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Health Tips Originally published in Natural Living Magazine Fish Consumption Reduces Cancer Risks According to researchers even small amounts of fish can reduce the risk of developing cancer. Many studies have been focusing on fish and its protective nature against heart disease, but recently the focus has been switched to study fish and cancer risk. A study done in an Italian hospital indicated that those who consumed two or more servings of fish per week were less at risk from cancer than those who ate no fish at all. Esophageal, stomach, colon, rectal, and pancreatic cancers were between 30%-50% lower in those who had a high consumption of fish compared to people who had little or no fish. Fish consumption appeared to have no effect on lymphoma or cancer of the breast, liver, gall bladder, bladder, kidney, or thyroid. The high content of fatty acids found in fish is speculated to have reduced the risk of cancer. Studies have suggested that these fatty acids inhibit the growth of cancer cells. Eating fish makes sense; it lowers the risk of heart disease and cancer. Furthermore it is high in protein and low in total fat. Fish is a healthy addition to any diet. Moderate Exercise May Reduce Lung Cancer Middle-aged men who exercise for 6 to 8 hours per week may have a reduced chance of lung cancer. Dr. I.-M. Lee of the Harvard School of Public Health said: "We found walking, climbing stairs, and participating in activities of at least moderate intensity contributed to the reduced risk." A study that included 13,905 males suggested that a 39% reduced risk of lung cancer was found in active men as compared to inactive men when all factors such as age, smoking, and weight were adjusted. Moderate exercise was defined as a physical activity that has an energy expenditure of 12,000 kilojoules per week. Exercise options for moderate intensity activities include: dancing, biking, jogging, running, swimming, playing a sport, and even shoveling snow. "Biologically, it appears plausible for physical activity to decrease lung cancer rates" notes Dr. Lee. Exercise improves the immune system and boosts the overall functioning of the lungs. Research stresses, however, that cigarette smoking and the increased risk of cancer associated with smoking cannot be reversed by simple exercise. Vitamin B Deficiency May Increase Women's Stroke Risk Young women who are deficient in Folic Acid and other B Vitamins may fall into a higher risk category for stroke. When the blood levels of an amino acid, known as Homocysteine, was measured in a sample group of women, those with high levels of Homocysteine had more than twice the stroke risk than women with regular levels of this amino acid in their bodies. Consuming Folic Acid and other B Vitamins is believed to lower blood levels of Homocysteine, and thus lower the risk of a stroke. In the study, which took place at the University of Maryland, women with high levels of Homocysteine were found to be 60% more likely to suffer a stroke than those with normal levels. "The magnitude of the increase in stroke risk was similar to that of smoking a pack of cigarettes per day" says Dr. Steven J. Kittner, lead researcher. He continued "We may have the potential to significantly improve the public health and reduce the risk of stroke and other forms of cardiovascular disease with nutritional intervention." High Blood Pressure Accelerates Bone Thinning High blood pressure and a loss of Calcium are closely associated. Up until now, however, there has not been any direct proof that Calcium losses result in thinning bones. A study done at St. George's Medical School in London studied the density and thinning of bones in women for four years. It was determined that changes in bone density can be related to high blood pressure. Women with the highest systolic and diastolic pressure lost bone at almost twice the speed as those women who had the lowest systolic and diastolic pressure. "Higher blood pressure in elderly women is associated with increased bone loss," the researchers conclude "this association may reflect greater Calcium losses associated with high blood pressure, which may contribute to the risk of hip fractures." This is preventable with regular supplementation of Calcium and exercise on a consistent basis.   <back to Natural Living Magazine Online Archive Directory>

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