Curiously Awesome

Women with a genetic predisposition to breast cancer — as in women with a mother or grandmother diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime — are probably looking for any way to enhance their odds of staying healthy. As it turns out, there is a direct relationship between those at risk of breast cancer and a woman’s diet.

A study shows that there is a higher ratio of women that were identified as having breast cancer if they ate a common unhealthy diet. This unhealthy diet includes ones that are rich in red meats and refined grains. Women who adopt diets that are rich in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains are less likely to contract breast cancer.

Not only can a raw food diet increase a woman’s chances of avoiding breast cancer, but specific raw foods can also minimize many of the negative effects of chemotherapy. Wheat grass juice consumption has been shown to be effective in a reduction of the necessary doses required.

Lavender oil is an effective treatment for insomnia and anxiety, in addition to burn treatment.

Lavender is used as an essential oil for aromatherapy. It can also be made into a tea from the leaves. The oil can be applied to the skin — the inner wrists — and then inhaled through the nose to maximize its effectiveness. The leaves are steeped in hot water for 15 minutes.

MRSA is common in hospitals because of staph infections becoming resistant to the overuse of antibiotics. Testing has demonstrated lavender’s ability to destroy staph infections. To date, lavender hasn’t been used for fighting staph infections.

Regional access to lavender in Europe and the UK is about to have its public access stopped. Lavender for health and therapeutic uses may soon be by prescription only in the EU and UK.

Mainstream medicine’s answer to the discomforts of menopause is hormone replacement therapy. While this can be an effective way to banish hot flashes and other symptoms, at what price? Breast cancer? Ovarian cancer?

Instead of risking your long-term health to avoid short-term symptoms, opt for simple lifestyle changes that can bring effective relief.

• Get regular cardiovascular exercise. Fight off osteoporosis with strength training work as well.
• Avoid excessive sodium, sugar and caffeine. Spicy foods and processed foods can also contribute to menopausal symptoms so cutting back on these foods can bring relief. Increase fiber and vegetable consumption to help your body acclimate to menopause.
• Try herbal remedies to fight symptoms. Primrose oil, black cohosh, ginseng and gingko biloba can relieve many menopausal symptoms.

US FDA has issued a new warning to pet owners about the possible toxicity of some pet treats imported from China. So far in 2011, at least 70 dogs have been sickened or killed by jerky products imported from China. Dog owners who observe any symptoms associated with these treats should stop using them.

Many kinds of pet treats have also been subjected to irradiation treatments. This deadly process makes food toxic.

When purchasing any pet food or treats read labels carefully to identify the product origin. Then verify whether or not the food has been treated with irradiation.

Heart failure is an oft-deadly condition that occurs when the heart can’t pump an adequate amount of oxygen and blood throughout the body. Symptoms include fatigue, appetite reduction, fluid build-up and kidney failure. Shortness of breath also happens when blood accumulates behind the heart. This leads to increased fluid in the lungs.

Heart failure has no cure. Some medications and lifestyle changes can help people live longer. Sometimes heart failure patients need heart transplants.

There’s a new treatment that might help heart failure patients. No, it’s not any type of surgery even a prescription. It’s vitamin C.

Heart failure patients with low vitamin C intake were over two times more likely to have higher levels of high sensitivity C-Reactive protein (hsCRP) — a marker for inflammation and a risk factor for heart disease.

Because inflammation is a significant symptom in heart failure, and a lack of vitamin C could make inflammation worse. By taking in adequate vitamin C, you may be able to significantly lessen inflammation and thereby lessen heart failure.

Ginger has a long history of being effective at alleviating gastrointestinal distress. Modern research reveals that ginger has numerous properties, including antioxidant effects and direct anti-inflammatory effects. New research demonstrates the anti-inflammatory action of ginger on the colon.

Include ginger in the diet to dramatically lower inflammatory risk markers for colon cancer. One such marker, known as PGE2, is a naturally occurring prostaglandin. PGE2 usually induces fever and is important for determining inflammatory levels in the body. Inflammation has been implicated as a precursor to colon cancer. Gingerroot supplementation lowers blood levels of the prostaglandin to reduce colon cancer risks.