Want a healthy heart? Drink your beer!

Alcohol reduces heart disease risk.

Oh yes, the latest news on heart health is creating quite a buzz. According to a recent study by the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer & Nutrition, people who drink actually have healthier hearts than those who abstain from alcohol!

Alcohol intake reduces coronary heart disease by about 30 percent.

Apparently, this is true regardless of how much you drink. Whether you prefer occasional nightcaps or love binging everyday, alcohol seems to have a protective effect on your heart.

Of course, this bit of medical news should be taken with a grain of salt. Even if coronary heart disease is reduced by about 30% in drinkers, there is always the increased risk of liver disease.

There are many healthier – and much safer – ways of keeping your heart fit. Regular exercise and a healthy diet can keep your heart going for many years to come. Still, there is one less thing we have to worry about when we choose to enjoy another cocktail – and let’s drink to that!

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Yearly Mammography Can Cause Breast Cancer

If you are a young woman with a high risk of developing breast, think again before having your yearly mammography.

photo by Meredith O’Shea

Mammography is used as a diagnostic tool to detect early cases of breast cancer. Ironic as it sounds, having mammography can actually increase breast cancer. Because mammography uses X-ray radiation to detect small tumors in the breast, the radiation may increase the possibility of developing breast cancer. This is especially true in young women having a yearly mammogram.

High risk young women have a 250% higher risk of developing breast cancer if they have a mammography or chest X-ray before they reach twenty years old.

This important research finding was revealed during the Radiological Society of North America 95th Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting held last November 2009. A review of six studies showed that young women with genes predisposing to breast cancer (specifically the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes) had a 250% higher chance of developing breast cancer if they have had a mammography or chest X-ray before they were twenty years old.

It revealed further that having more than five mammograms also increased the incidence of breast cancer by 250%.

The review studied more than 9000 women with an average age of 45 years.

Mammography is more suited for older women with breast tissue having less density. Young women have greater breast density, making mammograms difficult to interpret. Coupled with the evidence that mammograms at an early age can lead to breast cancer, young women should find other ways to screen for breast cancer.

Breast self examination (BSE) is a better tool as it allows a woman to become familiar with the architecture of her own breasts. Once a change occurs, such as a new mass or a change in a pre-existing lump, the change is picked up immediately by a woman who has been doing BSE regularly. In addition, SBE does not expose a woman to radiation and is, therefore, safe.

For high-risk women who need diagnostic screening, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a better option. MRI uses magnetic fields, not X-ray, so a woman getting an MRI is exposed to absolutely no radiation.

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Weight loss tips (some of which you may not know)

The holidays are coming – and so is weight gain! In the spirit of fighting obesity and losing weight, here are some tips to help you:

 

• Do not be afraid of fatty food. Just because something has fat does not mean you must avoid it. Fat makes you feel full as it helps keep hunger pangs at bay. For instance, a big breakfast with adequate fats helps people lose weight. Remember that "fat will not make you fat" as long as you take it in moderation.

 

 

• Remember that extra protein & carbohydrates will also be stored as fat in the body. A lot of people eat too much protein,  thinking it is not going to be converted into body fat. However, biochemistry books tell otherwise. As a matter of fact, ALL sources of calories will be converted to body fat if they are not needed by the body. Amino acids from protein and simple sugars from carbohydrates become acetyl coenzyome A, which enter the Kreb’s cycle to become fatty acids. Therefore, if you want to lose weight, consider protein and carbohydrate calories as well and not just fat calories.

• Eat more fruits and vegetables. Fruits and veggies are one of the secret weapons for effective weight loss. They have a lot of fiber which give bulk to food without packing in calories. In other words, it may look like you ate a lot but you have consumed only a few calories. A cup of rice can have the same calories as 5 cups of greens! (A cup of vegetables has around only 50 calories.)

 

• When buying groceries, buy healthy options that you love. Buy fruits, vegetables, lean meat. Skip the instant noodles and junk food. If you have to, just buy a bag or two. Avoid stocking up on unhealthy food. Out of sight, out of mind. It is easier to stick to your weight loss plan if you keep temptation as far away from you as possible.

 

• Skip the soda or iced tea. A can of soda can give you as much as 150 calories -- or up to 3 cups of vegetables! If you cannot do without soda, get the diet variety as they have zero calories. No calories equals no weight gain.

 

 

 

 

• Stay away from fast food. Fast food makes it more difficult for people to lose weight because they are packed with calories. Although fast food chains are now showing us healthier choices, the truth is, what you will want to eat from them are the unhealthy ones. So what if they serve a salad if you still end up ordering a double cheeseburger with large fries?

 

Everyone should wage war against obesity. You sometimes hear about how some overweight people do not want to lose weight because they "love themselves." Unfortunately, they are missing the point; it is not about how they look but about how they are risking their health by staying overweight. After all, loving yourself means keeping your body fit and healthy.

Lastly, losing weight should not simply be a matter of looking good; it should be about keeping healthy. The great figure that comes with weight loss is just a bonus.

source: http://ask-doc-alma.blogspot.com

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Diet and Acne

Are there food items that cause acne?

Previous studies failed to discover any relationship between diet and acne. However, more recent studies are showing a possible relationship between chocolate and acne.

•  Chuck the chocolate. If your diet includes a lot of chocolate bars, expect a serious sugar rush that may cause acne. After you eat a delicious bar of chocolate, your rising blood sugar can lead to an increase in  insu lin levels, in turn causing an increase in the levels of a specific growth factor called Insulin Growth Factor 1 (IGF-1). IGF-1 can promote excessive growth of skin cells, eventually clogging the pores. In addition, IGF-1 also increases the level of androgens in your body, leading to increased oil production.

 

A study done by Cappel et al showed that adolescents with acne had elevated IGF-1 levels. Another study done last 2007 revealed that after being given a diet with less sugar, men with acne had significantly less acne. These studies show that diet may play a role in causing acne.

 

• Ditch the dairy. If your diet includes milk and dairy, your diet may be the bulprit behind your acne. Milk and dairy may cause increased IGF-1, just like chocolate. Cow’s milk in particular has hormones such as different types of progesterones, estrogens, androgens, and glucocorticoids that promote acne formation.

 

Other than hormones, the milk you are drinking may be high in iodine which may cause an acneiform eruption called iododerma. Hence, a diet rich in dairy may cause more pimples.

 

 

• Pick your vitamin pills. Using vitamins to supplement your diet may cause you  to break out; that’s because some multivitamin preparations have iodides. If you notice getting more pimples after starting on a new vitamin, see your doctor and ask for an alternative.

 

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