The big QUESTION...
I’ve heard the 5:2 diet can cut my breast cancer risk – really?
You’re right to be sceptical about ‘food beats cancer’ headlines. The latest news is that the 5:2 diet (500 cals, two days a week – you know the drill) reduces breast cancer risk in women with a family history. But why? ‘Several studies indicate that fasting can reduce your risk of developing breast cancer,’ says Professor Kefah Mokbel, breast cancer surgeon at London’s Princess Grace Hospital. ‘When you fast, you switch off various growth factors that drive cancer cell growth. But reducing BMI is probably the most significant factor.’ Dr Andrew Sims from the University of Edinburgh worked on the Genesis Breast Cancer Prevention study behind the headlines. ‘We analysed 24 overweight women and, while we’ve found that maintaining a healthy weight does cut your risk of breast cancer, we haven’t proved whether the 5:2 offers something in addition,’ he says. The upshot? Don’t believe everything you read in the papers, but do aim for a healthy weight.
I’m trying for a baby. Can I trust my fertility app?
Kathy, Dulwich
The odds aren’t great. Researchers from New York’s Weill Cornell medical college recently analysed 53 of the most popular fertility apps and websites, by inputting data from a ‘typical’ 28-day menstrual cycle. If the service correctly forecast the fertile window – the day of ovulation and the five days before – it was seen as legit. Only three apps (Period Tracker; My Days: Period & Ovulation; and Clue) and one website (babymed.com) got it right. ‘This is significant because, after the egg is released from the ovary, it’s only viable for 12 to 24 hours, and a woman could limit her chance to conceive if she’s given an inaccurate timeframe,’ explains Professor Geeta Nargund, medical director of Create Fertility. Plus, stressing over dates and data might not help matters. ‘Anxiety will not help you conceive,’ says Nargund. ‘I tell clients to have sex every two or three days. If you need to see how you are ovulating, seek professional help and ask for a kit that tests for a surge in luteinising hormone (LH), which will give an actual physical indication of fertility.’ Weeing on a stick it is, then.
I’m on my third bout of mouth ulcers this year – how can I stop them?
Vanda, Essex
Our sincerest sympathies – those stingers suck the joy out of anything. ‘Ulcers occur when the mouth’s lining breaks down, leaving skin underneath exposed,’ explains Dr Slaine Mcgrath from the Harley Street Dental Studio. Work out what’s causing yours and avoid triggers. ‘Cut out spicy foods, use a toothpaste free from sodium lauryl sulfate, then ask your doctor to test for vitamin and iron deficiencies,’ she adds. If yours won’t shift, your dentist can provide a soluble steroid tablet. ‘You can’t do much to speed up healing. Ulcer gels only numb the area and you can end up making it worse,’ she says. ‘The goal is to keep infection at bay. Gargling salt water is one of the best ways.’ Bottoms up.
My knees click when I squat. Should this worry me?
Frankie, Surrey
Sure, the apparent sound of walnuts cracking behind your knee caps is off-putting, but is it actually a sign of damage? Not necessarily. ‘When you squat, the force exerted on your kneecaps is three times your body weight – even more if you’re using a weighted bar,’ says consultant Ian Mcdermott of London Sports Orthopaedics. ‘Often bits of tissue from the lining of the knee catch on the joint as you move it,’ says Mcdermott. His advice? If it’s not sore or making you fall over, then don’t worry – but pay attention to pain. ‘Sharp bursts suggest something is torn, while a dull ache or a crunching sound are typical of crepitus, which can be an early sign of arthritis,’ he adds. Recognise these? ‘Book in with a physio,’ says Mcdermott. Doctor’s orders.