Yoga popularity and breast cancer awareness have grown exponentially in the past years. And for good reason. More and more medical professionals are looking at mind-body techniques like yoga to improve quality of life factors, reduce  illness-related stress and possibly affect treatment outcomes in individuals suffering from a chronic or acute health condition.

A 2009 study published in the journal Psycho-Oncology showed that when women with breast cancer engaged in 75 minutes of restorative yoga postures over a ten-week period, they displayed less depressive symptoms and a greater improvement in mood than those women who did not participate in the yoga classes.

Other studies have shown a similar trend, namely that when yoga is part of a woman’s cancer treatment plan, their quality of life increases and their treatment-related symptoms like anxiety, depression and lethargy are also reduced. Medical professionals who recognize how mentally, physically and emotionally taxing a breast cancer diagnosis and consequent treatments can be are calling these handful of studies very significant for women and their cancer experience.

If you or a friend are interested in taking a yoga class as part of your breast cancer treatment, talk with your doctor first and then research yoga teachers and classes in your area that specialize in restorative yoga or illness-related yoga.

October is Breast Cancer Awarness Month. Join our Blogs Against Breast Cancer!

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Yoga Provides Relief to Breast Cancer Patients

At least one-third of annual cancer deaths in the United States are related to dietary factors. Increased fruit and vegetable consumption can reduce cancer risk, but less than one-third of U.S. adults eat the recommended servings of fruit and vegetables every day, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Eating healthy, including fruits and vegetables loaded with phytochemicals (powerful antioxidants), and following a low fat diet helps people manage weight and prevent disease! Think about it, every day you have choices of what to eat. You have the power to keep yourself healthy from the inside out.

What’s even more is that if you do get breast cancer, you can actually prevent recurrence by following a low fat diet.

The Women’s Intervention Nutrition Study (WINS) has shown that breast cancer survivors who cut their fat intake and increase their fruit and vegetable intake reduce their recurrence rate by 24 percent. For survivors with estrogen-receptor-negative tumors, the reduction is 42 percent.

Forty-two percent chance of preventing cancer recurrence?! That’s just amazing to me.

Here’s a run down on the fruit and veggie colors and what they can do for you:

• Red – Contain nutrients such as lycopene, ellagic acid, and Quercetin. They lower blood pressure, LDL (bad) cholesterol, and reduce the risk of cancer. Anti-inflammatory properties help with arthritis too.

• Orange and Yellow – Contain beta-carotene, zeaxanthin, flavonoids, lycopene, potassium, and vitamin C. They promote eye health, reduce the risk of prostate cancer, lower LDL cholesterol and blood pressure, promote collagen formation and healthy joints.

• Green – Contain chlorophyll, fiber, lutein, zeaxanthin, calcium, folate, vitamin C, calcium, and beta-carotene. They reduce cancer risks, lower blood pressure and LDL cholesterol levels, normalize digestion time, support retinal health and vision, fight harmful free-radicals, and boost immune system activity.

• Blue and Purple – Contain nutrients which include lutein, zeaxanthin, resveratrol, vitamin C, fiber, flavonoids, ellagic acid, and quercetin. They support eye health, lower LDL cholesterol, boost immune system activity, support healthy digestion, fight inflammation, reduce tumor growth, and act as an anticarcinogens in the digestive tract.

• White – Contain nutrients such as beta-glucans, EGCG, SDG, and lignans that provide powerful immune boosting activity. These nutrients also reduce the risk of colon, breast, and prostate cancers, and balance hormone levels, reducing the risk of hormone-related cancers.

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Eat More Colors to Cut Cancer Risk

It’s time for DietsInReview.com’s second annual Blogs Against Breast Cancer donation drive. During the month of October, Breast Cancer Awareness Month, if you publish this “My Blog Cares” button on your blog or Web site, we’ll donate $5 to the National Breast Cancer Foundation in honor of your site.

To participate follow these three steps:

1. Copy this code
   

   <a title="Health News" href="http://www.dietsinreview.com/diet_column/">
   <img src="http://www.dietsinreview.com/images/breast-cancer-donation.gif" alt="breast cancer donation" border="0"/></a>

2. Place the HTML on your blog or Web site
3. Contact us here with a link to where your My Blog Cares button is placed

It’s an easy way to show your readers that you care about this important women’s health issue, one that stands to impact one in eight women in the U.S.

Start taking steps to prevent breast cancer in yourself by incorporating positive nutrition and fitness practices in your life:

• Breast Cancer Survivors Benefit from Weight Lifting
• Yoga Eases Pain of Breast Cancer
• 5 Things You Must Know About Breast Cancer Prevention, but Probably Don’t
• Alcohol Increases Risk of Breast Cancer in Women
• 7 Healthy Strategies for Fighting Breast Cancer

DietsInReview.com will make a donation of $5 for each Web site or blog that publishes the “My Blog Cares” badge between October 1, 2009 and October 31, 2009, up to $500. Site owners must email us to notify of the badge placement. This donation will be made to the National Breast Cancer Foundation.

