gethealthy

Wikipedia defines female circumcision as any procedure where all or part of the female external genitalia is removed or injured for cultural, religious, or other non-therapeutic reasons.

This practice is done world-wide, but mainly in Africa.  There is much opposition to these practices due to the lack of consent from the patient, safety, and long-term effects of the procedure.

• The WHO has estimated that 100-140  million girls and women are living with after effects of Female Genital Mutilation.
• In Africa, 3 million girls are at risk for being forced into the procedure.
• Female Circumcision procedures can lead to: severe bleeding, problems urinating, complications with childbirth, and death in newborns.
• This procedure is often performed on girls age newborn to 15 years of age.

There are 4 major types of Female Genital Mutilation:

1. Clitoridectomy: either partial or complete removal of the clitoris and sometimes the prepuce ( fold of skin over the clitoris).
2. Excision: partial or complete removal of the clitoris and the labia minora.  It may occur with or without excision of the labia majora.
3. Infibulation:  this is done to narrow the vaginal opening.  It is done by creating a seal by cutting and repositioning the inner and/or outer labia.  It may or may not involve removal of the clitoris.
4. Other:  This encompasses any procedure deemed harmful to the female genitalia for non-medial reasons.  This may include; pricking, piercing, incising, scraping, or cauterizing the genital area.

There are no health benefits associated with Female Circumcision.  Some of the immediate consequences that can be seen are; severe bleeding, shock, hemorrhage, tetanus or sepsis, urine retention, and open sores.

Some of the long-term effects are; recurring bladder and urinary tract infections, cysts, infertility, they may need surgery, newborn deaths, and child birthing complications.

Female Genital Mutilation is done for several reasons including; religious, cultural, and social reasons in a community or within a family.

• FGM is considered by some as a natural part of raising a girl and preparing her for marriage and child birth.
• It is often motivated by beliefs on accepted sexual behavior.  It is thought by some to lessen a woman’s libido and help her to resist unneeded sexual acts.
• It also associated with the notion that women are clean and it is natural to remove parts that are considered male or unclean.
• It is often enforced by religious leaders

Even if you’ve never had one, most people know what a CT (computer tomography) or an MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) are.  Either you’ve had one of these or perhaps you know someone who has.  According to a recently published study, the use of CT scans and MRI’s has doubled, which in turn raises the cost of patient care.  What’s worse is that these tests may give you no more valuable information than could have been received from an x-ray or another alternative type of test.

The study conducted spanned 10 years and covered patients who were enrolled in the Group Health Cooperative, an HMO in Washington State between the years 1997 and 2006.  Data from 377,000 patients who had been subject to over 5 million diagnostic tests.

Cost for all types of imaging tests has risen, with the cost per patient increasing from $229 to $443.  A study that was released in July conducted by the Government Accountability Office found that medical imaging spending for Medicare had doubled to $14 billion per year from 2000 to 2006.

Neither of the studies focused on whether or not the imaging tests were actually needed to diagnose the patient.  However, one is to assume that many patients are being exposed unnecessarily to radiation from unneeded tests and that the cost of health care is rising because of it as well.

Are you or someone you know a sexsomniac?  What is a sexsomniac?  Well basically it is someone who desires to have sex while they are asleep and often attempt to have sex or perform sexual acts while fully asleep.

The first time Angie realized her boyfriend was a sexsomniac she was about 25 years old.  Her peaceful sleep interrupted by her boyfriend’s aggressively wandering hands.  She had no idea he was asleep and because he seemed more aggresive than usual, she just assumed he really wanter her now!

Feeling flattered by this, she went along with what happened.  At one point she even climbed on tom of him.  However in the morning to her dismay he complained because she had “woken him up for sex.”  She assumes now that he was asleep until she climbed on top because he does not recall any of it.

Sexsomnia, also known as sleep sex, is a term that entails 11 different sex-related sleep disorders.   Many of these do not occur in people without other types of sleep disorders.  In fact, many never know they even have it until a bed mate, roomate, or family member tells them.

