Broccoli Could Be Prostate Cancer Fighter

It's no secret that men who eat lots of vegetables seem more likely to avoid prostate cancer, but researchers now think a chemical in broccoli and cauliflower could help doctors treat the disease, too.

No one has tested the chemical on humans yet, however, and it may take years to turn it into a usable drug. "It's interesting early work, but it's a long way from something going on in a test tube to exactly what goes on in humans," says Dr. Durado Brooks, director of prostate and colorectal cancers for the American Cancer Society.

Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among men in the United States and kills about 30,000 each year, according to the National Prostate Cancer Coalition. A number of treatments are available, but side effects commonly include incontinence and impotence.
Prostate cancer rates are lower in countries where people eat plenty of fruits and vegetables, although the exact link between diet and the disease isn't clear, Brooks says.

Researchers at the University of California at Berkeley decided to investigate the cancer-fighting effects of chemicals in cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, cauliflower, kale, Brussels sprouts and cabbage.

"We realized that what was missing was a comprehensive study of how these natural compounds affect the growth and function of reproductive cancer cells," says study co-author Gary Firestone, a professor of molecular and cell biology at the University of California at Berkeley.
The researchers found that a chemical known as 3,3'-diindolylmethane (DIM), a byproduct of eating cruciferous vegetables, appeared to prevent the growth of breast cancer cells. They next turned to prostate cancer cells.

The researchers found that prostate cancer cells treated with DIM grew 70 percent slower than untreated cells.

Their research will appear in the June 6 issue of the Journal of Biological Chemistry.

The chemical appears to prevent cancer cells from receiving signals from the hormone testosterone, Firestone says. That, in turn, prevents the cells from growing.
By contrast, traditional hormone therapy for prostate cancer patients is designed to prevent testosterone from getting to the cells in the first place. "You cut off the signal that makes the prostate cancer cells grow," Firestone says.

It's possible that the chemical could be used in combination with hormone therapy, Firestone says, letting doctors dampen the side effects of lowering testosterone levels.

Producing drugs from the vegetables may be easy and inexpensive, he adds: "There's a lot of broccoli and cabbage, and you should be able to obtain a lot of this chemical at a very cheap price."

However, Brooks says hormone treatment is much less common than other prostate cancer treatments. Surgery and radiation are the usual treatments.

Research into chemicals derived from vegetables may be more important in terms of prevention, says Satya Narayan, an associate professor of anatomy and cell biology at the University of Florida. "These compounds may be of greater importance for prostate cancer prevention at the early stages of the prostate cancer development, instead of at the later stages when the cancer is advanced."

But it's still not clear how many vegetables men would need to eat to protect themselves from getting prostate cancer in the first place.

Research News:

Homocysteine Levels May Be Related to Osteoporosis

Homocysteine levels are associated with osteoporotic hip fracture, according to the results of two studies published in the May 13 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine. The editorialist discusses the issue of causality but basically agrees that homocysteine can be added to the list of risk factors for osteoporosis.

"Very high plasma homocysteine levels are characteristic of homocystinuria, a rare autosomal recessive disease accompanied by the early onset of generalized osteoporosis," write Joyce B. J. van Meurs, PhD, from Erasmus Medical Center in Rotterdam, the Netherlands.

"Although a previous study suggested the possible involvement of increased plasma homocysteine levels in age-dependent bone loss, the role of moderately elevated plasma homocysteine levels in diseases of the skeletal system - in particular, osteoporotic fracture - is unknown."

"An increased homocysteine level appears to be a strong and independent risk factor for osteoporotic fractures in older men and women," the authors write, while recommending that this risk be confirmed in other large population studies. "Proof of a causal relationship between increased homocysteine levels and bone disease could be established by intervention studies aimed at lowering the serum homocysteine level. Whereas randomized, controlled trials have shown that folic acid-based vitamin supplements can effectively reduce homocysteine levels and reduce the rate of coronary restenosis, additional studies are needed to assess whether the use of such therapy will reduce the risk of fracture."

The second study looked at the association between total homocysteine concentration and the risk of hip fracture in men and women enrolled in the Framingham Study.

"The increased prevalence of osteoporosis among people with homocystinuria suggests that a high serum homocysteine concentration may weaken bone by interfering with collagen cross-linking, thereby increasing the risk of osteoporotic fracture," write Robert R. McLean, MPH, from the Hebrew Rehabilitation Center for Aged Research and Training Institute in Boston, Massachusetts, and colleagues.

