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A healthy lifestyle keeps cancer away

The place to go to this weekend is the Pink Kitchen in Rockwell Tent in Makati.

Pink Kitchen is a fund-raising event of ICanServe Foundation, an advocacy group of mostly breast cancer survivors that provides hope and help to those afflicted with cancer.

Pink Kitchen gathers the country’s culinary experts who will showcase their yummy treats, in the words of Bettina Osmeña, one of the organizers, for very reasonable prices. In the evening, entertainment will be provided by Bituin Escalante, Leah Navarro, Peppermint Jam, cellist Renato Lucas and the University of Asia and the Pacific Chorale.

There will also be cooking demonstrations, lecture on wine appreciation and Look -Good -Feel -Better sessions. It’s a two-day affair, Oct. 18 and 19, from 11 a.m. To 10 p.m.

Pink Kitchen is staged for the benefit of Ating Dibdibin (meaning Take Breast Care To Heart),
the country’s first and only community based breast cancer screening program.

October, being a breast-cancer-awareness month, I’m sharing this article “Breast Cancer: How to Reduce the Risk” by Lillie Shockney.

“There are several lifestyle changes we can adopt that can directly affect our risk of getting breast cancer — and I’m a firm believer in doing everything we possibly can to reduce that risk.

“ is a list of actions you can start taking today to help your breasts live a healthier life and remain attached to you!

1. Exercise 3 times a week. This doesn’t mean buying a gym membership or training to be the next Olympic running champ. Power walking around your neighborhood every other day will do it — for 1 hour, 3 times a week. Strut your stuff and reduce your risk. And why not recruit a friend to join you?

2. Stick to a low-fat diet. This doesn’t mean giving up all sweets and treats, either. Just watch how much of them you eat and don’t partake every day. This, along with exercise, will keep your weight within the desired range (which, by the way, is a crucial risk-reducer). Less weight means less body fat and, since we store estrogen in body fat, that’s less estrogen for us to be hauling around. This is a brilliant step to take because estrogen is a known promoter and nourisher of breast cancer cells, as well as of cells that are about to mutate into cancerous ones.

3.Stop smoking. Quit if you can, and steer clear of secondhand smoke, too. Believe it or not, inhaling cigarette smoke increases the estrogen levels in your bloodstream. Go figure. And research has now proven that secondhand smoke can be just as damaging to our bodies as lighting up the cancer sticks ourselves. The American Cancer Society has reported that if all tobacco products were banished today, then 80 percent of all cancers would vanish as well. Wow.

4.Limit your alcohol intake. Alcohol too can increase your risk. Are you a social drinker? That’s fine, but limit yourself to one alcoholic beverage a day or less (for a woman, that amounts to 12 oz. of beer, 6 oz. of wine, or 1 oz. of the hard stuff). Doesn’t matter what kind of liquor we’re talking about, either — beer, wine, or spirits, it’s all the same. Say “No thanks” after one drink.

“This list, you’ll notice, is short but sweet. But please do pay attention to these more healthy behaviors because they are the 4 pillars of breast cancer prevention.”

Maybe I should add one more, “ Get enough sleep.”

Published inHealthMalaya

8 Comments

  1. I may be male, but there are women in my life too, and their distress in coping with the dread disease would greatly affect me too. Besides, preventing diseases is one of my obsessive topics. An article written by Chee Gates says your age can predict your risk of breast cancer and the severity of the disease, research shows. But every woman has the power to outwit her biological clock. Meet three survivors who learned how to protect themselves — and learn how you can, too. The link: http://tinyurl.com/46yy9s.
    Exercise is a no-cost remedy but the word itself evokes visions of hard exertion and buckets of sweat, somewhat intimidating to the frail female of our species. Physical activity is the alternative choice. See: http://orly28.blogspot.com/2007/12/physical-activity-and-health-evidence.html

  2. chi chi

    neonate,

    I read of males affected of breast cancer also, but very rare.
    Thanks for the link.

  3. etcetera etcetera

    According to experts, one of the contributing factor in breast cancer is deodorant because of the ingredients used that include cancer causing chemicals like aluminum, paraben, etc….

    The best type of deodorant to use that are free of aluminum and paraben are organic deodorants. They are more expensive than those deodorants filled with cancer causing chemicals but I think it is worth it.

    I don’t have links for organic deodorant but you can just google it and you will see lots of informations about organic deodorant.

    I am male but I still use organic deodorant. I guess, just to give me peace of mind….hehehehe

  4. I guess only those obese guys with man-boobs are susceptible to breast cancer. A male with a normal size frame having cancer in that area may be afflicted with internal organ cancer , such as lungs, e.g.

  5. etcetera,
    do you also regularly knead your breasts to check for lumps?

  6. etcetera etcetera

    HAHAHAHHAHA…….That’s funny Tongue.

    About 15 years ago, I used to weigh 200 lbs for two years and I am only 5’ 6”. My blood pressure at that time was 126/90 and my doctor told me that if my blood pressure continue to rise, I will eventually start taking high blood pressure medications.

    I don’t want to take those medications, so I started doing exercises, primarily brisk walking for 45 minutes, three times a week. It took me a year to bring down my excess weight and to stabilize it at 160 lbs, which is still my current weight.

    It became my habit to exercise regularly to maintain my weight and my blood pressure. Last time I checked at the doctors office, which was a year ago, my blood pressure was 110/72.

    Regarding man-boobs, yes I have those but it is muscles due to exercises. I used to lift 120 lbs. About nine years ago, I decided that I don’t want to be bulky like those body builders, my exercise trainer during that time told me to reduce the weight that I am lifting down to 30 lbs with a lot of repetitions. It produced muscle definitions on my body including my boobs. I still exercise with 30 lbs and a lot of repetitions, and stationary bike for 45 minutes.

  7. 126/90, high blood na? Sus, pag ako yan, mahihilo na ako.! 170/115 ang pangaraw-araw ko. 210/120 pag mataas. Hindi ako mataba, hindi rin ako umiinom.

  8. etcetera etcetera

    Tongue, taas masyado ng bp mo. Maraming plaque ang litid mo. Palagay ko lang eh mas mabuti ang gamot ng mga herbalist dahil nililinis talaga non ang litid mo.

    Di rin ako kumakain ng tocino, langgonisa, krispy pata, lechon o baboy dahil yon ang malakas magbigay ng plaque. Last time na kumain ako non eh at least ten years ago pa.

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