Regular Use of Vitamin and Mineral Supplements Could Reduce the Risk of Colon Cancer

Could the use of vitamin and mineral supplements in a regular diet help to reduce the risk of colon cancer and protect against carcinogens?

A study published in the Canadian Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology (CJPP) found that rats given regular multivitamin and mineral supplements showed a significantly lower risk of developing colon cancer when they were exposed to carcinogens.

“It has been unclear whether multivitamin supplementation to cancer patients is helpful, has no effect, or is even detrimental during therapy,” commented Dr. Grant Pierce, Editor of CJPP. “This study is important because it gives some direction to cancer patients in desperate need of guidance on the value of multivitamins and minerals administered during cancer.”

The authors studied rats that were fed a high-fat diet (20% fat) over a 32 week period. The rats were divided into 6 groups, which were exposed to different combinations of supplements and carcinogens; the colon carcinogenisis induced in the study rats has characteristics that mimic human colon cancer. Rats fed a high-fat plus low-fibre diet and exposed to carcinogens developed pre-cancerous lesions; whereas, rats undergoing similar treatment, but provided with daily multivitamin and mineral supplements, showed a significant (84%) reduction in the formation of pre-cancerous lesions and did not develop tumours.

The authors conclude that “multivitamin and mineral supplements synergistically contribute to the cancer chemopreventative potential, and hence, regular supplements of multivitamins and minerals could reduce the risk of colon cancer.”

<<< * >>>

The above story is reprinted, with editorial adaptations, by The Zestzfulness Team from materials provided by Canadian Science Publishing (NRC Research Press).

The article is published in the January issue of the Canadian Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology: Arul AB, Savarimuthu I, Alsaif MA, Numair KS. Multivitamin and mineral supplementation in 1,2-dimethylhydrazine induced experimental colon carcinogenesis and evaluation of free radical status, antioxidant potential, and incidence of ACF. Can J Physiol Pharmacol. 2012 Jan;90(1):45-54.

CLICK HERE for the Full Text Article.

Colon, or colorectal, cancer is cancer that starts in the large intestine (colon) or the rectum (end of the colon). CLICK HERE for a detailed explanation by Dr Dennis Lee, MD

Related posts from Zestzfulness

'Good' Cholesterol May Cut Colon Cancer Risk Researchers led by Dr. Bas Bueno-de-Mesquita of the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment in the Netherlands compared 1238 people with colorectal cancer to 1238 healthy people. Of those with cancer ...CLICK HERE for details

Colorectal Cancer Prevention : Omega 3 A purified form of an omega 3 cuts the number and size of precancerous bowel growths (polyps) in people whose genetic make-up predisposes them to bowel cancer. Furthermore, this particular omega 3 (eicosapentaenoic ... CLICK HERE for details

A Probiotic, MultiVitamins and Mineral Supplement

Probiotic Multivitamins Minerals

We are what we eat, yet the body needs a healthy digestive system to extract nutrients from food, break them into absorbable portions and eliminate whatever that cannot be digested.

Good regular bowel movement indicates that your digestive health is working well. Conversely, when your digestive system is malfunctioning, you will experience symptoms such as:

• Abdominal pain
• Belching
• Bloatedness
• Heartburn
• Chronic bowel irritation
• Chronic fatigue
• Constipation
• Diarrhea
• Gassiness
• Insomnia
• Joint and muscle pain
• Nausea and vomiting
• Rumbling noises
• Skin disorders
• Sugar cravings

Poor digestion interferes with nutrient breakdown, absorption and metabolism, while poor nutrient absorption spills into low energy levels and lowered productivity as well as quality of life. It can be hard to stay active, fit and strong enough for the stresses of daily life when your body lacks energy.

Gastrointestinal experts even warn that prolonged nutrition deficiency can lead to premature aging, arthritis, poor skin and hair, allergies, cancer, osteoporosis, diabetes, cardiovascular problems and many other diseases.

Maintaining a healthy intestinal flora with good bacteria will help improve digestive health and enhance absorption of nutrients. This will allow the body to heal itself naturally, eventually reducing the risk of disease and the need for medications.

What are probiotics?

Did you know that the human body is the living host of bacteria? We literally carry around 1 kg of bacteria with us at any one time! The bacteria in our bodies help to break down the food we eat and enhance absorption of many nutrients.

The use of friendly bacteria was first studied by the scientist Ellie Metchnikoff, who wrote a thesis on ‘Prolongation Of Life’ in the late part of 1800s. He noticed that the Bulgarians lived to the ripe old age beyond a hundred and found that their diets consisted mostly of sour milk with lactic acid bacteria in them.

Initially he called the bacteria the Bulgarian bacillus, later renaming it Bacillus bulgaricus. In recent years, the lactic acid bacteria has come to be known as ‘probiotics’, meaning ‘for life’ (as opposed to antibiotic, which means to kill bacteria).

Today, probiotics are known tocontribute to good intestinal function, aid digestion and help to regulate the immune system. In this way they help to maintain overall good health.

