Tuesday, June 22, 2010

Don't Read This if You are a Germaphobe

About twenty years ago I started reading a book called The Secret House. No, it isn't a horror book, I never read those. It is a book about what goes on during your day at a microscopic level.

If I remember right, it starts out explaining what happens to the dust mites when you first wake up. (You'll never want to get in or out of bed again, or walk on carpet, or apply mascara.)

I can't recommend the book, because I never got past the morning teeth brushing explanation. Yes, I do still brush my teeth, but I definitely changed where I

Wednesday, June 16, 2010

Please Tell Me It Isn't True about the Summer BBQ!


It is true, cooking muscle meats like beef, pork, fish, and fowl at high temperatures creates chemicals in the meats that are not present when the meat is raw.1  Some of these chemicals called, heterocyclic amines or HCA, are carcinogens which are substances that may cause cancer.2 This may be particularly true with postmenopausal breast cancer.3
What’s worse is it isn’t just barbequing that creates these high temperatures. Any time you cook muscle meats by boiling, grilling, barbequing or frying, you increase the amount of HCA in your diet. (This doesn’t happen with protein foods like eggs and milk.)
 Cooked beef seems to be the type of meat most likely to form HCA. According to Kansas State University, hamburger patties may be the greatest source of HCAs in the human diet.1 (One more reason to avoid fast food and  kid’s meals.)
So does this mean the end to the summer barbeque season?
Here are some tips to avoid dangerous HCAs in your diet.

Thursday, June 3, 2010

Is Sunscreen Dangerous? Yes, If you Use the Wrong Brand


It has been pounded into our heads to always use sunscreen before going outdoors, (no one wants aging skin and cancer), yet it is the sun that helps us produce Vitamin D, which is essential to a healthy being. In fact, Vitamin D helps reduce the risk of aging and cancer. Complicate that with the fact that many sunscreens may not be blocking out the radiation they claim to, and actually increasing your risk of disease. So, what's a person to do?