0 Exercise related changes in estrogen metabolism may lower breast cancer risk

Changes in estrogen breakdown, or metabolism, may be one of the mechanisms by which aerobic exercise lowers a womans breast cancer risk, according to data published in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research.

"Observational studies suggest physical activity lowers breast cancer risk, but there are no clinical studies that explain the mechanism behind this," said Mindy S. Kurzer, Ph.D., professor in the Department of Food Science and Nutrition at the University of Minnesota in Saint Paul. "Ours is the first study to show that aerobic exercise influences the way our bodies break down estrogens to produce more of the good metabolites that lower breast cancer risk."

Kurzer and her colleagues conducted the Women in Steady Exercise Research (WISER) clinical trial, which involved 391 sedentary, healthy, young, premenopausal women. They randomly assigned the women to two age-matched, body mass index-matched groups: a control group of 179 women and an intervention group of 212 women.

While women in the control group continued a sedentary lifestyle for the entire study period, women in the intervention group performed 30 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous aerobic exercise five times a week for 16 weeks. Aerobic exercises included the treadmill, stair stepper or elliptical machine. The researchers adjusted the workout intensity for each individual so that the maximal heart rate was uniform among all participants.

Eighty-six percent of participants from the control group and 78 percent from the intervention group completed the study.

The researchers collected 24-hour urine samples on three consecutive days prior to study initiation and on three consecutive days at the end of the study. Using a state-of-the-art technique called liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectroscopy, they measured the amount of three parent estrogens, E1, E2 and E3, and nine of their breakdown products called metabolites, in the participants urine samples. According to Kurzer, estrogen metabolism favoring the production of a metabolite called 2-hydroxyestrone (2-OHE1) over one called 16alpha-hydroxyestrone (16alpha-OHE1), which results in an increase in the 2-OHE1/16alpha-OHE1 ratio, has been linked with a reduction in breast cancer risk.

She and her colleagues found that aerobic exercise led to an increase in the amount of 2-OHE1 and a decrease in the amount of 16alpha-OHE1, which led to a significant increase in the 2-OHE1/16alpha-OHE1 ratio. There were no changes in the 2-OHE1/16alpha-OHE1 ratio in the urine of control group participants.

"Exercise, known to favor fitness and improve heart health, is also likely to help prevent breast cancer by altering estrogen metabolism," said Kurzer. "It is very important, however, to decipher the biological mechanisms behind this phenomenon."

In collaboration with researchers at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, Kurzer is conducting similar studies in women with a high risk for breast cancer.

0 Simple Easy Changes To Lose Weight

There are two key ways to lose weight, exercise and proper nutrition. However, ramping up exercise and paring down on calories is a hard task to accomplish. Staying on track and avoiding temptation is hard when youre trying to lose weight, it takes a lot of determination and motivation. But there are some easy, simple, and zero effort ways to enhance your weight loss. By making slight changes to your daily habits you can shed those pounds you want to lose.

1. Eat Breakfast-
Eating breakfast is the most important meal of the day. It helps jumpstart your metabolism and burn more calories. People who eat breakfast everyday are more successful at losing weight and keeping it off. Plus some breakfast foods are vital at stimulating weight loss because they are full of fiber, protein and complex carbohydrates.

2. Take a Multivitamin-
When you par down your calorie intake or go on a diet you run the risk of running low on certain vitamins and minerals. Vitamin and mineral deficiency revs up ones appetite to signal to the body it needs nutrients. However this also encourages you to eat more to replenish the missing nutrients, to bolster your nutrient levels take a multivitamin daily. This staves off appetite, keeps your nutrient levels healthy and helps you lose more weight. Although its best to get your vitamins and minerals through your food, if your calorie restrictions or diet doesnt provide you with enough leeway, a multivitamin will do the trick and keep you from feeling hungry.

3. Start With a Soup or Salad-
Start your meals with a bowl of soup or side salad. Both of which are full of water and fiber to help you feel fuller, quicker. This curbs your hunger, prevents overeating and controls your portions. It also helps to prevent over indulgence of higher calorie foods later on.

