Saturday, October 29, 2011

Canine Dog Health - Cancer

Cancer has become a bigger problem when talking about canine dog health. It was not such a huge issue fifty years ago, though it has become huge now. One of the reasons for this might be that people did not take their dogs to the vet as often as we do now. Another reason might be that the health of our pets was not all that bad fifty years ago.
For the sake of argument let's assume that the last statement is true. What has changed in the last few decades in regards to our pets. They drink the same types of water, they sleep in the same kinds of places, do some of the same things that they have always done, and eat the same food. Wait! They don't eat the same kind of food. Years ago our pets were eating table scraps. We were not going out and buying them a bag of food just for them. Then media, and other sources, convinced us that table scrapes were bad for our dogs so we started buying dog food.
Now, I am not saying that dog food is entirely to blame, but it might be a contributing factor into the worsening conditions of canine dog health recently. Dogs are more likely to get cancer than humans are now days, and I happen to be one person that does not think that this is fair or right. I doubt I am the only one.
For those of you that have had a terrifying visit to the vet and found out that the canine dog health of your pet includes some kind of cancer, I know that you do not think it is fair either. Cancer is something that viciously attacks the patient no matter what species they happen to be. It can be just as devastating to learn that your dog has cancer as it is to learn that someone you love has it. People are funny about their pets and more often feel just as strongly about them as they do the rest of the family; if not more so.

Wednesday, October 19, 2011

Juicing for Cancer - How to Restore Health and Vitality the Natural Way

A cancer diagnosis is certainly serious, but by no means should it be considered a death sentence. Cancer is usually an indication that the immune system is run down and unable to combat the unregulated cell division of cancerous cells. And, as most people are aware, the immune system needs proper support, both from a nutritional and lifestyle perspective, to function as it should.
Many people today are realizing that there is a better alternative than going through expensive, debilitating chemotherapy, which not only works to kill the cancerous cells, but the rest of your cells as well. This alternative is juicing, and juicing for cancer has successfully cured many people who have stuck with a rigorous juicing regimen while also supporting their immune system through restful sleep, a diet free of processed foods, stress reduction methods, and proper exercise.
Fresh, raw fruits and vegetables contain a plethora of essential nutrients, including vitamins, minerals, enzymes, anti-oxidants, and phytonutrients. These nutrients help to nourish the immune system and have a wide range of benefits even beyond inhibiting cancer cell formation and proliferation. Phytonutrients in particular are an emerging area of research and many compounds have been identified that have profound anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory effects.
Lycopene, for example, is an anti-oxidant found in tomatoes that has beneficial effects on the cardiovascular system in addition to suppressing tumor cell growth and proliferation. The phytonutrients lutein and zeathanin have been shown to fight cataracts and macular degeneration, and a well-known cancer drug called Taxol (also known as paclitaxel) is extracted and purified from the Pacific yew tree. In fact, many of the most common drugs used today are derived from compounds found in nature (although nature's medicine is usually preferable because of the synergy of other nutrients and limited or no side effects).
If you are looking to juicing as a way to cure cancer, it is important to focus your juicing regimen on those fruits and vegetables with the most potent anti-cancer properties to ensure that you attack the disease quickly and get the most bang for your buck. It is also critical, whenever possible, to juice the freshest produce you have access to, and to get it organic whenever possible, as these will have the highest nutrient density (not to mention taste better). If you don't have access to an organic garden, a local farmer's market or CSA program are excellent options for sourcing your produce.
With that said, let's look at three of the most potent groups of anti-cancer fruits and vegetables. You will want to base your juices on these groups for optimal cancer-fighting results. Note that not all of the fruits and veggies in each group are listed; feel free to do some research on your own to find other options.
Cruciferous Vegetables
These vegetables are high in cancer-fighting nutrients like vitamin C and selenium, but more importantly contain a group of compounds called isothiocyanates, which directly block the carcinogenic effects of free radicals and thereby inhibit tumor growth and development. Sulforaphane and diindolylmethane are other notable anti-cancer phytonutrients in cruciferous vegetables.
Broccoli
Cauliflower
Cabbage
Brussels Sprouts
Kale
Collard Greens
Watercress
Bok Choy
Kohlrabi
Turnips
Arugula
Rapini
Beta Carotene
Beta carotene is a reddish-orange pigment found in red, orange, yellow, and deep green vegetables, as well as some fruits. Studies have shown that beta carotene in whole foods (not supplements) reduces the risk of cancer and actively fights cancer.
Carrots
Peppers (especially the red, orange, and yellow variety)
Kale
Spinach
Collard Greens
Romaine Lettuce
Turnips
Yams
Mangoes
Papayas
Flavonoids
Flavonoids are a class of plant pigments, quercetin and catechins being examples, with a variety of important sub-classes. The two most notable are the flavanols and the proanthocyanidins. These compounds inhibit cancer through their powerful free radical scavenging abilities and have also shown beneficial cardiovascular effects.
Apples
Onions (especially red)
Beans
Brussels Sprouts
Beets
Parsley
Coconuts
Citrus fruits
Green Tea
Grapes (purple)
Blueberries
Strawberries
Blackberries (and other dark berries)
Plums
As you can see, there are many fruits and vegetables to choose from when formulating your anti-cancer juicing recipes. It would be ideal to combine produce from each class together in your juice recipes in order to reap the full spectrum of anti-cancer benefits, but not necessarily on a daily basis. You may have also noted that some of the vegetables fall in multiple categories!