Many people who live with sexsomniacs learn to live with the condition or may not even mind.  However for some, they may feel as though they are being violated because they cannot control the sleeping person.  This condition has even been brough to court.  A Canadian man was recently acquitted on sexual assault charges.  The man allegedly climbed on top of a girl that was passed out on his couch, he claimed sexsomnia as his defense.  However, the acquittal was recently overturned.

I’ve seen both bad and good reviews on liquid diets. The most recognized type of liquid diet is based on liquid protein rather than actual food.  Currently this type of diet is often prescribed for the clinically obese as an alternative to bariatric surgery.  This allows the patient control over their diet without any invasive treatments.  Many commercial liquid diets claim they are perfectly safe, however many researchers are still skeptical.

You may wonder how a liquid diet can cause you to lose weight.  First off, a liquid diet would severely reduce your fat and calorie intake.  One pound of fat is equal to 3500 calories and many of these liquid diets only consist of 800 calories per day.  These diets consist mainly of protein and lack excess calories or fat, allowing the body to begin burning already digested fat immediately.  These diets can often cause a person to feel less energetic, however they do cause rapid weight loss of up to 3-4 pounds per week.

Some of the newer commercial liquid diets consist of 3 stages; a fasting stage, refeeding stage, and a maintenance stage.  During the fasting stage, typically 3 months, a person would only consume up to 800 calories per day.  During the refeeding stage, a person would be allowed to eat sensible meals and finally during the maintenance stage people are allowed to make their own sensible meal choices.

In past years, liquid diets were blamed for serious medical conditions and even death.  However, today many companies stress the importance of maintaining proper nutrition levels and include healthy elements in their shakes such as; complete proteins, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins, and minerals.  Many of them often contain fiber as well, to aid proper digestion and encourage a feeling of satiety.

Liquid diets are not meant for everyone and you should check with your doctor or health care professional before implementing any new health regime.  This type of diet requires a very disciplined attitude and willpower.

Many people exhibit improvements within a couple of weeks of starting a liquid diet.  Many notice a change in : weight, blood pressure, cholesterol, and glucose levels. This type of diet can be very beneficial in treating: diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and obesity.

One major problem with this diet is that it may be difficult to maintain your desired weight once reached.  It is estimated that out of 100 people that lose weight this way, 95 will regain their lost weight. To gain optimum effectiveness on this diet, it is best to learn to adjust your diet accordingly after completing the fasting period.  It is important to understand what foods are healthy and how to maintain your weight through exercise.

In some people, negative side effects will be exhibited.  Health risks and conditions often arise from people not following directions or not having proper medical supervision while dieting.  Some weight loss experts claim that liquid diets use up too much lean muscle and can cause the metabolism to slow down, making it more difficult to retain weight loss.  In some people, long-term liquid diets can lead to muscle cramps, anemia, menstrual changes, dizziness, and constipation.  It can also lead to cardiac dysfunctions if for example a person who is only moderately overweight looses an excessive amount of lean muscle. In some people the high protein can cause an electrolyte imbalance which may result in an irregular heart beat.  In 25% of people the liquid diet may cause gallstones due to an inability to contract bile.

I recently tried my own liquid diet and intended to remain on it, but was unable due to funding.  I have a bit of training in nutrition and diet so I decided to formulate my own shakes.  However, I decided to increase the caloric intake to 1500 calories per day.

Here was my recipe:

• Soy Milk (either vanilla or chocolate)
• Fiber Powder
• Carnation Instant Breakfast powder (chocolate or vanilla)
• Slim Fast Optimum Powder (chocolate)
• 1 banana
• ice

My plan was to consume 2 of these per day and one low-fat dinner.  I could snack on fat-free jello or pudding, or low-fat yogurt.  I also permitted myself to have any type of fruits, vegetables, or juices from fruits and vegetables.  I may also have some high-fiber whole wheat or whole grain bread. Finally, I was also allowed to have soups as long as they didn’t have large chunks of noodles or meat; they had to be mainly liquid or creamed.

