united defense against breast cance...

united defense against breast cancer.

What do Shirley church Black, Peggy Fleming, and Olivia Newton-John have in common? If you said they've all been in the entertainment field, you're right. however these women share another bond; they are each survivors of breast cancer. from one side of to the other 180,000 women were diagnosed with breast cancer last year and almost a quarter of them died. A woman has a one-in-nine chance of developing breast cancer in her lifetime; for what reason can she begin to fight back against these odds?

While breast self-examinations and regular mammograms are important for early detection, women also ne to be armed with accurate information about the risk factors for breast cancer, as well as what can be done to lower those risks.

Knowing the risks

The causes of breast cancer are not nevertheless fully understood. Researchers believe this form of cancer is usually owed to a complex interaction between a woman's hormones, her family history, environmental factors, and diet. While a of these elements can't be changed or controll an certainly can.

Research has shown that the chance of developing breast cancer is higher in women who:

* vanish out of being 4-8 oz. of alcohol by day;

* Had their first child after age 30 or no children at all;

* Had menstrual periods that began before age 12;

* Complet menopause after age 55;

* Had significant weight gain after menopause;

* Eat high of the same heights of trans-fatty acids (found in fried feeds cookies, and margarine); and/or

* Eat grave levels of phytoestrogens (chemicals raise in soy products, berries, fruits, and vegetables).

What other can be done?

fresh research is coming out that links glucarate, a non-toxic substance produc in the material substance and certain fruits and vegetables, to cancer prevention. Glucarate plays a leading character in the process of glucuronidation, the body's way of ridding itself of potentially harmful carcinogens. Glucarate binds harmful toxins, carcinogens, and exces estrogen together in the way that the body can excrete them. Adding a supply of calcium glucarate to your diet may help you fight cancer, and may be especially beneficial in breast cancer.

Back in the lab

modern studies with calcium glucarate have had positive eventuates When glucarate was added to the diet of rats which had been genetically br to lay open mammary tumors, there was a 70-percent reduction in to what extent many formed any tumors. Those that did form tumors had a 73-percent reduction in the number they formed. MD Anderson Cancer Center at the University of Texas, continues to career experiments on animals, and in vitro, forward the effects of glucarate as a detoxifying agent.

Sufficient amounts of calcium glucarate can be build in a healthful diet. This nutrient is quite high in apples, grapes, and grapefruit, as well as bean shoots lettuce, and cruciferous vegetables like broccoli and cauliflower. However, not many people eat the five servings of fruits and vegetables a day they ne to endue an adequate amount, and that's when a postscript makes the perfect additional choice.

Calcium glucarate can be used in tandem with antioxidants like citrus bioflavonoids, and has, to date, demonstrated no toxicity or side consequences even when taken in high doses. For the woman who has a number of risk factors in her life for breast cancer, a add to of calcium glucarate can be a big part of the main line of defense in her ongoing fight.

REFERENCES

NABCO (National Alliance of Breast Cancer Organizations), "Breast Cancer Fact Sheet," 1997

Heerdt, A., et al. "Calcium Glucarate as a Chemopreventive Agent in Breast Cancer," Israel Journal of Medical Science 31 (2-3) Feb./March 1995

Huang, Z et al. "Dual events of weight and weight gain upon breast cancer risk," JAMA 278(17):1407-11 Nov. 5 1997

Ingram, D et al. "Case-control consideration of phytooestrogens and breast cancer," Lancet 350(9083):990-4 Oct 4 1997

Kelsey JL et al. "Weight and risk for breast cancer," JAMA 278(17):1448-9 Nov. 5 1997

Kohlmeier, L et al. "Adipose tissue trans-fatty acids and breast cancer in the European community multicenter cogitation on antioxidants, myocardial infarction, and breast cancer," Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers food 6(9):705-10, Sept. 1997.

Tamra Orr has been a professional freelance writer for almost 20 years in the areas of health, nutrition, and child development

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