Posts Tagged ‘cancer’

Shift Workers Have Higher Cancer Rates

Tuesday, August 11th, 2009
Shift work is once again linked to an increased risk for cancer.
Multiple studies have linked night shift work to an increased risk for cancer.1-7
Now a new study in the American Journal of Epidemiology links rotating shift work
to an increased risk for prostate cancer in men.
1. Motohashi Y, Higuchi S. Shift work and health. Occup Health Rev 1999;12:125–44.
2. Davis S, Mirick DK, Stevens RG. Night shift work, light at night, and risk of breast cancer. J Natl Cancer Inst
2001;93:1557–62.
3. Hansen J. Increased breast cancer risk among women who work predominantly at night. Epidemiology 2001;12:
747.
4. Tynes T, Hannevik M, Andersen A, et al. Incidence of breast cancer in Norwegian female radio and telegraph
operators.  Cancer Causes Control 1996;7:197–204.
5. Megdal SP, Kroenke CH, Laden F, et al. Night work and breast cancer risk: a systematic review and meta-
analysis. Eur J Cancer 2005;41:2023–32.
6. Schernhammer ES, Laden F, Speizer FE, et al. Rotating night shifts and risk of breast cancer in women
participating in the Nurses’ Health Study. J Natl Cancer Inst 2001;93:1563–8.
7. Hormonal resynchronisation—an occupational hazard. Lancet Oncol 2002;3:323.
8. Am J Epidemiol 2006;164:549–555
Dr. Osborne’s Comment…
Improper sleep habits are a major contributing factor to poor health.  Many
studies have linked inadequate sleep to increased risk for cancer, autoimmune
diseases, high blood pressure, diabetes, hormone disruption, and more.  The
body has a natural circadian rhythm.  The hormone melatonin is secreted in
higher amounts through out the night during sleep.  This hormone has
antioxidant properties as well as cancer suppressing effects.  Inadequate sleep
suppresses melatonin pathways and diminishes its beneficial effects.
Studies show that the most beneficial sleep is between the hours of 10
pm and 2 am
Your body repairs and heals itself during sleep.
Artificial light sources in the bedroom should be turned off to prevent
disruptive sleep.
Keep in mind that some people require more sleep than others.
Generally speaking people require between 6 and 10 hours of sleep.
For a safe and natural alternative to help with sleep

Shift Work and CancerShift work is once again linked to an increased risk for cancer.

Multiple studies have linked night shift work to an increased risk for cancer.1-7
Now a new study in the American Journal of Epidemiology links rotating shift work
to an increased risk for prostate cancer in men.
  1. Motohashi Y, Higuchi S. Shift work and health. Occup Health Rev 1999;12:125–44.
  2. Davis S, Mirick DK, Stevens RG. Night shift work, light at night, and risk of breast cancer. J Natl Cancer Inst 2001;93:1557–62.
  3. Hansen J. Increased breast cancer risk among women who work predominantly at night. Epidemiology 2001;12:747.
  4. Tynes T, Hannevik M, Andersen A, et al. Incidence of breast cancer in Norwegian female radio and telegraph operators.  Cancer Causes Control 1996;7:197–204.
  5. Megdal SP, Kroenke CH, Laden F, et al. Night work and breast cancer risk: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Eur J Cancer 2005;41:2023–32.
  6. Schernhammer ES, Laden F, Speizer FE, et al. Rotating night shifts and risk of breast cancer in women participating in the Nurses’ Health Study. J Natl Cancer Inst 2001;93:1563–8.
  7. Hormonal resynchronisation—an occupational hazard. Lancet Oncol 2002;3:323.
  8. Am J Epidemiol 2006;164:549–555

Dr. Peter Osborne, Diplomate with the American Clinical Board of NutritionDr. Osborne’s Comment…

Improper sleep habits are a major contributing factor to poor health.  Many
studies have linked inadequate sleep to increased risk for cancer, autoimmune
diseases, high blood pressure, diabetes, hormone disruption, and more.  The
body has a natural circadian rhythm.  The hormone melatonin is secreted in
higher amounts through out the night during sleep.  This hormone has
antioxidant properties as well as cancer suppressing effects.  Inadequate sleep
suppresses melatonin pathways and diminishes its beneficial effects.
  • Studies show that the most beneficial sleep is between the hours of 10 pm and 2 am.
  • Your body repairs and heals itself during sleep.
  • Artificial light sources in the bedroom should be turned off to prevent disruptive sleep.
  • Keep in mind that some people require more sleep than others.
  • Generally speaking people require between 6 and 10 hours of sleep.
For a safe and natural alternative to help with sleep