I am classified as clinically obese and I lost 6lbs in one week with this diet.  It does take an incredible amount of will power and restraint to utilize this type of diet.

**Please do not try this on your own, unless you have sufficient training to do so.**

**Please consult a health professional prior to altering your current diet to a liquid diet**

American society is absolutely obsessed with youthfulness.  We will do anything and everything to remain young.  For some this may include surgeries or expensive skin treatments however for some it is a simple as visiting your doctor.

Dr. Jeffry Life who operates the Cenegenics Medical Institute in Las Vegas, has dedicated himself to helping others retain their youth. At 69, he is an excellent role model for his patients.  Or at least Ed Detwiler, a patient, seems to think so.  Mr. Detwiler has been a patient there for about 3 years.  He says he rigerously follows everything Dr. Life prescribes.  He states, “If I was stooped over and bed ridden what kind of quality of life would that be?”

Patients of Dr. Life’s are prescribed different regimens for optimum health.  For some this may include a change of lifestyle like adopting healthy eating habits and  following and exercise plan. For others it may include supplementation.  Currently for Mr. Detwiler it includes a daily injection of Human Growth Hormone (Hgh) and a testoserone injection weekly.

recently high energy drinks have gained popularity with teens and young adults .  unfortunately to these groups are often unaware of the danger these drinks can cause .  these drinks are known for containing large amounts of caffeine and sugar .  Many of these very sweet drinks contain more caffeine than coffee.
A survey conducted in 2,007 of 496 college students concluded it with 51 percent adding consumed one energy drink in the past 30 days.  Another 27 percent stated they had mixed alcohol with and energy drink at least once in the past month .  What many do not realize is that these energy drinks allow them to feel well enough to drive , when they are actually intoxicated .  Another study of college students who consumed energy drinks , found they may be more likely to use stimulants later on. a group of researchers from John Hopkins university has found some of the popular Energy drinks to contain possibly harmful levels of caffeine , some having fourteen times more caffeine than a regular can of soda, or seven cups of really strong coffee.  41 cases of caffeine abuse from energy drinks were reported to U.S.  Poison control centers between 2,002 and 2,004 .  There were nine cases of negative reactions from and energy drink known as Redline. patients from these cases reported nausea , vomiting , high blood pressure , dizziness , tremors , and numbness .
many feel that Energy drinks should display warning labels to illustrate caffeine content as well as health risks including ;anxiety, insomnia , elevated heartbeat , and tremors.  To however , currently warning labels are not required because energy drinks containing caffeine are not sold as soft drinks .  This means , manufacturers you do not have to comply with the FDA’s restrictions on maximum caffeine content for soda , which is 71 mg per twelve out can.
while some may say they’re not enough restrictions for energy drinks , others feel we’re making a mountain thought of a molehill .  Maureen Storey, Ph.D., a spokeswoman for the American beverage association stated , “its a review , not a study,we need to be careful about taking too much at avoid review .” she also said if labels were required on energy drinks then coffeehouse coffee should also be required to label for caffeine content .
the American beverage association also released a statement that said most energy drinks on the market contain 160 mg of caffeine, which is half of the caffeine content in a sixteen ounce cap of coffee house coffee.  the national institute of health has set moderate caffeine intake as 3 8 oz. cups of coffee per day and excessive intake as ten eight oz. cups of coffee per day.
during the study over 24 energy drink makers were contacted to find out what their caffeine content was. energy drinks that were included were; X505 which contained 505 mg of caffeine per 24 oz serving, Fixx which contained 500 mg per 20 oz serving, No fear having 174 mg per 16 oz serving, Monster and Rockstar contained 160 mg per 16 oz serving, Tab Energy which contained 95 mg per 10.5 oz serving, and Red Bull containing 80 mg per 8.3 oz serving.however , some of the energy drinks contacted had lower caffeine content such as Bomba Energy with 75 mg per 8.4oz serving and Whoop Ass with 50 mg per 8.5 oz serving.
according to researchers the caffeine content of brewed coffee is 200mg per twelve ounce serving , with instant coffee containing 140mg per twelve oz serving , and brewed tea having 80mg per twelve oz. serving.  There are some soft drinks like mountain dew that contain 54 mg per twelve oz. to serving , Dr. Pepper with 41mg per twelve oz serving, Pepsi with 38 milligrams per twelve oz. serving , and Coke with 34.5 milligrams per twelve oz. serving.

