Study Lists Dangerous Chemicals Linked to Breast Cancer

Certain chemicals that are common in everyday life have been shown to cause breast cancer in lab rats, and are likely to do the same in women, according to some US researchers.

A recent study distinguished 17 chemicals that should be avoided, including chemicals found in gasoline, diesel and other vehicle exhaust, flame retardants, stain-resistant textiles, paint removers, and disinfection byproducts in drinking water. Some of the biggest sources of mammary carcinogens in the environment are benzene and butadiene, which can come from vehicle exhaust, lawn equipment, tobacco smoke and charred food.

Other concerns identified by the study include cleaning solvents like methylene chloride, pharmaceuticals used in hormone replacement therapy, chemicals in nonstick coatings, and styrene which comes from tobacco smoke and is also used to make Styrofoam.

The study provides seven ways for women to avoid these chemicals:

-Limit exposure to exhaust from vehicles or generators, don’t idle your car, and use electric lawn mowers, leaf blowers and weed whackers instead of gas-powered ones.

-Use a ventilation fan while cooking and limit how much burned or charred food you eat.

-Do not buy furniture with polyurethane foam, or ask for furniture that has not been treated with flame retardants

-Avoid stain-resistant rugs, furniture and fabrics

-If you use a dry-cleaner, find one who does not use PERC (perchloroethylene) or other solvents.  Ask for “Wet cleaning.”

-Use a solid carbon block drinking water filter

-Keep chemicals out of the house by taking off your shoes at the door, using a vacuum with a HEPA (high-efficiency particulate air) filter, and cleaning with wet rags and mops  

The research was funded by the Avon Foundation. The Silent Spring Institute is a 20-year-old organization made up of scientists who focus on the environment and women's health.

High-Protein Diets and Longevity

A recent study of 6,381 adults aged 50 and over from the NHANES III suggests that whether or not to consume high amounts of protein may vary according to one’s age.

A recent study of 6,381 adults aged 50 and over from the NHANES III suggests that whether or not to consume high amounts of protein may vary according to one’s age.During the study, subjects consumed 1,823 calories on average per day, of which the majority came from carbohydrates (51%) followed by fat (33%) and protein (16%) with most of it (11%) derived from animal protein.  The percent of calorie intake from protein was used to categorize subjects into a high-protein group (20% or more of calories from protein), a moderate-protein group (10-19% of calories from protein) and a low protein group (less than 10% of calories from protein).

Key Findings

Mortality was followed via the National Death Index until 2006, which provides timing and cause of death.  The 18-year follow-up period covered 83,308 total person-years with 40% overall mortality; 10% was due to cancer, 19% cardiovascular disease, and 1% diabetes.   Members of the study aged 50-65 in the high protein category reported a 75% increase in overall mortality and a 4-fold increase in cancer death risk during the following 18 years. These associations were either abolished or attenuated if the proteins were plant-derived. Conversely, high protein intake was associated with reduced cancer and overall mortality in respondents over 65. There was a 5-fold increase in diabetes mortality across all ages for those consuming high-protein diets. These results suggest that low protein intake during middle age followed by moderate to high protein consumption in older adults may optimize health span and longevity.

Practice Implications

These data suggest that people should shift their dietary patterns in two key ways. First, patients younger than 65 should be discouraged from eating high-protein diets, especially diets high in animal protein. They should be encouraged to shift toward vegetable protein. Second, patients over 65 should be encouraged to consume more protein as it reduces overall and cancer mortality unless at high risk for diabetes.

Reference

Levine ME, Suarez JA, Brandhorst S, et al.  Low protein intake is associated with a major reduction in IGF-1, cancer, and overall mortality in the 65 and younger but not the older population.  Cell Metab,  2014;19(3): 407-417

Arthritis Awareness Month

According to research, more than 50 million adults and 300,000 in the U.S. have arthritis, placing them at risk for chronic pain and disability.  Arthritis is, in fact, the number one cause of disability in the U.S. and it impacts the daily activities more frequently than heart disease, cancer or diabetes. 

The most common form of arthritis is osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis causes pain and stiffness in the joints and surrounding tissue. It occurs most frequently in the knees, hips, hands and spine. While the normal wear-and-tear of aging is linked to osteoarthritis, other risk factors include having a history of joint injuries and being overweight. 

One of the most serious forms the disease is rheumatoid arthritis. This disease causes the body's immune system to attack the thin membranes that line the joints. Rheumatoid arthritis causes joint pain and inflammation that can be systemic, which means it affects the entire body. Extreme fatigue and, over time, organ damage and immobility can result. Scientists believe both environmental and genetic factors may play a role in rheumatoid arthritis. The disease typically develops between the ages of 30 to 60, and affects women three times as often as it does men.

