More proof cancer is sweet on sugar
Anew study published in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention shows that women who drink sugar-laced soda five or more times a week are 85 percent more likely to die from breast cancer than women who never or rarely drink sugary sodas. They were also 65 percent more likely to die from all causes than non-indulgers.
The researchers from the University of Buffalo followed 927 women, ages 25 to 79, who had been diagnosed with breast cancer for a median of nearly 19 years. They suggest that sodas are so lethal because they contain a lot of sucrose and fructose, which pump up both glucose levels and secretion of insulin. Those two are known to be associated with a higher risk of breast cancer, the researchers point out.
Opting for tea, coffee and water is the smart move. Some studies suggest drinking more than three cups of green tea a day is associated with a 27 percent reduction in your risk of breast cancer, and some say five cups of coffee can have breast cancer-fighting benefits too — although not everyone agrees. What we do know is that tea and coffee offer other benefits.
How to make smart changes when you have
Type 2 diabetes
If you’re overweight or obese and have Type 2 diabetes, it’s also a great idea to make far-reaching lifestyle changes. A new study reveals how to do it safely, so you gain control of your diabetes and protect your heart.
Researchers have published a study in Diabetes Care that took a second — and more in-depth — look at data from the NIH’S Look AHEAD study. They found that for 85 percent of people in that study, lifestyle interventions that triggered weight loss and increased physical activity reduced potential cardiovascular problems and optimized the wide range of physical and emotional benefits that come from upgraded lifestyle habits.
But — and there’s always a but — for folks in that study who had poor blood sugar control, the lifestyle interventions were actually risky! It turns out that upgrading your lifestyle without first gaining control of blood sugar levels makes it 85 percent more likely you’ll have a cardiac event.
So if you’re ready to conquer your Type 2 diabetes, talk to your doctor about first making sure your blood sugar is well controlled through medication and food choices. Once that is established, then you’re ready to start a weight loss and exercise program.