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Knowledge is power: Signs, symptoms & survival rates of the most common cancers – Lynchburg News and Advance
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Breast Cancer
The American Cancer Society estimates 252,710 women and 2,470 men will be diagnosed with breast cancer in 2017 and about 42,070 will die from it.
The rate of breast cancer in women has declined from its 1989 peak by 38 percent, mostly due to improvements in detection. For women at average risk of breast cancer, annual mammograms are optional between the ages 40 to 44. Starting at age 45, the annual screening is recommended and, at age 55, women can transition to biennial mammograms.
+ Signs and symptoms: A lump in the breast is the most common symptom, though others include breast thickening, swelling, distortion, tenderness, redness, nipple abnormalities, spontaneous nipple discharge.
+ Risk factors: Weight gain after the age of 18, being overweight or obese, postmenopausal hormone use, alcohol consumption, heavy smoking, shift work that disrupts sleep patterns, family history of the disease, BRCA1 or BRCA2 genetic mutation, high density breast tissue, long menstrual history, recent use of oral contraceptives, never having children, having the first child after the age of 30.
+ Five-year survival rate: 90 percent.
An estimated 10,270 new cases will be diagnosed in the U.S. in 2017, and 1,190 children will die from the diseases.
The childhood cancer death rate has declined by more than two-thirds since 1969, due to improvements in treatment.
+ Signs and symptoms: Unusual mass, swelling, unexplained paleness or loss of energy, sudden increase in tendency to bruise or bleed, persistent pain or limping, prolonged unexplained illness or fever, frequent headaches, changes in vision, rapid weight loss.
+ Risk factors: There are few known risk factors for childhood cancers, though a small percentage may be related to an inherited genetic mutation or one that arises during fetal development.
+ Five-year survival rate: 83 percent, though it varies depending on type of cancer, and age of the patient among other factors.
In 2017, the American Cancer Society estimates 95,520 new cases of colon cancer and 39,910 of rectal cancer will be diagnosed and an estimated 50,260 people will die from it.
Colorectal cancer rates have been declining for several decades. Beginning at age 50, men and women of average risk should begin colorectal cancer screenings.
+ Signs and symptoms: This cancer typically has no symptoms in its early stages, but later stage symptoms include rectal bleeding, blood in the stool, changes in bowel habits, lower abdominal cramping, decreased appetite, and weight loss.
+ Risk factors: Obesity, long-term smoking, high consumption of red or processed meat, low calcium intake, moderate to heavy alcohol consumption, low intake of fruits and vegetables.
+ Five-year survival rate: 65 percent.
The American Cancer Society estimates 63,990 new cases of kidney and renal cancers will be diagnosed in the U.S. in 2017 and about 14,440 people will die from the disease.
Kidney cancer rates increased in the past several decades due to diagnosis during abdominal imaging for other issues but, since 2002, diagnoses have declined about 1 percent per year.
+ Signs and Symptoms: This cancer typically has no symptoms in the early stages but as the tumor progresses, there may be blood in the urine, pain or lump in the lower back or abdomen, weight loss or swelling in the legs or ankles.
+ Risk factors: Obesity; smoking; high blood pressure; chronic renal failure; occupational exposure to certain chemicals, such as trichloroethylene; and rare hereditary conditions.
+ Five-year survival rate: 74 percent.
An estimated 62,130 new cases of leukemia will be diagnosed the U.S. in 2017 and about 24,500 will die from the disease, according to the American Cancer Society. The death rate from this cancer has steadily dropped 1 percent per year since 2005.
While there are no current recommended screenings for this cancer, it sometimes is detected due to abnormal blood tests results performed for other issues.
+ Signs and symptoms: Fatigue, paleness, repeated infections, fever, bleeding or bruising easily, bone or joint pain, swelling in the lymph nodes or abdomen
+ Risk factors: Exposure to ionizing radiation, including medical radiation used in cancer treatments; and cigarette smoking.
+ Five-year survival rate: Varies by subtype, from 27 percent to 83 percent.
The American Cancer Society estimates 40,710 new cases of liver cancer will be diagnosed in the U.S. in 2017 and about 28,920 people will die from the disease.
Diagnoses of this cancer have more than tripled since 1980. From 2004 to 2013, the rate steadily increased by about 4 percent per year.
Screening for liver cancer has not been shown to reduce the mortality rate, but some doctors test high-risk individuals with ultrasound or blood tests.
+ Signs and symptoms: Symptoms usually dont appear until the cancer is advanced, but include abdominal pain or swelling, weight loss, weakness, loss of appetite, jaundice and fever. An enlarged liver is the most common physical sign.
+ Risk factors: Chronic infection with hepatitis B or C, heavy alcohol consumption, obesity, diabetes, tobacco smoking, and certain rare genetic disorders such as hemochromatosis.
+ Five-year survival rate: 18 percent.
