"cancer prevention" news and stories

We've got a lot of sources for recipes on the Internet, from mega-magazine sites to the Food Network to google. The American Institute for Cancer Research can be added to that mix with their Recipe Corner, that features healthy recipes with foods that fight or might prevent cancer or help cancer survivors. For instance, this season, they've got recipes for Crunchy Veggies Wraps and Oatmeal Pancakes.

Another feature is the Health-e-Recipes weekly email that sends recipes right to your inbox. It looks like it's a popular thing, and the recipes must be pretty good, since there are already 10,000 subscribers.

[via: TheCancerBlog]

According to the American Institute for Cancer Research (AICR), the antioxidant phytochemicals found in fresh fruits are retained at levels almost as high in the same fruits that are freeze-dried. Their research also shows that the phytochemicals in freeze-dried fruits can reach our bloodstream. These phytochemicals in freeze-dried fruits like raspberries, strawberries and blueberries, might protect against colon and esophagus cancers.

Freeze-dried fruits are commonly found in dry breakfast cereals, and the amount in one serving of cereal is hardly enough to be beneficial. It is better to use freeze-dried fruits in conjunction with fresh, frozen, and regular dried fruits to get your recommended daily intake.

[via: The Cancer Blog] 

It's not easy to remember to get our how-many-are-we-supposed-eat-now servings of fresh fruits and vegetables a day.

Though the post over at the Cancer Blog is aimed specifically at a cancer prevention audience, the quick tips that Dalene lists for easily adding more fresh fruits and vegetables to our diets applies to everyone. Sure some of it is basic knowledge and common sense, but it's always nice to have a reminder.

For instance, instead of bread for your sandwich, use a cabbage leaf to make a "wrap." One that i particularly liked was the tip for thickening soups and stews. Use a mixture of cooked, pureed cauliflower and white beans instead of cream or milk! Take a peek for more ideas.

It's never ending praise for the pomegranate in preventing disease, especially prostate cancer, but if you couldn't drink another glass of pomegranate juice, then you might be okay grabbing a beer instead.

According to researchers at Oregon State University, a primary compound found in hops, xanthohumol, inhibits a certain protein in cells along the surface of the prostate gland. That protein acts as a switch that turns on a variety of human malignancies, including prostate cancer. The compound xanthohumol belongs to a group of plant compounds called flavonoids, which have been reported for a wide variety of benefits in cancer prevention and overall disease prevention.

Since it will take 17 beers for the xanthohumol to have a noticeable effect, you might want to wait for researchers to come up with a supplement.

I don't know about you, but staying fit with the only motivation being my "appearance" is hard. I mean, I've been staring at that little bikini on my refrigerator door for how long now, and I still grab an ice cream bar from the freezer!

But a challenge from the American Cancer Society is another story. On May 18 (that's Thursday!), the American Cancer Society is teaming up with Weight Watchers to launch the Great American Eat Right Challenge. The purpose is to raise awareness of the link between obesity and increased risk of cancer. The website has information and resources that help to create a better environment in your house, BMI and calorie counting calculators, tips for eating out in restaurants and cooking at home, information regarding vitamins and minerals, and fitness information.

Hey, none of this stuff is earth-shatteringly new, but it's nice to have in one place with a reminder that you're decreasing your risk of certain cancers.

[via: The Cancer Blog]