Most authoritative ever report on bowel cancer and diet: Links with meat and fibre confirmed

THIS SPEAKS FOR ITSELF........
23 May 2011
The most authoritative ever report on bowel cancer risk has confirmed that red and processed meat increase risk of the disease and concluded that the evidence that foods containing fibre protect against bowel cancer has become stronger.
The report, released as part of World Cancer Research Fund/American Institute for Cancer Research’s (WCRF/AICR) groundbreaking Continuous Update Project (CUP), has examined the links between bowel cancer risk and diet, physical activity and weight, and updated the bowel cancer findings of the WCRF/AICR’s 2007 Expert Report, Food, Nutrition, Physical Activity, and the Prevention of Cancer: a Global Perspective.
A systematic review of the evidence was carried out by WCRF/AICR-funded scientists at Imperial College London, who added 263 new papers on bowel cancer to the 749 that were analysed as part of the 2007 Report. An independent Expert Panel then reviewed the results and made judgements.
For red and processed meat, findings of 10 new studies were added to the 14 studies analysed as part of the 2007 Report. The Panel confirmed that there is convincing evidence that both red and processed meat increase bowel cancer risk.
WCRF/AICR recommends that people limit consumption to 500g (cooked weight) of red meat a week - roughly the equivalent of five or six medium portions of roast beef, lamb or pork - and avoid processed meat.
The Expert Panel behind the CUP’s judgements also concluded that the evidence that foods containing dietary fibre reduce bowel cancer risk has become stronger since the publication of the 2007 report. They considered the evidence sufficient to strengthen the conclusion that foods containing fibre protect against bowel cancer from “probable” to “convincing”.
The analysis for fibre included adding seven more studies to the existing eight from the 2007 Report, and the result was that the evidence became much more consistent.
This strengthens WCRF/AICR’s recommendation for people to consume a plant-based diet including foods containing fibre, such as wholegrains, fruits, vegetables and pulses such as beans.
The Panel also confirmed that the evidence published since 2007 did not change the judgements that there is convincing evidence that being physically active reduces risk of bowel cancer and that excess body fat – especially around the waist – remains a convincing cause of bowel cancer. There is also convincing evidence that alcohol consumption increases bowel cancer risk in men and it also probably increases risk in women.
Professor Alan Jackson, Chair of the WCRF/AICR Continuous Update Project (CUP) Expert Panel, said: “Our review has found strong evidence that many cases of bowel cancer are not inevitable and that people can significantly reduce their risk by making changes to their diet and lifestyle.
“Because our judgements are based on more evidence than ever before, it means the public can be confident that this represents the best advice available on preventing bowel cancer.
“There has been a lot of debate over the last few years about the strength of evidence that red and processed meat increase risk of cancer. We hope our review can help give clarity to those people who are still confused about the strength of the evidence.
“On meat, the clear message that comes out of our report is that red and processed meat increase risk of bowel cancer and that people who want to reduce their risk should consider cutting down the amount they eat.”
Teresa Nightingale, General Manager of WCRF, said: “Many people feel confused about cancer prevention because it can seem like a new study is published every week that suggests that a new substance either causes or prevents cancer.
“But the CUP takes the latest scientific findings and adds them to the existing body of evidence in a way that ensures our advice takes the latest research into account. This means people can be confident that our recommendations are up-to-date as well as being the most evidence-based information on cancer prevention available anywhere in the world.
“This latest report shows that there is enough evidence to recommend that people can reduce their bowel cancer risk by consuming less red and processed meat and alcohol, having more foods containing fibre, and by maintaining a healthy weight and being regularly physically active. This report confirms that bowel cancer is one of the most preventable types of cancer and we estimate that about 43 per cent of bowel cancers cases in the UK could be prevented through these sorts of changes. That is about 17,000 cases every year.”

