Walking Helps Lower Breast Cancer Risk

Researchers claim women who take regular brisk walks have a lower risk of developing breast cancer after menopause.

Walking as exercise has been shown to reduce the risk of heart disease, cancer, type-2 diabetes, high blood pressure, anxiety, depression, and obesity.

Writing in the Archives of Internal Medicine, researchers collected data on 100,000 postmenopausal women, finding that women who did one hour of brisk walking each day were 15% less likely to develop breast cancer, compared to women who walked less than one our per week.

But reduced risk of breast cancer was not only seen among walkers. Women who got little exercise, but still increased their physical activity were 10% less likely to develop cancer than women who stayed inactive.

However, the researchers admit the study does not say walking caused less breast cancer, but the findings do highlight the importance of exercising for cancer prevention, especially after menopause.

In addition to exercise, diet is also an effective means of preventing cancer, specifically eating more fruits and vegetables, and less saturated fat. Antioxidants found in plants are known cancer-fighters.

Breast cancer is the most common cancer for women worldwide, killing an estimated 519,000 women in 2004, according to the World Health Organization.

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Mediterranean Diet Helps Cut Diabetes Risk

A traditional Mediterranean diet, rich in plant foods and olive oil, may help older adults lower their risk of type-2 diabetes.

Mediterranean diets include heavy consumption of fruits, vegetables, nuts, olive oil, grains, and moderate amounts of fish and wine, but low consumption of saturated fats, like eggs, red meat, dairy products, and poultry.

Strict Mediterranean diets have been shown to reduce the rates of cancer, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes.

In a new study, published in the journal Diabetes Care, found eating a Mediterranean diet helped lower type-2 diabetes risk, even without counting calories or losing weight.

Researchers followed 418 older Spanish adults, finding study participants who were instructed to eat a Mediterranean diet were less likely to develop diabetes after four years than the individuals put on a low-fat diet.

Among the study participants, 18% of the low-fat group developed diabetes, compared to only 10% of the Mediterranean diet group.

Many of the sixteen countries bordering the Mediterranean Sea, like Italy, Greece, and Crete, consume variations of the Mediterranean diet, which was historically paired with high levels of physical activity, specifically working long days on the farm.

But Mediterranean nations face new obstacles as Western diets spread throughout the world, ushering in fast food and insufficient exercise; both risk factors for type-2 diabetes, plus other maladies like heart disease and cancer.

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Mediterranean Diet Linked to Less Weight-Gain

People who follow a Mediterranean diet may avoid putting on extra weight as they age, suggests a new study.

The Mediterranean diet includes fruits, vegetables, nuts, olive oil, grains, and moderate amounts of fish and wine, but very little saturated fats, like eggs, red meat, dairy products, and poultry.

Consuming a Mediterranean diet has been shown to reduce the risk of cancer, heart disease, and diabetes.

Writing in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, researchers asked 10,000 university graduates in Spain, men and women, average age of 38 years old, to fill out a food questionnaire. The participants were then tracked for six years.

Average weight gain among participants during the study was a half pound, but the participants most closely following a Mediterranean diet gained less weight, compared to individuals deviating from the diet.

Participants who stuck with the Mediterranean diet were 10% less likely to become overweight or obese and were 24% less likely to gain more than 11 pounds over the first four years of the study.

Traditionally, the Mediterranean diet is eaten in coastal nations like Italy, Crete, and Greece, but the spread of fast food and Western lifestyles has compromised the health and diet of many Mediterranean countries.

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Pomegranate Juice Lowers Kidney Infection Risk

Drinking pomegranate juice may help lower infections in kidney patients on dialysis, claims a new study presented at the American Society of Nephrology’s meeting in Denver.

Pomegranates and pomegranate juice have been linked to reduced risk of atherosclerosis, the hardening of blood vessels leading to cardiovascular disease.

Researchers found patients drinking a few cups of pomegranate juice every week lowered their chances of infections.

According to data, among 50 patients drinking pomegranate juice for one year, roughly two would need to go to the hospital at least twice, compared to patients not drinking pomegranate juice; 11 patients would require a trip to the hospital.

In the study, 101 patients were randomly assigned to drink a beverage with or without pomegranate juice. After drinking a half cup of juice over a year, participants drinking the pomegranate juice had fewer inflammatory molecules in their blood.

Pomegranates are a known source of antioxidants. Antioxidants have been proven to decrease the risk of cancer.

The intrigue surrounding the health benefits of pomegranates has lead to twenty-three clinical trials being ordered in 2010 on pomegranates effectiveness in against prostate cancer, diabetes, heart disease, lymphoma, the common cold, and other maladies.

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Job Stress Raises Women’s Heart Risks

Women with stressful jobs have nearly twice the risk of heart attack as women with less stressful jobs, suggests a new study.

Symptoms of prolonged stress include headache, insomnia, depression, high blood pressure, upset stomach, anxiety, mood swings, and irritability.

Presented at the annual meeting of the American Heart Association, researchers found women with stressful jobs were 88% more likely to have a heart attack than women with easier jobs. They were also 43% more likely to need heart surgery.

The scientists analyzed survey data on more than 17,000 women, ages 50 to early 60s, working in the healthcare industry, who were currently enrolled in a 10 year study on cardiovascular disease.

Women who reported that their job required them to work “very hard” or “very fast” and have little say over their daily tasks were at increased risk of heart attack.

According to the researchers, the results highlight the importance of lowering stress in the workplace and finding ways to relax and unwind.

Healthy diet, exercise, getting sufficient sleep, stress management, and relaxation techniques, like hobbies, are all effective ways to help reduce stress.

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