Health Issues

Smoking & Cervical Cancer

2006-11-22T07:39:00.000-08:00

Source: Physician's First Watch 21 Nov 2006
Smoking May Increase HPV-Associated Cervical Cancer Risk

Smoking may dramatically increase the risk conferred by HPV-16 for developing cervical cancer in situ (CIS)according to a Swedish study published in Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers & Prevention.

Using the Swedish cancer registry and archival pap smears, researchers identified 375 women diagnosed with CIS and match them with similar number of controls. For both cases and controls, the study included only those women whose first smear during the 25-year study period was cytologically normal.

Women who were HPV-16 positive and smoked at the same time of their first smear had an adjusted odds ratio for CIS of 14.4 compared to HPV-16 negative smokers. Among non-smokers, the adjusted odds ration was 5.6, comparing HPV-16 potitive to HPV-16 negative women.

"Our study revealed evidence suggestive of synergism between cigarette smoking (particularly duration of smoking) and HPV-16 in CIS development, which occurs many years before diagnosis of the offending lesion," the authors conclude.

Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers and Prevention article (Free abstract, full text requires subscription)

Hormones & Antibiotics in Meat

2006-11-04T05:36:00.000-08:00

Nowadays, hormone and antibiotics in meat is a legitimate concern. Hormone residues in food can increase the risk of breast cancer and other reproductive system cancers among women and may promote development of prostate cancer in men.

In the U.S. hormones are still used as growth promoters in cattle and sheep. It is estimated that two-thirds of the cattle raised in the U.S. are given hormones (usually testosterone or estrogens) to boost growth.

The USDA does allow farmers to use antibiotics to prevent or treat diseases in all farmed animals, although the drugs must be withheld for a period of time prior to slaughter so that any residues fall below federal limits. The use of antibiotics as we all know contributes to the escalating problem of antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

Sleep & Cancer

2006-11-04T02:41:00.000-08:00

Source: Los Angeles Times October 27, 2006

Adequate sleep is essential for good health. A good night's sleep is every bit as important to good health and long life as a nutritious diet and regular exercise.

In April, the Institute of Medicine issued a report confirming links between sleep deprivation and an increased risk of hypertension, diabetes, obesity, depression, heart attack and stroke. Some scientists are exploring possible connections between inadequate sleep and a decline in immune function.

According to Richard G. Stevens, cancer researcher at the University of Connecticut Health Centre, some cancers might be rooted in sleep deprivation – or to too many hours of exposure to artificial light. His work is based on the theory (Artificial Light and Breast Cancer) that the increase in breast cancer in industrialized countries is linked to the disruption of hormone cycles.

The Cancer Prevention Study II of the American Cancer Society followed more than a million participants for six years. The best survival was found among those who slept about seven hours a night.

Light suppresses production of the hormone melatonin, which allows levels of estrogen to rise. And, when lights are on long after dark, it confuses women's circadian clocks, the roughly 24-hour internal rhythm that keeps hormones and organs on their daily schedule.

Oral Contraceptiives Linked to Breast Cancer Risk

2006-11-03T07:42:00.000-08:00

Meta-Analysis Confirms Association of Oral Contraceptives with Breast Cancer Risk

Source: Physician's First Watch for October 31, 2006
David G. Fairchild, MD, MPH, Editor-in-Chief

Use of oral contraceptives (OCs) is associated with an increased risk for breast cancer in prememopausal women - especially in women who use OCs before their full-term pregnancy - according to a meta-analysis in the current Mayo Clinic Proceedings.

Researchers analyzed data from 34 case-control studies. Overall, use of OCs was associated witha small but significant increase in the risk for developing premenopausal breast cancer. The association was stronger for those who used OCs before their first-term pregnancy than for those who used OCs after this point.

As for how clinicians should counsel patients, an editorial argues: "First, OCs are extremely effective in preventing pregnancy when used correctly. Secon, although OCs appear to be carcinogens, the relative risk is small, and the absolute risk . . . is very small." He concludes tha "all risks and benefits of OC use must be considered, not just the risk of breast cancer."