Ok, this is the last installment of the anti-cancer diet posts.  The last think I want to touch on is exactly which foods are anti-cancer and the main outline for the anti-cancer diet plan.

Anti-Cancer Vegetables:

• broccoli
• brussel sprouts
• cabbage
• carrots
• cauliflower
• eggplant
• green beans
• kale
• red onions
• peppers
• radishes
• soy
• squash
• sweet potatoes
• tomatoes

Anti-Cancer Fruits:

• apricots
• blueberries
• grapefruit
• grapes
• lemons
• mangoes
• oranges
• papayas
• peaches
• persimmons
• organic strawberries
• tangerines

Below are the 10 steps for the Anti-Cancer Program:

1.  Lower your stress levels
2. Maintain a healthy weight
3. Exercise more
4. Limit your fat intake to no more than 20% of your total calories and less than 10% coming from saturated fats.  While your at it, throw out the hydrogenated fats.
5. Eat more fiber, between 25-35 grams per day.
6. Fill up on fresh fruits and vegetables
7. Eat anti-oxidant rich foods (beta carotene (vitamin A), vitamin C, and vitamin E)
8. Eat more seafood and soy and less red meat
9. Eat calcium rich foods
10. Take a daily supplement of:

• Vitamin C - 500mg
• Calcium - 500mg
• Flaxseed meal - 30g
• Acidophilus powder - 1 tsp.
• Vitamin E - 200 IU
• Selenium - 100 mcg

Following the steps and information in these 5 posts can help you to reduce your risk of cancer, avoid cancer, or maybe even help heal cancer you already have.

This is the third installment of the Anti-cancer diet.  Today I’m going to focus on vitamins, minerals, and supplements.  Regardless of the fact that vitamins, minerals, and supplements are a multi-billion dollar industry; people still over look the value that these simple compounds can do for our bodies.

• Put More Calcium in Your Diet:  Previous studies have concluded that populations like those in Sweden who consume high amounts of calcium have a lower incidence rate of colorectal cancer.   Calcium works by controlling the multiplication of  epithelial cells that line the colon.  When these cells reproduce quickly the risk for cancer increases.  Calcium also helps to prevent cancer by binding bile acids that can irritate the colon wall and cause cancer.  It has been shown that consuming on average 1,200 mg. of calcium per day reduced the risk of colorectal cancer by 75%.  If you are already at risk, one study suggests that consuming 2,000 mg. of calcium carbonate decreased the risk of colorectal cancer by inhibiting uncontrolled growth of cells that line the colon.  Basically, if you want to lower your risk be sure to consume between 500 and 1,000 mg. of calcium carbonate or calcium citrate per day. In addition, some great food sources for calcium are dairy products and bony fish.
• Up Your Antioxidants: Antioxidants such as; beta carotene, vitamin c, and vitamin E can lower your risk of colorectal cancer.  Consume lots of fruits and vegetables is a great way to up your antioxidant intake.

Antioxidants work to protect agains cancer a few ways:

1.  The protect the membrane of intestinal cells
2. The prevent reactions from free-radicals that can result in bowel contents becoming carcinogenic.
3. They prevent metabolism failure inside the cell, which can cause a cell to become carcinogenic.

