Monthly Archives: October 2010

0

Best Practices for Breast Cancer Prevention

|

The month of October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. In 2006 (which were the most recent numbers available), over 190,000 American women were diagnosed with breast cancer, and just over 40,000 American women died from the disease. This accounts for about 1% of all American women deaths.

The prospect of breast cancer is scary, but there are ways to go about preventing it. The Mayo Clinic has four broad and basic ways to go about preventing breast cancer:

Limit Alcohol Intake

Either wine, beer, or mixed drinks; it makes no difference. Though a link between alcohol intake and the occurrence of breast cancer exists, it still remains to be seen how strong the link is. To be safe, think about limiting your alcohol intake to one or less drink a day.

Maintain a Healthy Weight

The link between obesity and cancer is clear, and the case remains the same for breast cancer. Weight that is gained later in life, especially after menopause, is particularly harmful. To help matters, try to keep in a healthy weight range for your body type.

Stay Physically Active

At least 30 minutes of exercise a day can aid in breast cancer prevention. This also helps when maintaining a healthy weight. Training with weights can also help with keeping your bones strong.

Limit Fat in Your Diet

This also helps in avoiding a plethora of other diseases, and in maintaining a healthy weight, but it has been determined that there is a slight correlation between dietary fat intake and the occurrence of breast cancer in women. Try to limit your fat intake to about 35% of your daily calories, and avoid saturated fat in all instances possible.

Be aware: For the average woman, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends mammography every two years in women between the ages of 50 and 74. Get regular check-ups for the best results.

Here at NCES, we love providing tips to create a healthier population! Join us on Facebook and Twitter for more ‘quick tips’ added constantly!

0

Six Picks: The Top 6 Things You Need to Know About Your Beverages

|
  1. Water is your best bet. Not only is it the most refreshing of all the beverages you can drink, it’s just plain great for the body in every case. Drink from either the tap or the bottle, it’s available nearly everywhere!
  2. Milk does your body good.  Instead of having a high-sugar, energy drink, try some milk. You get magnesium, calcium, potassium and vitamin D in a glass, which makes it a good choice. Try to stay healthy by avoiding saturated fats in 2% or whole milk. Opt for 1% or skim milk in its place.
  3. Juice up your body. Avoid caffeinated drinks and make your way to the glass of 100% fruit juice. Many of the vitamins and minerals in 100% fruit juice can’t be found anywhere in your everyday caffeinated beverages. Careful though, due to the natural sugars, a serving of juice is only 4 ounces.
  4. Make time for your tea time. Because of the increased antioxidants contained in tea, it can help your body ward off certain diseases. Watch out for teas that come in bottles and cans; the added sugars and flavors can make the calorie count skyrocket.
  5. Sports drinks, only for the sports-inclined. Keep in mind that sports drinks are ideal for exercise sessions or activities that last more than 90 minutes. They replace a lot of electrolytes and sugars that are lost in physical activity, but are much less helpful for you when no activity is taking place.
  6. Watch out for the happy hour. Alcoholic beverages are often loaded with sneaky amounts calories. A serving of beer is 12 ounces, wine is 3.5 ounces, and liquor is 1.5 ounces. Keep that in mind when you’re counting up calories at the bar. 

For more tips like these, check out a few of our products listed below! Or, just search “Drink” at www.ncescatalog.com.

Beverages 101 Poster or Tearpad: 4645 & 4642

10 Ways to Drink Water Poster or Tearpad: 4314 &4638