For free PDF download, click links below:
Mayo Clinic Proceedings article
Mayo Clinic Proceedings editorial

Artificial Light & Breast Cancer

2006-10-28T00:32:00.000-07:00

There is accumulating evidence for a correlation between light at night and breast cancer. Although it is not yet proven, a study from the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in 2001 found that women in Seattle who work the graveyard shift face up to 60 percent increased risk of breast cancer. Other studies have shown a similar pattern. And the risk of breast cancer is up to five times higher in industrialized nations (where exposure to nighttime illumination is more common) than it is in undeveloped countries. About half of those breast cancers cannot be accounted for by conventional risk factors.

Back in 1987, a researcher named Richard Stevens, then at Pacific Northwest Laboratories in Richland, Washington, hypothesized that even brief exposure to nighttime illumination suppressed the pineal gland's production of melatonin, a neurotransmitter with strong anti-cancer properties.

Comment from Cancer Answers: Get at least half to an hour of full sun each day. At night, sleep in a room that is as dark as possible. In this modern world, it may not be possoble to follow the sleep/wake cycles of our ancestors and the sun. But as one try their best to follow the cycle of the sun, the better he or she will be.

Can Salt Kill?

2006-10-24T07:00:00.000-07:00

Too much salt is known to contribute to hypertension, which is a factor in half the deaths in the U.S. each year. One of four Americans suffers from some form of high blood pressure, though many do not know it. The so-called silent killer, it often remains symptom-less and undetected for years until it leads to a disabling or deadly heart attack or stroke.

For more, read this article in the Times.

Breast Cancer Survivors: At Increased Suicide Risk?

2006-10-24T03:06:00.000-07:00

NEW YORK (Reuters Health)
American Society of Clinical Oncology

Breast cancer survivors are 37% more likely to commit suicide than other women, and the elevated risk persists for at least 25 years after diagnosis, according to a report in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute for October 4, 2006.

Their study involved an analysis of data for 723,810 breast cancer survivors who were diagnosed between 1953 and 2001. During follow-up through 2002, 836 subjects committed suicide. After 25 or more years, breast cancer survivors still had a 35% increased risk of suicide.

Reduce Sedentary Behaviour

2006-10-16T05:33:00.000-07:00

Physical exercise is an integral part of staying healthy. More and more research findings are pointing to sedentary lifestyle, lack of physical activity, and being overweight as a risk factor in cancer besides diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

Below are a few suggestions or ways you can become physically more active, to reduce sedentary behaviour:

Use stairs instead of an elevator or escalator.
If possible, walk or bicycle to your destination.
Exercise with your colleagues, family, or friends.
Take a 10-15 minutes exercise break at work (instead of drinking coffee) to stretch or take a quick walk around the premise.
Park your car a little further away from your destination. A good chance to do some walking.
Sign up for a dancing class. Go dancing with your spouse or friends. Line dancing is very popular nowadays.
Plan active vacations rather than only driving trips.
Join a sports team.
Use a stationery bicycle while watching TV.
Plan your exercise routine. Gradually increase the days per week and mintues per session.

Music Therapy : 3 Case Studies

2006-10-12T21:04:00.000-07:00

Dr. Roger Wicke (Ph.D) of Rocky Mountain Herbal Institute, US once wrote: ". . . classical music is one of the few things that contains no lies because it contains no words. It is pure frequency that speaks directly to the heart. As such, it has the potential to be truly revolutionary."

Below are some case reports by Dr. Wicke regarding examples of music and its effects on the health of his patients.

Case A: A person with ALS (Lou Gehrig's) disease comes to me for help.
In addition to the usual routine of herbal formulas, diet changes, and review of environmental health issues (i.e., high electromagnetic field exposure, believed by some researchers to be a relevant factor in ALS, heavy metal toxicity), I happen to put Bach's Cello Suite #1 on the stereo while I mix up herbs, and within several minutes, muscle fasciculations were diminished by 70%. Client normally does not listen to classical music, but expresses great liking for this piece.

