fitflicker: Breast Cancer Awareness Month

You Only Have One Body, Take Care Of It!

October is Breast cancer awareness month! What can you do to help decrease your chances of obtaining this disease??

women, in addition to checking weight, high blood pressure, and other basics, your doctor's visit may specifically include:

Starting at age 40 (or younger if you have a strong family history for breast cancer), a breast cancer screening with a mammogram every one to two years

Starting at age 65, a referral for a bone density test to screen for osteoporosis, the disease that causes brittle, fragile bones and typically affects older women; women with more than one risk factor for osteoporosis may start earlier

For men, in addition to checking weight, high blood pressure, and other basics, your doctor's visit may specifically include:

Starting at age 50, or younger if you have a family history, a rectal exam to check for abnormal bumps in the prostate and a prostate specific antigen (PSA) blood test to screen for prostate cancer

Between the ages of 65 and 75 if you have ever smoked cigarettes, an abdominal exam to check for an enlargement in your aorta; an abdominal aortic aneurysm, a weakness in the lining of the aorta (a large blood vessel in your chest and abdomen), can develop with age and become a life-threatening problem.

Grapes and red wine, especially for the resveratrol.
Legumes: beans, peas and lentils, for the saponins, protease inhibitors and more.
Berries, particularly blueberries, for the ellagic acid and anthocyanosides.
Cruciferous vegetables: Broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, Brussels sprouts, bok choy and kale. These score high for containing many anti-cancer substances, such as isothiocyanates.
Globe artichoke for very high levels of salvestrols.
Flaxseed, especially if you grind it yourself and consume when fresh, for the essential fatty acid alpha-linolenic acid, lignans and other “good fats.”
Garlic, onions, scallions, leeks and chives, for many anti-cancer substances including allicin.
Green tea for its anti-cancer catechins, a potent antioxidant.
Tomatoes, for the famous flavenoid lycopene.

Adults need at least:

	2 hours and 30 minutes (150 minutes) of moderate-intensity aerobic activity (i.e., brisk walking) every week and
	muscle-strengthening activities on 2 or more days a week that work all major muscle groups (legs, hips, back, abdomen, chest, shoulders, and arms).

	1 hour and 15 minutes (75 minutes) of vigorous-intensity aerobic activity (i.e., jogging or running) every week and
	muscle-strengthening activities on 2 or more days a week that work all major muscle groups (legs, hips, back, abdomen, chest, shoulders, and arms).

	An equivalent mix of moderate- and vigorous-intensityaerobic activity and
	muscle-strengthening activities on 2 or more days a week that work all major muscle groups (legs, hips, back, abdomen, chest, shoulders, and arms).

The Harvard Women’s Health Watch suggests

six reasons to get enough sleep: