on my mind monday 11.19.12

It's never the same two weeks in a row.  A collection of what I find interesting in the world of food, nutrition, and holistic health.  Read what's on my mind.

High Riboflavin Linked to Low Lung Cancer Risk - This study was done as part of the Shanghai Women's Health Study, the participants were non-smoking females.  Not sure what the implication is for those who used to smoke but it sure can't hurt to make sure you eat foods high in riboflavin. These include:  venison, yogurt, milk, crimini mushrooms, and spinach.

Rooftop Hospital Farms - This is a great way for hospitals to utilize the space on top of their building, create healthy menus for the patients and staff, and help to contribute to a growing eco-friendly environment.  I can also envision this as a potential park-like area for inner-city patients (those able to be ambulatory), and staff to be able to spend therapeutic time in a green environment.

Fat loss odds stacked against you - It's a never-ending battle of the bulge.  Portion sizes, especially when eating out, are out of control.  Fats and sugars and salts are packed into foods to make them more tempting and convince us to overeat.  It is not in the best (profit-driven) interests of corporations to have consumers who don't overeat -- read overspend on food and then the attendant pharmaceutical/healthcare bills that come along with obesity.  We need to become more aware and more proactive in managing our health and our consumption.

Exercise Your Sperm - Turns out men who exercise not only improve their own health, they also improve the quality of their sperm.  Important for those who want to have children.  Interestingly enough the study found that endurance athletes, such as triathletes, did not have this benefit as they suffered from reduced sperm quality.  Rather it was moderate exercise which promoted the best value of sperm health and hormone levels.

One Can Equals 22 Aerobic Minutes - How hard do you have to work to burn off that cola?  And don't forget about the immune suppressing effects of all that sugar.  Drinking sugar free?  You're still taking in toxic chemicals and damaging your health. Do we really need a "calculator" to tell us that soda is not a healthy beverage choice?

I know you hear me on Facebook frequently encouraging alkalizing. Here's a great video that shows a good explanation of the acid-alkaline balance.  If you're not already participating, sign up or "like" my Facebook Fan Page to stay connection and be part of the conversation.

photo: mconnors

the whole food guide for breast cancer survivors

For all of those out there who have survived breast cancer there is now a book, The Whole Food Guide For Breast Cancer Survivors, that goes beyond primary treatment and survival.  With the information in this book you can learn how to support your body, to be can be healthy and strong using nutrition and a holistic health focus.

Covering a wide variety of topics including environmental risk factors, understanding hormones, glucose and metabolism, chemical exposures, and even a thorough explanation of those nutrients and foods which are highly supportive to health, this book covers the broad spectrum of what you need to know.  Providing background material and in-depth studies the work is well-supported and scientifically grounded.

Written in a straightforward and easy to understand manner the book provides a solid foundation of knowledge for anyone wanting to gain a deeper understanding of how their food affects their body and their health when breast cancer is involved.  It also includes a wide variety of delicious recipes, the foundations of eating for health, a sample meal plan, and ideas for incorporating these healthy and delicious food choices into your diet.

It isn't, however, just a discussion of nutrients and chemicals; the book also points out various types of therapy, diagnostic tools, and laboratories that offer additional or alternative treatments for breast cancer.  There are educational resources including books and support organizations.  The resource section even lists a number of retreats that are specifically for breast cancer patients, survivors, and some are also for family members.

If you or someone you love is a breast cancer survivors, this book would be a great resource.  But it's not just for survivors, it would also be an excellent roadmap for those who may discover that they are at risk for breast cancer.

disclaimer: cmp.ly/5, cmp.ly/1, cmp.ly/6