Case B: Person with chronic Heart Blood Stagnation plus Liver Qi Stagnation (TCM diagnosis), otherwise relatively healthy and active.
Over many years I need to give repeated formulas for this condition. Without these formulas, person eventually succumbs to sharp chest pains induced by emotional upsets and, interestingly, the sound of choral music.
One day something this person says suggests a childhood trauma of some type, and I suggest a music listening session: String Quartet #8 by Shostakovich, which he composed in the aftermath of the Stalinist purges as a form of personal catharsis. The music climaxes with discordant wrath and violence, ending in deep sadness. While listening, client has flashbacks of an incident during WWII in which friends were murdered by German soldiers, which memory had been suppressed and forgotten until that moment.
Turns out a local priest was a collaborator with the Germans, thus the aversion and fear induced by hearing sacred-type choral music. After that session, client has no longer needed to use Blood-invigorating formulas, and no longer would the sound of choral music induce chest tightness and pain, in fact, after that enjoys Bach choral music immensely. (I'd classify the Shostakovich String Quartet #8 as a piece that strongly dredges Liver Qi, especially when associated with suppressed rage.)

Case C: Small child has difficulty concentrating at school, especially with math.
In such cases I rarely use herbal formulas, instead usually do complete diet overhaul and educate parents in relationship between so-called ADHD and dietary poisons like aspartame, MSG, sugar, etc. In this case all this helps significantly with moods and personality, but learning difficulty still remains. I suggest eliminating all rock music and substituting with Bach and Mozart when child is at home, especially played quietly as background music while studying. Parents, being rock fans, are resistant, but also concerned, so I show them research on the subject. After changing the diet and the music at home, child quickly discovers that math is enjoyable.

---Roger Wicke PhD---
Rocky Mountain Herbal Institute
website: http://www.rmhiherbal.org/
email: http://www.rmhiherbal.org/contact/

Breast Cancer: Signs not to Ignore

2006-10-10T01:19:00.000-07:00

There are many factors that can increase or reduce the risk of getting breast cancer. Family history is one. Personal lifestyle habits i.e., diet, exercise and how you handle stress are contributing factors to the risk of breast cancer. Today, early research indicates a possible link between long-term exposure to bright lights at night and the incidence of breast cancer. So, pay attention and change our life-style to promote healthy breasts and reduce the risk of breast cancer.

For breast health care it is crucial to recognize the some signs of breast cancer. Early detection is a vital aspect. Performing a monthly self-examination is still recommended by many health professionals, besides having a yearly exam performed by your doctor if you are at high risk. When doing self-examination, the following signs should be taken seriously:

A lump or thickening in or near the breast or in the underarm area
A change in the size or shape of the breast
Nipple discharge or tenderness
An inverted nipple
Ridges or pitting on the breast (resembling an orange peel)
A change in the look or feel of the breast, areola or nipple (such as temperature, swelling, redness or a scaly feel)

If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, see your doctor for a diagnosis. But remember that most breast lumps are benign.

Stay healthy. Cancer Answers

Follow the Money

2006-10-06T08:29:00.000-07:00

Source: The High Stakes of Cancer Prevention
By Samuel Epstein and Liza Gross
(in: Tikkun Magazine, Nov/Dec 2000)
Cancer Prevention Coalition

The American Cancer Society's mission statement says it is dedicated to "preventing cancer and saving lives—through research education, advocacy, and service." Yet what the Society seems to do best is accumulate wealth.

According to James Bennett, a professor of economics at George Mason University who tracks charitable organizations, the ACS held a fund balance of over $400 million with about $69 million worth of holdings in real estate, office buildings, and equipment in 1988. ("How raw land helps us find a cure for cancer or helps cancer victims is an enigma I can't fathom," says Bennett.)

Of that money, the ACS spent only $90 million—barely a quarter of its budget—on medical research and related programs. The rest covered "operating expenses," including about 60 percent for salaries, pensions, executive benefits, and overhead.

By 1989, ACS cash reserves had reached over $700 million.