Unfortunately, our 21st century lifestyle puts us at risk of damaging our intestine’s friendly bacteria. Stress, poor diet, lack of exercise, and excessive use of antibiotics are all potential factors that may contribute to decreasing the friendly bacteria in the body.

When that happens, the bad bacteria that co-exist with the good bacteria in the guts will leap into action to colonise the good bacteria. When these bad bacteria multiply, they may create a toxic situation that disrupts the body’s normal functioning. This results in a multitude of diseases such as gastrointestinal and immune disorders.

Many healthcare professionals now recognise the importance of supplementing our diet with probiotics so as to keep the bad bacteria in check and restore a healthy balance in the gut.

Bion® 3 is available in pack sizes of 30’s & 90’s

Dosage for Adults & Children above 12 years of age:

1 tablet daily, preferably taken on empty stomach in the morning or before bedtime.

References:

1. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health.
2. http://www.nutristrategy.com/index.htm
3. American Dietetic Association
4. Medline Plus
5. US National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine
6. Mayo Clinic
7. University of Maryland Medical Center
8. www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk

Source: Merck Sdn Bhd, Malaysia

Health Tip: Keep Heartburn Under Control

Suggestions to help put out the fire

Heartburn is the most common symptom of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), which occurs when the acidic contents of the stomach back up into the esophagus.

The American Gastroenterological Association offers these suggestions to help you control heartburn and GERD:

• Skip beverages or foods that tend to trigger heartburn.
• Stick to small meals, and eat at least two to three hours before you lie down.
• Raise the head of your bed about four to six inches.
• Lose any extra pounds.
• Skip tight clothing and exercises that may increase abdominal pressure, such as sit-ups.
• If you're a smoker, quit.

CLICK HERE for related article from Zestzfulness:

How Does Gavsicon Work for Heartburn?

Gaviscon Double Action with, sodium alginate, sodium bicarbonate and calcium carbonate, works in two ways to effectively tackle the symptoms of both heartburn and indigestion.

Gaviscon soothes irritation in the oesophagus (food pipe) on its way down to the stomach. But once it has arrived in the stomach the action really begins!

Gaviscon works by forming a protective layer on top of the stomach contents. This protective layer keeps all the stomach contents in the stomach where they belong, not letting them seep back up into the oesophagus where they hurt.

Would you like to see how Gaviscon works? CLICK HERE for the animation.

Even for the Overweight, Exercise Helps the Heart

Picture credit: images.teamsugar.com

Study finds changes in physical fitness affect disease risk at any weight.

Few studies are available on the associations of changes in fitness and fatness with the subsequent incidence of the cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors of hypertension, metabolic syndrome, and hypercholesterolemia.

New research Duck-chul Lee, a research fellow at the University of South Carolina, in Columbia and colleagues shows that getting and staying physically fit might help fend off heart disease even if you've put on a few kilograms, new research suggests.

The researchers followed up 3,148 healthy adults who received at least 3 medical examinations from 1979 to 2006. Fitness was determined by using a maximal treadmill test. Fatness was expressed by percent body fat and body mass index. Changes in fitness and fatness between the first and second examinations were categorized into loss, stable, or gain groups.

During the 6-year follow-up after the second examination, 752, adults developed hypertension, 426 developed metabolic syndrome*, and 597 adults hypercholesterolemia.

Maintaining or improving fitness was associated with lower risk of developing any of these three risk factors. Those who maintained fitness has a 24 percent lower risk of high blood pressure, 38 percent lower risk of metabolic syndrome and 25 percent lower risk of high cholesterol. Those who gained fitness reduced their risk of each about the same or slightly more.

Increasing fatness was associated with higher risk of developing one of the risk factors. Gaining fat put the men and women at 24 percent higher risk of getting high blood pressure, 52 percent higher risk of getting metabolic syndrome and 41 percent higher risk of high cholesterol.

In the joint analyses, the increased risks associated with fat gain appeared to be attenuated, although not completely eliminated, when fitness was maintained or improved. In addition, reducing fat seemed to offset part of the higher risk linked with losing fitness.

Reduce risk of developing CVD risk factors by loosing fat and gaining or maintaining fitness

Being fit and not being fat work independently to reduce risk factors. Pay attention if not to both at least to one

This article will appear in the Feb. 14 edition of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology: Lee DC, Sui X, Church TS, et al. Changes in fitness and fatness on the development of cardiovascular disease risk factors. J Am Coll Cardiol 2012; 59:665-672. DOI:10.1016.j.jacc.2011.11.013.

* Metabolic syndrome is a group of signs that raise the risk of diabetes and heart disease. To be diagnosed, someone must have at least three of the five signs: large waist (abdominal obesity), high triglycerides, low "good" cholesterol, high blood pressure and high fasting blood sugar.

CLICK HERE for more about metabolic syndrome from the American Heart Association.

We have also summarized four related articles related to metabolic syndrome for your easy reference:

Stress Reduction and Mindful Eating Curb Weight ...

Visceral obesity, in particular, produces inflammatory molecules which promote insulin resistance and the Metabolic Syndrome. Thus, abdominal adiposity is an important target for reducing risk of type 2 diabetes and .... CLICK HERE

Anti-inflammatory Food Effectively Protects Against ...