Lung cancer is the second most commonly diagnosed cancer in the U.S. The American Cancer Society estimates 222,500 new cases will be diagnosed in 2017 and about 155,870 people will die from it this year.
The rate of lung cancer in the U.S. has been declining since the mid-1980s.
+ Signs and symptoms: Symptoms typically dont occur until the cancer is advance, but include a persistent cough, sputum streaked with blood, chest pain, voice changes, worsening shortness of breath and reoccurring pneumonia or bronchitis.
+ Risk factors: Cigarette smoking; exposure to radon gas; occupational or environmental exposure to secondhand smoke, asbestos, certain metals, radiation, or air pollution. Occupational exposures that increase risk include rubber manufacturing, paving, roofing, painting and chimney sweeping.
+ Five-year survival rate: 15 percent for men and 21 percent for women.
An estimated 49,670 new cases of oral and throat cancers will be diagnosed in 2017 and about 9,700 people will die from it.
From 2004 to 2013, the rate dropped by about 2 percent per year for blacks, but has increased 1 percent per year among whites, largely driven by a subset of cancers associated with the human papillomavirus (HPV) infection.
+ Signs and symptoms: A lesion in the throat or mouth that bleeds easily and does not heal; a persistent red or white patch, lump, or thickening in the throat or mouth; ear pain; a neck mass; coughing up blood.
+ Risk factors: Tobacco use, excessive alcohol consumption, an HPV infection of the mouth and throat believed to be transmitted through sexual contact.
+ Early detection: Visual inspections by dentists and physicians can often detect premalignant abnormalities and cancer at an early stage.
+ Five-year survival rate: 66 percent for whites and 47 percent for blacks.
An estimated 53,670 new cases of pancreatic cancer will be diagnosed in 2017 and about 43,090 will die from the disease.
This type of cancer has been declining by about 1 percent per year in whites, but was stable for blacks since 2004.
+ Signs and symptoms: Symptoms usually dont appear until the disease has progressed, but include weight loss, abdominal discomfort, and occasionally the development of diabetes. Advance stages of the disease include abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting.
+ Risk factors: Cigarette smoking, a family history of the disease, a personal history of chronic pancreatitis or diabetes and obesity, excessive alcohol consumption, Lynch syndrome and certain other genetic syndromes, including the BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutation.
+ Five-year survival rate: 8 percent.
The American Cancer Society estimates 161,360 new cases of prostate cancer will be diagnosed in 2017, and about 26,730 men will die from it.
Starting in the late 1980s, prostate cancer diagnoses spiked due to widespread screening with the prostate-specific antigen blood test but has been declining by about 8 percent per year since 2009.
The American Cancer Society recommends men of average risk of this type of cancer have a conversation with their doctor about the benefits and limitations of PSA testing.
+ Signs and symptoms: Early prostate cancer usually has no symptoms but as the disease progresses, men may experience weak or interrupted urine flow, difficulty starting or stopping urine flow, the need to urinate frequently, blood in the urine, pain or burning with urination.
+ Risk factors: Age, African ancestry, a family history of the disease and certain inherited genetic conditions.
+ Five-year survival rate: almost 100 percent.
An estimated 87,110 new cases of melanoma will be diagnosed in the U.S. in 2017, and about 9,730 people will die from it, according to the American Cancer Society.
Melanoma diagnoses have risen rapidly during the past 30 years, with a 2 to 3 percent increase per year since 2004 for those older than 50, but the rate has stabilized for those younger than 50.
The best prevention for this type of cancer is to use proper protection while in the sun wear sunglasses that block UV rays, apply a broad spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or more, and wear protective clothing.
+ Signs and symptoms: Changes in the size, shape or color of a mole or other skin lesion; the appearance of new skin growth; or a sore that doesnt heal. Changes that progress over a month or more should be evaluated by a health care provider.
+ Risk factors: A personal or family history, the presence of atypical; large or numerous moles; high exposure to ultraviolet radiation from sunlight or indoor tanning; a history of excessive sun exposure including sunburns; diseases or treatments that suppress the immune system.
+ Five-year survival rate: 98 percent.
An estimated 56,870 new cases of thyroid cancer will be diagnosed in 2017, with three out of four cases occurring in younger women. About 2,010 people are expected to die from this cancer this year.
Thyroid cancer has been increasing worldwide during the past few decades. In the U.S., the rate has increased about 5 percent per year since 2004.
+ Signs and symptoms: A lump in the neck, a tight or full feeling in the neck, difficulty breathing or swallowing, hoarseness, swollen lymph nodes, and pain in the throat or neck that doesnt go away.
+ Risk factors: Being female, having a family history of goiter or thyroid nodules, a family history of thyroid cancer and radiation exposure early in life, and a mutation in the RET gene.
+ Five-year survival rate: 98 percent
The American Cancer Society estimated 12,820 new cases will be diagnosed in 2017, and about 4,210 will die from it.
