BlogHer - Top Ten Foods That Increase Your Cancer Risk - Comments

Acidity vs Alkalinity

Jen Consalvo — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 00:20:12 -0500

Thanks for the article, Catherine. Curious about acidity and the foods listed above, and any other general commentary about acidity vs alkalinity that I've been hearing much more about lately.

Thanks! Jen

http://bodysoulconnect.com

http://jconsalvo.com

Hi Kalyn. Did you see this about Cola???

Catherine Morgan — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 11:26:56 -0500

Hi Kalyn. I agree with you. Anything that helps us take a closer look at what we are putting into our body, so we can choose to make adjustments as needed, is a good thing. There isn't a perfect solution, we all must use the information available to to us, and make the best choices we can.

As far as your Diet Coke addition. This was just around to the CEs yesterday...

Quaffing Coke,
Pepsi, and their carbonated cola cousins, including decaf and diet
versions, is associated with lower bone mineral density in older women,
researchers reported.

This is the link - Carbonate Cola drinks decrease bone density in women.

http://www.medpagetoday.com/Endocrinology/Osteoporosis/tb/4247

Thanks for commenting Kalyn. :-)

Contributing Editor Catherine Morgan
at Catherine-Morgan.com, The Political Voices of Women, Care2 Election<

Very interesting post

Kalyn Denny — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 10:55:25 -0500

Whether or not you adopt every word of it, this type of post really is great for helping us examine our diet and see just how many healthy choices we're making. I'm about half and half on your list, and still working on taming the Diet Coke addiction down to a more reasonable amount!

Kalyn Denny
Kalyn's Kitchen

Here are some links and videos on farm vs. wild fish...

Catherine Morgan — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 14:00:20 -0500

OK - Here is what I found about farm raised fish. Just like everything else...there are some good and some bad.

Here is a link about Farmed Salmon vs. Wild Salmon.

Here is a link on farm-raised tilapia and dangerious fatty acid combination.

Here is a video about farmed fish from China...

Here is a video on finding green fish...

Here is a fish farm in Virginia...

Hi Judith...

Catherine Morgan — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 12:48:47 -0500

Hi Judith...If you click on the link for "acrylamides" it will take you to the FDA site were this is discussed at length. Here is a little excerpt from the site...

High temperature cooking, such as frying, roasting, or baking, is most
likely to cause acrylamide formation. Boiling and steaming do not
typically form acrylamide. Acrylamide is found mainly in foods made
from plants, such as potato products, grain products, or coffee.
Acrylamide does not form, or forms at lower levels, in dairy, meat, and
fish products. Generally, acrylamide is more likely to accumulate when
cooking is done for longer periods or at higher temperatures.

I don't think the list is meant to suggest you never eat these foods. But, if you are trying to eat a healthier diet, these foods can be used as guidelines, of what to avoid or cut back on. I certainly am not going to stop barbecuing food on the grill, but maybe half the time I will now consider wrapping the food in foil before I grill it. I was also happy to hear that eating my steak medium rare is better than well done. But, I also know that it would be better for me to cut back or avoid red meat altogether...I'm just not willing to give up steak right now. My biggest problems are with sugar and trans fats...this list just reinforces my need to cut back on those items for my personal health.

As far as the "farming" of fish goes...You are correct, there are now many fisheries that are making a great effort to raise healthier fish. I've actually bought some frozen salmon the other day that had a disclaimer on the back that stated it was raised in a fishery that exceeds quality regulations. That's good I guess? The thing that bothered me the most about that product was...It was Wild Salmon (this is suppose to mean "not" farm raised), the very small disclaimer on the back is claiming it is from a better fishery, but it's also saying that the claims of the fish being caught in the wild are a lie. What's that about??? Anyway, to my understanding, it is the Farm raised Tilapia that has the most serious problems. I'll try to find some more information about that, and provide a link here shortly.

Overall, I think the message I was trying to convey with this post was one of personal empowerment. Many people are looking for ways to reduce their risk of disease, or make their health a little better...The more information we have the better, just like everything else, we each have to decide what is right for us. I can say for certain that smoking is bad for you, and increases your risk of cancer. But, there are still people that can smoke their entire life and never have any health problems related to their smoking. Others may have avoided smoking their entire life, and still die of lung cancer. Unfortunately, there are no guarantees in life, we can only each do what we believe is best for us.