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Blogs Against Breast Cancer 2009

But one healthy behavior that breast cancer survivors have been discouraged to partake in is weight lifting, for it is believed that using weights and exercise machines induces swelling and pain around the breast tissue, particularly for those women who have a higher risk for lymphedema, or swollen and painful fluid-filled nodes that occur on the arms or on the hands. Women prone to lymphedema are often discouraged from lifting children, playing tennis or golf, or carrying a heavy bag. But according to a new study in the New England Journal of Medicine, these warnings from doctors may start to quiet down.

Women who participated in weight training sessions following breast cancer treatment had fewer symptoms of lymphedema and greater overall muscle strength. In addition, not only did strength increase, but also range of mobility and self-confidence in a number of the women in the study.

This study illustrates not just the wide-reaching benefits of strength training exercises, but it also shows us how our conventionally-held beliefs about certain areas of health may need to be reexamined. But thanks to well-controlled and boundary-pushing research endeavors like this one, as new data sheds light onto different outcomes, theories change and so do our health behaviors.

Lead researcher of the study, Kathryn Schmitz, an exercise scientist at the University of Pennsylvania, suggested that breast cancer survivors should not rush from the hospital to the gym, but rather they should start out slow and work with a certified personal trainer so that techniques are learned properly and gradually.

If you are a breast cancer survivor, it is important to speak with your doctor first before starting your own weight-training program.

Here is the complete research study from the New England Journal of Medicine.

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Breast Cancer Survivors Benefit from Weight Lifting

A recent study from Duke University Medical Center suggested that when women with breast cancer engaged in yoga postures, meditation and breathing exercises for two months, they experienced less pain and fatigue and were significantly more relaxed.

Although this study was small, just 13 women who have advanced breast cancer,  it does provide the first, tentative evidence for yoga’s potential benefits in this vulnerable population of women with limited life expectancy, says lead author of the study,  Dr. James W. Carson.

Creating harmony and a sense of peace for those coping with cancer is a trying and very difficult process. While mind-body practices like yoga and tai-chi, which have been around for thousands of years, are believed to reduce stress and impart many other health benefits, validating their efficacy in rigorous scientifically-controlled studies is not easy. But this study, albeit small, does provide us with important evidence that illustrates yoga’s powerful effects in helping us react to situations, as serious as they may be, with acceptance and equanimity.

Other studies on breast cancer patients shows that yoga might assist with improving sleep, improving physical strength, boosting energy and enhancing the overall quality of life.

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Yoga Eases Pain of Breast Cancer

The National Breast Cancer Foundation was selected as the recipient of our $555 donation. There were 535 new sign-ups, and four people published the Blogs Against Breast Cancer button for a $5 donation each.

We are pleased to offer this donation to the National Breast Cancer Foundation, and hope that it’s one more step toward finding a cure.

Learn more about the ways diet, nutrition and fitness can reduce your risk of breast cancer.

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DietsInReview.com Makes Donation to National Breast Cancer Foundation

1.  Your underwire bra is highly suspect!
A healthy lymphatic system is key to cancer prevention.  It cleans out toxins and waste products in our blood and is fueled by proper blood circulation.  Many important lymph nodes are located in the armpit area.  The wire from a bra commonly cuts off circulation in that area, disabling the lymph system to properly eliminate cancer-causing waste materials we accumulate.

2. Plastic water bottles can’t be trusted!
It is known that carcinogens are released from plastic bottles when exposed to sunlight.  Although you can be careful not to expose your bottled water to sunlight, who is to say how much exposure it received in transit?To be on the safe side, purchase a home filtration system and stock up on a few re-usable water bottles like SIGG (Swiss Engineered Water Bottles).

3. Milk consumption is linked to breast cancer.
Doing a search on google for “milk and breast cancer” will return many studies linking milk consumption to breast cancer.

However beware switching to soy milk!

Soy contains isoflavones, a plant-like estrogen which mimics human estrogen.  Since most breast cancers depend on keeping estrogen levels low, drinking a lot of soy is suspected to do more harm than good.  Experts recommend 100 milligrams of isoflavones a day.  The important thing to realize here is we are already unknowingly consuming a lot of soy as it makes it’s way into a wide variety of food products.

Healthier alternatives without negative studies attached to them are:
- Goat’s milk
- Rice milk
- Almond milk

4.  Mammogram check-ups linked to cancer!

The most shocking of them all is that the cancer prevention check-up is linked to actually causing cancer itself!

