According to the Triple Negative Breast Cancer Foundation, this type of breast cancer is diagnosed when a cancer lacks three “receptors” associated with breast cancer tumors: estrogen receptors, progesterone receptors, and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2. Triple negative breast cancer does respond to chemotherapy, but more targeted receptor treatments typically don’t work.

For the new study, published in the journal Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention, scientists analyzed data on 155,723 women taking part in a study on the effects of hormone replacement therapy in menopausal women. Scientists focused on the body mass index (BMI) and exercise levels of the 307 women in the study who were diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer, and the 2,610 women who had estrogen receptor-positive breast cancers.

Researchers discovered the women with the highest BMI had a 35% higher risk of triple-negative breast cancers, and a 39% increased risk of estrogen-fed breast cancers. Body fat has been shown to produce more estrogen.

Overall, the scientists say the effect was “modest,” but the results may offer new ways for women to reduce their risk of triple-negative breast cancer.

In 2008, World Health Organization (WHO) data says cancer killed 7.6 million people worldwide. Breast cancer accounted for 460,000 deaths; fifth in line, behind lung, stomach, liver, and colon cancer. And according to WHO research, in 2008, 1.5 billion adults, ages 20 and up, were overweight; 200 million men and nearly 300 million women were obese.

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Being Overweight Raises Risk of Triple-Negative Breast Cancer

Findings showed that every “extra” can of sugary soda consumed increased both systolic and diastolic blood pressure readings.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Preventions warns that any drink containing high-fructose corn syrup, fructose, fruit juice concentrates, honey, sugar, syrup, corn syrup, sucrose, or dextrose is considered a “sugar-sweetened beverage.”

Published in the journal Hypertension, researchers reviewed data on 2,696 volunteers, ages 40 to 59, from United States and Britain. and over three weeks, study participants were asked four times to report what they had eaten in the last 24 hours, give urine samples, and have their blood pressure checked.

Data revealed for every extra can of soda or sugary beverage drank each day, individuals had an average of 1.6 mmHg higher systolic blood pressure reading and an average of 0.8 mmHg higher diastolic reading. so the researchers recommend people limit soda consumption.

Additionally, the scientists found that people who consumed more sugary drinks typically had unhealthier diets; more calories and less fiber and minerals.

The American Heart Association encourages reduced intake of added sugar due to potential health risks, including high blood pressure, stroke, obesity, and cardiovascular disease.

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Sugary Drinks Raise Blood Pressure

A recent study has linked children’s weight to the amount of time their mothers were away at work growing up.

The researchers found that the total number of years mothers were employed had a small but growing influence on their children’s BMI.

• The research team studied body mass index (BMI) data from 990 children in grades 3, 5 and 6 who lived in cities across the country.
• The total number of years mothers were employed away from home had a cumulative influence on their children’s rising BMI.
• The findings were strongest among children in 5th and 6th grades.
• Surprisingly, changes in children’s physical activity, time spent unsupervised, and time spent watching TV didn’t explain the link between maternal employment and children’s BMI.
• The time of day moms worked wasn’t significantly associated with children’s BMI.

Although the reasons for the findings are not crystal clear, the authors suggest that one possibility is the limited time for grocery shopping and food preparation – opening the door for higher consumption of pre-packaged and fast foods.

Makes sense to me. the cultural shift of family dynamics has no doubt had an impact on how children are raised. With over 70% of American women with young children in the workforce, it’s easy to see the potential impact of this trend.

It’s a struggle to try and make it all work for double income parents and single parents alike. That said, it has to take priority, and families need to find ways to provide nutritious meals for their children.

I think it starts with taking advantage of the time you have with your children. This may be first thing in the morning, where you can perhaps eat a healthy breakfast together. making sure you pack a healthy lunch, and have healthy snacks on hand for when the children get home, takes care of most eating occasions.

Dinners can be tricky – long workdays can render one exhausted and not feeling much like cooking. This is where some planning is crucial, having things defrosted, making enough for leftovers, and an inventory of quick and healthy meal ideas.

Do you think working mothers have a small, large or non-existent impact on childhood obesity?

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Is Mom’s Work Schedule Making Kids Fat?

Dr. mark Messina, of the Loma Linda University Department of Nutrition, is one the of the preeminent soy researchers in the world. he has a piece in the July 2010 edition of the Journal of Nutrition which provides a historical perspective on the scientific study of soy and soy isoflavones (phytoestrogens). Dr. Messina references research dating back to the 1940′s that revealed that soy isoflavones were capable of causing fertility problems in sheep. mark goes on to document data from the 1950′s that illustrates a paradoxical anti-estrogenic activity of soy phytoestrogens. the concluding remarks of his review state that, “in vitro and animal research has raised questions about the safety of isoflavone exposure for certain subsets of the population, although the human data are largely inconsistent with these concerns”. (1)

Population-based studies are useful, however they’re not considered the “gold standard” of research because they only provide observational evidence. the August 2010 issue of the journal Climacteric provides a more highly regarded, intervention trial known as an “open-label study”. A total of 395 postmenopausal women were given 70 mg/day of a standardized soy isoflavone extract over a 3 year period. Endometrial biopsies, mammographies and transvaginal ultrasonographies were performed at the beginning and end of the trial. These tests aimed to answer the question: does soy cause hormone sensitive tissue to grow and, thereby, contribute to cancer risk? the findings revealed the following data:

• No cases of tissue overgrowth (hyperplasia) or cancer were detected based in the biopsy results.
• No significant changes in endometrial thickness or in mammography results were noted at the 3 year mark.
• 99% of the patients and physicians rated the “global safety” of the soy extract as “excellent” or “good”.