Study limitations include white population precluding generalizability to other racial and ethnic groups, use of nonfasting blood samples, use of a single measurement performed during the 20-year follow-up period, which may have underestimated the relative risk of hip fracture based on homocysteine concentration, and lack of dietary information at baseline causing potential confounding due to dietary factors. Because no data on bone mineral density were available at baseline, the investigators could not assess whether the effect of homocysteine on hip fracture may be mediated through bone mineral density.

"These findings suggest that the homocysteine concentration, which is easily modifiable by means of dietary intervention, is an important risk factor for hip fracture in older persons," the authors write. "Further population-based research is needed to examine the role of homocysteine in osteoporosis and osteoporotic fracture and to determine whether nationwide folic acid fortification of food will help to reduce rates of hip fracture in the United States."

In an accompanying editorial, Lawrence G. Raisz, MD, from the University of Connecticut Health Center in Farmington, discusses whether there is a causal relationship between homocysteine levels and osteoporosis.

"Whether it is a culprit or a bystander, homocysteine can now be added to the growing list of risk factors for fractures," Dr. Raisz writes. "Its use might increase the predictive power of an assessment based not just on bone mineral density, but on multiple risk factors. Such an assessment is sorely needed to provide realistic individualized estimates of the risk of fracture that can guide physicians and patients in planning prevention and treatment."

N Engl J Med. 2004;350:2033-2041, 2042-2049, 2089-2090

Green Tea Helps Keep Arteries Clear
But animal study findings suggest it won't remove existing plaque

If you're going to drink green tea in hopes of preventing heart disease, you should start sipping before your arteries begin to harden.

A new animal study suggests that while an important antioxidant in green tea can help prevent the formation of plaques that can block blood flow, it has no effect on the fatty deposits once they have formed. Researchers at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles report the finding in the May 25 issue of Circulation.

The study used the antioxidant epigallotcatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), the most powerful of the flavonoids that have been shown to provide protection against heart disease and cancer.

The EGCG, provided by Lipton Tea, was injected into mice that were genetically predisposed to rapid development of plaque whose arteries had been injured to spur that development. Other mice of the same strain with similar damage did not get the antioxidant.

Examination of the arteries after three and six weeks showed that the formation of new plaque in mice who got EGCG was reduced significantly, while plaques continued to form in the mice that did not get the antioxidant. However, the treatment had no effect on plaque that existed when the injections began.

"It appears that antioxidant therapy would have therapeutic benefits only if initiated during a critical window very early in the formation of plaque," said study author Dr. Kuang-Yuh Chyu, an assistant professor of medicine at the University of California, Los Angeles.

Antioxidants are believed to prevent atherosclerosis by protecting the delicate inner surface of the blood vessels. But while antioxidants have worked in laboratory tests and animal studies, results in human trials have been disappointing.

Most animal studies "are started when the animals are young, while randomized clinical trials typically enroll adult patients with varying stages of plaques," Chyu noted.

The study is "a small step toward understanding why the antioxidant story is very complex," said Dr. Robert A. Vogel, a professor of medicine at the University of Maryland School of Medicine who has done research in the field.

"We think antioxidants are good," Vogel said. "However, when you look at the many human trials that have been undertaken with antioxidants, the results have been disappointing."

There is always a difference between animals kept under carefully controlled conditions and "free-living human beings doing lots of good and bad things," Vogel said.

As for the timing of antioxidant use, "until a trial in humans shows that they reduce atherosclerosis, we don't know if they will be effective early, late or any time," he said.

There is no harm and some possible good in drinking green tea, Vogel said, but he advised against antioxidant supplements.

"Data on vitamin supplements to prevent heart disease is totally lacking," he said.

More information

An explanation of how antioxidants work is offered by the American Heart Association. The University of Nebraska Medical Center has more on the health benefits of green tea.

SOURCES: Kuang-Yuh Chyu, M.D., assistant professor, medicine, University of California, Los Angeles; Robert A. Vogel, M.D., professor, medicine, University of Maryland Medical School, College Park; Baltimore; May 25, 2004, Circulation

Be Smart When It Comes to Your Heart
Simple steps can cut your risk of cardiovascular disease

The story of heart disease in the United States can seem staggering.

