Did you know…

Just in from the Nurses Health Study:

• Women who are overweight have an increased risk of colorecatal cancer, diabetes and memory problems.
• Women who work rotating night shifts for 20 years have an 80% higher risk of breast cancer. This is thought to be related to decreased levels of melatonin.
• Age related cataracts may be decreased by consumption of “fatty” fish, such as salmon or mackerel at least once a week.
• Inadequate sleep can lower immune function and increase the risk of cardiovascular disease, as well as decrease cognitive-function scores and cause memory problems.
• Regular physical exercise and long-term use of antioxidant vitamins prevent or delay memory loss.
• Regular physical activity, walking 3-5 hours per week, can reduce a woman’s risk of getting breast cancer. Exercise can also decrease the risk of dying from breast cancer by 50%.
  

Other health facts:

• Yeast infections, jock itch and athlete’s foot are all signs of a systemic overgrowth of yeast in the intestines caused by too much sugar, antibiotics and/or steroid use. Yeast problems can usually be helped with dietary changes and herbs.
• Chronic yeast infections may be an early warning sign of diabetes or HIV.
• Tryptophan, the ingredient in turkey that supposedly makes you sleepy, can actually be bought over the counter at health food stores as a sleep aid.
• You can substitute applesauce cup-for-cup in place of fat in some baking recipes.
• One of the most common symptoms of heart attack in women is indigestion.
• Butter is healthier for your heart than margarine.
• Allergy shots work on the same principal as homeopathic medicine.
• Nausea and even bronchitis can be a symptom of acid reflux disease, as well as burning, indigestion and gas.
• Children ages 0 - 3 years who live with dogs and cats are less likely to be allergic to them.
• Approximately 1-in-4  women (and 1-in-5 men) in this country carries, and can spread herpes. Some people do not have any symptoms.
• People need some type of fat in their diet every day. Olive oil is one of the best.
• Gall bladder pain may be caused by food allergies, gallstones or a sluggish gall bladder. Gall bladder pain is most commonly seen in women at or above age 40, fair of skin and at least slightly overweight. Sluggishness may be corrected with dietary changes, and cleansing, in some cases. Gall stones usually require medical intervention and likely surgery. Gall bladder pain deserves an ultrasound to check for the presence of stones.
• Much of our immune system is in our intestines.
• Many disease processes can be traced to a too acidic balance of the body due to acidic food intake (sugars, fruit).
• Eating yogurt with active cultures, or taking multidophilus is helpful during and after antibiotics treatments; just don’t take it within two hours of the antibiotics. Dophilus should be heat tolerant or kept refrigerated at all times.
• A great source of calcium and iron is leafy green vegetables. Mother knows best!
• A diet high in fruit and vegetables may prevent macular degeneration.

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