Diet, Habits, & Other Behaviors

What we eat and what we don’t eat play a surprising role in whether or not we develop cancer – and even when cancer comes back after treatment!  Experts estimate that most cancers in the United States are affected by our eating and drinking habits. These articles will help you decide which foods you might want to eat more of and which you will at least try to eat less of.

Eating Habits That Improve Health and Reduce Cancer Risks While Helping with Weight Loss Here are helpful hints to improve your health and reduce your chances of developing cancer or cancer returning, while also helping you have a healthy weight.
Everything You Need To Know About The New Weight Loss Drugs Two popular new GLP-1 drugs, Wegovy and Ozempic, help lose weight but do they improve health? In addition to unpleasant gastro-intestinal side effects, they can cause serious health problems such as stomach paralysis (gastroparesis), which can cause problems with anesthesia. They may cause thyroid cancer. Most research about the benefits of these drugs is from press releases, not published in peer-reviewed journals.
Artificial Sweeteners: Do They Help You Lose Weight or Gain it? Are they Safe? When people want to treat themselves to something sweet without having to treat themselves to a larger pants size too, they often reach for low-calorie, artificial sweeteners. But do artificial sweeteners actually help you lose weight? The answer is apparently not — and there are concerns about their safety if consumed in large quantities.
Fast Food Calorie Count Cheat Sheet We give you the skinny on the calorie counts for many menu choices offered by some of the most popular fast food chains. Take a look — you may be surprised!
Dietary Supplements Before and During Chemotherapy People think of dietary supplements as a no-risk insurance policy to improve nutrition, but a study published in 2020 shows that supplements can have risks if you are undergoing chemotherapy.
Do Vitamin D Supplements Prevent Cancer and Heart Disease? What the Research Says Do vitamin D supplements prevent health problems? There is not enough evidence to conclude whether taking vitamin D prevents cancer or heart problems.
Is Vaping Safer than Smoking Cigarettes? Don’t be fooled. E-cigarettes and vapes are addictive and contain cancer-causing chemicals. These have been linked to DNA damage in humans.
Can Belly Fat Cause Cancer? Belly fat is common among men and women. But did you know that having an “apple” body shape due to belly fat can increase your chances of developing cancer even if you are not overweight? Find out why belly fat is dangerous and what you can do to reduce risks.
Does Infrared Light Therapy Work for Weight Reduction? Infrared light therapy has been advertised as a means for weight loss, but what evidence is there in support? This therapy might not help in the long run.
The Dangers of Juuling John-Anthony Fraga, National Center for Health Research What is Juuling? Is it safer than smoking? A new type of e-cigarette called “juul” has become so popular that it is now about 68% of the $2 billion e-cigarette market. The “juul” is especially popular among children and young adults due to its sleek and discreet design, … Continue reading The Dangers of Juuling
Boosting Healthy Bacteria for a Healthy Pancreas Quitting smoking and cutting back on alcohol are good ways to prevent pancreatic cancer and so is a healthy mouth and gut. Scientists have recently discovered that the bacteria living in our bodies can help us stay healthy and ward off dangerous cancers.
Cancer Prevention Campaign You can reduce your risk of cancer through small changes in your life, including what you eat! See these links for tips on how to reduce your risk through eating healthy foods and losing weight, and click “Prevention” at the top of this site for all kinds of other ways to prevent cancer. Tips for Healthier Eating Ten Tips to … Continue reading Cancer Prevention Campaign
Heart Disease and Breast Cancer Heart disease is a major cause of deaths in women, and remains a number one cause of death in breast cancer survivors. Women who are at a higher risk of heart disease should talk with their doctors about the risks and benefits of commonly used cancer treatments.
Alcohol and Cancer The link between alcohol and cancer may surprise you. The American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) reports that drinking alcohol increases the risk of cancer of the mouth and throat, vocal cords, esophagus, liver, breast, and colon. The risks are greatest in those with heavy and long-term alcohol use. Even so, moderate drinking can add up over a lifetime, which could be harmful.
