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Proven tips to cut risk of colon cancer

July 27, 2010 By Lori Drummond, RD, LD Leave a Comment

An apple a day might keep the doctor away. But preventative measures will definitely help to keep colon cancer away.

Colon cancer is the third-leading cause of cancer death for both men and women, following lung and breast cancer. Colon cancer shortened the lives of an estimated 50,000 people last year. Certainly, no one wants to hear such grim news.

Students tour "colon cave"

There is good news, however. Colon cancer is one of the most preventable types of cancer. Early detection saves lives. Colorectal cancer often produces symptoms at an early enough stage to make it treatable. Successful treatment, however, depends on early detection.

Rate your risk, since anyone can get colorectal cancer. The risk factors include:

• Family history of colorectal cancer
• Personal history of polyps or inflammatory bowel disease
• Being over 50 years of age
• Cigarette smoking
• Diet low in fiber; diet high in red meat and processed meat
• Alcohol consumption
• Lack of physical activity
• Substantial consumption of alcohol (more than 3 drinks per day)
• Body fat, particularly excess fat around the midsection [Read more...]

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Filed Under: Nutrition Tagged With: Cancer, Clinical nutrition, colon cancer, Education, fiber, meat, prevention, Vegetables

Seven myths about veggies

June 11, 2010 By Lori Drummond, RD, LD Leave a Comment

   I came across this informative blog designed for those who are planet conscience and, thus, this well-written article about some veggie myths that need debunking. Find out what you shouldn’t be believin’ and what you should.  It is well worth passing on to those who have those everyday questions I hear so frequently.  Special thanks to the author, Lori Bongiorno, an environmental journalist who shares green-living tips for Yahoo, Green!  –  Lori

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   (June 1, 2010)  –  Is it healthier to eat raw veggies or to cook them? Is fresh broccoli more nutritious than frozen? Is eating iceberg lettuce a waste of time?

 You may be surprised by the answers to these seemingly simple questions. In fact, there are several misconceptions when it comes to vegetables. The one universal truth is that most of us could be eating more of them.

As summer approaches, we have more vegetable choices than at any other time of year. Here’s a guide to what’s fact and what’s fiction when it comes to eating your veggies.

 Myth: Fresh vegetables are more nutritious than frozen

Fact: Studies show that sometimes you can get more nutrients from frozen veggies, depending on variety and how old the vegetables at your supermarket are. That’s because produce starts losing nutrient quality as soon as it’s picked.

Frozen vegetables are flash-frozen right after harvest so they are preserved at their peak of freshness when they are most nutritious. Your best bet in terms of taste, nutrition, and the environment is still local in-season produce.  When that’s not an option frozen can be a better choice (from a nutrient standpoint) than spinach that takes two weeks to reach your table.    

Myth: Cooked veggies are less nutritious than raw

Fact: It depends on the vegetable. “Cooking destroys some nutrients, but it releases others,” says Marion Nestle, author of What to Eat. It destroys vitamin C and folic acid, according to Nestle, which is why it’s not a great idea to cook oranges.

On the other hand, she says, cooking releases vitamin A and the nutrients in fiber and makes them easier to digest. It’s also easier for your body to absorb more lycopene, a cancer-fighting antioxidant, in cooked tomato sauce than from raw tomatoes.

Steam or roast veggies instead of boiling, which leaches out water-soluble vitamins into the cooking water. [Read more...]

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Filed Under: Shop/cook Tagged With: Education, Shop/cook, Vegetables

Skip ‘shortcut’ diets

May 16, 2010 By Lori Drummond, RD, LD Leave a Comment


by Holly Robinson Peete, Shine staff

You’ve heard about them in email forwards and late-night infomercials, but these five “miracle diets” just plain don’t work. From straight-up starvation to a steady diet of boiled cabbage, here are diets to steer clear of:

#1 The Grapefruit Diet

The claim is that eating grapefruit with protein triggers a “magical” fat burning process. We’re always wary of the word “magic” in regards to a diet, and this one is no exception. While grapefruit is loaded with vitamin C and fiber and is a great way to start your morning, there’s no evidence to support its reputation as a “fat-burner.”

#2 Juice Diets

While a liquid diet has the potential to starve your body into shedding excess pounds, a super low-calorie diet like this one kicks your metabolism into survival mode. Unsure where the next meal is coming from, your body hangs on to the nutrients it has, slowing your metabolism, and burning fewer calories overall. The minute you switch back to solid foods, there’s a good chance those pounds will “magically” reappear. [Read more...]

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Filed Under: Education, weight control Tagged With: Education, fat, Obesity, weight control