In a 1992 Wall Street Journal article, Loyola University professor of economics Thomas DiLorenzo charged that a high percentage of funds raised by the ACS went to pay overhead, salaries, benefits, and travel expenses. Things haven't changed much since DiLorenzo's findings. By 1998, based on the Society's annual budget report, revenues had reached $677 million. In 1998, the Society spent some $140 million on "supporting services" such as overhead, salaries in the $220,000 range for regional directors (national executives' salaries are not disclosed), benefits and travel expenses, fundraising, and public relations. It had $800 million in reserves.

The Society's penchant for storing wealth over funding research and services prompted the Chronicle of Philanthropy, a watchdog organization that monitors major charities, to analyze its budgets and programs. The Chronicle concluded that the American Cancer Society is "more interested in accumulating wealth than saving lives."

The Cancer Research Industry

2006-10-06T04:55:00.000-07:00

Source: Home Health Answers
by Simon Mitchell

Many volunteers world-wide commit themselves to raising funds for cancer research and cancer charities. Many hundreds of thousands more work in the industry as carers, or researching, prescribing, diagnosing and manufacturing drugs. Huge companies spend fortunes on cancer research. After so long and so many billions spent what exactly has cancer research revealed?

There have been regular breakthroughs in our understanding of cancer, but little progress in its treatment.

Modern research into cancer began in the 1940's and 50's when scientists isolated substances that killed cancer cells growing in a petri dish, or leukaemia cells in laboratory mice. Early successes in chemotherapy set the pace and received much media exposure, even though they only applied to 5% of cancer treatments at most.

Serving humanity by solving its major diseases has a celebrity status, there is a lot of kudos and an air of Hollywood involved in such things. Cancer research is high profile activity and every now and then a scientific treatment is discovered that gains wide recognition, such as the HPV-16 trial, but it only applies itself to the treatment of a small percentage of cancers.

Mass-media hype is part of the problem of how we see cancer. Early discoveries set up an expectation that there was a cure-all treatment, a 'magic bullet' that would make its discoverer famous by curing cancer across the world. The idea stems in part from aspirin, the original bullet that magically finds its way to the pain and diminishes it. Even now boasts of 'paradigm shifts' in orthodox cancer care are exaggerated.

Dr. Robert Buckman is an experienced cancer researcher, and author of the informative book: 'What You Really Need to Know About Cancer'. He summarises what he sees as the present position of scientific cancer research:

"We now have a very large number of ways of looking at cancer cells in the laboratory. We have thousands of different types of cancer cells growing in dishes, many of which can be grown and then cured in laboratory bred mice. We also have thousands of different ways of looking at and testing those cells. We can look at the cells' growth, their abilities to produce different substances, their sensitivity to some chemotherapy drugs and their resistance to others, the way they respond to growth factors, their genetic material including oncogenes and substances controlled by oncogenes, their ability to affect other cells (of the immune system, for example), their ability to damage membranes and invade, their structure under the electron microscope and whether or not the cell surface has any of hundreds of different marker molecules on it. These are just a few examples of what can be done nowadays: the complete list of ways in which cancer cells can be tested would probably be longer than this entire book. But here is the snag: although this accumulation of experience is wonderful and commendable, cancer in human beings is far more complicated then any laboratory system can ever be (at least in the light of current knowledge)".

Cancer in the US

2006-10-05T02:34:00.000-07:00

In the US cancer strikes nearly 1 in every 2 men and more than1 in every 3 women. Since passage of the 1971 National Cancer Act, the overall incidence of cancer in the

U.S.

has escalated to epidemic proportions, now striking 1.3 million, and killing about 550,000 annually. The median age for the diagnosis of cancer is 67 in adults, and six in children.

Source: Cancer Prevention Coalition

Click on link above to find out more.

Cancer Prevention: Put the Money Where the Mouth is

2006-10-05T01:59:00.000-07:00

The High Stakes of Cancer Prevention
Tikkun Magazine, Nov/Dec 2000
by Samuel Epstein and Liza Gross
Source: Cancer Prevention Coalition

Responding to a 1999 article in Sierra, the magazine of the Sierra Club, which charged the American Cancer Society with indifference to prevention, Dr. Harmon Eyre, executive vice president for research and medical affairs for the Society, released details of its allocations for research on environmental carcinogenesis. Yet while Eyre claims cancer cause and prevention are a high priority and receive generous funding from the ACS, his documentation says the contrary.