The cervical cancer rate has declined by more than half since 1975 due to a widespread uptick in screenings, but the declines recently have slowed.
The currently recommended screening for women ages 21 to 65 is a Pap test along with the human papillomavirus (HPV) test for women over the age of 30. Vaccines to protect against HPV are available for those ages 9 to 26.
+ Signs and symptoms: The most common symptom is abnormal vaginal bleedings, which may start and stop between regular menstrual periods or occur after sexual intercourse, douching or a pelvic exam. Menstrual bleeding may last longer and be heavier than usual. Bleeding after menopause and increased vaginal discharge also may be symptoms.
+ Risk factors: Most cervical cancers are caused by a persistent infection with certain types of human papillomavirus (HPV).
+ Five-year survival rate: 69 percent for white women and 57 percent for black women.
The American Cancer Society estimates 61,380 new cases will be diagnosed in 2017, and about 10,920 will die from it.
Diagnoses of this type of cancer have been increasing by about 1 percent per year among white women and three percent per year among black women since 2004. Theres no standard screening for women of average risk, but most cases are diagnosed at an early stage because of postmenopausal bleeding.
+ Signs and symptoms: Abnormal uterine bleeding or spotting and pain during urination, intercourse or in the pelvic area.
+ Risk factors: Obesity, use of postmenopausal estrogen, late menopause, never having children, a history of polycystic ovary syndrome.
+ Five-year survival rate: 84 percent for white women and 62 percent for black women. White women are more likely to be diagnosed at an early stage of the disease.
An estimated 79,030 new cases of urinary or bladder cancer will be diagnosed in 2017 and 16,870 will die from the disease.
The rate has decreased since 2009 by about 1 percent per year in whites, and increased about .5 percent for black men and was stable for black women.
+ Signs and symptoms: Blood in the urine, increased frequency or urgency of urination, pain during urination.
+ Risk factors: Smoking. Workers in the dye, rubber, leather, aluminum industries, painters and people in communities with high levels of arsenic in the drinking water are at increased risk.
+ Five-year survival rate: 79 percent for white men, 74 percent for white women, 69 percent for black men and 54 percent for black women.
Read More..Fresh and Fit: Side effects shouldn’t prevent you from trying new medications – Nooga.com
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Are you scared to take medicine because of the side effects? (Photo: Michal Jarmoluk, StockSnap)
If youve ever taken any medication in your life, you have personal experience with some level of side effects related to that drugs use. The degree of side effects varies from drug to drug and person to person on a massive scale. When Ive been outside all day and my allergies are bothering me, Benadryl does manage to stop my runny nose, but it also makes me drowsy. So I end up going to bed earlier than usual, but by the next morning, Im back to normal. I once took a drug for depression that made me consistently sleep 1418 hours a day, and even when I was awake, I was almost always drowsy.
Plenty of people avoid medications entirely because of the fear of potential side effects like the ones I've had, but Im here to tell you to not give up. I understand your reasoning and your fears, but the potential benefits, for me, always outweigh the potential side effects.
I dont begrudge anyones hesitations, especially since part of it can also be related to religious beliefs. Keeping your body pure means saying no to any foreign pollutants, be they alcohol, tobacco or even medications. I cant tell you whats best for you, but I can give you my personal experience. Id ask you to keep an open mind, because "possible side effects" is a scary phrasebut it doesnt mean every medication is going to come anywhere close to ruining your life.
Basically any medication can come with side effects, but sometimes, they're so minor that you don't even notice them. The most common side effects people generally see include nausea, diarrhea, constipation, dehydration and dry mouth. Antidepressants or mood stabilizers can cause dizziness, drowsiness, an increase in depression or irritability. It's more likely that you'll gain weight on these drugs, but some of them will actually cause you to lose weight. They can also disrupt sleep and have sexual side effects.
However, in my personal experience, the majority of drugs Ive taken have resulted in no side effects serious enough to stop taking them. Ive experienced two of the side effects together with a single medication only twice. Even though Ive changed medications (with my doctors supervision) several times, the primary reason has not been side effects. Its been that the drug simply wasnt helping me effectively, so we tried to find a better option.
Im not going to deny that sleeping 1418 hours a day was awful. I absolutely hated it, and I hope I never have to deal with that again. However, as bad as it was, I stopped taking that particular medication within two or three weeks. I called my doctor, explained the problem, and we switched to something else. The result? Ive been taking the second drug for six years with (as far as I can tell) no noticeable side effects.
Now, it did take time for the drug to actually help, as it required starting at a small dosage, working my way up and then eventually going back down slightly to find the right amount. However, now that Im at the right dosage, my mood swings are under much better control, and my doctor says (if Im lucky) I may never have to change what Im taking again. In the grand scheme of my life, I can now safely look back and say those few weeks of constant sleep didnt hurt me in the long run.
