Weight Gain Increases Breast Cancer Risk

Women who put on weight as they age are almost twice as likely to develop breast cancer later in life. There is a directly link between obesity and breast cancer.
Fat stored in the body produces hormones and chemicals which can fuel the development of abnormal cells that can lead to cancer.
In research presented at the American Association for Cancer Research found that a five point increase in a woman's Body Mass Index increased the likelihood of breast cancer.
Body Mass Index can calculated quickly by going to the internet and entering in BMI and then enter your height and weight.

White Bread, Rice, and Other Carbs Boost Heart Disease in Women

Women who eat more white bread, white rice, pizza and other carbohydrate rich foods that cause blood sugar to spike are more than TWICE AS LIKELY TO DEVELOP HEART DISEASE than women who eat less of these foods a new study suggests.
Men who eat lots of these carbohydrates-which have what's known as a high glycemic index-do not have the same increased risk, however, perhaps because their bodies process the carbs differently, the researchers found.
Only carbohydrates with a high glycemic index appear to hurt the heart. Carbs with a low glycemic index-such as fruit and pasta-were not associated with an increased risk of heart disease, which suggest that the increased risk is caused "not by a diet high in carbohydrates, but by a diet rich in rapidly absorbed carbodydrates," says the lead author of the study, Sabina Sieri,of the Fondiazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tunori, a national institute for cancer.
The glycemic index ranks on a scale from 1 to 100 how quickly (or slowly) carbohydrates affect your blood sugar levels. (White bread scores 100) Foods that rank below 55 are considered to have a low glycemic index and produce only small fluctuations in blood glucose and insulin levels: foods that rank above 70 are said to have a high glycemic index and tend to cause unhealthy spikes in blood sugar.
There are many benefits to limiting foods with a high glycemic index, Price adds. People who do so "will find their appetite easier to control, making weight control easier in turn", she says. "They will help to keep energy and mood steady over the day, and they reduce their risk of several chronic diseases including diabetes, heart disease, and cetain cancers."
According to Price, the best low glycemic index foods are whole grain breads, barley, quinoa, beans and chickpeas, low fat dairy products, fruit and sweet potatoes.

Seven Foods That Help Prevent Cancer

Before we talk about the seven foods we need to talk about weight. Being overweight not only causes heart disease and diabetes, but it also causes cancer such as breast cancer, edometrial cancer and colon cancer.
GARLIC: STINKY BREATH, BUT SUPER HEALTHY
The same sulfur compounds causing that odor may also stop cancer causing substances from forming in your body, speed DNA repair, and kill cancer Cells. Garlic also battles bacteria, including H. pylori (the one connected to some ulcers and stomach cancer), and it reduces the risk of colon cancer. To get the most benefit, peel and chop the cloves and let them sit 15 or 20 minutes before cooking. That activates enzymes and releases the sulfur containing compounds that have the most protective effect.
BROCCOLI: PHYTOCHEMICAL POWERHOUSE
Broccoli and other cruciferous vegetables such as cabbage, kale and cauliflower contain photochemicals called glucosinolates, which produce protective enzymes that are released when you chew the raw veggie, rupturing the cell walls. Broccoli and its cousins are most protective against cancers of the mouth, esophagus, and stomach, according to a review of hundreds of clinical studies conducted for the World Cancer Research Fund and the American Institute for Cancer Research.
TOMATOES:POTENTIAL WEAPONS AGAINST PROSTATE CANCER
The red color of tomatoes comes from a phytochemical called lycopene, a powerful antioxidant. To get the most benefit from lycopene, eat cooked or processed tomatoes, including tomato juice and pizza sauce.
STRAWBERIES: RICH IN ANTIOXIDANTS
Research shows that all berries especially strawberries and black rasberries protect against heart disease, memory decline as well as cancer. Blueberries, blackberries and cranberries are top cancer fighters and should be included in the diet.
CARROTS: BEST EATEN COOKED
Carrots contain beta-carotene, an antioxidant scientists believe protects cell membranes from toxin damage and slow the growth of cancer cells. Some studies suggest carrots protect against cervical cancer, perhaps because they supply antioxidants that battle HPV (human papilloma virus), the major cause of cervical cancer.
SPINACH: A SUPER CAROTENOID COURCE
Spinach is rich in lutein and zdaxanthin, carotenoids that remove unstable molecules called free radicals from your body before they damage it. You can substitute kale, collard greens, swiss chard or romaine lettuce, but spinach is the best.
WHOLE GRAINS: GOOD FOR THE WHOLE BODY
Whole grains are much superior in preventing disease than white or more processed grains. Whole grains contain more fiber and thus take longer to digest, thus lowering your blood sugar level.