Breastfeeding for six months can delay breast cancer onset by a decade

Spanish study of 504 women shows earlier onset of breast cancer in women who breastfed for less than six months

Photograph: Justin Paget/Corbis

In an article published by The Guardian on August 15, Denis Campbell says: "Breastfeeding is so protective against breast cancer that it can delay the onset of the disease by 10 years – but only among women who do so for over six months and do not smoke, new research has found.
The authors of a Spanish study of 504 female breast cancer patients aged 19 to 91, published in the Journal of Clinical Nursing, say that cases of the disease could be cut dramatically if many more women breastfed.
"Breastfeeding for periods of over six months not only provides children with numerous health benefits, but also protects the mother from serious diseases such as breast cancer," says the research, led by Emilio González-Jiminéz of the University of Granada.
Non-smoking women who breastfed their baby for at least six months were diagnosed on average at the age of 68.4, more than a decade later than both non-smokers who had not breastfed or done so for less then three months who were diagnosed on average at 58 years, and non-smokers who had breastfed for between three and six months (57 years). Breastfeeding reduces a woman's risk of breast cancer by 4.3% for each year she does so, the authors say.
But female smokers who breastfed received no benefit in terms of when they were diagnosed with the disease, regardless of how long they fed their child naturally, the study found.
"Based on these findings, the incidence of this disease could be reduced from 6.3% to 2.7% if women breastfed their children for more than six months," the authors say. A move away from breastfeeding is a crucial factor behind an increase in breast cancer cases, they add.
The findings confirm the results of other studies. Both breastfeeding and pregnancy are thought to help protect women against breast cancer by reducing estrogen levels.

Animation about diabetes and the body

Clicking on the image below will launch a video presentation, which describes the two types of diabeter, and effectively explains how they affect the body.  I totally agree with the viewers who have found it the best they have seen on this subject.   It offers an excellent and clear explanation of the processes involved, visually and orally.

Prepare for your doctor appointment

Invariably these days you only have approximately 15 minutes, and in some special cases up to 30 minutes to consult with or discuss your medical problems with your doctor.  It is therefore of great importance to make the most of the time you have with the doctor, to ensure you get the care you need.

The key to a successful consultation is communication.  You need to communicate your needs, understand your diagnosis, and discuss your treatment options.

The more accurately and completely you can describe your symptoms, the more likely it is that your doctor can identify your health problems and prescribe an effective course of treatment.  Before your appointment, write down all your symptoms, noting when they started, and whether they get worse at  certain times of the day or in certain situations.  Also write a brief outline of your medical history, and be sure to list all the medications you are currently taking.

Once you have identified your symptoms, research them.  The more you can learn about the possible causes of your symptoms - and what your treatment options may be  - the better equipped you will be to discuss your care with your doctor and understand his or her instructions.  With practice you will find that you will improve with respect to formulating your search words and descriptions of your symptoms.

This preparation, described above, will not only lead to a better focused communication between you and your doctor, and hence more efficient and effective, but it should also help you lead the conversation with your doctor.  If you have a printer, print it all out, so that the doctor can read it all or follow what you are saying much more easily.

One day, many years ago, when I still lived in Ottawa, Canada, I went into a naturopathy store to buy something, and while I was waiting to be attended I decided to check out a book on vitamins and minerals that was lying on the counter.  I became quite impressed by the index in the back, and quickly determined that it would be a particularly useful book for me, so I bought it.  At home I read it quickly, and highlighted all passages that were of particular interest, so that they would be easy to locate.  I found that some of the information lent itself very well as background material to discuss with my doctor, Michael Phillipowski, in a couple of days, in conjunction with my cholesterol problem, so I typed the extracts, and printed them.  They covered 7 typed pages.  Dr. Phillipowski's office was just down the street from my home, so on my way home from work the day before my appointment I decided to leave the printouts with his receptionist.