When arthritis develops in children 16 and younger, it's called juvenile arthritis—an umbrella term for the many autoimmune and inflammatory conditions that young patients suffer. The most common form is juvenile idiopathic arthritis, which is diagnosed when children or adolescents have swelling in one or more joints for at least six weeks. 

May is National Arthritis Awareness Month, sponsored by the nonprofit Arthritis Foundation. Activities are planned to raise awareness of arthritic conditions and encourage support for more research to develop better treatments and prevention measures. To learn more visit www.arthritis.org.

Lentil Dahl recipe

It may technically be spring, but we're here in Colorado, mother nature is giving us mixed signals.  One day the sun in shining and it's 60 degrees outside, the next its sleeting, and the wind is blowing, and all you want to do is go home and curl up on the couch with a warm, fuzzy blanket..and what's that? It's supposed to snow again this weekend?  The following recipe is sure to warm you up on a dreary day.  Enjoy!

Ingredients

• 2 tbsp coconut oil
• 2 small yellow onions, diced
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tbsp fresh ginger, peeled, minced
• 2 tsp curry powder
• 1 tsp tumeric
• ½ tsp chili powder
• ½ tsp black pepper
• 1 tsp salt
• ½ tsp red pepper flakes
• 2 cups red lentils, uncooked
• 1 can coconut milk
• 3 cups water
• cilantro for topping

Directions

1. Cook the onions, ginger and garlic in the coconut oil for 5 minutes, stirring frequently.
2. Add the spices, coconut milk, lentils and water.
3. Cook for 35-45 minutes until lentils are soft and it's thickened up.
4. Remove from heat and serve topped with cilantro over brown rice, quinoa, or just as is.

Earth Day Tips

Earth Day was last month, but we can celebrate Earth all year round! Here is a list of opportunities for eco-friendliness as we move into summer!

1) Eat fair trade chocolate, and support small farmers

2) Repupose empty tin cans as pencil holders or flower vases.  Visit creatingreallyawesomefreethings.com
Search "tin can crafts."

3)  Donate your old electronics.  See pickupplease.org for details.

4) Buy organic.  For a list of the "dirty dozen" (fruits and veggies with the more pesticides) view our dirty dozen blog

5) When shipping, pack goods in old newspapers, never styrafoam peanuts.

6)  Avoid single servings.  Buy large containers and pack your own.

7)  Use bars instead of liquid soap in plastic bottles.

8)  Make your own non-toxic cleaners.  Get recipes at eartheasy.com

9)  Carry a stainless steel or glass water bottle.  Ty newwaveenviro.com or lifefactory.com

10)  Choose ECO friendly detergents such as Bio Kleen, Laundry Liquid, and GrabGreen 3-in-One laundry Detergent Pods

11)  Place a bin next to the trash can and recycle all office paper.  And buy only recycled office paper.

12)  Stop junk mail.  Visit dmachoice.org and optoutprescreen.com

13)  Invest in solar-powered lamps.

14)  Use rechage-able, not disposable, batteries.

15) Bake in glass instead of metal, and lower the temperature by 25 degrees if possible.

16)  Choose cloth napkins, and towels.

17)  Choose "1" and "2" containers.  They are easier to recycle

18)  If renting a car during travels, choose a hybrid instead of a gas guzzler

19)  Buy produce in season.  Visit localharvest.org to find farmer's markets and fresh fruits and vegetables in your town

20)  Precycle:  buy only what you absolutely need.

Learn to Manage and Eliminate Allergies

Spring is here and so is the full blown allergy season.  According to the American Academy of Allergy and Asthma Research sixty million people in the US suffer from allergies and this includes forty percent of all children.  

The cost to our society of just treating allergic rhinitis is estimated at over $11 billion.  Allergic disorders include hayfever, allergic rhinitis, eczema and dermatitis. Allergic triggers can include airborne, food and water contaminates such as tobacco smoke, pesticides, heavy metals, pet and pest dander, food allergens, infectious agents such as viral, mold and stress.  When we are exposed to an allergic trigger certain parts of the immune system get over stimulated this results in an over production of inflammatory mediators causing excessive mucous production and thus an allergic reaction.

