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Posts with tag diet
Posted Sep 8th 2007 8:00AM by Jacki Donaldson
Filed under: Diets, Worthy Wisdom
It's not necessary to travel all the way to Tucson, Arizona or Lenox, Massachusetts for a little health enlightenment -- although I highly recommend it.
Canyon Ranch professionals are not stingy with their health secrets. They offer a
website for all to view, complete with all sorts of diet and fitness tips and and even an opportunity to sign up for an e-newsletter. In a binder I brought home from my trip to Tuscon in May, I've found even more resources, these specific to cooking. Take a look.
Recommended Magazines
Cooking Light (www.cookinglight.com)
Eating Well (www.eatingwell.com)
Fine Cooking, (www.finecooking.com)
Recommended CookbooksCanyon Ranch Cooks (1-800-726-8040)
Canyon Ranch Cooklets (available at canyonranch.com)
- Salad & Appetizers
- Soups
- Fish & Seafood
- Poultry
- Vegetables & Vegetarian
- Desserts
- Mexican
- The LPGA Cooks with Canyon Ranch
The Greens Cookbook by Deborah Madison & Edward Espe Brown
Jamie's Dinners by Jamie Oliver
How to Cool Everything by Mark Bittman
Continue reading Worthy Wisdom: Resources for healthy living
Posted Sep 8th 2007 7:00AM by Jacki Donaldson
Filed under: Breast Cancer, Bone Cancer, Diets, Cancer prevention foods, Blogs, Books, Cancer Survivors
Meg Wolff survived cancer -- twice. First she had bone cancer and lost her leg to the disease. Then she had breast cancer and was given little hope from doctors who thought traditional treatment could not save her. Maybe it couldn't. But Wolff found something that did save her -- a macrobiotic diet.
Life is all about balance, says Wolff who authors a
website rich in content about the connection between diet and a healthy lifestyle. She offers up-to-date information on her
blog, links to recipes and resources, a calendar of events, and a look at her very own book, titled,
Becoming Whole, The Story of My Complete Recovery from Breast Cancer.
Wolff says that by changing her diet, she has changed her destiny. She is alive and well and thriving. Give her a visit and see for yourself.
Posted Aug 30th 2007 7:00AM by Jacki Donaldson
Filed under: Prevention, All Cancers, Diets, Cancer prevention foods
David L. Katz, MD, responds to a reader in the September 2007 issue of
The Oprah Magazine about the merits of eating soy in relation to preventing cancer. His response causes me to pause even more about jumping on any diet bandwagon.
Katz says we should eat soy foods -- just not too much because the evidence linking soy to breast cancer, for example, is mixed.
In comparing soy-eating Japanese women with American women who eat very little soy, researchers find lower rates of breast cancer in the Japanese women. But in a test tube, soy's plant estrogens can speed cancer cell growth. Maybe soy behaves differently in the body than it does in a tube. Or maybe soy has both negative and positive effects on breast cancer. Perhaps it's not soy at all. It could be that the populations eating soy are benefiting from not eating something else, like meat -- the saturated fat found in red meat has been linked to higher cancer rates. Replacing steak with something else may be the protective key.
Continue reading To soy or not to soy
Posted Aug 28th 2007 7:00AM by Jacki Donaldson
Filed under: Diets, Exercise, Nutrition
Let's face it, there is no "secret" to losing weight. It's simple -- bank less calories than you spend and the weight will come off. You don't need to take pills or buy into the latest diet craze. Common sense is all you need.
I spoke with my oncologist the other day about my own weight loss -- I have lost nearly 14 pounds since the beginning of May, thanks to a no-sweets, low-sugar, low-fat, water-only diet with an emphasis on high fruit and veggie intake. Now this is no temporary diet. This is for life. My goal was never to lose a bunch of weight and then go back to eating junk -- I just wanted to shed a few cancer treatment-induced pounds while embracing a brand new healthy lifestyle.
