At this site we seek to educate and illuminate on crucial health issues for women, and the people they love. We cover women’s health, men’s health, nutrition, weight loss and more.

For the next week Goddess will dedicate a segment for Cancer Prevention in both men and woman. Please stay tuned we will have information and cool easy recipes!

One of the factors in prostate cancer and other cancers is diet.  As a way of lowering your risk factor for cancer and managing your health when diagnosed with cancer, doctors may suggest lifestyle changes that include changes to the food you eat.  Here are some suggestions for dietary changes to help reduce your risk factors.

In countries where red meat and foods high in fat are not eaten routinely or at all, the incidence of prostate cancer is low if at all.  That suggests that food plays a role.  It has been determined that animal fat increases the level of some hormones in the body, like testosterone and estrogen.  High levels of these hormones help cancerous tumors to grow faster.

You can lower your risk by eating more whole grain foods.  This includes whole wheat, oats, and other grains.  A whole grain contains the germ, and bran.  Eating plenty of fruits and vegetables is important as well.

Vegetables and whole grains provide fiber.  Fiber does many helpful things in the body.  First, it helps to lower cholesterol.  Insoluble fiber can’t be broken down by the body, but it does carry some of the fat from your diet along for the ride when it is excreted from the body.  Lowering cholesterol can lower the risk of heart disease and cancer.

Antioxidants are substances in the body that lower the amount of free radical damage.  Free radicals come from the environment, foods and lifestyle choices like smoking.  They contribute to a higher incidence of cancer.  An important antioxidant in cancer prevention and reduction is lycopene.  It is found in cooked tomatoes and other tomato products.

Extra-virgin olive oil is produced from the first pressing of olives. It’s light tasting and contains the most complete array of antioxidants. The second pressing of olives produces fine virgin oil. This is still a good choice; however, extra-virgin oil is primarily recommended. Look for the words cold pressedI on the bottle of olive oil you are choosing. Remember, heat destroys antioxidants, so cold pressed is best.

Atherosclerosis, also know as hardening of the arteries, occurs when particles of LDL cholesterol adhere themselves to the walls of the arteries. Eventually, these particles build up until they form plaque. This results in narrowing of blood vessels, as well as increasing the workload of the heart. This creates more work to get oxygenated blood to the entire body. Unfortunately, the result of this can be heart attack or stroke.

Scientists have identified a compound in olive oil called oleuropein. This compound prevents the LDL cholesterol from oxidizing, and subsequently sticking to the walls of the arteries and forming plaque. With a simple replacement of the fats in your diet with olive oil, you can significantly reduce this risk.

The body using the healthy fats in olive oil naturally produces anti-inflammatory properties. Cell membranes, which aren’t inflamed, are more fluid, thus better able to move nutrients into the cells as it moves waste products out of the system. It has been found that lower incidences of osteoporosis as well as dementia have been noted in cases where people consume larger quantities of olive oil.

The cancer-related benefits from olive oil are still under research. However, preliminary results have shown olive oil may play its part in the fight against cancer. Many professionals believe it can lower the risk of colon, prostate and breast cancers.

For diabetes, further research is taking place as to the benefit of olive oil towards maintaining blood sugar levels. One way patients can do this is by eating a diet low in carbohydrates. However, a possible link has been found with high levels of monounsaturated fats. This could mean olive oil may be even more effective for diabetics.

Ingredients:
1 lb dried black beans (or other beans your choice)
8 cups water
1 tsp salt
1/2 cup dry red wine
2 tsp dried basil
1 tsp dried marjoram
1 tsp pepper
2 cups onions, chopped
2 cups red potatoes, chopped
1 cup celery, chopped
1 cup carrot, sliced
6 garlic cloves, minced
1.12oz can stewed tomatoes

Method:

Place black beans into a bowl, cover completely with water to about 2 inches above the beans and leave overnight. Then drain.

Add beans to large crock pot, add 8 cups of water and remaining ingredients. Cover with lid and simmer for about 2 1/2 hours on very low temperature or until vegetables are tender.

Serve hot with a crusty French bread.

When considering the many martial arts one can choose to practice, Aikido is still on of the most popular choices in the United States today. Aikido is so rich in both tradition and history, yet it is newer than most others. This art originally started in Japan at some point in the 1940s.