MY MEALS.....A TYPICAL DAY : FOR VANESSA

I used to be far more rigid in my eating habits, but since my son who is a raw food chef quit his catering business and started working full time because he couldn't earn enough from the amount of people wanting raw food, I have found it far harder to eat how I would like , which is 90% raw...I went off at Christmas eating fruit cake and ham, chicken, drinking rum - you name it I had it...I felt so awful, meaning lethargic, skin changes, body bloat etc, I detoxed , called my holistic practitioner opened up my chakras and went back to the eating routine that I have no doubt has kept me healthy for the last 5 years.
My typical day is like this - I always wake at 6 am every morning - my eyes pop open no matter the time I went to bed .....usually I try to stay in bed till 7 am then I start with my water - I always start with a bottle of water - always purified - no spring water or water that I don't know where it comes from......sometimes I finish the bottle, sometimes half - if you want an instant visit to the toilet drink minimum 3 glasses (8 oz) of water as you wake before brushing your teeth. While I watch my favourite morning program Smile Jamaica I start my fruit eating, yesterday it was Otaheite apple so I ate 2 then 2 honey bananas the only bananas I like and then drank my tea ...... yesterday it was pau de arco and lemon grass mix .......after that I had an East Indian mango at around 9 am...........I usually leave for work at 10 am so before I left home I had a glass of chocho juice.
I try to keep kale chips in the fridge for snacks so I buy organic kale whenever it's available...it is right now. I bought a large bag of lychee en route to work so water, kale and lychee kept me till I finished work and came home then had another glass of cho cho juice and after that the cauliflower cous cous that my son made , later I had another cup of tea. Yesterday I was particular good and drank a bottle of water before bed with my glyconutrients in it.
I`m addicted to cheese so that's something I have not given up so I eat that from time to time - real cheese though not plastic cheese, gruyere being my favourite.
I try and buy ackee when in season to take around with me and eat as snacks - I buy my ackee myself to make sure its properly opened (raw ackee is a favourite of mine when in season).
My other favourite foods include sardines (tin food is a no no but I love sardines and it does have nutrients) and brown rice and split peas and brown rice with lots of onion garlic and turmeric and curry goat (the only alkaline meat there is)so once per week I usually have curry goat.
I have lots of fruit, I drink lots of tea, guinea hen weed being by favourite...... all loose tea no tea bag tea and I take my supplements and hope for the best.........every once in a while like once every 3 months I eat a steak, my favourite meal of all times, and I'm sure the reason why I got sick as I used to eat it every day of life from early teens with nothing but onion (although I'm trying to keep cancer away, I'm not dead yet so I have to have some enjoyment). Another thing I miss is crusty bread, so whenever I'm bad I make sure I'm bad all the way then detox the next day. If I eat steak this week I have no cooked food till the following week as steak is a definite no no to my diet ....I've found since I started eating this way as soon as I eat wrong it flies out, as my body is not used to it.
I try not to have any bottled juices like cranberry also no yogurt (all those so-called healthy foods I stay away from as they all have too much sugar) I love fresh fruit like mangoes, pineapple, banana, papaya once you peel the skin you don't have to fear herbicides and insecticides that much, I try to grow my rosemary, mint, peppers etc so I can pick those from my garden, my teas are there too guinea hen weed grows wild and so does lemon grass.......
People say it's an expensive way to live but I spend J$6000 per week on average for my fruits and veggies from the organic lady and the market, I see my friends spending some large, LARGE double digit sums at the supermarket........I also use special detergent, dishwashing liquid, house cleaners etc....I do not burn mosquito destroyers or use Vape mats or have those deodorants in my car......I read makeup labels, those longlife lipsticks not good for you, check your bath soaps, body products etc it's a whole change of lifestyle not only food.
I have no diabetes, no hypertension, no cholesterol issues but I think how I ate in my early years caused my cancer gene to stand up fully:)
I've been battling this disease from I'm 24 , I'm 58 now and I know mine is tied in to stress and food, but I give thanks as if I didn't have to eat this way I wouldn't look as young as I do now would I ?????

EIGHT FOODS YOU MUST NEVER EAT

We just cant win,no matter how hard we try, big brother not only watching us but trying his best to make us sick so we can live on his drugs...it's a real catch 22. My favourite Doctor "know", not OZ, Dr. Mercola is here to tell us that we need to know that GM does not mean General Motors! Check out his take on the Eight Foods You Should Almost Never, Ever Eat:

Most soybean, corn, cotton and canola crops in the U.S. are genetically altered. Some experts argue that these crops could pose serious health and environmental risks, but the scientific picture is currently incomplete -- deliberately so.
Agricultural corporations such as Monsanto and Syngenta have restricted independent research on the crops. They have refused to provide independent scientists with seeds, or else have set restrictive conditions that severely limit research. This is legal because under U.S. law, genetically engineered crops are patentable.
The Los Angeles Times reports:
"Agricultural companies defend their stonewalling by saying that unrestricted research could make them vulnerable to lawsuits if an experiment somehow leads to harm, or that it could give competitors unfair insight into their products. But it's likely that the companies fear something else as well: An experiment could reveal that a genetically engineered product is hazardous or doesn't perform as promised."
Even if you don't want to eat genetically engineered foods, you most likely already are doing so. Corn and soy are two of the most common food ingredients, especially in processed foods, and over 90 percent of both these crops in the US are now from GM seeds.
Organic food companies and consumer groups are stepping up their efforts to get the government to exercise more oversight of engineered foods. Critics of current policy argue that the genetically modified (GM) seeds are often contaminating the nearby non-GM crops.
ABC News reports:
"The U.S. government has insisted there's not enough difference between the genetically modified seeds its agencies have approved and natural seeds to cause concern. But Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, more so than his predecessors in previous administrations, has acknowledged the debate over the issue and a growing chorus of consumers concerned about what they are eating
You can also avoid GM foods that are not found in processed foods, if you know what to look for. There are currently eight genetically modified food crops on the market:
Soy
Sugar from sugar beets
Corn
Cottonseed (used in vegetable cooking oils)
Canola (canola oil)
Crookneck squash
Some varieties of zucchini
Hawaiian papaya

Try and remember the last time I told you about about canola oil - you can look it up in my blog post - 'Cooking with Plant Oils'

BOTOX AT 8 YEARS OLD ?

I just saw the most amazing thing on TV - there was a little girl and her mother talking about how she gets Botox injections given by her mother to iron out her wrinkles....yes you heard me and did I tell you how old this little girl is? She is eight years old!
There is the mother proudly sitting beside her and when the person interviewing her asks "why do you get Botox ?" and she answers "I don't know" the mother chimes in"to get rid of your wrinkles".
Now if we really allow this aren't we are condoning child abuse?
No wonder the mad people are running around saying the world is coming to an end on May 21st!

Makeup tips

I have told you all about using makeup that has expired, well recently I learnt something new about makeup - I used an eye cream that gave me a swollen eye and I thought it was an infection but it was just an allergy to all the fancy things in it that promised to make my eyes look younger...........It was frightfully expensive which means nothing these days as the ingredients were just not for me, but can you imagine what the cheap ones do? Here are some makeup tips that you should take note of :

Choose lipsticks without lead: Tests by the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics found that 61% of name-brand lipsticks contain detectable levels of lead. Check out their website for brands without this toxic ingredient. EXPIRATION: Throw out anything over 6 months old.
Choose mercury-free mascara: In mascaras and other personal care products, mercury comes from an ingredient called "thimerosal." Look for that or for "mercuric" on the label. EXPIRATION: Throw out anything over 3 months old.
By the way you know Maybelline mascara in the pink container with the green top no matter what new comes out it still holds firm at # 1.
Be cautious with micronized mineral makeup: Tiny particles called nanoparticles and micronized particles make makeup look smooth and flawless, but they can also be a health risk, especially for those with allergies and asthma. Reduce the chances of particles floating about in the air by working the powder into the brush, or wetting it down to reduce airborn particles. EXPIRATION: Throw out anything over 6 months old.
Read labels on foundations and concealers: Read the ingredient list, and avoid things like parabens, talc, and mineral oil. Choose natural formulas that actually contain good ingredients for your skin. EXPIRATION: Throw out liquids over 3 months old, and powders over one year old. If the product changes color or texture, toss it.
Avoid chemical sunscreens: We know that UV rays can contribute to skin cancer, wrinkles, and premature aging. Manufacturers have capitalized on our concerns by producing products full of sunscreens, from moisturizers to foundations to blushes. Unfortunately, many of these sunscreens are made with potentially harmful chemicals like oxybenzone, PABA, and cinoxate. Choose instead safer options like zinc oxide and titanium dioxide, then use sunscreen-free or safe-sunscreen makeup products. EXPIRATION: Check for an expiration date on the package. If there isn't one, discard anything that's over 3 years old.
Go for safer nail products: Avoid nail products with toluene, Dibutyl Phthalate (DBP) and formaldehyde, all linked with health effects. EXPIRATION: Throw it out if the container is damaged or if the polish had started to separate or turn colors.

And please, please, please stop putting on those acrylic or gel nails and destroying your nail bed and your lungs while you are applying them!

Question of the month -DOES PROCESSED MEATS CAUSE CANCER?

Every month THE CANCER PROJECT has a question of the month and I think this one is good for us as pepperoni seems to be the pizza topping of choice and now everything these days seems to be smoked! Can you imagine smoked chicken? That's what you call a double whammy..........it is simply delicious and a favourite of mine before my last bout with cancer. It's so delicious you know it can't be good for you.