My doctor was proud of my progress and shared his too -- he's lost eight pounds by cutting 500 calories from his diet each day. It sounds like a lot but this can be accomplished by cutting down on portions, giving up soda, and ditching high-calorie snacks. Observing the physical changes we both had made, he announced to the medical students in the room with us at the time that weight loss is not so hard -- well, maybe mentally hard, but not physically. He talked with his students about how to advise overweight patients -- surely a large percentage of people they see -- and reminded them of this formula: take in less than you spend. They nodded in agreement. And we moved on to other topics. There really was nothing more to say. Simple, I tell you. Give it a try.
Posted Aug 27th 2007 10:08AM by Patricia Mayville-Cox
Filed under: Diets
The
American Institute of Cancer Research says to take a second look at your picnic basket this upcoming Labor Day.
According to the organization, many Americans still cling to ideas that they have to fatten up for winter and view Labor Day as an excuse to indulge. Historically, the harvest festival was a celebration of the fruits of summer before winter, but now, accordring to AICR nutritionist Sally Wally, "Compared to those who came before us, every day's a harvest festival. But this pattern of eating has long-term repercussions on obesity rates and on rates of chronic diseases like cancer."
I agree that we should all take a second look at our party foods and try to find healthy alternatives. However, I' m not sure that people are eating fatty foods on Labor Day weekend in an attempt to "fatten up for winter." Such fatty foods are just easily available and have positive associations for people in terms of celebrating the holiday.
The organization recommends trying some healthy dishes instead. You can see some of these recipes at
The Recipe Corner on their website.
Posted Aug 13th 2007 10:49AM by Brian White
Filed under: All Cancers, Diets, Nutrition
With cancer being more and more understood as a result of genetic and environmental variables, it's quite surprising to see that half of all citizens in Britain do not understand the links that occur between one's diet and the possibility (or even treatment) of cancer.
This from the World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF), which recently conducted a poll that concluded with the percentage of those that were
unfamiliar with the connection between unhealthy foods and cancer -- a staggering 46% of those polled in Britain. I'm sure that same percentage (or even higher) would exist in the U.S.
Lifestyle choices are so varied these days (from extremely good to incredibly bad) that it's no surprise the cancer rate in industrialized countries is soaring. Education is then action is key, not staying uninformed and in the dark. What will you do?
Posted Aug 11th 2007 8:00AM by Jacki Donaldson
Filed under: Diets, Worthy Wisdom
I'm still synthesizing all of the information I gathered at
Canyon Ranch in Tucson, Arizona. I've been home from this health and healing institute for three months now. Still, I'm discovering new and exciting ways to put into action the tools I brought home.
One task I've mostly mastered is trimming the excess fat out of my diet. I never realized how much fat I was eating before I closely examined my habits. A
half order of cheese fries with ranch dressing during an occasional trip to the Outback was costing me 91 grams of fat -- not to mention 1,450 calories and 120 grams of carbohydrates. Now I steer clear of fatty foods and pay close attention to what I ingest. In case you want to jump on board, here are a few tips: Use skim or soy milk, pick low-fat cheeses, pick up some ground turkey instead of beef, and snack on fresh fruit instead of chips, dips, cookies, and cakes.
This is just a start. But a difference it will truly make.
Posted Aug 10th 2007 5:45PM by Patricia Mayville-Cox
Filed under: Prevention, Stomach Cancer, Diets, Gastric cancer
A Japanese
study by Shoichirio Tsugane and Shizuka Sasazuki examined the role of diet in the development of gastric, or stomach, cancer.
Helicobacter pylori infection is a strong and established risk factor for stomach cancer. After reviewing the evidence from many studies, the researchers found that the risk may also be increased with a high intake of various traditional Japanese salt-preserved foods. Processed meat and N-nitroso compounds may be associated with an increased risk of gastric cancer.
Gastric cancer risk is decreased with a high intake of fruit and vegetables, particularly fruit. The researchers note that it remains unknown what constituents in fruit and vegetables play a role in gastric cancer prevention. Consumption of green tea is also possibly associated with a decreased risk of gastric cancer, although the researchers note that the protective effect is limited to Japanese women, most of whom are nonsmokers.