Were all capable of being hypochondriacs when it comes to our personal health. So although I do recommend you be aware of potential side effects of any medication, I dont recommend you go online and memorize the entire list of potential side effects of any particular drug. Why? Because then youre just as likely to have a placebo effect and confirm your worst fears as you are to actually suffer any real problems.
Its a difficult line to toe, but the best thing you can do is keep talking to your doctor about what you may be facing. Once you start taking your new medicine, keep a daily journal of as much information as you likesleep schedules, eating habits, energy levels and your overall mood. If some strange new physical effects or behaviors start to emerge, its probably time to call your doctor and research as much information as you can find.
One day, I may wake up and need a stronger dose of the medicine Im currently taking. I might wake up and realize the drug has stopped working altogether and must be replaced. Finally, even after decades of no serious problems, I could eventually have a severe reaction to the drug. Unfortunately, none of this can be predicted, because our body chemistry changes as we age, and we simply dont know what the result of that will be.
Yes, its scary, but I know the risks. I still believe that my mood and depression symptoms are greatly improved because of my medication and my doctors help. At some point, we all have to make these very personal decisions, but we shouldnt feel helpless or alone. I cant tell you whats best for you, but again, I ask you to keep an open mind. Weigh all your options individually, because its not just your own health at stake: How you feel and function help determine the quality of life for your friends and family as well.
Jay McKenzie loves soccer, history and feeling great. He's on a quest to eat better and exercise more, and he wants to share his experiences along the way. You can email him at jaymckenzie86@gmail.com with comments or questions. The opinions expressed in this column belong solely to the author, not Nooga.com or its employees.
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Fresh and Fit: Side effects shouldn't prevent you from trying new medications - Nooga.com
Study claims a link between diet sodas and stroke and dementia – Ars Technica
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Excessive intake of sugar has been linked to a huge variety of health problems, many of them a consequence of the obesity that's also linked to excessive sugar. That's led many people to switch to drinks with artificial sweeteners that aren't metabolized by the body. A new study is now suggesting that these sweeteners are associated with their own health risks, namely stroke and dementia. But the study doesn't get into causality, and there's enough oddities in the data to suggest that it's not time to purge your fridge just yet.
The study, run by a collaboration of Boston-based researchers, relied on a cohort of individuals that had been recruited starting in 1971. On average, every four years since, the participants have completed follow-up surveys and had their health checked out. Over 5,000 people are in this cohort, and they provide a rich source of epidemiological data.
The authors started out intending to look at whether sugar-rich drinks increased the risk of strokes and dementia. So they eliminated a lot of people from this cohort because they'd previously experienced these or related issues. That reduced the study population considerably: under 3,000 for stroke, and under 1,500 for dementia.
The authors divided these populations based on how many sugar-filled and diet drinks the participants reported having in a week. The boundaries between these groups were set arbitrarily in order to keep the number of people in each group similar. Thus, members of the group that consumed the most sugar averaged more than two sugar-filled beverages per day, which includes soft drinks and juice. The next group consumed upwards of three soft drinks a week, while the group that drank diet drinks were somewhere in between, at more than one a day.
While this won't matter in terms of estimating risk for each of these factors, readers should note that the study measured very different doses.
The consumption of sugary and diet drinks was also measured two different ways. One was based on recent intake according to the most recent follow-up survey. The second was cumulative and based on the responses across the three most recent surveys. In addition, the researchers split up the outcomes: all stroke and ischemic stroke, all dementia and Alzheimer's.
To complicate matters further, the authors analyzed their participants in three different ways. One way took into account only basic demographic information, like age and education. A second added lifestyle factors, like diet quality and physical activity. The third added basic medical statistics like blood pressure, heart problems, cholesterol levels, and more. A number of the things in this last model are known risk factors for stroke and dementia, so this would seem to be the most relevant analysis.
With all that, the researchers had something on the order of 108 individual statistical tests. At this point, a number of false positive results become inevitable. To have confidence in the results, you'd want to see some consistency across groups and things like dose effects.
And here, the results were mixed. There was remarkable consistency when it came to sugary drinks: absolutely none of the tests showed a statistically significant association with either dementia or stroke. So, the authors' original hypothesis turned out to be a bust.
But things were different with diet drinks. Recent intake of diet sodas was associated with strokes, although there was no dose effect, and cumulative intake dropped below statistical significance. For ischemic strokes, the association was consistent across all groups, but again, there was no strong dose or duration effect. Interpreting these results is difficult, though they're certainly worth looking into more carefully.
On the dementia side, things were a bit simpler. While some associations were statistically significant among the heavier drinkers, they vanished entirely when all the health indicators were taken into account. This was also true when cumulative consumption was analyzed. This suggests that both diet drink intake and dementia are probably both associated with one of the health issues controlled for in this statistical model.