The test products were included in a food portfolio based on different food concepts with expected beneficial effects on risk factors of metabolic syndrome, i e type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and obesity. Food that in .... CLICK HERE

Moderate Exercise keeps Dangerous Belly Fat away

Metabolic syndrome is a group of risk factors (large waistline, high levels of triglyceride, blood sugar, blood pressure and low level of HDL cholesterol) that predict heart disease and Type 2 diabetes. Excess belly fat is .... CLICK HERE

The Dangers of Belly Fat

This inflammation then triggers the systemic diseases linked with metabolic syndrome, such as Type 2 diabetes and heart disease (2). Other Negative Effects Of Belly Fat. Liver Cancer Recurrence. Dr. H. Yoshida of the ...Objectives: This study sought examine the independent and combined associations of changes in fitness and fatness with the subsequent incidence of the cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors of hypertension, metabolic syndrome, and hypercholesterolemia.... CLICK HERE


Looking for a No Fuss Simple Exercise Equipment?

See what Ah Guan got for only $39.95!

New Exercise Gadget for Only $39.95

This presentation was uploaded to Youtube by classicpauly on Feb 3, 2012


Ah Guan, no not the one from Bedok, the other one staying in a HDB apartment in an opposition constituency in Singapore, is very excited with his new tool.

Sweetened Drinks Can Be Dangerous

The risk of developing diabetes and cardio-vascular disease increases if you drink sucrose-sweetened beverages every day.

The results of the six-month test are being published today (Monday 2 January 2012) in the highly respected American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. And the conclusions constitute a serious warning against drinking sucrose-sweetened beverages on a daily basis. The test was carried out by a team of researchers led by Bjørn Richelsen, a professor of clinical nutrition at Aarhus University.

A connection has already been discovered between drinking sucrose-sweetened beverages and the development of obesity, diabetes and cardio-vascular disease; but previous studies have failed to demonstrate a direct link between such drinks and these health problems.

“Our results show that there is a direct connection between the daily ingestion of one litre of sucrose-sweetened beverages and the fat content in the liver, muscles and abdominal cavity. The fat content of the blood increases as well, and cholesterol levels rise. All these changes are known to increase the risk of developing diabetes and cardio-vascular diseases,” says Professor Bjørn Richelsen from Aarhus University.

“Children and young people are believed to represent a high-risk group in terms of the negative effect of sucrose-sweetened beverages; and diabetes and cardio-vascular disease aren’t the only things to threaten young people who have a high consumption of these drinks. The incidence of the liver disease known as ‘non-alcoholic fatty liver’ is increasing in young people, and a high consumption of soft drinks may also be a contributory factor to this problem as well,” says Bjørn Richelsen.

The trial also demonstrated that even though skimmed milk has the same energy content as sucrose-sweetened beverages, milk had no negative effects on the fat content of the liver, muscles and abdominal cavity – or on the fat content in the blood. Cola Light (sweetened with aspartame) had almost the same effect as water.

Facts and conclusion

The test lasted six months and involved volunteers drinking one litre per day of four different drinks: Coca-Cola, skimmed milk, light cola (zero energy) and water. After the trial period it was discovered that the fat content in the liver and muscle tissue of the people who had been drinking Coca-Cola had more than doubled in comparison with the people who had been drinking the three other drinks. The amount of fat in the abdominal cavity and the fat content in the blood (cholesterol and triglyceride) also increased in the Coca-Cola group. All these changes are known to increase the risk of contracting diabetes and cardio-vascular diseases. Even though skimmed milk has the same energy content as sucrose-sweetened beverages, milk had no negative effects on the fat content of the liver, muscles and abdominal cavity – or on the fat content in the blood. Cola Light (sweetened with aspartame) had almost the same effect as water.

So the conclusion is clear: drinking one litre of sucrose-sweetened beverages every day for six months increases the risk of contracting diabetes and cardio-vascular disease, so the consumption of these drinks should be kept to a minimum. When considering the results of this study, it’s worth remembering that the average consumption of sucrose-sweetened beverages among young men in the US is 1.8 litres a day, and that average consumption for the American population as a whole is 0.5 litres a day.

<<< * >>>

The above story is adapted by the Zestzfulness Team from the January 3, 2012 news release by the Aarhus University.

http://www.au.dk/en/about/news/

The article is published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition: Maersk M, et al. Sucrose-sweetened beverages increase fat storage in the liver, muscle, and visceral fat depot: a 6-mo randomized intervention study. Am J Clin Nutr 28 December 2011 [epub ahead of print]

Here are some more reasons to cut down on sugar

Live Longer With Fewer Calories

Cutting daily calorie intake may put the brakes on the aging process, delay the development of age-related diseases such as cancer and type 2 diabetes and result in a longer life span. The earlier calorie ... By gradually reducing the intake of sugar and proteins, without reducing vitamins and minerals, researchers have previously shown that monkeys can live several years longer than expected. ....

Minister 'Fooling Public' On Sugar Subsidies

Minister Denies Firms Gain From Higher Sugar Subsidy