• Increase Your Beta carotene: Beta carotene works a few different ways to fight against cancer.  First it works by enhancing the immune system and also by blocking the release of a chemical called tumor necrosis factor. This means that cancer can prevent the growth of cancerous cells.  To prevent cancer the recommended dosage of beta carotene is 15-25 mg. per day or about 30,000 IU.  This amount is about 10 times what the average American would consume through their diet.  This may make it seem like it would be difficult to derive beta carotene though the diet, but this is simply not true.  It is actually quite easy to attain this amount of beta carotene though the diet. Some of the best sources for beta carotene are: sweet potatoes, carrots, cantaloupe, pumpkin, winter squash, broccoli, mango,  and papaya. You can get enough beta carotene to have a protective effect by consuming : 1/2 a sweet potatoe, 1/2 cup pumpkin, 2 medium sized carrots, 1/2 cup cooked spinach, or 2 medium size mangos.

1. 1 medium sized carrot contains 4.4 mg of beta carotene
2. 1 medium sweet potatoe contains 12 mg of beta carotene
3. 1/2 cup of winter squash contains 2.4 mg of beta carotene

Lycopene aids the absorbtion of beta carotene.  Eating cooked tomatoe products alongside foods containing beta carotene for an added boost.

• Boost Your Vitamin C: Vitamin C is an awesome vitamin. It has been shown that people who consume large amounts of vitamin C have a lower risk of intestinal cancers.  Vitamin C works by blocking the development of nitrosamines in the digestive system.  Nitrosamines are powerful carcinogens that are made from nitrates found in foods like processed meats.  Vitamin C also helps to prevent cancer by boosting the immune system and increasing the creation of lymphocytes.  The best sources of Vitamin C are fruits and vegetables or you can take 1,000 - 2,000 mg. of vitamin C daily.
• Increase your Vitamin E: Since Vitamin E is another antioxidant it has similar anti-cancer properties to that of vitamin C.  A 10 year study that tracked 21,000 men with high levels of vitamin E in their diet.  It concluded by illustrating a 30% lower risk for all types of cancer.  Another study showed that women with low levels of vitamin E in their bloodstream were at 10 times greater risk of developing breast cancer.  In a study conducted at the University of Toronto, colon cancer patients were administered vitamins C and E after surgery.  Two years later it showed that the supplements reduced the recurrence of precancerous polyps by 20%.  It is suggested that a person consume between 200-400 IU of vitamin E per day to help prevent cancer.  However, this is nearly impossible to attain through diet.  You may only be able to derive 10% or less from your diet.
• Try to Avoid Alcohol: Consuming alcohol will slightly increase your risk for colorectal cancer and the alcoholic drink with the strongest link to this type of cancer is beer.  Beer is said to contain nitrosamines, which are a carcinogen that is activated in the intestines.  Tannins are another carcinogenic compound in alcoholic drinks like wine, coffee, and tea. Eventhough red wine has been praised for its health benefits, you would still be better off eating the grapes to obtain the protective phytonutrients.
• Some Other Important Cancer Preventing Nutrients:  Vitamin D, which you synthesize naturally from sunlight and fortified foods has anti cancer properties.  It works by suppressing angiogenesis, or the creation of new blood vessels that tumors need to survive.  In areas where people receive the most exposure from the sun; the rates for breast, prostate, and colon cancer were lower.Selenium: This often overlooked mineral is a powerful antioxidant and scavenger of free radicals.  Research has illustrated a lower incidence of colon cancer in those who regularly take a selenium supplement of 100  - 200 mcg. per day.  Other studies have shown that those with low levels of selenium in their bodies are more likely to develop colon polyps.  Selenium works best when taken in combination with Vitamin E.  Some great food sources for selenium are: fish, lobster, shrimp, whole grains, vegetables, brown rice, cottage cheese, lambchops, chicken, sunflower seeds, and garlic.  Acidophilus is another great substance with anti-cancer properties.  This intestinal-friendly bacteria helps to encourage growth of healthy bacteria in the colon.  It also reduces the conversion of bile acids into carcinogens. Research has illustrated that taking dietary supplements of lactobacillus acidophilus can significantly reduce the level of colon enzymes that work to make carcinogenic waste from food.
  