The authors's conclusion is stark: "Artificially sweetened soft drink consumption was associated with a higher risk of stroke and dementia." But that seems to be overselling the results for dementia. For stroke, there do seem to be more consistent associations that are worth following up on.
But, as the authors spend extensive time in the paper discussing, there's no way of telling why this association exists at this point. "Sicker individuals [may] consume diet beverages as a means of negating a further deterioration in health," they posit. "Indeed, in our study, diabetes mellitusa known risk factor for dementiawas more prevalent in those who regularly consumed artificially sweetened soft drinks."
In other words, don't clear out your fridge just yet.
Stroke, 2017. DOI: 10.1161/STROKEAHA.116.016027 (About DOIs).
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Study claims a link between diet sodas and stroke and dementia - Ars Technica
Diet rich in plant protein may prevent type 2 diabetes – Medical News Today
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Eating a diet with a higher amount of plant protein may reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes, according to researchers from the University of Eastern Finland. While plant protein may provide a protective role, meat protein was shown to increase the risk of type 2 diabetes.
More than 29 million people in the Unites States are affected by diabetes, with type 2 diabetes accounting for between 90 and 95 percent of all cases. An essential part of managing diabetes is partaking in regular physical activity, taking medications to lower blood glucose levels, and following a healthful eating plan.
According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, healthy eating consists of consuming a variety of products from all food groups, with nonstarchy vegetables taking up half of the plate, grains or another starch on one fourth of the plate, and meat or other protein comprising the final fourth.
It is recommended that fatty or processed meat should be avoided and that lean meat, such as skinless chicken, should be opted for as an alternative.
Meat consumption has frequently been explored as a variable associated with diabetes, and previous research has found a link between a high overall intake of protein and animal protein, and a greater risk of type 2 diabetes. Eating plenty of processed red meat, in particular, has been connected with the condition.
The new research - published in the British Journal of Nutrition - adds to the growing body of evidence suggesting that the source of dietary protein may be important in altering the risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
The researchers set out to investigate the links between different dietary protein sources and type 2 diabetes risk. They used data from the Kuopio Ischaemic Heart Disease Risk Factor Study (KIHD), which was carried out at the University of Eastern Finland.
When the KIHD study began in the years between 1984 and 1989, the diets of 2,332 men aged 42 to 60 years old were assessed. None of the individuals had type 2 diabetes at the onset of the study. Over the course of the 19-year follow-up, 432 men were diagnosed with type 2 diabetes.
Jyrki Virtanen, a certified clinical nutritionist and an adjunct professor of nutritional epidemiology at the University of Eastern Finland, and colleagues discovered that a diet high in meat was associated with an increased risk of type 2 diabetes. The association was seen across all types of meat in general, including processed and unprocessed red meat, white meat, and variety meats.
The researchers say that the association may be a result of other compounds found in meat other than protein, since meat protein alone was not connected with the risk of type 2 diabetes.
Men who included a higher intake of plant protein in their diets also had healthier lifestyle habits. However, their lifestyle habits were not shown to fully explain their reduced risk of diabetes.
Male study participants who had the highest intake of plant protein were 35 percent less likely to develop type 2 diabetes than men with the lowest plant protein intake. Furthermore, using a computer model, Virtanen and team estimate that replacing around 5 grams of animal protein with plant protein per day would diminish diabetes risk by 18 percent.
The link between plant protein and reduced diabetes risk may be explained by the effect of plant protein in the diet on blood glucose levels. Those people who consumed more plant protein had lower blood glucose levels at the start of the study.
The primary sources of plant protein in this study were grain products, with additional sources including potatoes and other such vegetables.
A diet preferring plant protein to meat protein may help protect against type 2 diabetes. The authors conclude that:
"Replacing 1 percent of energy from animal protein with energy from plant protein was associated with [an] 18 percent decreased risk of type 2 diabetes. This association remained after adjusting for BMI. In conclusion, favoring plant and egg proteins appeared to be beneficial in preventing type 2 diabetes."
Overall protein, dairy protein, and fish protein were not connected with a risk of type 2 diabetes, the researchers note. The team also revealed that, confirming the group's earlier studies, a higher intake of egg protein was identified as able to lower the risk of type 2 diabetes.
Learn how legumes may reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes.
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Diet rich in plant protein may prevent type 2 diabetes - Medical News Today
Chew On This For Earth Day: How Our Diets Impact The Planet – NPR
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The foods we choose to put on our plates or toss away could have more of an ecological impact than many of us realize.
On Earth Day, here are some ways to consider how our diet impacts the planet.
Waste not, want not
You've heard the numbers on food waste. More than 30 percent of available food is tossed each year in America. It's enough to fill Chicago's 1,450-foot-tall Willis Tower (formerly known as the Sears Tower) 44 times over.