Beginner’s Guide to Developing an Exercise Routine Exercise is one of the best ways to maximize your health. If you want to exercise but aren’t sure where to begin, we can help! If you feel like your daily life doesn’t allow you to get fit (not enough time, no money for a gym membership, etc.), we have some “work-arounds” that may help.
Are Processed Meats More Dangerous than Other Red Meats? Although doctors tell patients to not eat too much red meat or processed foods, research shows processed red meats, like bacon, hot dogs, and salami are the biggest problem.
Should I Get the Flu Shot? It’s that time of year again — time to get your flu shot! Everyone aged 6 months or over and without any restrictive health conditions is encouraged to get the flu shot, not the nasal spray, every year.
Third-hand smoke Third-hand smoke is the residue from cigarette smoke that stays on just about every surface exposed to that smoke. The smoke residue clings to hair and fabrics, including clothing, carpets, drapes, and furniture upholstery. Third hand smoke can cause serious health problems.
Are Women Who Work Night Shifts at a Higher Risk for Developing Breast Cancer? Are Women Who Work Night Shifts at a Higher Risk for Developing Breast Cancer?
The last 50 years of smoking: cigarettes and what we know about them has changed Smoking comes with serious health risks, such as lung cancer and COPD, the 50th anniversary report warns about less widely known risks.
Ways You Can Cut Your Risk of Breast Cancer Here’s the good news about how to cut your risk of breast cancer, and reduce your risk of recurrence.
MyPlate: A New Alternative to the Food Pyramid A goal of the U.S. government is to help guide adults and children to be as healthy as possible. “MyPlate” replaces the familiar “food pyramid” diagram that underwent several changes in the 19 years since it was first introduced.
Stomach Cancer and Diet: Can Certain Foods Increase Your Risk? There is growing evidence that the foods we eat can increase the chances of developing certain types of cancer. A report by the World Cancer Research Fund International says that stomach cancer is one of them.
Are E-Cigarettes Safer Than Regular Cigarettes? Don’t be fooled. E-cigarettes are addictive and contain cancer-causing chemicals.
Prostate Cancer: Diet and Dietary Supplements The foods you eat can affect prostate cancer risk.
Can a handful of nuts a day keep cancer away? Evidence is growing about the many ways in which eating nuts, seeds, and legumes can improve your health. These foods have been linked to healthier hearts and a lower risk of diabetes, but now studies show they may also cut your risk of getting cancer! Here’s what we know and don’t know.
Tanning beds: safe alternative to sun? Skin cancer concerns related to artificial tanning
The Benefits of Exercise After Getting Diagnosed with Cancer You may have heard that regular exercise can reduce your risk of developing cancer, but did you know it’s also good for cancer patients who are undergoing or have completed treatment?
Antioxidants and cancer risk: the good, the bad, and the unknown Vitamins A, C, E, beta carotene and selenium are all considered “antioxidants,” and people take them hoping to prevent disease and improve overall health. You have probably heard that antioxidants fight cancer, but the research suggests that they may not improve your health and in some instances may even be harmful.
Weight and cancer: What you need to know Research shows that the being overweight or obese can increase the risk of developing certain types of cancer, and exercise and eating certain foods and beverages (and avoiding others) decrease the risk. Here’s what you need to know to prevent cancer and prevent recurrence.
Good news for coffee drinkers: the health benefits outweigh the risks for most people Recent research suggests that coffee offers more health benefits than risks for most people. However, women who are pregnant or trying to get pregnant and women over 65 should probably limit their coffee intake because for them, the risks may outweigh the benefits.
Are Pesticides, Roundup, and Cancer in Children Connected? Pesticides have long been known to cause birth defects and poisoning if ingested. Now research is showing that even small quantities of rodent and insect killing pesticides can be toxic over time to children
Lung cancer is a women’s health issue Lung cancer is the number one cause of cancer death among women in the United States. Learn more about how to prevent, detect, and treat lung cancer.
