Recent Blog Posts
Are There Dangers of Genetically Modified Foods?
Are There Dangers of Genetically Modified Foods? For years grocery shoppers have been buying and eating genetically modified foods whether they knew it or not. At first even people who did know they were eating genetically modified food didn't worry about it because they saw no reason to. But as more information from scientific studies has reached consumers, more people are beginning to wonder if some medical problems might be linked to the consumption of these foods. GM foods have already infiltrated the U.S. market, and labeling is not required. For any scientific endeavor to be in the best interest of society, the benefits must outweigh the disadvantages. There are supposed advantages with genetically modified food, but some research is suggesting the disadvantages may win out in the long run. The Basic Principles of Genetic Modification Broadly speaking, there are two ways that a food crop can be genetically modified. The first method has been around since our ancestors first began to actually grow food instead of just foraging for it. That method is usually called cross-breeding. You find [...]
Iodine Deficiency and Breast Cancer: Is a Deficiency in This Vital Mineral the Cause?
Iodine Deficiency and Breast Cancer: Is a Deficiency in This Vital Mineral the Cause? The number of women diagnosed with breast cancer has been increasing dramatically in recent years. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, breast cancer is now the second most common cancer found in U.S. women and is the number one cause of cancer-related death in Hispanic women. One in every eight U.S. women will be diagnosed with breast cancer; arming yourself with the latest prevention information, including the important role of iodine, may help reduce your risk. One out of every eight women is diagnosed with the disease, with a staggering 4,000 new cases diagnosed weekly. Every year in the United States, more than 186,000 women are diagnosed with breast cancer and more than 41,000 die as a result of the disease. With all of the research and effort dedicated to cancer research, women want answers to prevent, treat and gain remission from the grip of breast cancer. Informed women are aware of the actions they can take to minimize their risk of [...]
Eight Key Nutrients to Help Prevent Breast Cancer — and Where to Find Them
Eight Key Nutrients to Help Prevent Breast Cancer -- and Where to Find Them Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women in the United States, accounting for one in three of all women cancer cases diagnosed. Annually, more than 211,000 women are diagnosed with the disease, according to the American Cancer Society, along with nearly 1,700 men. It's estimated that over 40,000 women will die of breast cancer this year, surpassed only by lung cancer deaths. Another 460 men will also die from the disease. One in seven U.S. women has, or will develop, breast cancer during her lifetime. While age (over 65) and family history are unchangeable factors associated with an increased risk of breast cancer, there are other factors you can control. Lifestyle factors, including drinking two or more drinks a day and not exercising, along with being obese, all increase the risk. Along these lines, eating a healthy diet that includes the foods and nutrients noted below may help to reduce your risk and prevent you from becoming one of the one in [...]
What to do AFTER a Workout to Get Maximum Benefit From Your Exercise
What to do AFTER a Workout to Get Maximum Benefit From Your Exercise It's somewhat instinctive to warm-up before a workout. You may jog in place a little, shake out your arms, do a few stretches, and some other movements to get your heart pumping and your body feeling loose before you exercise. After you're done exercising, however, you may be tired, and taking the time to cool down and support your body post-workout may be the last thing on your mind. What you do AFTER your workout can mean the difference between sore muscles and fatigue, or stronger muscles and increased energy. But as you may suspect, establishing a proper after-workout routine is incredibly important. Taking care of your body after exercise will impact your muscles (their strength and soreness), how well your exercise is received and even how much strain you put on your heart. So if you're taking the healthy step of exercising, be sure to extend it to include these simple, yet essential, after-workout tips. Stretch Right After Your Workout According to the Mayo [...]
Irritable Desk Syndrome The Surprising Health & Psychological Benefits of a Clean, Uncluttered Desk
Irritable Desk Syndrome The Surprising Health & Psychological Benefits of a Clean, Uncluttered Desk Despite their best intentions, many workers fall prey to desk clutter. And from behind their towering paper piles, old coffee mugs, outdated manuals and the swarms of unused office supplies, they usually shout out the old adage that "a clean desk is a sign of a sick mind" in self-defense. In truth, most of us sense that a cluttered desk actually leads to disorganization, a bad impression on coworkers, internal feelings of disarray and a cluttered mind. What's surprising, though, is that a messy desk can actually make you sick -- and there's a new syndrome to describe it. Some 40 percent of U.S. office workers say they're "infuriated" by a cluttered desk. Irritable Desk Syndrome Researchers at NEC-Mitsubishi, a maker of computer monitors, questioned 2,000 office workers and found many to be suffering from "Irritable Desk Syndrome" (IDS). IDS is caused by working long hours at a cluttered desk, often with poor posture. The combination can lead to both physical and mental symptoms, [...]
Napping … Is it Good for You? Should You do It?
Napping … Is it Good for You? Should You do It? Giving in to a daytime catnap might have been frowned upon in the past, but now new research has put to bed previous nap naysayers. A new study has shown that a little daytime shuteye can actually provide health benefits. This will give you just the right amount of sleep to feel energized instead of groggy. According to a past issue of the Harvard Health Letter, catching a daytime nap is a good way to catch up on the sleep you lose at night, sleep that may become more difficult as you age due to natural age-related decline in the quality of your nighttime sleep. Getting Over the Midafternoon Slump The case of the drowsies may seem to hit the same time every afternoon and does so for several reasons. The first is a biological element. Your biological clock, located in the hypothalamus of your brain, is regulated and impacted by many physiological processes such as body temperature, blood pressure and secretion of digestive juices. The circadian [...]