The U.S. has set an official goal to reduce food waste by 50 percent by the year 2030. Universities have begun to chip away at the food waste issue by promoting ugly fruit and vegetables and shifting away from pre-cooked, buffet style food, instead serving more cook-to-order options that can cut down on waste. Food service companies are working with farmers and chefs to get more blemished but edible produce into cafeterias across the country. Even religious groups are getting into the act, raising attention to the problem of food waste among the faithful and connecting with restaurants, retailers and food banks to help redirect food to hungry mouths that might otherwise end up in landfills.
And there are a host of proposed solutions. Check out this report that highlights which solutions are likely to provide most bang for the buck. Among the most cost-effective strategies: educating consumers on food waste including changes you can make in your own kitchen. (Here are some tips to get you started like how to tell if eggs are still good past their expiration date.)
Rethink your beef and lamb habit
Everything we eat has an environmental footprint it takes land, water and energy to grow crops and raise livestock. The folks at the World Resources Institute have calculated the greenhouse gas emissions associated with producing a gram of edible protein of various foods.
Not surprisingly, they found that foods such as beans, fish, nuts and egg have the lowest impact. Poultry, pork, milk and cheese have medium-sized impacts. By far, the biggest impacts, in terms of greenhouse gas emissions, were linked to beef, lamb and goat. (As we've reported, that's partly because the need for pastureland drives deforestation in places like the Brazilian Amazon.)
Why? According to WRI, beef uses 28 times more land per calorie consumed and two to four times more freshwater than the average of other livestock categories. What's more, cows are less efficient than other animals, like pigs and poultry, at converting feed into food.
Still, telling people to go cold turkey with their red meat isn't likely to inspire real change. But this message might resonate: Even if you don't give up on red meat consumption entirely, just cutting back can significantly impact your diet's carbon footprint.
And these days, there are lots of vegan substitutes like plant burgers that sizzle, smell and even bleed like the real thing that can deliver the meaty taste you crave as you try to scale back.
Keep an eye out for more 'plant-based' dishes on restaurant menus
As interest in plant-centric diets booms, new food businesses have taken root from the veggie-centric fast-casual chains Beefsteak (from celebrity chef Jose Andres) and Chloe (an all-vegan restaurant) to the vegan meal-kit company Purple Carrot.
Now, a new initiative from the World Resources Institute called the Better Buying Lab is bringing together big companies (including Panera Bread, Sodexo, Google, Unilever and Hilton) to develop and test strategies to nudge consumers towards choosing more sustainable foods. One initiative is to get more plant-based dishes onto menus.
"If you look at menus across the U.S., there tends to be [the same] 25 dishes that are on the majority of menus," says Daniel Vennard, director of the Better Buying Lab at WRI. Think burgers, chicken dishes, etc. "Not many [plant-based] dishes have scaled to become national favorites," Vennard says.
His group is working to change that. It's teaming up with chefs from its member companies to create new recipes likely to have broad appeal. Promising ideas include the concept of "superfood salads" containing combinations of nuts, seeds, greens, veggies and avocado.
He points to ideas already out there as well, such as burgers that blend meat and mushrooms. As we reported several years ago, some taste-testing has found that diners warmed up to the idea of blended burgers, and in fact many tasters preferred them to all-beef patties. And an ongoing competition from the James Beard Foundation has encouraged chefs around the country to give blended burgers a try on their menus. (Not everyone is a fan, though.)
"What we're trying to do is shift consumers towards eating more sustainable food, but we're not advocating for a no-meat diet," explains Vennard. "We're saying, 'Let's moderate.' "
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Chew On This For Earth Day: How Our Diets Impact The Planet - NPR
O-Zone: Diet and exercise – Jacksonville Jaguars (satire)
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JACKSONVILLE Lets get to it
Tim from Jacksonville:
7-9?
John: I received this admittedly long-winded, meandering email shortly after the Jaguars 2017 schedule was released, so I can only assume its a request to predict wait for it: the Jaguars 2017 record! And yeah, I actually think 7-9 is about right. I could see 8-8, but its tough to predict a five-game turnaround for a team that finished 3-13 the previous season and hasnt finished .500 or better since 2010. I wrote and said Thursday I believed this schedule very manageable if the Jaguars are really improved. Much will hinge on the ability of the quarterback position to be more efficient and to dramatically reduce mistakes. Once we get a better feel for that area, well have a far better feel for the teams outlook for 2017.
Alan from Ellington, CT:
How does a trade work? What would happen if on draft day when the clock is ticking two general managers make a trade for picks and a veteran player? Later that day, one general manager says he didnt trade the player, just the pick. Who else would know?
John: All trades must be documented with and cleared through the league office.
Travis from High Springs, FL:
Hi John, Poz has been my favorite player since we acquired him, and I think possibly our best. Do you think that there should have at least been a competition in training camp for the position? I'm just a fan, so I don't even pretend to know or understand everything about the NFL. But I find it strange to just move a player that's been statistically close to the top every year at his position without even having a competition.