QUESTION OF THE MONTH
I’ve heard that certain preservatives like sodium nitrites/nitrates found in processed meat can cause cancer. If that is true, what about the nitrites in vegetables?
ANSWER
Processed meats are preserved by smoking, curing, or salting, and by the addition of preservatives such as sodium nitrite to increase the shelf life. These additives also bring about the “pink” color seen in canned and luncheon meats. When processed meat digests, nitrites link up with other degraded proteins to form N-Nitrosamines, which are known carcinogens. Researchers know there is a link but they can not be certain that nitrites/nitrates are the cause.
Some vegetables are naturally high in nitrates, but fruits and vegetables are not linked to cancer, and it appears to be because of the high vitamin C and antioxidant content found in produce. Vitamin C can block the process of nitrates converting into nitrosamine compounds, at least those found in plants. Processed meat is a different story. Manufactures add ascorbic acid (vitamin C) to preserve meat, because like fruits and vegetables, the antioxidant helps neutralize the toxic effect of nitrosamines. However, studies on processed meat continue to show increased cancer risk. As expected, foods in their whole form are always best.

To learn more about processed meats visit CancerProject.org/Media/CNA.php

MSG shows up everywhere!

I learnt something new today..... .MSG is considered a SPICE! Really?
TAKE THE CONTAINER OF ACCENT OUT OF YOUR KITCHEN PEOPLE! After reading the following article from Coach Joshunder on the 7-Day belly Blast Diet - I'm sure you will heed my call.

A Common Spice That CAUSES Fat
If you’re like most people, when you think of monosodium glutamate (MSG) you think of Chinese food. But this innocent sounding additive also lurks in a surprisingly lengthy laundry list of food products and ingredients.
MSG is a flavor enhancer, one of the most common food additives, and a staple in the Standard American Diet, which has a very fitting acronym (SAD).
It shows up in all sorts of places, both obvious and hidden. For example, MSG is often disguised on food labels as “natural flavors”). MSG is also one of the biggest enemies to those who are trying to attain (and maintain) an ideal weight. Numerous studies have linked MSG intake with unhealthy weight levels and obesity.
Animal studies show that MSG can cause lesions in the hypothalamus region of the brain and leptin resistance (meaning tested animals don’t respond to the hormone signal letting them know they’re full), which leads to unhealthy weight gain. Then there are other studies that show mice become overweight when injected with MSG.
Still more research demonstrates that in a study where calorie consumption and exercise were equal, the group of men and women who used MSG were more likely to be overweight than the group that did not.
Another study performed by the University of North Carolina showed a correlation between MSG intake and obesity in Chinese adults. They found that the study group who used the most MSG was three times more likely to be overweight than nonusers.
Need more proof that you should avoid MSG at all costs? In addition to being tied to obesity, MSG is likely associated with numerous other serious symptoms and health conditions including: diabetes, depression, heart disease, cancer, celiac, migraines, digestive upsets, infertility, ADD, inflammation, and possibly even asthma.
MSG may also be addictive. It affects a neurotransmitter (chemical messenger) called GABA, which stimulates the brain.
A desire for this sensation can, in turn, cause MSG addiction.
Convinced yet?
Despite these studies and scientists’ warnings to “…abstain from adding the popular flavoring agent MSG,” this obesity additive keeps popping up in many processed foods.
Now that you’re in the know, the next step is to avoid MSG; unfortunately, this isn’t always easy. As we’ve already discussed, not only are tons of foods loaded with MSG in obvious ways (meaning a food label clearly states that MSG or monosodium glutamate is included), but MSG is also HIDDEN in many foods.
To save you from the detective work necessary to hunt down these ingredients, here’s a list of some culprits. (Keep in mind that some of the following items always contain MSG, while others may or may not contain it. To be on the safe side, you should consider eliminating these items from your diet altogether.) Suspect ingredients include: monosodium glutamate, MSG, glutamate, yeast extract, hydrolyzed protein, glutamic acid, autolyzed yeast, and maltodextrin. There are others, but this is a good start.
Processed foods are much more likely to contain MSG, so steer as clear of them as you can. Also, try to avoid non-organic produce, because MSG-containing products are sometimes used as sprays and fertilizers for those fruits and vegetables. If nothing else, be sure to wash all produce carefully.

HOW CAN WE ESCAPE?? I overheard 2 men discussing their children and how they were just too fat.......one said his five year old was the weight of a 9 year old the other one said well what am I to say as mine is bigger than yours... she was also five.......well folks it's the food they are eating - plain and simple!