 or more. In 1980, just 15% of Americans were
considered obese. You can check your BMI at the website
below.
2. Match your diet to your body’s requirements. If you eat and
drink more calories than your body requires you will put on
weight. Learn to control calories and portion sizes, make
recipes leaner, and eat infrequently from fast food
restaurants. Also learn how to snack with healthful
choices.
3. Color your diet with a large variety of colorful,
cancer-fighting fruit and vegetables. There are seven different
color ranges of both fruit and vegetables and by choosing
between 5 to 9 daily serves from a wide range of fruit and
vegetables, we are extending our consumption of cancer (and
other disease) fighting nutrients.
4. Eat lean protein with every meal. Protein provides a
powerful signal to the brain providing a longer sense of
fullness. The right source of protein is essential to
controlling your hunger with fewer calories and necessary to
maintain your lean muscle mass. Choices of protein should be
flavored soy shakes with fruit; the white meat of chicken and
turkey, seafood such as shrimps, prawns scallops and lobster
and ocean fish or vegetarians may prefer soy based meat
substitutes.
5. Rev up your metabolism with activity. If you want to enjoy a
lifetime of well-being, exercise is a key ingredient. Colleen
Doyle, MS, RD, director of nutrition and physical activity for
the American Cancer Society (ACS), says adults should do
something for 30 minutes each day that takes as much effort as
a brisk walk. Children should be active for an hour each day.
We are more likely to develop habits around things we enjoy, so
seek activities which you enjoy doing. It is also helpful to
build physical activity into your daily routine: use the stairs
instead of the escalator or lift at work, park your car in the
parking bay furthest from the super marketing and don’t use the
remote control to change TV channels.
6. Get support to ensure you develop a healthful eating plan
and reach your goal weight. Whilst a small percentage of people
possess the discipline to lose weight, many obese people have
developed strong thoughts and habits concerning the food they
eat. In order to establish new habits, most people respond well
to some form of consistent encouragement and coaching. A study,
“Effects of Internet Behavioral Counseling on Weight Loss in
Adults at Risk of Type 2 Diabetes” shows that participants who
had the support of weight loss coaching lost more weight than
those who didn’t. The study concluded that the support of a
weight loss coach can significantly improve weight loss
results.
Being overweight or obese has been identified next to smoking,
as the most preventable major risk to developing cancer. Even
small weight losses have been shown to have beneficial health
effects. So it’s never to late to start and you can never be
too young or too old to be concerned about your health and do
something about achieving a more healthy weight.
About the author:
Kim is successful a weight loss coach who will help you find
consistent results. You will learn how to stabilize at your
goal weight and never 'diet' again. No public 'weigh-ins',
meetings that cost you money or fads...simply long term
results. Free, no obligation consultation: http://leanmachine.org/?refid=bc-27546Are you
interested in earning money from home? http://tinyurl.com/6tfeq
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