For starters, it's America's No. 1 killer.

Cardiovascular disease claimed 931,108 American lives in 2001. That compares with 553,768 deaths due to cancer; 101,537 deaths due to accidents; and 14,175 due to AIDS.

Yet simple lifestyle changes can reduce your risk of heart disease, doctors emphasize. And it's never too early to start. Many young adults and even children are showing warning signs of heart disease that could lead to major health problems later in life.

And what better time to start than February, American Heart Month?
While genetics play some role in the development of cardiovascular disease, there are many risk factors that are what doctors call "modifiable." With a little effort, you can eliminate or control them.

Here are six important strategies to minimize your risk:

Stop smoking. On this score, most Americans are doing pretty well. Since 1965, smoking in the United States has declined by more than 40 percent among people aged 18 and older, according to the American Heart Association (AHA).

Exercise. "The minimum amount should be the equivalent of brisk walking for 30 minutes three to four times a week," says Dr. Zi-Jian Xu, a cardiologist at Santa Monica-UCLA Medical Center in California. Dr. Kris Vijay, a cardiologist and director of clinical research and heart failure at the Arizona Heart Institute, urges people to do even a bit more -- 30 minutes five times a week, or two and a half hours total weekly. He tells people to jog, play tennis, walk -- do anything to keep moving.

Maintain a healthy weight. "A major risk factor for heart disease is obesity," says Vijay. "We know that one third of America is now obese. That obesity is perpetuating the chain" of risk factors, he says. Obesity can lead to diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol, each of which boosts the risk of heart disease. Keep your body mass index (BMI) below 25 -- the recommended cutoff for optimal health.

Eat healthy. That means a balanced diet with plenty of fruits and vegetables, few fried foods, and go easy on the sugar. "Don't add sugar," Vijay warns. "It's not a good thing. The natural sugars in bananas and oranges are better than plain refined sugar." The AHA recommends a nutrition plan that includes five or more servings of fruits and vegetables a day; six or more servings of grain products; fat-free and low-fat milk products; fish; beans; skinless poultry; and lean meats. Fats and oils such as tub margarines or olive oils should have 2 grams or less of saturated fat per tablespoon, the AHA says.

Control high blood pressure. One in four adults have high blood pressure, the AHA estimates. Exercise and eating healthfully, paying particular attention to lowering salt intake, can help lower blood pressure. If those strategies don't work, blood-pressure lowering medications can be used.

Manage diabetes. Adults with diabetes are two to four times more likely to have heart disease, the heart association warns. Type 1 diabetes can be controlled with insulin. Type 2 diabetes and pre-diabetes can be controlled through proper nutrition and exercise.

If your family doctor or internist doesn't bring up the need to pursue a heart-healthy lifestyle, you should broach the subject. "A lot of primary-care doctors have not paid enough attention to risk factor modification," Xu says.

Then there are the doctors who pay attention but the patients who don't. "Patients have high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, and they tend to ignore it and don't take medication or don't take enough," Xu says.

More information

For information on a heart-healthy lifestyle, see the American Heart Association. The association also offers a guide to healthy nutrition. To calculate your body mass index, click here.

SOURCES: Zi-Jian Xu, M.D., Ph.D., cardiologist, Santa Monica-UCLA Medical Center, Santa Monica, Calif., and assistant clinical professor, medicine, UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine, Los Angeles; Kris Vijay, M.D., director, clinical research, and director, heart failure, Arizona Heart Institute, Phoenix

What to wear to class?

You would be most comfortable in clothing made of fabric that moves with your body, not against it. If you can touch your toes without feeling constricted by your clothes you will have the most successful yoga experience. Natural fabrics, such as cotton, are usually the best clothing to wear because they allow your skin to breathe. When attending a restorative yoga session it is a good idea to bring an extra layer because as your body moves and enters different positions, your body temperature changes; if it drops a touch it is best to contain your body heat to keep your muscles at their most flexible. On the same note, it is a good idea to bring comfortable cotton socks if your feet tend to be naturally on the cool side, or a scarf or small blanket that may also assist you in achieving the most comfort. When preparing for the class the most important thing to keep in mind is to have all the tools necessary for a deep and peaceful practice.

What to expect?