Mike from Section 238:
John: Yes.
Logan from Wichita, KS:
John: The quarterbacks in the 2017 NFL Draft are rated at numerous levels, but Ive come to believe more and more the word risk for the most part is pretty near meaningless when it comes to drafting quarterbacks. The risk is enormous when selecting any quarterback, and there have been few players at the position with consensus high ratings in recent drafts: Andrew Luck and to a far lesser degree Jameis Winston, and well, the list of cant-miss guys runs out pretty fast. If the Jaguars love a quarterback and passionately believe hes a big-time player, then they should take him at No. 4. If they do, then theyll learn when he begins playing if he was worth the risk. Until then, you just dont know.
Scot from Aurora, IL:
I don't care about the schedule. This is the NFL and you have to beat good teams. Just win baby. Also, gimme one for Poz. He's a consummate professional and flat-out balls on the gridiron.
John: Hey, one fer just winning and one fer Poz!
Travis from St. Louis, MO:
Brett Favre had only one season in which he didn't throw over 10 interceptions. Peyton Manning had two 20-interception seasons in his first four seasons. I'm not trying to compare Bortles to them, but his performance in my opinion has had more to do with a bad offensive line and no help from the running game. When you have to throw 40 times in a game, you are more than likely going to throw more picks. Im not trying to give him excuses he needs to improve decision making and pre-snap reads but I feel his ability to extend plays and his toughness is something that can't be overlooked. This is a make-or-break season for sure, and I can't wait to watch him torch the league. I'll be back at the end of the season to gloat.
John: Bortles without question has been under too much pressure in his career, and he without question is a tough, resilient player. What are and will continue to be in question are his decision-making, pocket awareness, accuracy and pre-snap reads; some of those issues have had to do with protection and some havent. I think Bortles will get the opportunity to perform in what essentially in many ways will be a fresh start this season. That could benefit him and lead to the strides he needs to make. Well see.
Brad from Section 115:
Hi, John, I am one of the people disappointed at no prime-time games. Dont they have flex scheduling in the second half of the season? Could the Jags get a prime-time game if they are relevant or play someone else that becomes relevant?
John: Yes.
Michael from Section 122:
Why can't you refer to the London game as the moneymaker or something else? It is a home game in name only. As fans, we get only seven in-season home games. The owner can call it a home game, but we don't. Every time I see you write, it lowers my respect for your journalistic reputation.
John: I refer to the Jaguars game in London as what it is under NFL rules: one of eight home games. It is also very much a home game in the sense that the Jaguars receive significant local revenue from the game that they do not receive from a road game. In that sense, the London home game is a critical piece of what makes the Jaguars sustainable for the long-term in Jacksonville. Fans can call the London game what they like, and I have written often that I understand that there is a large group of fans who never will like the idea of the home game in London. Thats fine, because intrinsically it is a tough thing to accept. Still, accepted or not, it is by definition a home game and one that is important to the franchise.
Frankie from London, UK:
Mr O! As we move closer to the NFL draft, the leading candidates for the Jaguars' No. 4 overall pick appear to be Leonard Fournette, Jonathan Allen and Solomon Thomas. I'd be satisfied with any of them. That's a good thing ... right?
John: Sure, but as it moves closer this feels more and like a draft in which the unpredictable happens. Ive been leaning Fournette/Allen all along. Now, Im not remotely sure.
John from Starke, FL:
Good day, John: I haven't written since last year; I've been in hibernation. I had big hopes for 2016, but we won more games in 1995 our first year. I don't care about free agency, I don't care about the draft, and I don't care about the schedule. The only concern for 2017 is BB5. He is on the hot seat and he and he alone will dictate the season. So, all of the offseason stuff doesn't count unless the team produces more W's. Now, wake me up when the season starts, John. Can you do that for me? It's back to hibernation.
John: Its all about the quarterback. Sleep tight.
Nate from York, PA:
Al talks about MJD and Josh Scobee playing for other teams in their career, but if I remember correctly, Fred Taylor also played with the Patriots towards the end of his career.
John: Yes, he did. Thats why when Al asked about the greatest player in franchise history to only play for the Jaguars the answer was not Fred Taylor.
Johnathan from New York:
John, I don't always diet and exercise, but when I do, I expect the results to be instant, dramatic and spectacular.
John: I dont always diet and I exercise in my own sad, desperate, lunging way. I gave up hoping for spectacular results a while back. Then again, I gave up hope on pretty much all fronts a while back, too.
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O-Zone: Diet and exercise - Jacksonville Jaguars (satire)
Multivitamins can’t replace a healthy, balanced diet – Elko Daily Free Press
Diet Comments Off on Multivitamins can’t replace a healthy, balanced diet – Elko Daily Free Press
Dear Doctor: Do I really need to take a multivitamin? My sisters are convinced that you cant get all the nutrients that you need without one, but it seems to me that as long youre eating right, youre covered.
Dear Reader: Multivitamins are the most widely used supplements in the United States. It is estimated that between one-third and one-half of all Americans take a multivitamin each day. As a result, your question is one that comes up often in our practices. And while we cant offer specific advice, we can share and explain the information we give to our patients.
The short answer is that for most patients, we believe that if youre eating a balanced diet, one that includes whole grains, a variety of vegetables and fruits, adequate lean protein and dairy products, there is no need for a multivitamin. However, when a patients diet isnt ideal, then a multivitamin can offer insurance for the deficient vitamins and/or minerals.
Of course, there are exceptions. Pregnant women and women who are trying to become pregnant need at least 400 micrograms of folate per day, a B vitamin that helps to prevent neural tube defects. For these women, a prenatal vitamin or a daily folic acid supplement is recommended. Nursing women have unique nutritional needs that may call for supplementation. Some elderly adults whose appetites have diminished and who therefore dont eat a balanced diet may benefit from adding a multivitamin.
Someone on a restricted diet, such as a vegan, typically needs a B12 supplement. A strict vegetarian may require additional zinc, iron or calcium. And for individuals with chronic conditions such as iron deficiency anemia, B12 deficiency or malabsorption, or a history of gastric bypass surgery, then supplemental vitamins and minerals are necessary to maintaining good health.
So what are vitamins, exactly? Theyre nutrients that we need in small quantities to maintain various metabolic functions that, when taken in total, add up to good health. Vitamins help the body to produce energy, ward off cell damage, facilitate in the absorption and utilization of minerals, and play varying roles in the regulation of cell and tissue growth.
Vitamins must be taken in food because the body either doesnt produce them in adequate quantities, or doesnt produce them at all. Vitamin D is a bit of an outlier. Its an essential nutrient that does not naturally appear in food in adequate quantities, but is produced when our skin is exposed to the ultraviolet B rays in sunlight. It is also available in fortified foods like milk, fish and mushrooms.
Take an honest look at your diet. If you find some nutritional holes, our advice is to adjust and improve your eating habits. If you do decide to make a multivitamin part of your daily regimen, keep in mind that it cannot take the place of a balanced and healthy diet. Not only do fruits, vegetables, whole grains and leafy greens contain vitamins, they also provide fiber, which is important to good health. Whole foods also contain trace nutrients and other useful compounds that no pill or supplement can re-create.
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Multivitamins can't replace a healthy, balanced diet - Elko Daily Free Press
A Business Professor’s Fitness Secret: Qigong – Wall Street Journal (subscription)
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Wall Street Journal (subscription) | A Business Professor's Fitness Secret: Qigong Wall Street Journal (subscription) Slow is strong, says George Siedel, a professor at the University of Michigan's Ross School of Business in Ann Arbor. The 72-year-old is a disciple of qigong, (pronounced chee-gong), a Chinese practice based on gentle movements, meditation and ... |
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A Business Professor's Fitness Secret: Qigong - Wall Street Journal (subscription)
Apple adds Earth Day fitness badge to Apple Watch – Mashable
Fitness Comments Off on Apple adds Earth Day fitness badge to Apple Watch – Mashable
Mashable | Apple adds Earth Day fitness badge to Apple Watch Mashable Just a couple of days after releasing its new NikeLab version of the Apple Watch, Apple is leveraging the device's reputation as a fitness tool to join in the Earth Day festivities. Early Saturday, Apple CEO Tim Cook posted a photo of a new special ... |
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Apple adds Earth Day fitness badge to Apple Watch - Mashable
Meet Power Plant Gym: The first to mix fitness and marijuana – Salon
Fitness Comments Off on Meet Power Plant Gym: The first to mix fitness and marijuana – Salon
Cannabis and athletics are a pairing that produce love and confusion in equal parts for a lot of people. Marijuana is a plant with many capabilities, able to invigorate and energize you while also letting you disconnect and relax at the end of your day, all depending on your mood and mindset. Power Plant Fitness in San Francisco plans to use the properties of cannabis as a way of enhancing the performance of their members and helping them focus on their workout.
Related Link: 7 Smoking Hot Marijuana Gift Ideas For 4/20 and Beyond
Even though Power Plant plans on giving cannabis to their members before or after their workout, as either an enhancement or a recovery tool, the gym doesnt want their business to be exclusively about marijuana. The founders want to develop an environment of wellness where marijuana will play an important role and where people will feel like they belong, while also being something more than your average gym. Power Plants instructors are equipped with the necessary knowledge on training and physiology with the purpose of giving people the greatest results available while also debunking the myth of the lazy stoner and highlighting the positive power that marijuana can produce.
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Meet Power Plant Gym: The first to mix fitness and marijuana - Salon