Young and at an Increased Risk of Colorectal Cancer?

Colorectal cancers are the third most common types of cancer for U.S. adults, with the exception of skin cancers, according to the American Cancer Society. It is estimated that nearly 50,000 people in the U.S. will die this year from colorectal cancer and there will be almost 150,000 new cases.

Ninety-one percent of new colorectal cancer cases are identified in those over the age of fifty. Because of this, widespread screening for this age group is recommended. Colonoscopy is the primary screening test to identify precancerous polyps in the bowel which can be removed before they can grow and spread. Widespread screening and awareness campaigns have resulted in decreased colorectal cancer rates in the U.S. for over a decade.

Unfortunately, people under the age of 50 do not get that same screening unless they have risks factors for colorectal cancer such as a family history, chronic inflammatory bowel disease or a predisposing genetic condition. This lack of screening provides ample opportunity for benign polyps to become cancerous and for early cancers to grow and spread.

According to a Los Angeles Times health report earlier this week, the incidence of colorectal cancers in people under the age of 50 has increased 17% over the last decade. Are you or someone you love at an increased risk?

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Could You Have Metabolic Syndrome?

Since the 1940's a relationship between certain metabolic disorders and cardiovascular disease has been recognized. In the 1980's this association began being known as syndrome X or metabolic syndrome.

Last week, a new study revealed that "women who breastfeed may be less likely to develop metabolic syndrome."

What is metabolic syndrome and how do you know if you might have it?

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Should You Be Drinking Vitamin Enhanced Water?

Eating a balanced diet every day is the best way to make sure you are getting the vitamins and minerals your body needs.

A multivitamin can be helpful in providing some "insurance" for those days when your food choices aren't the best.

Water regulates every function of our body, flushes out waste and toxins and transports nutrients. Since our bodies contain about 70% water, it is really important to drink water daily.

So what about the combination of vitamins and water together?

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Will You Stand Up for Menu Labeling?

Americans live busy lives and eating away from home has become a way of life for many of us. Surprisingly, studies have found that one third of our calories and one half of our food dollars go to food sources outside of the home. The dailySpark launched the Diet Friendly Dining and Food on the Run series, to help our readers make informed decisions about what they purchase when dining away from home.

On a previous blog I asked the question, "what do you wish casual dining restaurants would do differently?" Many of you shared a similar sentiment as BAMOM19 when she posted, "I wish they would all offer healthier choices, but at the very least should be required to post the nutritional content of all their dishes!"

What if I told you the quest to get nutrition information on menus started in 2003? Would you wonder why you still don't routinely see the information where you dine?

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Nutrition 101: What Is Crystalline Fructose?

Recently, some of you asked about crystalline fructose, a sweetener that is used in plenty of drinks, even some that call themselves "health drinks." We decided to do some research into this corn-based sweetener to help you better understand what you're sipping.

Fructose is a naturally occurring simple sugar found in fruits and vegetables. Many of us consume it regularly as part of our healthy diet. We also know that fructose is 55% of high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) with glucose making up the other 45%.

What about the crystalline form of fructose that is being used in carbonated beverages, enhanced or flavored waters, sports and energy drinks, and nutrition bars as well as baked goods, frozen foods, cereal, dairy products, reduced-calorie foods, canned fruits, and drink mixes?

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Folic Acid Important for Health

Folate is a water soluble B vitamin (B9) that is naturally found in food.

Folic acid is the synthetic form of folate found in supplements and fortified foods.

Folate plays a vital role in good health.

• It helps make normal red blood cells and aids in preventing anemia in both adults as well as children.
  
• Is vital for production and maintenance of new cells and necessary to make DNA and RNA.
  
• Is essential for the metabolism of homocysteine and maintaining normal levels of amino acids in the body.

Because this nutrient is so important, in 1996 the FDA regulated the addition of folic acid to enriched breads, cereals, flour, corn meals, pastas, rice and other grain products. Because cereals and grains are widely consumed in the U.S., they are leading contributors of folic acid to the American diet.

The RDA for folate is expressed as Dietary Folate Equivalent or DFE. The DFE takes into account the differences in absorption of the naturally occurring dietary folate and the more bioavailable synthetic folic acid. The RDA is expressed as micrograms (ug) of DFE and 1 DFE = 1 ug food folate = 0.6 ug folic acid from supplements and fortified foods. The RDA for folate for adults is 400 ug/day for both males and females with an increase for woman who are of child bearing age to a minimum of 600 ug/day.

