The poor access to healthy, affordable food in our inner cities and rural communities is partly to blame.  These nutritional wastelands offer families fast food chains and convenience stores, with no opportunity to shop at a supermarket for fruits and vegetables.  While dining in the local restaurant, patrons are frequently offered the one “healthy” food choice:  an entrée salad made with iceberg lettuce and blue cheese dressing, a meal containing all fat and no nutrition.

Recently, the First Lady vowed to help the 23.5 million Americans – including the 6.5 million children – who live in these food deserts.  One of her goals is to eliminate food deserts completely throughout America in the next seven years.  To achieve these goals, more grocery stores that offer healthy food need to be built in these underserved communities.

If you are still smoking, you need to stop. Although it is true that some non-smokers have gotten lung cancer, the majority of people with lung cancer are smokers. Cure your home if it is sick. Radon is a natural gas that can also cause lung cancer. It enters your home from soil and rock in the surrounding area. The danger is you cannot see or smell it. But you can order test kits to check the levels in your home. If you discover they are high, it is not expensive to clear them out.

Go for the green – tea that is. While all tea has cancer-preventing properties, green tea is the highest in polyphenols that kill several types of cancer cells including breast, liver, colon, lung, pancreas, and skin cancer. And a couple of cups of coffee each day will ward off cancer of the liver. According to Swedish scientists, coffee is high in the antioxidants that prevent the formation of carcinogens. Once you’ve had your cup of Java for the day, get moving. Scientific research has proven that exercise protects your immune system. And your immune system is your body’s defense against cancer. In fact, a healthy immune system can destroy a cancer cell without your awareness. Then when you’re thirsty after the exercise, try a glass of grape juice instead of a soda. Purple grape juice has also been proven to improve your immune system’s function.

And when it’s time for dinner, try substituting fish for beef. Frequent consumption of red meat increases your risk of colon cancer, lung cancer and breast cancer due to the high saturated fat content. Fish, on the other hand, is high in omega-3 fats that are beneficial to your health and since they are difficult to find, it is common for people to be deficient in omega-3 fats. Be sure to make your meal colorful. Your diet should include a variety of fruits and vegetables of all colors. Each fruit or vegetable has different anti-oxidants and together they all offer you protection from cancer.

Take the right supplements. Calcium and Vitamin D offer protections from the risk of developing breast cancer and also are important in preventing other diseases. Most people do not get the recommended daily allowance of vitamin D, especially those who live in winter climates, so a supplement is important. Of course, individuals should always check with their health care provider before adding any supplement to their diet.

Choose the right spices. Add a little garlic to your diet. Garlic contains sulfur compounds that have been found to prevent rapid cell division, a process that cancer cells need in order to spread. Add the garlic to tomato sauce and become a tomato lover. Tomatoes contain lycopene, an antioxidant that has been proved to reduce the risk of colon, lung and breast cancer. Lycopene destroys free radicals before they can effect the cellular changes that lead to cancer. And processed products are as effective as the fresh vegetable. You can get the same benefit from ketchup, tomato sauce, tomato paste and cooked tomatoes.

Some Tips For Preventing Cancer
By Brenda Williams
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All information, content, and data in this article are sole opinions and/or findings of the author.  The content is intended to be of general informational use and is not intended to constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or recommended treatments. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.

His assumption was a common one. Whenever I mention liver problems, most of my patients think of cirrhosis (associated with excessive alcohol consumption) or hepatitis, a viral disease with particular risk factors. They assume there’s not much else to worry about when it comes to liver health. Perhaps it’s an assumption you’ve made yourself.

But just because you are not at risk for cirrhosis or hepatitis, that doesn’t mean you’re doing all you should for your liver. The liver performs many vital functions related to digestion, energy production and detoxification. So there’s a lot more to liver maintenance than avoiding alcohol.

Control Yourself!

One of the liver’s most important jobs is to produce bile, which aids in the digestion of fats. So it’s no surprise to learn that overeating is the most common cause of poor liver function. If you’ve got a healthy liver, the occasional binge at holiday time isn’t going to cause significant damage. But habitual overeating, which seems to have become common for many Americans, overworks the liver as it struggles to aid the digestion of all that extra food.

A poor diet in general also plays a role in liver malfunction. Too many of the wrong kinds of fats and carbohydrates, fried foods and too little protein all hinder the liver’s ability to repair itself.

If bad habits result in obesity, you may develop non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). The liver cells fill up with fat, and your liver cannot function properly. If there’s no inflammation, it’s called steatosis. The treatment? Lose weight! If the liver becomes inflamed, the disease is then called non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Although it can be treated, and sometimes reversed, NASH may lead to cirrhosis, liver cancer or liver failure. Obesity, diabetes and an inactive lifestyle all put you at risk for NASH.