The American Cancer Society spent $2.6 million in 1998 on nineteen large research grants on environmental carcinogenesis, but only three grants could reasonably qualify as environmental cancer research.
Although the Society claims it allocated $100 million of its $677 million budget to support cancer research in 1998, analysis reveals that actual expenditures on environmental carcinogenesis totaled less than $500,000, well under one-hundredth of one percent of the Society's total annual budget.
The situation with the National Cancer Institute is not much better. The agency has professed a commitment to prevention, but its budget and policy priorities belie any such claim.
Of an approximately $3 billion budget, the National Cancer Institute allocates less than one percent to researching occupational cancers, even though they are the most preventable cancers. Over 10 percent of adult cancer deaths result from occupational exposures, which are also a recognized cause of cancer in children: parents exposed to carcinogens on the job often expose their unborn children to the same cancer-causing chemicals.
While the NCI says that diet accounts for roughly one-third of all cancers, it spends just $1 million on education, media, and public outreach to promote the consumption of fruits and vegetables for cancer prevention, while ignoring well-documented evidence that produce contaminated with carcinogenic pesticide residues increases risk. It also fails to educate the public about the cancer risks posed by a wide range of industrial by-products and contaminants, particularly dioxin.

Obesity-Cancer Link

2006-09-25T03:08:00.000-07:00

The International Agency for Research on Cancer, an agency of the World Health Organization released a report, stating that: being overweight and inactive accounts for 25% - 33% of worldwide cases of breast cancer, colon cancer, endometrial cancer, kidney cancer and esophageal cancer.

Recently, there is a clear biological explanation for precisely why overweight, inactive individuals develop a higher cancer risk.

Research now show that fat cells can act as "hormone pumps", secreting hormones and other growth factors into the bloodstream. In individuals who are overweight and inactive, the pumps work overtime.

Why is this an issue? If the body's cells are exposed to very high levels of these substances over an extended period of time, they tend to reproduce more quickly. This increases the chances that cancer can find a foothold.

AICR researchers stress that this potentially dangerous condition is reversible.

Losing weight and keeping it off helps restore insulin levels to normal. Eat more vegetables, fruits, whole grains and beans to cut down on the amount of calories and fat you consume.

Regular physical activity can help reset the body's hormonal systems and regulate the activity of hormones and growth factors.

As research continues, scientist will likely identify additional biological reasons that excess weight and inactivity increase risk. It is already clear, however, that diet, physical activity and weight management play key roles in cancer prevention.

Candles for Soothing Ambience

2006-09-24T22:08:00.000-07:00

Many people associate candle-light with romance. Also, candles are a wonderful way to add ambience, calm and serenity to a home or office. Their warm, soothing touch creates an inviting and comforting atmosphere.

However, there are many studies that suggest burning too much candles (and joss sticks) in a confined environment may not be good for health.

So take care when choosing candles. For everyday indoor use, you may want to opt for unscented candles. Some researchers note that scented candles tend to create more soot than unscented varieties - and over time this soot can accumulate in lungs and cause respiratory problems. Scented candles may also contribute to indoor pollution.

Instead of scented varieties, use candles made of unscented beeswax, which are just as beautiful and cozy as the scented varieties. Try not to use them too often . . . only for special occasions (wink).

Plastic containers

2006-09-24T00:45:00.000-07:00

Plastic is so much a part of our life. Plastic packaging in food is a way of life in Malaysia. Plastic cups, plates, fork and spoons besides plastic ladles are so common. But, how many people know that the dioxin from plastic that leaks into our food can cause cancer?

John Hopkins (Cancer News) has recently sent this out in its newsletters. This information is being circulted at Walter Reed Army Medical Centre.

Dioxin chemicals causes cancer, especially breast cancer. Dioxins are highly poisonous to the cells of our bodies.