Sunday, October 16, 2011

Parabens: The Link to Breast Cancer and Other Health Issues

Personal hygiene items - we all use them, but could they be harmful to our bodies? What could be "dangerous" about deodorant, you ask? Is there really any danger to our breast health in using other personal care products and cosmetics with certain questionable ingredients?
Lurking in personal hygiene products, such as deodorants, body lotions, facial creams, soaps, cleansers and body sprays are chemical preservatives called parabens. These preservatives help keep products fresh by preventing bacterial growth and also help to increase the shelf life of products. Some products can stay good for years with these potent chemical preservatives - but at what cost?
The problem with this particular kind of preservative is that it a chemical that may be putting people at risk for health problems, as it has been linked to breast cancer as well as other types of cancer. According to a recent study conducted by an oncology expert at the University of Reading, tumors have been linked to this chemical preservative.
Tumors that were examined actually contained the different types of parabens that are commonly found in our body care products. Some of these parabens were methylparaben, ethylparaben, propylparaben, isobutylparaben, butylparaben and benzylparaben. You can easily spot them on ingredient labels as they always end in the word "paraben".
Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women; could it be that preservatives are doing more harm than good? Can using these products really be dangerous for us? The jury is still out in regards to whether these chemicals can truly be considered a product that would put people at risk for health problems, by leading to cancer.
Every day women are diagnosed with breast cancer and it seems that this chemical preservative may put women in danger by leading to a higher risk of cancer. Lab studies on rats, mice, and human cells have indicated that parabens mimic women's estrogen activity.
Increased estrogen activity is known to put one at greater risk for breast cancer. It seems that if there is even a remote possibility that these chemically engineered preservatives may result or put one at a higher risk for cancer, than other alternatives should be sought out.
In addition to the potential of these chemically engineered preservatives being harmful to women, these synthetic preservatives are also known to cause allergic reactions in individuals. People may suffer from skin rashes and irritation all because of this synthetic preservative.
Skin is the largest organ in the body-what is put on topically is absorbed inside the body, and the use of products with parabens, means the use of chemically engineered preservatives. Paraben free products are becoming more widely available, and if paraben free products lessen the risk of cancer, than one should highly weight the potential risk of using a product with this unnatural preservative.
One should ask themselves, is it worth using these products? After all, there are healthier alternatives. Paraben free products often use a natural preservative - vitamin E. Vitamin E is a healthier, natural substitution for chemical preservatives, as it is an antioxidant that will help skin and hair appears smoother and cleaner.
Some individuals believe that the fact that personal care items with parabens are being considered a danger by some individuals to be pure foolishness; that is they believe that women are just being paranoid and making a big deal over nothing. Is the risk of using products with synthetic preservatives worth a possibility of an increase for risk of breast cancer?
There is a growing selection of paraben free personal care items, which do not have chemicals considered to be potentially dangerous to those using them, so why would anyone choose to potentially put themselves in danger? Is the risk that parabens pose worth taking? Consider making a healthy decision by switching to natural, paraben free products.

Wednesday, October 12, 2011

How Lycopene Affects Prostate Cancer And How This Substance Can Help Men To Get Healthy!

One of the newest forms of nutritional therapy introduced to the realm of medicine is paving the way to a new way to heal the body, which is shown with how Lycopene affects prostate cancer in men. This health condition occurs due to many factors, and appears in men as they age. This key ingredient is able to slow down the aging process within the body which may contribute to enhanced strength and resistance of cells of your endocrine and immune systems within the body. The consistent use of this alternative health substance may even influence the level of testosterone in the body, regulating the function of some of the glands of the body. You will greatly benefit from the properties of this strong antioxidant.
How Lycopene reduces Prostate Cancer
Are you looking for a way to manage your health? Lycopene reduces prostate cancer through its ability to affect cellular health through optimizing the function of many of the organ systems within the body. The medicinal properties associated with the use of this natural alternative health substance can be used to enhance the vitality of cells while enhancing the function of the cardiovascular, endocrine, and immune systems, which all regulate biological and chemical events that occur in your body. Not only this, but this ingredient can protect cells from the damage of free radicals and their byproducts when consumed on a daily basis.
How Lycopene affects Prostate Cancer
There's numerous health benefits associated with medicinal use of this ingredient. Lycopene reduces prostate cancer through targeting the affected cells, and inhibiting their growth, while supporting the growth of healthy cells in your body. This greatly influences the ratio of cancerous cells to healthy cells when it counts most. Scientists have concluded that imbalances in the body can lead to cancerous conditions within the body on many levels. The potent anti-oxidizing effects slowly work to reverse the effects of aging and oxidation in your body to promote strength and cellular resilience. It can also balance the levels of hormones and other necessary chemicals in the blood stream.
Clinical analysis regarding Lycopene reduces Prostate Cancer
Scientific studies have proven that continual use of Lycopene affects prostate cancer and even influences the amount of testosterone and androgens in the body which affect the outcome of cancerous conditions in the body. This alternative health substance replenishes all parts of the body with necessary oxygen and nutrients due to how it enhances the function of the cardiovascular system. You may be more protected from weakness in the body when you use this antioxidant because it also strengthens your immune system, which regulates all other organs and organ systems of the body.
Our tips on getting the most from how Lycopene reduces Prostate Cancer
If you're considering using a natural substance to meet your health and anti-aging needs, this substance has it all. Lycopene affects prostate cancer in the most efficient ways, and its healing powers are maximized when you combine it with the use of other natural vitamins, minerals, and ingredients for whole body health and stamina. The use of this powerful herbal extract that is naturally occurring in the body and a diet full of fruits and vegetables proves to be one of the best preventative measures when considering illness and cancerous conditions of the body.