Posted Aug 4th 2007 2:16PM by Patricia Mayville-Cox
Filed under: All Cancers, Diets, Nutrition, Cancer prevention foods, Vitamins and nutrients
Dr. Richard Wender, president of the American Cancer Society, took questions from readers as part of the New York Times feature on cancer last week.
Here is an interesting question from a reader about the role of antioxidants. Leanne asks about the use of antioxidants and other supplements during cancer treatment, specifically whether they are harmful and whether they can reduce the effectiveness of some chemotherapies.
Dr. Wender responds that "the same steps that help to prevent diabetes and heart disease also help to reduce your risk of cancer. First, maintain a healthy body weight and engage in regular exercise. Eating a diet rich in fruits and vegetables is a good idea, but it is not as effective in preventing cancer as having a normal weight. Avoid tobacco and excess sun exposure."
"Although studies of supplements have hinted at some value for certain cancers, the overall value appears to be much smaller than the lifestyle steps I have listed."
For more Q&As with Dr. Wender, please see
here.
Posted Jul 23rd 2007 6:00AM by Jacki Donaldson
Filed under: Thought for the Day
Cancer made me tired. It's a common side effect of the disease and its accompanying treatments, and it's been known to linger long after therapy stops. In order to combat my own drowsiness, I get plenty of sleep at night, I exercise just about every day -- physical activity, even when you feel too pooped to lift a finger, can increase energy levels -- and I try to eat only the healthiest foods, nothing that might make me feel sluggish. I'll take a stab at anything that might give me a boost. Maybe even lemonade, if I can find one low in sugar.
Research indicates that the taste of lemons can fight fatigue by stimulating a nerve in the nose, which then sets off "wake-up" sensors in the brain. So next time you need some extra pep in the morning or a lift during the afternoon, think about about sipping on some lemonade. And then let us know if it works.
Source:
Family Circle, July 2007
Posted Jul 18th 2007 9:00AM by Jacki Donaldson
Filed under: Breast Cancer, Prevention, Diets, Cancer prevention foods
I'm always skeptical about the connection between certain foods and cancer. There's just so much back and forth -- the lycopene found in tomatoes
prevents cancer and then
it doesn't, for example -- that I don't base any life decisions solely on so-called cancer prevention foods. I simply do what is best for my health. If it happens to keep cancer at bay, then I consider it a bonus.
I eat fruits and vegetables because I know they're good for me. It was nice, while it lasted, to think I was also cutting my risk of cancer recurrence but when it comes down to it, fruits and veggies are better than sweets and candies and junky carbohydrates. So they'll remain a staple in my life -- even though a large, seven-year study published in today's
Journal of American Medical Association dashes all hopes that a diet low in fat and jam-packed with fruits and vegetables prevents the return of breast cancer.
Five daily servings of fruits and veggies are recommended in the United States. This is more than most Americans get yet still doesn't make a difference for those trying to minimize their chances of breast cancer recurrence.
Continue reading Want to prevent breast cancer? Fruits and veggies won't do it
Posted Jul 15th 2007 8:00AM by Jacki Donaldson
Filed under: All Cancers, Environment, Diets, Exercise, Smoking, Sunday Seven
Who knows which pieces of cancer information floating around out there are actually true? I don't. Do cell phones cause cancer? Some say
yes, some say
no, I say
I'm confused! Luckily, I happened upon this
Discovery Health article that highlights a variety of myths and then offers the lowdown on each one. Here are seven of them:
Myth #1. There is currently a cure for cancer, but the medical industry won't tell the public about it because they make too much money treating cancer patients.Chalk this up to urban legend. And consider this: doctors, laboratory scientists, and their families and friends die of cancer at the same rate as everyone else in the United States. How about this: medical breakthroughs happen all the time and are quickly applied. Think about antibiotics and vaccines -- like the polio vaccine -- that have transformed health care. How about this? Not too long ago, less than one in 10 kids with leukemia survived 10 years. Now, the cure rate is nearly 80 percent. Seems like progress to me.
