Cancer Myths Demystified
With the new year approaching it is always a good idea to jot down a few new years resolutions from eating healthier to stopping smoking. In the spirit of turning over a new leaf (or in this case leafy green) here is an interesting column from Self Magazine that might surprise you about cancer and cancer prevention. Some things in fact are very surprising - about bottled water and organic foods for example. Here are two of them. For the rest, click the link above:
These days, it seems like you can’t turn on the TV or surf the Web without coming across yet another new cancer report. It’s overwhelming and often confusing: For instance, one day we hear that wine is good for heart health, but the next we learn that too much is a risk factor for breast cancer. What to do but just drink a toast to luck? Seriously, who can keep up? All this back and forth raises a lot of questions for the editors here at SELF, and we figured it must have the same effect on our readers. So we asked women to send us their top cancer-related concerns, then took them to the experts for clarification. The good news: All that new research we keep hearing about, baffling though it may be, is yielding some clear—and reassuring—answers.
Q: I can’t always find—or afford—organic produce. How harmful are the pesticides in nonorganic foods?
A: People who consistently eat a diet high in fruit and vegetables have lower cancer risk—whether the produce is organic or not, according to David Katz, M.D., director of the Yale Prevention Research Center in New Haven, Connecticut. That said, Dr. Katz does think it makes sense to keep pesticide exposure to a minimum, because experts aren’t sure how—if at all—it affects cancer risk. About 3 percent of domestic products and 4 percent of imported products had pesticide levels of concern, according to a 2007 FDA report. Some items such as apples, bell peppers and spinach contain higher levels of pesticides than others, possibly because they have more permeable skin or more is taken in through their root systems, so use our shopping list the next time you hit the grocery store for guidance on when it’s best to opt for organic.
Q: I drink bottled water all the time, but I keep hearing that some bottles contain dangerous chemicals. Should I be worried?
A: In this case, it’s valid to be concerned. BPA, a chemical often found in plastic water and baby bottles and metal cans—even cash register receipts—has been linked to increased risk for breast cancer and heart disease. “BPA acts as a weak estrogen, which can spur the growth of cancerous cells,” says Hugh Taylor, M.D., professor of obstetrics, gynecology and reproductive sciences at Yale University Medical Center. Whenever possible, give plastic water bottles a pass and sip from glass or steel containers instead (I often choose a metal commuter cup); use baby bottles that are labeled BPA-free (fortunately these are widely available); and avoid plastics with the code 7 on the bottom—those are more likely to contain BPA. Also, opt for fresh or frozen foods instead of canned ones (most cans are lined with BPA-epoxy liner), and wash your hands after handling receipts.
For those who want to try and eat healthier as part of their new years resolutions, try The American Cancer Society's Healthy Eating Cookbook: A Celebration of Food, Friendship, and Healthy Living