4. Cut Out Soda-
Soda is one of the leading beverages in the 21st century. Unfortunately, most people prefer soda to water due to its sweet taste. However what most people dont realize is that soda is full of empty calories and with the amount of soda that people intake daily they are going way over their calorie budget. Just a few glasses of soda a day can put you over 1000 calories, and they all go straight to your waist since there is no nutritional value. Switch out your high calorie beverages for water, tea, or low calorie alternatives.

5. Precut Vegetables-
In todays fast paced world its hard for many to make a home cooked meal, pack your own lunch or prepare fresh snacks to eat throughout the day. And with cheap, savory and fast alternatives available all around us its hard for many to make the right foods choices. Buying precut veggies takes the hard choices for you and saves you time. If you dont have extra time to buy whole vegetables and cut and store them yourself then precut vegetables are a godsend. And having these prepackaged vegetables ready at your fingertips makes it easier to choose a healthy snack.

6. Drink Water-
Drinking water regularly helps to curb your appetite, hydrates the body and helps shed extra pounds. Additionally drinking two cups of water before a meal fills up your stomach so you wont eat as much at mealtime. Water keeps your stomach full so you dont over indulge.

7. Get on the Scale-
Most people dont want to get on the scale because their afraid of the number that might show up. However keeping a scale around, especially when your trying to lose weight is vital to maintaining your weight loss. Weighing yourself regularly helps you keep track of your weight. If the number goes up, you know you need to make some changes. But when you see the number go done you know you are on the right track. People who weigh themselves regularly are more likely to be at a healthy weight.

Authors Resource Box

Sarah Labdar graduated with a BA in exercise science and has worked in the medical field since. Her focus is alternative medicine and how it interacts and works in conjunction with traditional medicine.
Better Health-Live your Life to the fullest! http://www.universalhealthinfo.com/
http://www.universalhealthinfo.com/Simple__Easy_Changes.html

Article Source : Simple, Easy Changes To Lose Weight

Author : Sarah

0 Subtle Lifestyle Changes to Keep Colds Away

By now, most medically savvy individuals know that colds are caused by viruses and that we can only treat their symptoms, not their causes. But several studies have shown that there are seemingly minute lifestyle choices that can influence our susceptibility to infectious diseases. This means we can take slight preventive measures against cold infections, and they are particularly useful during the fall and winter months, when common cold infections are prevalent.

Did you know that the quality of your sleep influences your resistance to colds?

Adjusting your schedule to incorporate regular sleep can help you become healthier. Surprisingly, a 2009 study found a connection between vulnerability to cold and sleeping habits. To test the premise that getting a good nights rest optimizes immune function, scientists monitored the sleeping patterns of a group of healthy young adults, prior to being infected with a common cold virus strain. The study concluded that the people who get more sleep and better quality sleep are more resistant to infection. Commonly, a minimum of eight hours sleep is recommended.

Cold spreads during cold seasons because people tend to prefer crowded areas

The traditional theory says that you catch colds during winter because of cold weather. In reality, people are more likely to stay indoors or use crowded means of transportation during colder seasons, which increases their chances of being exposed to potential carriers of the cold viruses. Avoiding crowded areas (public transport, supermarkets, concerts, etc) as much as possible, will significantly lower the chances of contracting an infection. Choose to do your shopping at open markets whenever you can and ride your bicycle to get around, rather than using the local bus or subway. It wont only keep you safe from colds, but will also keep you fit!

Best defense is good prevention. Wash your hands regularly!

This timeless method is still one of the best ways to stop the spread of disease. Proper hygiene is an essential prevention technique that will fend off numerous types of infectious diseases, including colds. Keep your hands, face, clothing, and household surfaces sanitized, and you have already won a major battle against cold. If you come in contact with frequently used objects (such as door handles, or money) avoid touching your face before you can properly sanitize your hands. Using disposable towels and wet tissues can also help prevent the spread of viruses, even between members of the same household.

As most know, "prevention is the best medicine". The impact on health http://rawfoodhealthwatch.com/v2/the-impact-on-health-from-a-small-even-temporary-change-in-food-choices/ from a small, even temporary, change in food choices can mean the difference between "calling in sick" and "taking advantage of a sick day" to do some extra holiday shopping!

By Michelle Bosmier
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michelle_Bosmier
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Subtle Lifestyle Changes to Keep Colds Away