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Vitamin D Cuts Cancer Risk in Half

Tuesday, August 11th, 2009

New research shows that getting plenty of vitamin D prolongs life and improves health. Vitamin D deficiency plays a role in causing seventeen varieties of cancer, as well as heart disease, stroke, hypertension, autoimmune diseases, diabetes, depression, chronic pain, osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, muscle weakness, muscle wasting, birth defects, and periodontal disease. (1) This does not mean that vitamin D deficiency is the only cause of these diseases. What it does mean is that vitamin D, and the many ways in which it affects a person’s health, must no longer be overlooked.

Here is a very important example: Ample intake of vitamin D (about 2,000 IU/day) can cut breast cancer incidence by half. (2) If vitamin D levels were increased worldwide, 600,000 cases of breast and other cancers could be prevented each year. Nearly 150,000 cases of cancer could be prevented in the United States alone.
A four-year study of 1,179 healthy, postmenopausal women showed that taking calcium, along with nearly three times the U.S. government’s recommendation of vitamin D3, showed a dramatic 60 percent or greater reduction in all forms of cancer. (3) Additionally, there is growing evidence that maintaining vitamin D evels in the body during the winter prevent the flu and other viral infections by strengthening the immune system (4).
How much vitamin D does the average person need? In the summer, those with at least 15 minutes of sun exposure on their skin most days should take 1,000 IU of vitamin D3 each day. In the winter, those with dark skin, or those who have little sun exposure on their skin, should take up to 4,000 IU each day. Suit your vitamin D3 supplementation to your lifestyle: those who have darker skin, are older, avoid sun exposure or live in the northern US should take the higher amounts.

Vitamin D is remarkably safe; there have been no deaths caused by the vitamin. (5) The best way to be sure you are getting the right amount is to have your doctor give you a blood test for 25-hydroxyvitamin D. If your vitamin D intake from all sources is maintaining your blood level at or near 50 ng/ml, you have a good vitamin D status. If it is more than 10% below this level, supplemental sources of vitamin D3 should be increased. People consuming only government-recommended levels of 200-400 IU/day often have blood levels considerably below 50 ng/ml. This means the government’s recommendations are too low, and should be raised immediately.

1. The Vitamin D Council, http://www.vitamindcouncil.com
2. Garland CF, Gorham ED, Mohr SB, Grant WB, Giovannucci EL, Lipkin M, Newmark H, Holick MF, Garland FC. Vitamin D and prevention of breast cancer: pooled analysis. J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol, 2007. Mar;103(3-5):708-11.
3. Lappe JM, Travers-Gustafson D, Davies KM, Recker RR, Heaney RP. Vitamin D and calcium supplementation reduces cancer risk: results of a randomized trial. Amer J Clin Nutrition, 2007. Vol. 85, No. 6, 1586-1591, June.
4. Cannell JJ, Vieth R, Umhau JC, Holick MF, Grant WB, Madronich S, Garland CF, Giovannucci E. Epidemic influenza and vitamin D. Epidemiol Infect, 2006. Dec;134(6):1129-40. Epub 2006 Sep 7.
5. Saul AW. Vitamin D: Deficiency, diversity and dosage. J Orthomolecular Med, 2003. Vol 18, No 3 and 4, p 194-204.

Dr. Peter Osborne, Diplomate with the American Clinical Board of NutritionDr. Osborne’s Comment…

For years dermatologists have been telling patients to avoid the sun because
exposure causes skin cancer.  However, a lack of adequate sunlight causes
vitamin D deficiency.  Vitamin D deficiency has been directly linked to multiple
types of cancer.  The truth is that humans require sunlight to maintain normal
health.  Keep in mind the following…
•  Common sense is encouraged.  Do not stay in the sun long enough to burn.
•  Typically the darker your skin, the more sunlight per day you require.
•  Remember that any sunscreen greater than SPF 8 will inhibit sunlight production of vitamin D in your skin.
•  Most windows contain screens that block UVB radiation required for vitamin D synthesis.
•  Vitamin D is very safe to take.
Have your doctor check your 25-OH D levels twice per year.  Once at the end of
Winter, and once at the beginning of Fall.  According to the leading researchers
on vitamin D, your levels should be 50 ng/ml or more.
Vitamins Are Safe
There is not even one death per year from vitamin supplementation.  (American
Journal of Emergency Medicine, Vol. 22, No. 5, September 2004.