As you may have noticed already, there are a multitude of yoga styles and as many ways to teach as there are teachers. In the Anusara School (see What is Anusara yoga?) we begin class by developing our intentions (what is it we want to achieve by coming to yoga). You might want to follow the teacher's intentions or if you feel particularly inspired, set one of your own. This process helps bring more meaning and focus to your practice. We all work, play and accomplish easier when we set goals for ourselves. It might be to focus on a certain area of your body that needs more attention or a state of mind that you would like to achieve (stillness, openness, or calm…). Or sometimes it might be just to let yourself be, witness where you are at this moment, in your own body and mind. This private process brings the focus back where it should be. On you!
After a short meditation and a few "aums" we are ready to begin!

For Restorative yoga we use several props to let the body release the maximum amount with minimum effort by the muscles. With every pose, the teacher will demonstrate how to use the props. It is very important to observe first and ask any questions if you are unclear about any of the movements demonstrated. You will be holding the poses for a long time (5-10 min) and we want you to be completely comfortable in your body. If the position is held in the appropriate form, then there should be little or no discomfort. Since we all have different bodies that come with different limitations, you might find yourself needing more or less support in one pose over another. That is normal and good. We want to maximize the benefits of the pose so you can experience it to the fullest. Being uncomfortable will not achieve that. The teacher will then walk around to adjust (if need be) and enhance the pose by helping to open the area targeted with a light stretch. If you do not want to be touched, just inform the teacher either at the beginning of class or, if only during a particular pose, at that time. It is your practice and you should always honour how you want to experience it!

At the end of class, we do an extended relaxation period in final savasana (pose). If you need to leave early, please do so before this pose so the rest of the class might experience its full benefits undisturbed. We finish with another short meditation period and a final peaceful "aum". You will feel pretty loose and calm after class so don't rush out and give yourself some time to readjust to the outside world. You will have a sense of equanimity and peace only found after a good yoga practice!

Namaste!
Catherine

Eliminate Low Back Pain, NOW!!!
5 Easy Steps

Do you suffer low back pain (LBP)? Does it ache all day? If this sounds like you you're not alone.

Nearly two-thirds of all Canadians report suffering back pain at least once in the past year. Back pain is the primary reason people seek medical attention. It can be said that back pain is a universal epidemic because it recognizes no age, economic, or ethnic barriers.

With little care and attention most LBP is preventable. Using these 5 Easy Steps, take control of your health and eliminate your LBP, Now!!!

Step 1: Exercise. Through light aerobic activities you will be able to increase the strength and endurance of your low back. Aerobic activities such as walking, biking, dancing or swimming are great choices.

Step 2: Build Muscle Strength and Flexibility. A strong core (abdominals and low back) acts as a corset for your back. This will help you achieve better posture and decrease stress on your spine. Flexibility in your hips and upper legs allows your pelvis to maintain its proper position and will help your back feel better.

Step 3: Maintain A Healthy Weight. Being overweight puts undue stress and tension on your back muscles. Achieving the optimal weight for your body will help to alleviate symptoms and improve your health.

Step 4: Stand, Sit, Lift & Sleep SMART. If standing for a long period of time use a low footstool to take pressure off your low back. Maintain a neutral pelvic position. When sitting choose a chair with good lower back support or use the body ball. Keep your knees and hips level. When lifting, ensure that your legs are doing the work and that your back is straight. When sleeping, use a medium to firm mattress and a pillow that maintains a neutral position for your neck.

Step 5: Get Support. At KATCH LIFE Health & Wellness our team of trained professionals are experts in eliminating LBP. Our Registered Kinesiologists, Massage Therapists and Chiropractors work together to design and implement the most effective program for your back.

The Pelvic Tilt Exercise. This exercise helps you find and maintain neutral spine- a position in which your back is stabilized and less prone to injury.

Lay on back with knees bent and arms at side. Tighten abdominal muscles, slightly squeeze buttocks and flatten your low back against the mat. Hold this position for 3 seconds then return to start position. Repeat this exercise 5 times. Be sure to breathe during the entire exercise. Increase your repetitions each day as your strength and flexibility improves.

For more information on Eliminating Low Back Pain contact Katrina Lewis, owner of KATCH LIFE Health & Wellness at 604.825.7555 or visit our website at www.katchlife.com.