A shocking article on Dr. Mercola’s site exposes negative outcomes of mammograms such as:
- They expose your body to radiation up to 1,000 times greater than that from a chest x-ray.
- It compresses your breasts tightly, and often painfully, which could lead to a lethal spread of cancerous cells, should they exist.
- Women have unnecessarily undergone mastectomies, radiation and chemotherapy after receiving false positives on a mammogram.
- Just thinking you may have breast cancer, when you really do not, focuses your mind on fear and disease, and is actually enough to trigger an illness in your body.

A healthy alternative recommended by Dr. Mercola is Thermography.

5.  Some Companies Promoting a Cure are Part of the Problem
Organizations such as Think Before you Pink are urging you to call companies out on the fact that their products, despite their pink ribbons, are part of the problem because they manufacture products that are linked to the disease!

Learn more ways to prevent breast cancer through fitness and nutrition.

Guest Blog Series: Look for the following badge on your favorite health sites to see if they have been a featured guest blogger on DietsInReview.com.

See other posts in the Guest Blog series. If you would like to apply to be featured as a guest blogger, please contact us.

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5 Things You Must Know About Breast Cancer Prevention, but Probably Don’t

To participate follow these 3 steps:

1. Copy this code
   <a title=”Health News” href=”http://www.dietsinreview.com/diet_column”>
   <img src=”http://www.dietsinreview.com/images/breast-cancer-donation.gif” alt=”breast cancer donation” border=”0″/></a>
2. Place the HTML on your blog
3. Contact us here with a link to where your My Blog Cares button is placed

It’s an easy way to show your readers that you care about this important health issue, that stands to impact one in eight women in the U.S.

When anyone signs up for the DietsInReview.com newsletter during October, we’ll donate $1 to further breast cancer research. You could help us donate up to $6 – money that will go a long way in the research for finding a cure.

Learn more about our Biggest Donation and Biggest Giveaway ever, and ways you can live a healthier life to prevent breast cancer for yourself.

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Blogs Against Breast Cancer

Eating a healthy diet and staying physically fit are two of the most important ways your body can fight to prevent breast cancer. Here are 10 products that are blushing pink that you can take to the gym, and proceeds will go to support breast cancer causes.

1. Susan G. Komen Nintendo DS – You can use this hand-held video game to run the My Weight Loss Coach “game.” It acts as a virtual fitness coach, with a built-in pedometer, measures progress with graphs and daily reminders and advice. 

2. Koss “for the Cure” SportsBud Ear Phones – The right tunes jamming in your ears is often all the motivation you need to get moving in the gym. Plug-in with these hot pink ear buds.

3. MioPINK Heart Rate Monitor Watch with Calorie Burn Calculation – Be sure you’re getting the most effective workout possible, by watching your heart rate and monitoring the total calories burned while exercising.

4. Via Step Susan G. Komen Pedometer – A tool to work toward reaching a daily goal of 10,000 steps, and you can clip it on your shorts while doing a Race for the Cure in your community.

5. Reebok Women’s Avon Walk for Breast Cancer Corfu Sandal – Once you’ve finished your Race for the Cure, reward your feet by slipping into these sandals at the post-run festivities for a comfortable fit.

6. Thorlo Women’s Pink Pad Breast Cancer Sock – Boasting it has more blister protection than any other sock on the market, the wicking action will keep feet dry and comfortable while running or working out.

7. Share the Care Pink Ribbon Embroidered Cap – Keep the sun from your eyes or your ponytail strongly secured under this comfortable ball cap with an embroidered “Share the Care” message.

8. Breast Cancer Awareness Stainless Steel Water Bottle – Fill with your favorite water before hitting the gym to stay hydrated and ensure you’ve got energy to power through. Use the clip to hook to your pants and go for a hike or jog.

9. Pink Ribbon Carry-All Tote Bag – Load up all your pink ribbon loot and head to the gym carrying this cute bag, large enough to hold a change of clothes and tennis shoes.

10. Master Lock Breast Cancer Research Foundation Padlock – Keep your belongings safe and secure at the gym, and let everyone know you support research for Breast Cancer, by locking-up with this pink padlock.

Learn how you can help DietsInReview.com donate $1 to breast cancer research on your behalf during Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and win some great prizes!

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Top 10 Pink Products to Take to the Gym

I’m not saying avoid alcohol all together, I’m just saying be aware and practice moderation. Women thinking about having a few glasses of wine a day for their heart-healthy effects need to figure in the new findings when weighing the risks and benefits. It’s important to realize the regular, repeated use increases the chance of breast cancer and having a glass of wine or beer on occasion is not a problem. Besides, by limiting your alcohol intake not only will you help reduce your risk of breast cancer, but you can also cut calories and slim down your waist line.

Learn how you can help DietsInReview.com donate $1 to breast cancer research on your behalf during Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and win some great prizes!

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Alcohol Increases Risk of Breast Cancer in Women