There were several instances of side-effects. In all, 8 of the 395 women reported breast pain or tenderness and menstrual bleeding irregularities. However, on the whole, the authors of the trial concluded that, “daily administration of 70 mg of a specific, standardized isoflavone extract for 3 years could be a safe treatment for endometrium and breast”. (3)

Soy Intake may Reduce Breast Cancer Risk – Click Image to Enlarge

A few other relevant studies were published recently regarding soy and women’s health. the first reported that larger intake of isoflavones were inversely associated with the risk of benign breast lumps known as fibroadenomas. Two of the most prominent phytoestrogens in soy, daidzein and genistein, conferred a 64% and 61% reduction in risk respectively. the second trial investigated the efficacy of 100 mg/day of soy isoflavones in a group of 50 women with menopausal hot flashes and mood disturbances. After 3 months, hot flash occurrence and severity declined by 69%. Depressed mood was similarly reduced by approximately 64%. the researchers were also hoping to find positive effects in the participants’ blood pressure readings and body mass index. However, no significant changes in diastolic or systolic blood pressure or weight were demonstrated. (4,5)

I’ve always adopted a rather cautious approach to soy. even with all of the positive studies I’ve come across, I still harbor some degree of concern about the precise effects of the plant-based estrogens contained therein. But my hope is that further trials will help to calm my suspicions. There’s one upcoming study in particular that I think will be very revealing. the SPARE (Soy Phytoestrogens as Replacement Estrogen) trial is currently being conducted at the University of Miami School of Medicine and will involve 283 women. Various health markers including estrogen levels, hip and spine bone density, menopausal symptoms, serum lipids and thyroid function will be assessed over a 2 year period. A higher dosage of 200 mg/day of soy isoflavones will be provided to half of the women, aged 45 to 60, with the remaining volunteers receiving a placebo. When the SPARE study results become available, I will most certainly report on them. In the meantime, I think it’s prudent to interpret the previously mentioned research with cautious optimism. (6)

Update: February 2011 - the great thing about soy is that there is no shortage of research about it. since soy is a major food source and of significant interest in the medical and nutritional communities, it is a frequent focal point of various scientific journals. within the confines of soy research, perhaps the greatest amount of attention is paid to how soy impacts various aspects of female health and well being. Here’s a brief rundown of some of the most recent developments regarding soy isoflavones and soy protein: a) a new study in the journal Menopause reports that a soy isoflavone metabolite (S-equol) can safely inhibit bone loss (resorption) in postmenopausal women; b) a newly published 2 year trial found that daily supplementation with 80 to 120 mg of soy isoflavones doesn’t increase endometrial thickness, fibroid occurrence or negatively impact thyroid function as assessed by serum free thyroxine concentrations; c) combining exercise with soy protein (25 g/day) elevates the calorie burning potential of exercise (resting energy expenditure) in postmenopausal women; d) high dietary soy may lower the likelihood of breast cancer recurrence in postmenopausal women and has no effect on ovarian cancer risk, according to a large Swedish study. Overall these findings add a bit more confidence to the efficacy and safety profile of soy. (7,8,9,10,11)

Be well!

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Best of Soy Guide for Women

The number of people around the world suffering from diabetes has skyrocketed in the last two decades, from 30 million to 230 million, claiming millions of lives and severely taxing the ability of health care systemsto deal with the epidemic, according to data released Saturday by the International Diabetes Federation.

What is diabetes?

Diabetes is a disease in which your body cannot properly store and use fuel for energy. The fuel that your body needs is called glucose, a form of sugar. Glucose comes from foods such as breads, cereals, pasta, rice, potatoes, fruits and some vegetables. To use glucose, your body needs insulin. Insulin is made by a gland in your body called the pancreas. There are three types of diabetes: type 1, type 2 and gestational diabetes. Gestational diabetes only occurs during pregnancy.

Types of Diabetes Mellitus

Diabetes mellitus is a heterogeneous clinical disorder with numerous causes. Two main classifications of diabetes mellitus exist, idiopathic and secondary.

Idiopathic diabetes is divided into two main types; insulin dependent and non-insulin-depenedent. Insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, IDDM (Type 1) is defined by the development of ketoacidosis in the absence of insulin therapy. Type 1 diabetes most often manifests in childhood (hence also called juvenile onset diabetes) and is the result of an autoimmune destruction of the b-cells of the pancreas. Non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, NIDDM (Type 2) is characterized by persistent hyperglycemia but rarely leads to ketoacidosis. Type 2 diabetes generally manifests after age 40 and therefore has the obsolete name of adult onset-type diabetes. Type 2 diabetes can result from genetics defects that cause both insulin resistance and insulin deficiency. There are two main forms of type 2 diabetes:

1. Late onset associated with obesity.
2. Late onset not associated with obesity.

Sample meal plan

Choose foods you like and which satisfy you, and include carbohydrate foods in each meal or snack to help manage blood glucose levels. You can eat your main meal at lunch or dinner.

Get help immediately if Diabetes symptoms occur

Occasionally, the onset of diabetes – particularly Type 1 – can be abrupt. It can lead to a condition called ‘keto acidosis’, which is a medical emergency. The symptoms of this condition are loss of appetite, weight loss, vomiting, excessive passing of urine, altered consciousness and, finally, coma. Seek medical help immediately if these symptoms occur.