| **Obese people less likely to survive colorectal | | | | cancer, report claimsA research team from the |
| cancerAccording to a new report, people who are | | | | San Diego Moores Cancer Center headed up by |
| physically inactive and are obese around the | | | | Dr. Cedric Garland recently concluded that Vitamin |
| middle have poor odds of survival after a | | | | D deficiency is often associated with various |
| diagnosis of colorectal cancer."We have now | | | | types of cancer. Dr. Garland now advises people |
| shown that modifiable lifestyle factors that were | | | | to increase their intake of Vitamin D through diet |
| known to reduce the incidence of colorectal | | | | or a vitamin supplement.The research team |
| cancer can also reduce the mortality in cases | | | | reviewed 63 studies conducted between 1966 |
| diagnosed with the disease," Dr. Andrew M. M. | | | | and 2004 on the relationship between vitamin D |
| Haydon told Reuters Health. "This strengthens the | | | | and certain types of cancer. The report concluded |
| argument supporting the public health message of | | | | that Vitamin D deficiency was a factor in several |
| 'healthy living.'"Haydon, from Monash Medical | | | | thousand deaths due to colon, breast, ovarian and |
| School in Melbourne, Australia, studied records | | | | other cancers every year.The report |
| from more than 40,000 patients diagnosed with | | | | recommended increasing Vitamin D intake, either |
| colorectal cancer between 1990 and 1994.Patients | | | | in the form of supplements or by eating certain |
| who got regular exercise before their colorectal | | | | foods such as fortified orange juice, yogurt and |
| cancer was found were 31 percent less likely to | | | | cheeses. This is especially the case with people in |
| die from the cancer than were non-exercisers, | | | | northern latitudes where there is less exposure to |
| the investigators report in the medical journal Gut. | | | | the sun. African Americans are also more prone |
| In fact, 73 percent of exercisers survived at least | | | | to a Vitamin D deficiency because the their skin |
| five years, compared with 61 percent of | | | | pigment reduces the amount produced by the |
| non-exercisers.Such an improvement in survival "is | | | | body.Observers welcomed the University of |
| at least as large as" as is usually achieved by | | | | California study but also warned that kidney and |
| add-on chemotherapy.A greater percentage of | | | | liver damage could result from too much vitamin |
| body fat, bigger waist circumference, and/or | | | | D.The "natural" form of the vitamin, called D3, is |
| greater weight were also associated with worse | | | | normally produced in the skin after exposure to |
| survival, according to the report.**Study shows | | | | sunlight, but is also obtained from certain foods |
| short term sex life improvements in prostate | | | | such as oily fish, margarine and |
| cancer survivorsIt is well known that many men | | | | meat.**Resveratrol found in grapes helps fix our |
| who undergo prostate cancer treatment (surgery | | | | aching jointsResearchers at the American College |
| or radiation therapy) have sexual dysfunction. A | | | | of Rheumatology in San Diego, California have |
| recent study of 84 prostate cancer survivors | | | | found that resveratrol found in red wine appears |
| attempted to determine the impact of | | | | to halt cartilage damage caused by osteoarthritis, |
| post-treatment interventions such as counseling | | | | and speed up recovery.It is thought that |
| sessions.The study found that a large percentage | | | | oxygen-rich particles in the blood cause severe |
| of those who completed four therapy sessions | | | | damage to body cells similar to the way rust rots |
| reported better sexual functioning 3 months later. | | | | a car. Resveratrol is a powerful anti-oxidant which |
| Counseling sessions focused on better | | | | seems to function as a way to prevent this kind |
| communication between partners, ED treatment | | | | of injury.The research found that resveratrol |
| options, and methods of enjoying sex in spite of | | | | resulted in a reduction of between 50 and 90% |
| ED.Both partners reported improvements in their | | | | of the production of chemicals that cause |
| sex life for up to 3 months later. There was also | | | | inflammation in the joints. It also enhanced |
| an increase in the number of men using ED | | | | production of specific proteins that are part of |
| treatments such as Viagra.However, after six | | | | the connective tissue in joints.Red wine has other |
| months the improvements began to wane. The | | | | beneficial effects on the body. It contains |
| researchers speculated that couples tended to | | | | polyphenrols that reduce the amount of bad LDL |
| revert back to old habits, and there also might | | | | cholesterol in the arteries. It also increases the |
| have been greater reliance put on the "magic pill" | | | | amount of good HDL cholesterol.Tannin and |
| solution. Drugs such as Viagra tend to have a | | | | resveratrol, the anti-oxydants found in red wine, |
| lower success rate in prostate cancer survivors, | | | | help to guard against cancer and slow tumor |
| so when these drugs stop working couples may | | | | growth. |
| adopt a defeatist attitude.**Vitamin D helps fight | | | | |