  

  
  

Another key in reducing the risk of cancer or reducing the formation of cancer is to switch to a plant based diet.  One main area to focus on is switching your red meat consumption to seafood or the complete switch to an all plant based diet.  You want to try to get as close to totally plant based as you can.

• Lay off the Red Meat - Switch to Seafood: It has been proven by watching populations that those who eat less red meat and fat in their diet have a lower risk of developing colon cancer.  You can still consume some red meat, but choose to make it an accent to a plant based dish. Combining an unhealthier meat with vegetables and grains like a stir-fry or pasta.

• In 1976, researchers from the Harvard School of Public Health began to study the role that diet plays in the formation of colon cancer.  They also set out to test theories that had been suggested by other studies.  Researchers studied 88,000 healthy women age 34-59.

The discovered:

1.  Women who consumed beef, pork, or lamb as a main dish daily, had a 2.5 times higher risk of developing colon cancer than those who consumed those meats only once a month.
2. The amount of animal fat present in a person’s diet is directly linked to the risk of developing colon cancer.
3.  Eating red meats and especially processed meats was greatly linked with an increased risk of developing colon cancer.  However, eating meats such as fish and chicken has shown a decreased risk.
4. The amount of fiber a person consumes is directly linked with the risk of developing colon cancer.

• In another 14 year study of 16,000 Swedish men and women it was discovered that foods such as beef and lamb are associated with the highest risk of colon cancer.
• Red meat itself can be carcinogenic, but how it is prepared can add to the risk of cancer.  Grilling red meats under high heat like searing or flame-cooking to a well-done consistency can cause the meat to release carcinogens into the meat called heterocyclicamines, which cause damage to cellular DNA.  A better choice for cooking meats is to use poaching, stewing, microwaving, slow-cooking, or low-heat cooking.

• Throw out the meat and eat your plants!  Some of the most interesting research regarding the link between diet and cancer are ones where people ate a plant-based diet. People who commonly eat a plant-based diet like vegetarians and Seventh Day Adventists have a very low risk of cancer.  The reason that foods derived from plants have a lower incidence of cancer causing agents is due to 3 health-promoting factors: plants contain less fat, more fiber, and more phytonutrients.  Aside from offering fiber; legumes have anticancer properties called protease inhibitors; shown to reduce the growth of cancer of the breast, colon, and skin cancer.

• Eat more Soy: There are many reasons for eating soy.  Soy is  a better choice for a source of protein. Also, soy contains phytonutrients which prevent the growth of new blood vessels that tumors need to survive. Soy also protects the colon by blocking bile acids that can have carcinogenic effects.  Another element in soy are isoflavones, that help regulate sex hormones that could reduce your risk of breast or prostate cancer. Studies have shown that women in America whose diets are low in soy products are 4xs more likely to die as a result of breast cancer than Japanese women whose diets are filled with soy.  Soy also appears to protect against other types of cancer such as; lung, rectal, colon, stomach, prostate, and breast.

1. One serving of soy (1/2 cup cooked soybeans, tofu, tempeh, one cup soy milk) each day can reduce your cancer risk.
2.  Read up on how your soy products are manufactured.  You want to ensure that they use a water extraction process and not an alcohol extraction process because it removes genistein from the soy.