I was waiting for dr. Phillipowski in his office when he suddenly opened the door, with a big smile on his face when he said hello.  He quickly went to his desk, and as soon as he was seated he told me he had read all my seven pages, and found it all quite interesting.  He added that nobody had ever presented him with such a synopsis befiore, and he obviously liked it very much.  In fact, he quickly asked me whether I would like to meet the only lipid expert in the city, dr. Ruth McPherson, the head of the lipid clinic at the Ottawa Civic Hospital, currently known as the University of Ottawa Heart Institute.  She is now Director, Atherogenomics Laboratory and Lipid Clinic, and is also Director of Research, Division of Cardiology, at the institute, and Professor, Departments of Medicine and Biochemistry, at the University of Ottawa.  You can read about her research and clinical interests by clicking on preceding link with her name.  She is an exceptionally competent doctor and researcher, with great personal, as well as staff accomplishments to refer to, which deserves a separate post later. Both she, and the head of the cardiology unit, that later treated my hypertension, quickly brought my cholesterol and hypertension under control.

If you are likely to need a medical procedure - whether surgery or a diagnostic test, such as a colonyscopy or mammogram - learn all you can about the procedure before your visit so you'll understand your options and be able to discuss them intelligently.  Articles, slideshows, and videos are available for many procedures that explain the purpose of the procedure, how it is performed, the risks involved and what you will need to do to prepare for it.

Your relationship with your doctor is a partnership.  The better able you are to communicate needs and understand your options, the more productive your appointment will be and the more likely you are to get the treatment you need.  The time you have with your doctor is all too brief.  A little preparation will help you make the most of your next appointment.

  

How you can live up to 9 years longer

A study by Loma Linda University (LLU) in California, conducted in the 1970s and 1980s was the first to demonstrate the life extending benefits of being a vegetarian after tracking thousands of Seventh-day Adventists starting back in 1958. Researchers studied this particular religion because of its strong emphasis on a vegetarian lifestyle.

In 2002, the National Institutes of Health gave the university a grant in order to continue their research on the Seventh-day Adventists, and it is currently halfway through completion. For the study, they are looking at 96,000 Americans and Canadians. So far, the results are just as dramatic as they were in the first study.

Principal investigator Gary E. Fraser, MD, Ph. D, spoke at the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics’ 2012 Food & Nutrition Conference & Expo, noting that Vegetarian Adventist women live an average of 85.7 years (6.1 years longer than the California average) and vegetarian men live an average of 83.3 years (9.5 years above the average).

The second study also found that vegans weigh 13.6 kg (30 pounds) less than meat eaters on average, and are generally five units lighter on the BMI scale.

Vegetarians and vegans were also shown to be less insulin resistant than carnivores, and pesco-vegetarians (those who limit animal products to once a week or so) saw “intermediate protection”  against certain diseases.

Researchers also found that obesity shortens an African American’s life by 6.2 per cent, and that – contrary to previous findings – across all races, there was no notable protective qualities found in fat in seniors above the age of 85.

For the study, half the population followed are vegetarian and 25 per cent are African American.
The vegetarian diet is heavy in  fruits, vegetables, legumes and nuts, which are all found to reduce a person’s risk for serious health conditions such as cancer, heart disease, type 2 diabetes and obesity.

According to US & Canadian Dietary Reference Intake guidelines, women aged 19–70 need to consume 46 grams of protein per day, while men aged 19–70 need to consume 56 grams of protein per day to avoid a deficiency. The American and Canadian guidelines recommend a daily protein dietary allowance, measured as intake per kilogram body weight, is 0.8 g/kg. However, this recommendation is based on structural requirements, but disregards use of protein for energy metabolism. This requirement is for a normal sedentary person.


Several studies have concluded that active people and athletes may require elevated protein intake (compared to 0.8 g/kg) due to increase in muscle mass and sweat losses, as well as need for body repair and energy source. Suggested amounts vary between 1.6 g/kg and 1.8 g/kg, while a proposed maximum daily protein intake would be approximately 25% of energy requirements i.e. approximately 2 to 2.5 g/kg.