Do not freeze you plastic bottles with water in them as this releases dioxins from the plastic.

Do not put hot food into plastic bags or containers.

Recently, Dr. Edward Fujimoto, Wellness Program Manager at Castle Hospital, explained this health hazard. He talked about dioxins and how bad they are for us.

He said that we should not be heating our food in the microwave (should be used in the first place) using plastic containers. This applies to foods that contain fat. He said that the combination of fat, high heat, and plastics releases dioxin into the food and ultimately into the cells of the body.

He recommends using glass instead. Use Corning Ware or ceramic container for heating food. We get the same results, only without dioxin.

Aslo, he pointed out that Saran wrap is just as dangerous when placed over foods to cooked in the microwave (microwave food by itself is bad enough). As the food is nuked (heated up), the nigh heat causes poisonous toxins to actually melt out of the plastic wrap and drip into the food.

Exercise for Health

2006-09-20T06:36:00.000-07:00

Besides a healthy diet, exercise is important too, especially as we age. Exercise helps us:

Improve our resistance to fight infections
Lower our risk of cancer, heart disease and diabetes
Lose, or maintain weight, according to our need
Sleep better
Help our brain work and focus better plus being more alert

To benefit from your exercise, you may want to draw up a simple program and stick to it. However, you must remember a few things during your exercises:

Listen to your body. This is important. If the exercises you do make you feel worse, modify your program. Or STOP if need be. As your energy and health improve, you will be able to tolerate more and more.

Be consistent. You need at least 30 minutes of exercise a day to experience some benefits. Major studies have shown that 60 minutes a day is actually best. Ideally, the exercise should be continuous, but it could be split up into two 30-minute sections.

Start with walking. Walking is a good and wonderful way to start an exercise program. It has very low impact on your joints. It is simple and enjoyable to fit a walk into your day.

Walking is cost effective as no equipment or training is required. Everyone knows how to walk. We only need a good pair of walking shoes. You can walk just about anywhere and you can do it anytime.

Increase walking time or distance regularly. As a guideline, you should walk at a pace that makes it quite difficult for you to talk to the person next to you. If you can comfortably talk to the person next to you, you are not working hard enough to produce healthful benefits.

For more information on walking, click on link:

Walk Your Way to Better Health

Regular physical activity

The Deadliest Disease of Our Time: CANCER

2006-09-17T01:13:00.000-07:00

Someone sent us this e-mail requesting that we share this message with you all.

1. Every person has cancer cells in the body. These cancer cells do not show up in the standard tests until they have multiplied to a few billion. When doctors tell cancer patients that there are no more cancer cells in their bodies after treatment, it just means the tests are unable to detect the cancer cells because they have not reached the detectable size.

2. Cancer cells occur between 6 to more than 10 times in a person's lifetime.

3. When the person's immune system is strong the cancer cells will be destroyed and prevented from multiplying and forming tumours.

4. When a person has cancer it indicates the person has multiple nutritional deficiencies. These could be due to genetic, environmental, food and lifestyle factors.

5. To overcome the multiple nutritional deficiencies, changing diet and including supplements will strengthen the immune system.

6. Chemotherapy involves poisoning the rapidly-growing cancer cells and also destroys rapidly-growing healthy cells in the bone marrow, gastro-intestinal tract etc, and can cause organ damage, like liver,kidneys, heart, lungs etc.

7. Radiation while destroying cancer cells also burns, scars and damages healthy cells, tissues and organs.

8. Initial treatment with chemotherapy and radiation will often reduce tumor size. However prolonged use of chemotherapy and radiation do not result in more tumor destruction.

9. When the body has too much toxic burden from chemotherapy and radiation the immune system is either compromised or destroyed, hence the person can succumb to various kinds of infections andcomplications.

10. Chemotherapy and radiation can cause cancer cells to mutate and become resistant and difficult to destroy. Surgery can also cause cancer cells to spread to other sites.

11. An effective way to battle cancer is to starve the cancer cells by not feeding it with the foods it needs to multiply.