Continue reading Sunday Seven: Seven top cancer myths
Posted Jul 14th 2007 8:00AM by Jacki Donaldson
Filed under: Diets, Worthy Wisdom
Ever heard that the white stuff we eat is not so healthy? I've heard it, time and time again. I was reminded of this fact while at
Canyon Ranch in Tucson, Arizona this past April. My Ranch nutritionist confirmed it. And the foods I ate while at this health and healing institute derived from the whole wheat, whole grain, whole goodness family. There wasn't a slice of white bread in sight. No white pasta either. Or white rice. I did have a white baked potato one night for dinner -- but it was the smallest white baked potato I'd ever seen.
It's not so hard to transition from white to non-white. Just search your grocery store aisles for the healthier alternatives -- and buy them. Or make your own varieties of nutritious stuff. Like whole-wheat pizza crust. Remember when I wrote about
eating pizza once a week? Instead of ordering it, why not make your own? Here's how you might start:
Whole-Wheat Pizza Crust
Makes six pizza crusts, each containing 175 calories, 36 gm. carbohydrate, 1 gm. fat, 0 mg. cholesterol, 6 gm. protein, 150 mg. sodium, and 4 gm. fiber
Continue reading Worthy Wisdom: Out with the white, in with the wheat
Posted Jul 13th 2007 9:00AM by Jacki Donaldson
Filed under: Prevention, Diets
I like to be in control sometimes -- not always, but sometimes. I don't ever wish to be the top boss in any work scenario. I prefer to have a job and do it well without the stress of managing a whole operation. But I do like to be in charge of my schedule, my kids, my thoughts and emotions, the way my life progresses. Cancer? I'd love to have direct supervision over this pesky subject. Sadly, I don't. So I do my best at controlling the factors that might increase my risk of cancer recurrence. I do it through exercise and diet.
Recently, I realized that controlling my diet is best done at home. I can buy the most nutritious foods at the grocery store, bring them home, prepare them in a healthy fashion, and concoct the perfect portion sizes. Take me out of this home element and I get a little scared.
The other night, my husband and I went to Red Lobster for dinner. We had a gift card and were eager for a night out. Before we escaped our crazy kid household, though, we went
online to investigate the nutritional values of Red Lobster dishes. We were shopping for the healthiest options, and we were quite shocked to learn there aren't so many. Now we knew the all-fried fish platters would top the charts in calories, fat, and such. But fresh fish and veggies? Also fairly high in these same categories. We surmised it's the butter and oil used to cook our normally healthy fares that compromised these items and while we weren't so happy about the situation, we still went and did the best we could.
Continue reading Controlling cancer, one bite at a time
Posted Jul 7th 2007 8:00AM by Jacki Donaldson
Filed under: Diets, Stress Reduction, Exercise, Worthy Wisdom
In this
Worthy Wisdom series, I have been spouting off all sorts of grand ideas about health and healing, diet and nutrition, exercise and fitness. What I share all comes from
Canyon Ranch in Tucson, Arizona. I spent four days there. I plan to spend a lifetime practicing what their experts preach.
Canyon Ranch worked for me. I bought into every one of their healthy living approaches and for the two months since I've departed this desert destination, I've done just about everything right -- the eating, the exercising, the de-stressing. And as I sit here eating a bowl of red raspberries instead of a bag of chips and handfuls of M&Ms, I think it's only fair I make a confession.
I've made many attempts at changing my lifestyle. I've gone without sweets several times in my life, only to later reintroduce them into my daily routine and inevitably go way overboard on my consumption. The same goes for soda. There have been times when I've obsessed about exercise. And times when I've let it go altogether. My stress levels have been up and down and all around. I've searched long and hard for the motivation to change, to do better, be better, feel better. It took cancer to push me over the edge, toward positive and long-lasting change.
Continue reading Worthy Wisdom: A confession in health and healing
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