Get Your Grains to Protect from Pancreatic Cancer!
Now, it’s common knowledge to health professionals and many people in the public that increased whole grains can protect your colon from cancer. However, did you know it may protect you from pancreatic cancer?
Cancer of the pancreas has been increasing during the past several decades and is currently the fourth leading cause of cancer death in the US. It is one of the most serious forms of cancer, with a very high mortality rate. In 2007, the estimates of new cases are 37,170 new diagnoses and deaths will be 33,370. It develops when cancerous cells form in the tissues of your pancreas — a large organ that lies horizontally behind the lower part of your stomach. Your pancreas secretes enzymes that aid digestion and hormones that help regulate the metabolism of carbohydrates.
Pancreatic cancer spreads rapidly and is seldom detected in its early stages, which is a major reason why it's a leading cause of cancer death. Signs and symptoms may not appear until the disease is quite advanced. By that time, the cancer is likely to have spread to other parts of the body and surgical removal is no longer possible. About 10% of pancreatic cancers are genetic, which means most are caused by environmental or lifestyle factors, such as smoking, diet and chemical exposure.
There are actually very few studies on diet and pancreatic cancer, however, so this study published in a recent Journal of Epidemiology was a nice addition to what we know about this type of cancer. Researchers sent a questionnaire to 532 cases and 1,701 controls to determined if their intake of whole grains impacted their risk of pancreatic cancer. They did find that when people consume more whole grains and high-fiber foods, they may be reducing their risk of this cancer.
So what can YOU do to decrease your risk of this very scary cancer? There are actually several things.
• First, you can maintain a healthy weight. If you are overweight, start taking steps to decrease it.
• Second, do you smoke? If so, it’s time to quit! And, with the New Year almost upon us, what a perfect time!
• Third, this is nothing new from me, but exercise regularly. Shoot for at least 30 minutes daily. I won’t go into all the other benefits from this habit!
• Finally, eat a healthy diet. The study showed a benefit from eating at least two servings of whole grains per day. Also add more fruits and veggies to your diet, though!
It’s a little scary that this cancer is increasing. And, scarier yet that for most people who develop pancreatic cancer, it’s just about as good as a death sentence! If your plan is to live a long life, although there are never guarantees, at least if you practice some of the suggestions above, you may have a better chance. And, as I said, earlier, this is a perfect time to start improving health habits, with the coming of the New Year!
To read the abstract of this study, click here:
http://aje.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/166/10/1174
To read more about pancreatic cancer, click here: http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/treatment/pancreatic/patient/
Cancer of the pancreas has been increasing during the past several decades and is currently the fourth leading cause of cancer death in the US. It is one of the most serious forms of cancer, with a very high mortality rate. In 2007, the estimates of new cases are 37,170 new diagnoses and deaths will be 33,370. It develops when cancerous cells form in the tissues of your pancreas — a large organ that lies horizontally behind the lower part of your stomach. Your pancreas secretes enzymes that aid digestion and hormones that help regulate the metabolism of carbohydrates.
Pancreatic cancer spreads rapidly and is seldom detected in its early stages, which is a major reason why it's a leading cause of cancer death. Signs and symptoms may not appear until the disease is quite advanced. By that time, the cancer is likely to have spread to other parts of the body and surgical removal is no longer possible. About 10% of pancreatic cancers are genetic, which means most are caused by environmental or lifestyle factors, such as smoking, diet and chemical exposure.
There are actually very few studies on diet and pancreatic cancer, however, so this study published in a recent Journal of Epidemiology was a nice addition to what we know about this type of cancer. Researchers sent a questionnaire to 532 cases and 1,701 controls to determined if their intake of whole grains impacted their risk of pancreatic cancer. They did find that when people consume more whole grains and high-fiber foods, they may be reducing their risk of this cancer.
So what can YOU do to decrease your risk of this very scary cancer? There are actually several things.
• First, you can maintain a healthy weight. If you are overweight, start taking steps to decrease it.
• Second, do you smoke? If so, it’s time to quit! And, with the New Year almost upon us, what a perfect time!
• Third, this is nothing new from me, but exercise regularly. Shoot for at least 30 minutes daily. I won’t go into all the other benefits from this habit!
• Finally, eat a healthy diet. The study showed a benefit from eating at least two servings of whole grains per day. Also add more fruits and veggies to your diet, though!
It’s a little scary that this cancer is increasing. And, scarier yet that for most people who develop pancreatic cancer, it’s just about as good as a death sentence! If your plan is to live a long life, although there are never guarantees, at least if you practice some of the suggestions above, you may have a better chance. And, as I said, earlier, this is a perfect time to start improving health habits, with the coming of the New Year!
To read the abstract of this study, click here:
http://aje.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/166/10/1174
To read more about pancreatic cancer, click here: http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/treatment/pancreatic/patient/
posted by Margie Geiser, MBA, RD, NSCA-CPT at
6:31 AM
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