12. CANCER CELLS FEED ON:

a. Sugar is a cancer-feeder. By cutting off sugar it cuts off one important food supply to the cancer cells. Sugar substitutes like NutraSweet, Equal, Spoonful, etc are made with Aspartame and it is harmful. A better natural substitute would be Manuka honey or molasses but only in very small amounts. Table salt has a chemical added to make it white in colour. Better alternative is Bragg's aminos or sea salt.

b. Milk causes the body to produce mucus, especially in the gastro-intestinal tract. Cancer feeds on mucus. By cutting off milk and substituting with unsweetened Soya milk cancer cells are being starved.

c. Cancer cells thrive in an acid environment. A meat-based diet is acidic and it is best to eat fish, and a little chicken rather than beef or pork. Meat also contains livestock antibiotics, growth hormones and parasites, which are all harmful, especially to people with cancer.

d. A diet made of 80% fresh vegetables and juice, whole grains, seeds, nuts and a little fruits help put the body into an alkaline environment. About 20% can be from cooked food including beans. Fresh vegetable juices provide live enzymes that are easily absorbed and reach down to cellular levels within 15 minutes to nourish and enhance growth of healthy cells. To obtain live enzymes for building healthy cells try and drink fresh vegetable juice (most vegetables including bean sprouts) and eat some raw vegetables 2 or 3 times a day. Enzymes are destroyed at temperatures of 104 degrees F (40 degrees C).

e. Avoid coffee, tea, and chocolate, which have high caffeine. Green tea is a better alternative and has cancer-fighting properties. Water-best to drink purified water, or filtered, to avoid known toxins andheavy metals in tap water. Distilled water is acidic, avoid it.

f. Meat protein is difficult to digest and requires a lot of digestive enzymes. Undigested meat remaining in the intestines become putrefied and leads to more toxic buildup.

13. Cancer cell walls have a tough protein covering. By refraining from or eating less meat it frees more enzymes to attack the protein walls of cancer cells and allows the body's killer cells to destroy the cancer cells.

14. Some supplements build up the immune system (… anti-oxidants, vitamins, minerals, EFAs etc.) to enable the body's own killer cells to destroy cancer cells. Other supplements like vitamin E are known to cause apoptosis, or programmed cell death, the body's normal method of disposing of damaged, unwanted, or unneeded cells.

15. Cancer is a disease of the mind, body, and spirit. A proactive and positive spirit will help the cancer warrior be a survivor. Anger, unforgiveness and bitterness put the body into a stressful and acidic environment. Learn to have a loving and forgiving spirit. Learn to relax and enjoy life.

16. Cancer cells cannot thrive in an oxygenated environment. Exercising daily, and deep breathing help to get more oxygen down to the cellular

Tyranny of the Urgent

2006-09-15T09:03:00.000-07:00

Nowadays, most people we meet seem to be busy, busy, busy. There are so many things to do, so many dinners to attend, so many dead lines to meet, etc. etc. There are so many things to see to, that we often forget the more important things in our lives. Things like spending quality time with family and friends. Take time to prepare good, healthy food for our loved ones including ourselves. Exercing for health. Talking to God.

As we grow older, we hear of friends whose health had failed. All the wealth in the world cannot be exchanged for the health they long for now. What is wealth without health?? Important things in life had been usurped by the so called URGENT MATTERS. In this busy world, we have the tendency to attend to urgent matters first, just because they are urgent. Things that are more important are often put on hold, or side-tracked becasue we always believe there is still tomorrow. We will catch up and do it another day. But unfortunately, by the time we have the time, our body may heave already sent out signals that need URGENT attention. Must it be urgent before we can pay attention to our health?

Health cannot be bought. Health can only be earned. Just like respect. You have to love your body - spend time exercising, eat good, wholesome, healthy food in order to enjoy good health. Do not put any junk into your body just because they taste good. There are lots of good, healthy food that are great tasting too. Just spend some time to look around. They are in abundance. Do this for yourself, and your loved ones. Remember, the "Tyranny of the Urgent" - do not mortgage your health for you may not be able to redeem it back later on . . . . . . .