• Time to Change Your Oil: You want to shift towards using more oils that are rich in omega-3 fatty acids due to their anti-cancer properties.  It has been shown that supplementing the diet with fish oil will cause fewer colorectal tumors. Oils found in fish and flaxseed work to produce phytochemicals which help fight cancer.  Flaxseed also contains another phytonutrient, lignan; which helps to fight cancer.  Your best bet is to ensure your diet contains more omega-3 than omega-6. Great sources of omega-3s are coldwater oily fish like salmon and tuna.
  Flaxseed or flaxseed oil is another great source of omega-3’s.  You will want to reduce the amount of vegetable oils you consume because they contain large amounts of omega-6 fatty acids. Another important type of oil is monounsaturated oil, like olive oil.  These oils also play a role in the prevention of cancer. In populations where the consumption of olive oil is rich, there is a lower incidence of cancer.  In fact, Greek women who consume a diet rich in olive oil have a very low risk for breast cancer. One study on oils discovered a connection between the amount of hydrogenated oils a woman consumes to the incidence of breast cancer.  It is always best to avoid trans fats, hydrogenated oils, partially-hydrogenated oils, and saturated fats.

This is the second part of the five part series on the anti-cancer diet.  It is unfortunate the lack of emphasis on the importance of a healthy diet in America.  I used to conduct surveys and one project I did was for when the FDA was preparing to alter the food guide pyramid.  I got to call people and ask them a myriad of questions pertaining to their health and what they knew about proper health and health terms.  Needless to say, I was shocked at the amount of people who knew nothing….and I mean nothing about a healthy diet.  Most of them had no idea how to read a nutrition label or what any of that information even meant.

Anyhow….today we are going to start off with the importance of fiber and fruits and vegetables in the diet.

It is important to Increase your Fiber Intake: In many studies between food and cancer there is unmistakable evidence that there is a relation between a high fiber diet and  a lower incidence of colorectal cancer.  Fiber is important it works to move carcinogens and general waste through intestines faster.  This means that carcinogens spend less time contacting the intestinal walls.  If the intestines have less exposure to the carcinogens the risk for cancer is lower.

Fiber also binds carcinogens together, to keep them from touching the intestinal wall.  Fiber is also important for absorbing bile acids, which prevents them from reacting with bacteria to create fecapentanes, which are the cancerous particles that are created by rotting food laying within the colon.   There are approximately 20 of these substances that can mutate cells in the colon, turning them into cancerous cells.

Fiber also promotes the development of healthy bacteria within the intestines.  These healthy bacteria  push out the unhealthy bacteria.  A diet high in fiber appears to be protective against cancer in those with a hereditary risk of having precancerous colorectal polyps. In a recent study, people with a high risk for getting colorectal cancer, ate 13 grams of wheat bran fiber every day for 8 weeks, exhibited a decrease in growth of precancerous cells in the colon.

A high fiber diet has also shown to reduce the risk of breast cancer.  It works to bind estrogen in the bowels, reducing the effect the estrogen can have on breast tissue cells.

Based on important findings, it is suggested that you consume no less than 25 grams of fiber per day.  The best sources for anticancer fiber are: wheat bran, kidney beans, garbanzo beans,  navy beans, whole wheat, whole grains, legumes, whole grain bread, and prunes.

EAT YOUR FRUITS AND VEGGIES:  Hundreds of studies that were exploring the link between diet and cancer have concluded that consuming more fruits and vegetables can reduce the risk for a variety of cancers.   Consuming more fruits and vegetables can also lessen your desire for fatty foods, which can increase the risk of cancer.  In addition, plants also contain a substance called phytochemicals. These substances may be helpful in your bodies ability to fight cancer.  There are 5 major classes of compounds that can be found in fruits and vegetables that are natural carcinogen blocking agents:

Phenols, Indols,Flavones, Cumines, an Isothiocyanates.

These substances help prevent carcinogens from getting to critical target sites inside a cells.

The type of vegetables most noted for their importance in reducing the risk of cancer are the cruciferous vegetables: broccoli,  cabbage, brussel sprouts, mustard greens, kale, and cauliflower.  This particular class of vegetables contain 3 biochemicals that protect against cancer: sulforaphane, which helps boost the immune system and blocks enzymes that attract carcinogens to healthy cells; nitrosamines, which prevent the creation of carcinogens in the intestines; and indoles, which reduce the risk of breast cancer.  It has been estimated that eating large amounts of cruciferious vegetables could lessen the risk of developing breast and colon cancer by 40%.