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Common Plastics a Danger to Unborn Children..

Tuesday, August 11th, 2009
Commonly used plastics compound effects fetuses and
children…
A chemical used in the production of polycarbonate plastics, bisphenol
A (BPA), is raising concern over its effects in fetuses and children,
according to a draft report from the NIH.  The report, from the
National Toxicology Program, concludes that BPA presents “some
concern” that exposure of fetuses and children “can cause changes in
behavior and the brain, prostate gland, mammary gland, and the age
at which females attain puberty.” The report cites “negligible concern”
that BPA exposure leads to birth defects.  Polycarbonate plastics are
used in, among other things, bottles for water and infant formula or
breast milk. The draft report says that infants and children have the
highest intakes of BPA in the population.  The Canadian government
may declare the compound toxic as early as this week, an anonymous
source told the New York Times.
Dr. Osborne’s Comment…
Another example of how we over expose ourselves and our children
to compounds that have damaging health effects.  In the last issue,
we discussed diacetyl in popcorn as a compound in artificial butters
that can contribute to lung disease.  This however, is a much greater
problem, as we are surrounded by polycarbonate plastics.  More than
6 billion tons are put out each year.  They are used in storage and
drinking containers as well as a number of polymers and resins used
in industrial processing.  I find it alarming that baby bottles and food
containers contain BPA as this chemical is a known estrogen mimicker.
Why is this dangerous?  Estrogen can bring about long term
hormonal changes.  BPA has been shown to contribute to abnormal
behaviour and hyperactivity in children, brain damage, abnormal
sexual behaviour, early puberty, and reproductive abnormalities.
Protect yourself:
1. Try to avoid exposure by eliminating the use of these plastics.
2.  Support your body’s ability to protect and detoxify itself.
Exercise regularly to stimulate sweating as well as the flow of
blood and lymph fluids to help your body rid itself of toxins on a
regular basis.
Breathe!  Proper breathing can help increase oxygen into your
tissues supporting your overall metabolism.
Eat a diet rich in healthy meats, nuts, seeds, beans, fresh fruits
and vegetables and devoid of processed dairy, sugar, and grain
based foods.
Maintain adequate hydration.  Water is a catalyst for your
body’s ability to eliminate toxic substances.
Plastic bottles contain toxic BPAA chemical used in the production of polycarbonate plastics, bisphenol A (BPA), is raising concern over its effects in fetuses and children,  according to a draft report from the NIH.  The report, from the National Toxicology Program, concludes that BPA presents “some concern” that exposure of fetuses and children “can cause changes in behavior and the brain, prostate gland, mammary gland, and the age at which females attain puberty.” The report cites “negligible concern” that BPA exposure leads to birth defects.  Polycarbonate plastics are used in, among other things, bottles for water and infant formula or breast milk. The draft report says that infants and children have the highest intakes of BPA in the population.  The Canadian government may declare the compound toxic as early as this week, an anonymous source told the New York Times.

Dr. Peter Osborne, Diplomate with the American Clinical Board of NutritionDr. Osborne’s Comment…

Another example of how we over expose ourselves and our children to compounds that have damaging health effects.  In the last issue, we discussed diacetyl in popcorn as a compound in artificial butters that can contribute to lung disease.  This however, is a much greater problem, as we are surrounded by polycarbonate plastics.  More than 6 billion tons are put out each year.  They are used in storage and drinking containers as well as a number of polymers and resins used in industrial processing.  I find it alarming that baby bottles and food containers contain BPA as this chemical is a known estrogen mimicker.  Why is this dangerous?  Estrogen can bring about long term hormonal changes.  BPA has been shown to contribute to abnormal behaviour and hyperactivity in children, brain damage, abnormal sexual behaviour, early puberty, and reproductive abnormalities.

Protect yourself:

  1. Try to avoid exposure by eliminating the use of these plastics.
  2. Support your body’s ability to protect and detoxify itself.  Exercise regularly to stimulate sweating as well as the flow of blood and lymph fluids to help your body rid itself of toxins on a regular basis.
  3. Breathe!  Proper breathing can help increase oxygen into your tissues supporting your overall metabolism.
  4. Eat a diet rich in healthy meats, nuts, seeds, beans, fresh fruits and vegetables and devoid of processed dairy, sugar, and grain based foods.
  5. Maintain adequate hydration.  Water is a catalyst for your body’s ability to eliminate toxic substances.

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