Once the cascade of immune deregulation is triggered allergic symptoms often develop and once you develop one allergic trait such as eczema, others are likely to follow such as food allergies, asthma and allergic rhinitis.  One of the core principles of naturopathic medicine is that prevention is preferable to treatment whenever possible.  Prevention is always safer, more effective and less expensive.  Ways one can help prevent allergies are eating a healthy diet, eating organic whenever possible, and staying away from foods to which one can be allergic.

There is a clear link between seasonal allergies and food allergies. In some individuals’ allergic rhinitis due to pollens, ragweed and grasses are connected to food allergies. In other words, when you eliminate the individuals food allergies the environmental allergies go away.  And if you do not eliminate the allergic foods the environmental allergies will continue to get worse every year. 

Keeping our immune system healthy by taking a good multiple vitamin is also needed.  Scientific studies complied by the Organic center in May of 2010 show that vitamins A, C and D actually protect us from getting allergies. According to Allergy Clin Immunology June 2009 studies are also showing consistently that the majority of our children today are vitamin D deficient and these children are at an increase risk of developing asthma and other allergies.  To further help prevent allergies in our children breast feeding is also recommended for the first year of life.

With this allergy epidemic upon us the challenge is not to develop more aggressive and costly treatments but to implement more effective preventive strategies.  By determining the cause of your allergies such as a lower immune response, nutritional deficiencies and food allergies one can get rid of allergies altogether. 

For an appointment on how to address and manage your allergies call 970-926-7606.
  

Dr. Deborah Wiancek is a naturopathic doctor who has a family practice at the Riverwalk Natural Health Clinic & Pharmacy in Edwards, Colorado.  She has been practicing in the Vail Valley for the last sixteen years. To schedule an appointment please call 970-926-7606 or Wiancek@healthref.com,  www.healthref.com or www.riverwalknaturalhealth.blogspot.com. 

Kapha Dosha

Kapha represents the biological elements of water and earth.  Kapha has the qualities of heavy, cold, wet, slow, steady, soft, smooth, oily, and sweet.  It governs all structure and lubrication in the mind and body.  It controls weight, growth, lubrication for the joints and lungs, and formation of all seven tissues in the body.

Characteristics of Kapha Type

-Solid, heavier build

-Great strength and endurance      

-Slow, methodical in activity

-Oily, smooth skin

-Tranquil, steady personality

-Slow to grasp new information

-Slow to forget (good memory)

-Sleep is heavy and long      

Imbalanced Kapha

Physical Manifestations

-Congested sinuses, nose, throat

-Cough with mucus  

-Sore throat with runny nose

-Frequent colds

-Intolerance to cold and damp       

-Allergies, asthma     

-Diabetes       

-Edema and fluid retention             

-Bloating, nausea, indigestion

-Pale and cold skin   

-Cysts and other growths

Psychological Manifestations

-Lethargy

-Dullness

-Mental inertia

-Oversleeping

-Daytime drowsiness

-Depression

-Lack of motivation

-Procrastination

-Over-attachment

-Greed

-Possessiveness

Guidelines for Balancing Kapha

-Stay warm

-Avoid cold and damp (consider using a dry sauna or doing Bikram yoga)

-Eat a Kapha-reducing diet:

-favor warm, light, dry, spicy foods

-favor bitter, pungent, astringent tastes

-reduce oily, cold, heavy foods

-reduce sweet, salty, and sour tastes

-it is particularly important to reduce sweetness (irrespective of  calories, Kaphas    will gain weight and go out of balance when eating sweet foods)

-prepare fresh meals, avoid leftovers

-avoid eating early in morning  (before 10am) or late at night (after 7pm)

-it is important not to overeat if you are a Kapha type

            -Learn the joy of fasting (seasonally or one day per week)

            -Use herbs and spices that are Kapha-reducing

                        -Heating spices

                        -Trikatu (dry ginger, black pepper, pipilli)

                        -Triphala (amla, bibhitaki, haritaki)

                        -Honey (but no more than 2 tablespoons per day)

                        -Stimulants: green tea, yerba mate’, coffee and black tea (all in moderation)

-Drink only warm fluids and warming herbal teas, in moderation

-Perform a full-body dry massage each morning to stimulate circulation (using gloves or dry loofah)

-Try right nostril breathing exercises (close your left nostril with your index and middle fingers, breathe in and out of the right nostril slowly) (this is heating to the body and raises digestive fire and increases metabolism)

-Engage in regular and vigorous exercise, preferably everyday

-Avoid excessive sleeping and napping during the day

-Break free from old habits, seek variety in life, and accept motivating challenges

-Healing Mantra: “move your body”

Kapha reducing tea is available at Riverwalk Natural Health Clinic & Natural Pharmacy