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Who says we have to suffer...to live a healthy happy vibrant life?

Red wine and dark chocolate... might seem decadent...but these guilty pleasures also might help us live longer...and healthier lives. Red wine and dark chocolate definitely improve an evening..but they also contain resveratrol..which lowers blood sugar. Red wine is a great source of catechins..which boost protective HDL cholesterol. Green tea? Protects your brain..helps you live longer..and soothes your spirit.

Food for Thought, the blog, is about living the good life...a life we create with our thoughts and our choices...and having fun the whole while!

I say lets make the thoughts good ones..and let the choices be healthy...exciting...and delicious! Bon Appetit!

Tuesday, November 8, 2011

Move it or lose it. More evidence that sitting may be killing you.

More than 90,000 new cancer cases a year in the United States may be due to physical inactivity and prolonged periods of sitting, a new analysis shows.

The analysis, being presented this week at the annual conference of the American Institute for Cancer Research (AICR) in Washington, D.C., cites about 49,000 cases of breast cancer and 43,000 of colon cancer.
"This gives us some idea of the cancers we could prevent by getting people to be more active," says epidemiologist Christine Friedenreich of Alberta Health Services in Calgary, Canada. Calculations are based on U.S. physical activity data and cancer incidence statistics. "This is a conservative estimate," she says. "The more physical activity you do, the lower your risk of these cancers."

Experts have known for years that physical activity decreases the risk of chronic diseases including cancer, heart disease and diabetes. This study is one of the first to predict the number of cases that might be prevented if people were more physically active.

A brisk daily walk of at least 30 minutes could lower a person's risk over time for breast cancer and colon cancer. 

Friedenreich reviewed more than 200 cancer studies worldwide and found convincing evidence that regular physical activity reduces the risk of breast cancer, colon cancer and endometrial cancer by 25% to 30%. There's some evidence that regular exercise also reduces the risk of lung, prostate and ovarian cancer.

Earlier studies  investigated the health dangers of sitting too long without moving around, which is called "sitting disease."
In a study of 123,000 people, nutritionists found that the more time people spent sitting, the higher their risk of dying early. Even among individuals who were regularly active, the risk of dying prematurely was higher among those who spent more time sitting.

Even if you are doing half an hour of aerobic activity a day, you need to make sure you don't sit for prolonged periods the remainder of the day. You must get up and take breaks from sitting. Stretch, jog in place for one to two minutes, do some yoga poses or Tai Chi.
The message is clear.  Prolonged sitting increases the risk of some types of cancer, such as colon, endometrial and ovarian cancers.
 Many people sit an average of seven to 9½ hours a day. Getting out of that chair at least once each hour may extend your life.
Friedenreich and her team are  looking into why exercise reduces cancer risk. In a study of 320 post-menopausal women, she has found that physical activity appears to decrease the risk of cancer by increasing insulin sensitivity and reducing body fat, inflammation, metabolic hormones and sex steroids hormones.

Diabetes: An Epidemic in the Making. And it is 90% preventable.

How sad. Half of all American adults are destined to develop diabetes or pre-diabetes by 2020 if they don't make dramatic lifestyle changes, according to a dire new prediction from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. If current trends continue, the ranks of American adults with excessive blood sugar levels would swell from 93.8 million this year (about 28 million diabetics and 66 million more with pre-diabetes) to 135 million in 2020 – and cost society $3.35 billion by decade’s end. In addition, diabetes is becoming one of the most common chronic diseases in children and adolescents. According to the American Diabetes Association, one in every four children is currently diagnosed with diabetes.

A former nutrition mentor of mine liked to say" we are digging our graves with forks and knives"

Exercise. Ending the flood of simple carbs, and making sure your plate is 1/2 to 3/4 vegetables, legumes and fruits are all sure ways to reduce your risk. Less meat, more fish. Read Michael Pollan. Read everything you can on the Mediterranean diet.