1/3 Of Cancer Deaths Are Preventable Through Diet Changes

July 27, 2010

Natural News

By: Sherry Baker

Here’s good news for both you and your best friend: one out of three cancer deaths in humans as well as dogs can be prevented by simple, natural diet changes. That’s the conclusion of research just presented by Demian Dressler, DVM, at the 2010 Institute of Food Technologists (IFT) Annual Meeting & Food Expo in Chicago, Illinois.

So how could so many fatal cancers be stopped? Dr. Dressler, known as the “dog cancer vet” because of his work in unraveling the intricacies of canine cancer, said the key is severely limiting snack foods for humans and dogs that contain ingredients rich in omega-6 fatty acids. Omega-3s (found in cold water fish such as salmon and other foods including flax oil and walnuts) and omega-6s (found in meats and some widely used vegetable oils such as corn oil) are essential fatty acids (EFAs) that must be consumed for the body to function properly. Omega-6 fatty acids tend to increase inflammation, blood clotting and cell proliferation, while omega-3 fatty acids decrease those functions of the immune system. The problem is that the typical American diet — for people as well as their pets — tends to be overloaded with omega-6s and deficient in omega-3s.

In fact, the American Institute for Cancer Research reports that the current ratio of omega-6 fatty acids to omega-3 fatty acids eaten by most Americans is about 15-to-1; however, a healthy ratio is closer to 4-to-1. This is a serious problem because, as NaturalNews has previously reported, scientists have linked this imbalance to autoimmunity, allergy, heart disease, arthritis, asthma and cancer (http://www.naturalnews.com/026383_h…).

The glut of omega-6s comes mostly from vegetable oils, such as soy oil, which are used in most of the snack foods, cookies, crackers, sweets, fast foods and — in the case of dogs’ diets — doggie treats and many commercial dog foods. The result is an eating pattern that promotes inflammation. That, Dr. Dressler stated, creates an environment conducive to cancer in dogs and people.

Another important way to reduce fatal cancers in humans and their canine companions is to keep weight at a healthy level. Dr. Dressler noted studies show obesity in both dogs and humans limits the production of a hormone dubbed adiponectin that inhibits the growth of cancer cells. He recommended reducing calories and especially staying away from sugar — not only because it contributes to obesity, but also because it is now known to feed cancer cells and spur their growth.

A panel meeting at the 2010 IFT Annual Meeting & Food Expo panel encouraged pet food manufacturers to consider the health implications of their products in order to improve animals’ health. According to the media statement, Kelly S. Swanson, associate professor in the Department of Animal Sciences at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, suggested the ideal blend of fiber for dog food is about 75 to 80 percent insoluble and 20 to 25 percent soluble. What’s more, adding quality prebiotics to pet foods could also enhance dogs’ health.

Household Cleaning Sprays Could Cause Asthma

June 8, 2010

Telegraph

By Kate Devlin

Studies suggest that some products can exacerbate existing conditions and even trigger breathing problems in people who have never previously suffered from the illness.

If proven, the link could make some cases of the disease preventable, according to Dr Jan-Paul Zock, an expert in occupational asthma. Around five million people in Britain suffer from asthma.

Rates of the condition are thought to have doubled in the two decades to the mid 1990s, but plateaued since then.

A range of studies have shown a link between asthma and exposure to some cleaning products, Dr Zock, from the Centre for Research in Environmental Epidemiology in Barcelona, said.

Click here for the full report.

Med Mistakes Blamed in 200K Deaths a Year

August 10, 2009

CBS News

An investigation by the Hearst Corporation says an estimated 200 thousand Americans will die this year from preventable medical errors and hospital infections.

Heart dubbed its report, “Dead by Mistake.”

The report also says 20 states have no medical error reporting system in place, five have voluntary ones, and five more are developing reporting systems.

What’s more, says the report, in the 20 states that make medical error reporting mandatory, hospitals report only a tiny percentage of their mistakes, standards vary wildly, and enforcement is often nonexistent.

Heart also blames special interests for blocking progress in this area, noting that, “Ten years ago, the highly-publicized federal report, ‘To Err Is Human,’ highlighted the alarming death toll from preventable medical injuries and called on the medical community to cut it in half in five years. Its authors and patient safety advocates believed that its release would spur a revolution in patient safety.

“But Hearst’s ‘Dead By Mistake’ reveals that the federal government and most states have made little or no progress in improving patient safety through accountability mechanisms or other measures. According to the Hearst investigation, special interests worked to ensure that the key recommendations in the report — most notably a mandatory national reporting system for medical errors — were never implemented.”

On “The Early Show” Monday, CBS News Medical Correspondent Dr. Jennifer Ashton described some of the most common medical miscues and offered advice to help keep you from becoming a victim of such an error, observing that, “This kills more people each year than car accidents”:

Wrong-side/wrong part of body surgery: This why surgeons should PERSONALLY sign or initial the skin of the patient over the area that’s being operated on; patients should remind all surgical personnel about the side and site of the procedure.

Medication error:: Patients should ask what every single medication is that they’re given while in the hospital and remind EVERYONE who approaches them with drugs of any allergies they have. Also be aware of dosage mistakes and sound-alike medications (such as Heparin and Hespan).

Look the surgeon in the eye before an operation: My personal rule: I accompany every single patient of mine into the operating room while they’re still awake/non-sedated. Often, the surgeon comes in after the person is sedated, and then the possibilities exist of mistaken identity and/or side and procedure mistakes.

In general, Ashton says, it’s extremely important to improve patient/doctor communication.

Some of the things thought to be responsible for medical errors include:

• Poor documentation
• Illegible handwriting
• Sleep deprivation
• Patients not communicating with their doctors
• Improper nurse-to-patient ratios

Click here for the full report from CBS News