The foods listed below will go a long way toward allowing you to consume as much protein as your body needs under a vegetarian or vegan diet:

Nuts

Peanuts, almonds, walnuts, pecans, pistachios and other nuts are healthy choices for a protein boost. 28 grams (g) (one ounce) of peanuts contains 7 grams of protein.

Quinoa

A celebrated superfood, quinoa is a grain similar to rice, and contains 8 grams of protein and a significant amount of fiber per cooked cup.

Spinach

Consider using spinach as your salad base, as one cup contains 5 grams of protein.

Beans

Hummus is a great substitute for veggie dip since garbanzo beans (chickpeas) contain 15 grams of protein, as do black and kidney beans.

Lentils

For as much protein as three ounces of steak, consume lentils. At 18 grams a cup, they are an iron rich superfood.

Greek Yogurt

With between 13 to 18 grams of protein per serving and less sugar than regular yogurt, Greek yogurt is the smarter choice.

Tofu

A half cup contains more than 10 grams of protein.

Tempeh

A firmer version of tofu, soybean-based tempeh contains 15 grams of protein.

Human Genes Affected by Different Types of Happiness

A recent study, conducted by researchers at the Universirty of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), and the University of North Carolina (UNC), states that a good state of mind,  a term meaning "mood" or "outlook",  i.e. being happy, affects your genes, and that different types of happiness have  different impacts on the human genome. In this study the researchers have examined the impact of positive psychology.

This study was conducted by Steven Cole, a UCLA professor of medicine and a member of the UCLA Cousins Center, and Barbara L. Fredrickson, from UNC.  Previously, researchers have examined how the human genome responds to fear, stress, misery and other types of negative psychology. 

In the current study, researchers have tried to analyze how human genomes respond to positive psychology.  They even tried to analyze whether a good state of mind activates a different kind of gene expression.  

To proceed with the study the researchers examined the biological inference of both hedonic and eudaimonic well being through the human genome lens - 21,000 genes that have evolved fundamentally to help humans survive and be well.  

Eudaimonic well being is the happiness that one gets from having a deep sense of purpose and meaning in life.  Hedonic well being is the happiness one receives from 'consummatory' self gratification.  

Analyzing the data, the researchers saw that people with greater levels of eudaimonic well being displayed a favourable gene expression profile in their immune cells.  Apart from that, they had reduced levels of inflammatory gene expression and strong antiviral and antibody gene expression.  

The hedonic followers had an adverse expression profile that involved high inflammation and low antiviral and antibody gene expression.   

"Both seemed to have the same high levels of positive emotion.  However, their genomes were responding very differently even though their emotional states were similarly positive.  What this study tells us is that doing good and feeling good have very different effects on the human genome, even though they generate similar levels of positive emotion.  Apparently, the human genome is much more sensitive to different ways to achieving happiness than are conscious minds,"  Cole concluded.
The study was published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

'An Apple a Day' Keeps the Psychiatrist Away

You all know the saying that "an apple a day keeps the doctor away", however, according to a study, conducted in 2012, and reported in the Science World Report on July 11, 2013, involving 80,000 participants,   researchers found that happiness and strong mental health may actually be higher in those who consume daily portions of fruits and veggies. In fact, the study showed that higher levels of happiness and better health actually stemmed from daily portions of fruit and vegetable intake.

They also found that well-being can come from seven portions of fruit and vegetables a day, at approximately 80 g (2.8 ounces) per serving. According to background information from the study, researchers used seven different measures to record a sense of well-being and purposely made the sample size very large so that they could determine adequate demographic, social and economic variables.

The results showed amazing benefits for fruits and veggies, many of which are high in antioxidants, proteins, and offer other incredible nutritional benefits that will be expounded in future posts in this blog.

The authors of the study also claim that little has been done before about the benefits of fruits and vegetables and it's relationship to mental health, the importance of which is also finally becoming increasingly recognized by professionals and hopefully politicians and the public at large.  Improved diet, combined with regular and proper exercise will undoubtedly go a long way toward reducing the need for expensive psychiatric care.   As stated in another axiomatic quotation:  "prevention is better than cure."