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The Chinese have been using ginger for centuries, here’s another reason why it’s good for you.



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Collard Greens are a rich source of vitamin K, A, C, folate, manganese, calcium, dietary fiber and potassium just to name a few. They have been toted to help in the reduction of free radicals in the body which decreases risk of many diseases including cancer. Collards have an anti-inflammatory effect which can speed up the healing process and help bring down inflammation in joints when an injury has occurred.

This is the way how I was taught to cut a mango, it is by far the best way to enjoy one. Mangoes are loaded with beta-carotene - which helps the maintenance of healthy skin, good vision, and a robust immune system. It is also a powerful antioxidant, and has been shown to help guard against cancer and heart disease.

This week I came across an research article that has come out from the U.S. National Cancer Institute on the strong association between increased animal fat and dairy products with pancreatic cancer.  I have seen the devastation this disease can bring first hand when I lost my grandfather almost 2 years ago(its the fourth-leading cause of cancer death in the US).  Health Day stated, “Men who consumed the most fat from animal sources had a 53 percent increased risk of developing pancreatic cancer and women had a 23 percent increased risk, compared with men and women who ate the least fat.”  Above and beyond that they noted that an increased level of saturated fat increased risk of pancreatic cancer by 36%.

The Journal of the American Medical Association has toted that being over weight in your 30s was associated with a 60 percent increased risk for pancreatic cancer, and being obese was associated with a twofold to threefold higher risk.

In short, you may want to evaluate the amount of meat and dairy you consume(remembering that 2% milk is actually 35% fat) Make sure you are getting lots of fresh vegetables and fruit which are so important to maintaining a healthy weight and disease prevention. photo credit: VirtualErn

Is there really a difference between SPF 30 and SPF 15? I asked Kathy Li (my sister in law), who worked as a formulator for Banana Boat. She said SPF 15 blocks out 95% of UVB radiation, SPF 30 blocks out 97%. Depending on your activity and if you plan to be outside more than 2-3 hours,  the added benefit of SPF 30 may not be worth the cost. Always remember that there is no baby sun screen or waterproof sunscreen, re-apply hourly for maximum protection.

photo credit: Robert S. Donovan

People who suffer from the most serious form of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease have a significant risk of developing liver cancer. Researchers at the Cleveland Clinic have found Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease is the most common liver disease in the United States. Obesity, along with hypertension and diabetes, is a major risk factor. photo credit: ohhhbetty

I personally have not done one, but I’m going to do it. My wife’s grandfather was at the ICU for 1 week because his prostate swelled up so big that he was not able to pee for 4 days! His urine was backed up and his lungs started collecting fluid and having difficulty breathing. So yes, I’m going to do something about it and prevent myself from ever getting there.

Illinois’ public health chief Dr. Damon Arnold is a prostate cancer survivor and he is urging men to get free prostate cancer screenings. The first 250 men who show up will get two free tickets to a White Sox home game. SCORE :)

Have you done a prostate exam or blood test? What’s your experience? Lets share them in the comments area.  photo credit: Kevin.Ward

The big debate is if increasing folic acid in fortified foods will help pregnant women enough to be worth while.  The concern is will increasing the amount contribute to elderly increases of cancer. The sad thing is they know some rich food sources: green leafy vegetables, citrus fruit, and dried beans, but are spending their time debating whether to fortify foods.  Why don’t they just urge people to increase their green leafy veggies (which btw are cruciferous and helpful in fighting cancer) and save themselves the time debating? =)  More..

photo credit: sciondriver