Get Rid of the Toxins

But, what if you don’t overeat and you don’t eat lots of fat? Is your liver in the clear? Not really.

Your liver also filters out toxins–pesticides, food preservatives, chemicals in tap water, and drugs, to name a few. Too many toxins can overwhelm the liver and cause damage.

But if you lessen your exposure to toxins, you’ll ease the stress on your liver. Eat mostly organic, whole foods, for example, and drink filtered water. Avoid the use of medicines, and seek out natural remedies when possible. And if you find it difficult to avoid toxins or medications, consider doing both a colon and a liver cleanse.

Food for a Healthy Liver

Whether you want to promote healing or simply to strengthen your liver, begin by evaluating your diet. Use the following guidelines and be ready to make some changes.

Include plenty of raw fruits and vegetables, especially leafy greens which are high in vitamin K. (People with liver disease often lack sufficient K.) Artichokes contain a compound called silymarin, which supports and protects the liver. And, according to recent research in Japan, avocado protects the liver from damage. Other fruits containing similar properties include watermelon, kiwi, grapefruit, fig, cherry and papaya.

Eat lots of legumes (beans and peas) and seeds, which contain arginine, an amino acid helpful in detoxification.

Get plenty of fiber to avoid constipation. When your colon doesn’t eliminate properly, toxins build up in your body, making your liver work overtime. In addition to raw fruits and vegetables, good sources of fiber include 100% whole grains, nuts, seeds, sweet potatoes, beans and prunes.

Plenty of omega-3 fatty acids in the diet provide further protection for the liver and may prevent liver cancer. Eat more grass-fed beef, walnuts, olive oil, flaxseed and cold-water fish.

Liver Supplements

If you’re trying to heal your liver, there are many dietary and herbal supplements that might help. Primrose oil and L-carnitine, for example, help control fatty acids, and garlic aids in detoxification of the liver and blood. Both vitamin B complex and andrographis aid in proper digestion and nutrient absorption as well as overall protection of the liver. Poor liver function caused by drugs or environmental toxins often responds well to grape seed extract and milk thistle, which both promote detoxification. And if you’re concerned about liver cancer, try glutathione for protection.

Take Action Now

If you have specific liver problems, or suspect liver disorder, see a physician who can order the necessary tests to confirm disease or malfunction. Ideally, find one who will include dietary and herbal guidelines tailored for your condition, in addition to any necessary medications.

As with most diseases and disorders, prevention is the key. So don’t wait until you’ve got symptoms! And please, don’t make the mistake of assuming your liver will be fine just because you don’t drink lots of alcohol. Take steps now to keep your liver healthy.

Author:  Mark Rosenberg, M.D.

Institute for Healthy Aging

http://www.vitalmaxvitamins.com

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Achieving and maintaining a healthy weight can contribute to your overall health and well-being. Experts at the American Dietetic Association say it’s never too late to take steps to a healthy lifestyle. 

“Eating right doesn’t have to be complicated,” says registered dietitian and ADA Spokesperson Angela Ginn-Meadow. During National Nutrition Month and beyond, follow these tips to help make healthy changes in your lifestyle.

• Make a plan: Adopt a few specific small changes. “When you make a realistic plan, the changes won’t seem so overwhelming,” says Ginn-Meadow. “A few small healthy changes, such as adding one piece of fruit to your diet each day, aren’t difficult to do and can make a huge difference to your health.”
• Focus on your food: “Plan out your meals so you aren’t forced to make unhealthy decisions based on convenience,” says Ginn-Meadow.  “Making sure you eat balanced meals with appropriate portions will help you manage your caloric intake.”
• Make calories count: “Make meal choices that focus on nutrient rich foods,” says Ginn-Meadow. The majority of your food choices should be packed with vitamins, minerals, fiber and other nutrients.  
• Increase physical activity: Regular physical activity is important for overall health and fitness.   The Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend that adults be physically active for about an hour a day. 
• Play it safe: “Even the right food choices can affect your health if you don’t follow food safety rules,” says Ginn-Meadow.  Always clean hands and food-contact surfaces, keep raw and cooked foods separate, cook foods to a proper temperature and chill leftovers promptly to avoid illness.
• Be aware of special needs: Nutritional needs change depending upon your age and overall health. “Older adults need more vitamin D and calcium to help maintain bone health,” says Ginn-Meadow. “It’s important to check with a registered dietitian to figure out what your specific nutritional needs are.”

The American Dietetic Association is the world’s largest organization of food and nutrition professionals. ADA is committed to improving the nation’s health and advancing the profession of dietetics through research, education and advocacy. Visit the American Dietetic Association at www.eatright.org.