Why the education on folate?

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Nutrition 101: Are You Overdoing the Zinc?

Zinc is a lustrous bluish-white metal found in group IIb of the periodic table. It is also one of the most important minerals used by the body. Just 2-3 grams, about the weight of a penny, is found in the body and serves as a key building block for about 100 enzymes which are necessary for cell growth, reproduction and repair and regulating the body's immune response, insulin metabolism and wound healing. The RDA for zinc for adults is about 11 mg per day for men and 8 mg per day for women (12 mg if you are pregnant or breastfeeding). Zinc is found in water and food and should be included in the diet each day since the body does not have a storage mechanism for zinc.

Oysters are the richest source of zinc and the other best sources including beef, lamb, pork, crabmeat, turkey, chicken, lobster, clams and salmon. Good sources of zinc include dairy such as milk, yogurt and cheese as well as yeast, peanuts, beans, whole grain cereals, brown rice, whole wheat bread and potato. Pumpkin seeds offer one of the most concentrated non-meat food sources of zinc but the zinc from meat sources is four times more bio-available than the zinc from grain sources.

If you are healthy and eating a well-balanced diet, supplements are generally not needed to meet your body's zinc needs. However, many multivitamin supplements include zinc and provide 11-15 mg themselves which is the daily recommended intake. Safe upper intake levels of zinc are set at 40 mg per day for adults.

So why am I focusing on zinc?

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Is Your Exercise Routine Turning Into a Headache?

Do you ever finish a fast run or a terrific tennis match with a wonderful exercise high just to have it diminished by a headache? Exercise headaches occur, just as the name suggests, during or after strenuous and sustained exercise. Activities such as running, rowing, tennis, swimming and weightlifting tend to be some of the most common activities to precipitate the annoying headache.

The International Headache Society uses the term exertional headache to describe the headaches that will happen at least once for one out of every 100 people. Unfortunately there are only several small case studies that focus on treatment for this type of headache. However, if you experience them from time to time like I do, you might be relieved to know there are some things you can try to reduce your risks of experiencing the headache low after an exercise high.

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Does your Body Image Drive Your Habits?

Food is your body's fuel. Put in the right formulation and the body "purrs like a kitten." Put in the wrong formulation and things start to go wrong.

Do you see your body as a sports car or a truck? Does your image of your body effect your eating and fitness habits?

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Are You An Apple in a Lollipop World?

Identifying your body shape and learning to love it are two different things.

This is especially true when the world indicates we should be something we don't see when we look in the mirror.

Do you know what your body type is and have you learned to accept and love it?

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New Year's Wishes Check Up – How are YOU Doing?

Back in December I encouraged blog readers to list 3 wishes and resolve to make them come true.

Now that it is March and spring is just around the corner, how are you doing?

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Food on the Run: Taco Bell

Last week, I listed several healthier menu options from two of the leading fast food restaurant chains for those times when you need or want to eat out with family or friends. Thanks to your positive responses, I am starting a new series entitled Food On The Run. From time to time, I will look at a variety of restaurants and identify which items might make the healthiest options when eating away from home. To launch the new series, I have looked at a couple more leading restaurant chains and included carbohydrates as well as sodium content as many requested.

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Food on the Run: Wendy's

Sometimes you have to eat on the run. Sometimes you just want to eat away from home. But can you fit fast food into a healthy diet? Of course! Here are some healthy options you can find when dining out at Wendy's.

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My Top 4 Healthy Eating Strategies for a Successful 2009

Trying to create new eating habits can be overwhelming. Making changes in your shopping, menu selection and cooking habits all at once causes many people to give up before they ever establish new routines. Instead, make this the year you make a few permanent changes that quickly feel normal and part of your regular daily routines. Here are my top four strategies to help you succeed.

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One Simple Rule Could Lead to Success

Last week I encouraged you to list 3 New Year's wishes and resolve to make them come true. Now that 2009 is here and time to live out the resolve you made, how are you doing? Did you jump start too fast? Did you bite off more than you can chew and feel like letting your wishes be just that? You're not alone but with one simple rule you can reset your focus and continue to move forward. Want to know the rule?

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