Aikido’s founder, Morihei Ueshiba (often known as Great Teacher or O Sensei) was born on December 14, 1883. Growing up in modern Japan, he was witness to much violence, including some local vandals attacking his own father. It was at this time he decided to grow strong enough to seek revenge for his father’s sake, spending as much time as possible training in martial arts. He received numerous certificates in jujitsu, fencing and spear fighting during this time of intense physical training.

Even with all of his achievements he felt there should be more to it. Turning to religion, he hoped to find some greater sense of significance of life. Yet he did not stop his training of martial arts during this time. Ueshiba founded the martial art of Aikido by joining his religious beliefs with his intense trainings in martial arts. This style was known as aikibudo until around 1942, when he chose to go with the name of Aikido. It was the incorporation of jujitsu, aiki-jujitsu along with spear and sword fighting.

The fundamental requirements for the practice of Aikido are dedication and respect in regards to the techniques and principles of the art. Other than these requirements, anyone of any age or strength can participate in the practice. There are no limits except those you impose upon yourself.

The movements related to the techniques of Aikido are derived from movements used while wielding the Japanese sword or spear fighting arts. The bokken (replica sword) and the jo (a stick) are used in practice as aids to enhance the understanding and skill required for fluid use of techniques.

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Have you had a massage lately? If you haven’t, then think about aromatherapy. Like the name suggests, the room will be filled with the scent of oils used to heal the body of a number of ailments.

That said, aromatherapy itself uses extracts created from various plants, flowers and herbs. Absorbing these smells through the nose can ease the symptoms of the complaint. Aromatherapy massage takes that one step further and allows the extracts to seep into the skin to affect changes in the body as well.

Here is how it works. If you went to an aromatherapist for a massage, he or she would ask you to fill out paperwork so they can get a profile of you and any complaints you have (stress-related conditions, headaches, digestive system and such). Depending on what you say, the choice of oils used will be different for each massage.

In Aromatherapy Massage the plant extracts need a carrier to deliver them to the skin. Mild oils like almond are used to deliver the healing herbs to your body. These are not fragrant oils like you would put on your skin as perfume. It is the oil that smells of the extract with no other chemicals added.

The oils are blended with the appropriate extracts for your condition. The smell fills the room to relax you and also enters your skin through the skilled hands of the massage therapist. Aromatherapy has the advantage of providing relief for stress-related conditions and digestive complaints without adding chemicals to your body.

There are a few additional things to know before having an aromatherapy massage. Tell the massage therapist if you have any allergies to medicines and plants. Do not eat before going as lying down on a full stomach can be unpleasant. If you are pregnant, consult a doctor before engaging in an aromatherapy massage. Anyone with blood clotting issues should abstain from massage because the pressure could dislodge a forming clot and cause serious if not fatal complications.

Aromatherapy massages mingle the healing touch of massage with the powers of natural plants and herbs.

Is It Really Natural?

In light of the increased awareness of the dangers of certain chemicals, some companies have begun to label their products “safe” and “natural.”

The problem is that these terms are not regulated either. They are mainly media hype to try to sell more products. Unlike terms used in food labeling, these words can appear on cosmetics packaging without any specific requirements. So it is up to us to read labels and research the companies that we buy cosmetics from.

Some companies have shown their dedication to eliminating dangerous chemicals in their products by signing the Compact for Safe Cosmetics. This is a pledge to replace hazardous chemicals in their products with safe alternatives within three years. While the compact is not overseen by the government, it does have strict requirements for signers.

Natural makeup is not yet the norm, but it is becoming more popular. And as more users learn of the dangers of chemicals commonly used in cosmetics, it can only become more mainstream.

Until then, it’s up to us to seek out companies that care about their customers enough to avoid using hazardous ingredients. Read the labels, and don’t just jump on the latest fashion bandwagon for such items as ‘minerals’. Fashion trends often spawn much cheaper imitations that can have disasterous consequences for our skin.

Similarly, Botox injections are actually injection of botulin poison, which is commonly used to kill rats. No one has done any long terms safety studies on the effects of putting that in our bodies.