Smoking cessation products FDA information on products that can help you quit smoking.
Quitting smoking: women and men may do it differently Quitting smoking is hard to do, and new studies suggest that what works for men may not always work for women, and vice versa. Scientists believe that nicotine is more important for men, while other aspects of smoking seem to be more important for women. If you are trying to quit, there’s new research that may help you choose the strategy that is most likely to work for you.
Bacteria: the good, the bad, and the ugly Bacteria are everywhere, including your entire body. The bacteria in our body weighs as much as our brain–3 lbs! Bacteria can be harmful, but some species of bacteria are needed to keep us healthy. The bacteria on our skin, in our airways, and in our digestive system are the first line of defense against foreign “invaders” (pathogens) that can cause infection and other problems.
Have colon cancer? Skip the hot dogs, deli, and burgers New research shows that eating red meat and processed meat increases the risk of colon cancer or of dying from colon cancer.
Do lemons prevent cancer? A widely circulating e-mail claiming to be from the Institute of Health Sciences in Baltimore states that lemons are a “proven remedy against cancers of all types” and that lemons are 10,000 times stronger than chemotherapy. The claims this e-mail makes are not correct. Although lemons have many health benefits, no study has ever been done that would compare the effectiveness of a lemon to chemotherapy.
Flaxseed: What is it and Can it Keep you Healthy? Suddenly, everyone is talking about adding flaxseed to your diet. What is flaxseed and how can eating it make you healthier?
Can Taking Fish Oil Supplements Help Lung Cancer Patients Undergoing Chemotherapy? Research shows that taking fish oil supplements can help lung cancer patients respond better to and experience less side effects from chemotherapy.
Airport Security and Radiation Following the September 11th attacks in 2001, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) was created and given responsibility for protecting the public from security threats in transportation systems, such as airports.
Pomegranate Juice and Prostate Health Pomegranate juice contains plenty of antioxidants, but does it improve health, as the ads imply? A close look at the science behind these claims shows that drinking pomegranate juice to treat or prevent prostate cancer and erectile dysfunction might not be worth the cost or the calories.
Red Meat: The News is Not Good Red meat has been found to increase cholesterol and risk of cardiovascular disease, but now new research is linking it to cancer.
Arsenic and Lead in our Juice (and You Thought Poisoned Apples Were only in Fairy Tales!) Learn how much arsenic has been found in common foods and drinks (too much!)–and what laws are in place to protect your family from this known carcinogen (not many!).
Can Sleeping Pills Cause Cancer? Findings from a 2012 study suggest that people who take hypnotic sleep medications are more likely to get cancer or die than people who do not take these medications.
Ten Easy Tips to get Your Family Eating Healthy Keeping your weight down and avoiding certain foods help prevent cancer from developing, and help prevent it from returning after treatment. Does switching to healthier foods seem like an impossible chore? It doesn’t have to be! Change your habits gradually with these 10 simple tips.
Kids Talk About Healthy Eating Find out what kids have to say about eating healthy!
Eating Habits that Improve Health and Lower Body Mass Index Keeping track of calories can help prevent cancer, but it can also be confusing. The nutrition labels on the foods we buy aren’t always that helpful. How are consumers supposed to figure out which diet advice is just hype – that ultimately don’t contribute to better health – and which advice offers good, medically sound information?
Will Acai Help Me Lose Weight? If you are trying to lose weight to prevent cancer, you may notice that there are claims that the acai (AH-sah-EE) berry will help you lose weight. Dieters beware: these claims are false. Ads promising weight loss have been spotted on popular social networking sites and search engines. Before you give out your credit card number, read on!
Fast Food Facts: Calories and Fat The Cancer Prevention and Treatment Fund gives you the skinny on a variety of menu choices offered by some of the most popular fast food chains. Take a look–you may be surprised!