Thanks for your comment Judith, I'll get back to you on the Tilapia thing. :-)

Contributing Editor Catherine Morgan
at Catherine-Morgan.com, The Political Voices of Women, Care2 Election<

Wow, ask some more people...

Judith in Umbria — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 08:29:42 -0500

because a few of the foods mentioned are a bit fringy with absolutely no test results showing hegative effects.

It is also presupposed that all farmed fish are reared carelessly and that is not true. And what's with the baked goods? If I bake something in my oven it has acrylamides in it? What is it? Why is it not on our food culture TV shows and in health articles in our non-US papers and magazines?

http://www.judithgreenwood.com/thinkonit/

Top Ten Foods That Increase Your Cancer Risk

Catherine Morgan — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 04:00:18 -0500

Last week I posted about Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month, and this past Wednesday, I participated in a very informative phone conference on bio-technology, cancer research, and cancer prevention. The conference focused on breast and ovarian cancer.

Biotech.org invited health and wellness bloggers to have a Q&A with Dr. Gil Mor and Lori Lober. I was very happy to be asked to participate.

Dr. Gil Mor, who has both an M.D. and a PhD, is an associate professor at Yale Medical School, where he is director of two departments: Reproductive Immunology and Translational Research in Gynecologic Oncology. His focus is ovarian cancer detection and treatment. Dr. Mor, who was trained in Israel, Germany and several U.S. institutions, has conducted years of research in ovarian cancer and, among other things, has found a new, more accurate diagnostic tool for this mostly “silent” disease.

Lori Lober was diagnosed with stage IV breast cancer in 2000. The cancer had spread through her lymph nodes and to her liver. Doctors told her that the standard treatment for her type of cancer offered no hope; her physician said she had 12-18 months to live.

Lori chose to participate in a clinical trial for a biotechnology treatment called Herceptin, which is a monoclonal antibody. Monoclonal antibodies block a process or molecule in order to specifically target the disease. By using this as the foundation of her treatment, and adding other therapies, Lori is alive and well today. She’s maintained a diagnosis of "no evidence of disease" for five years now, and works to provide the resources she couldn't find when she was originally diagnosed.

You can listen to the one hour conference call here...

Questions were submitted by a number of bloggers and covered a wide range of topics from the latest in detection technology to what foods and beverages to avoid to reduce your cancer risk.

Dr. Mor talked about the benefits and controversy surrounding a new ovarian cancer diagnostic test, meant for women who fall into a high risk category.

Several factors may increase your risk of ovarian cancer. Having one or more of these risk factors doesn't mean that you're sure to develop ovarian cancer, but your risk may be higher than that of the average woman. These risk factors include - (see high risk factors here)

Jennifer from The Smart Mama asked about the role that environmental toxins and nutrition play in cancer prevention.

Dr. Mor and Lori Lober, both agreed that nutrition plays an important role in cancer prevention. Lori is a proponent of a new nutritional program called Isagenix, she also recommends locally grown fruits and vegetables (particularly blueberries, pineapple, and grapes). Dr. Mor emphasized the importance of avoiding fast food and soda, at all costs.

Lori Lober reminds us that barbecuing foods on a grill, produces known carcinogens. But, you can reduce the carcinogenic affects, by wrapping food in foil before grilling. She also suggests avoiding chicken and dairy products that are not hormone free.

Melissa Breyer from Care2 has posted on the Top Ten Foods That Increase Your Cancer Risk...

1. All charred food, which create heterocyclic aromatic amines, known carcinogens. Even dark toast is suspect.

2. Well-done red meat. Medium or rare is better, little or no red meat is best.

3. Sugar, both white and brown–which is simply white sugar with molasses added. (See Care2’s Directory of Natural Sweeteners for great, healthy alternatives.)

4. Heavily salted, smoked and pickled foods, which lead to higher rates of stomach cancer.

5. Sodas/soft drinks, which pose health risks, both for what they contain–sugar and various additives–and for what they replace in the diet–beverages and foods that provide vitamins, minerals and other nutrients.

6. French fries, chips and snack foods that contain trans fats.

7. Food and drink additives such as aspartame.

8. Excess alcohol.

9. Baked goods, for the acrylamide.

10. Farmed fish, which contains higher levels of toxins such as PCBs.

Also See:

Journey: A Letter 2 Ovarian Cancer

ACS: What Are The Risk Factors For Ovarian Cancer

Contributing Editor Catherine Morgan
at Catherine-Morgan.com, The Political Voices of Women, Care2 Election