Classes in and around the Cambridge area
Health
Why is breast cancer usually found near the armpit?
Aug 1st
Some time ago, I attended a Breast Cancer Awareness seminar. I asked why the most common area for Breast Cancer was near the armpit. My question could not be answered at that time. This email was just sent to me, and I find it interesting that my question has been answered.
I challenge you all to rethink your every day use of a product that could ultimately lead to a terminal illness. As of today, I will change my usage.
I showed it to a friend going through chemotherapy and she said she learned this fact in a support group recently. The leading cause of breast cancer is the use of anti-perspirant. What? A concentration of toxins which leads to cell mutations, a.k.a. CANCER. Yes, ANTI-PERSPIRANT. Most of the products out there are an anti-perspirant /deodorant combination, so go home and check.
Deodorant is fine, anti-perspirant is not.
Here’s why:- The human body has a few areas that it uses to purge toxins; behind the knees, behind the ears, groin area, and armpits. The toxins are purged in the form of perspiration. Anti-perspirant, as the name clearly indicates, prevents you from perspiring, thereby inhibiting the body from purging toxins from below the armpits.
These toxins do not just magically disappear. Instead, the body deposits them in the lymph nodes below the arms since it cannot sweat them out. Nearly all breast cancer tumors occur in the upper outside quadrant of the breast area. This is precisely where the lymph nodes are located.
Additionally, men are less likely (but not completely exempt) to develop breast cancer prompted by anti-perspirant usage because most of the anti-perspirant product is caught in their hair and is not directly applied to the skin.
Women who apply anti-perspirant right after shaving increase the risk further because shaving causes almost imperceptible nicks in the skin which give the chemicals entrance into the body from the armpit area.
PLEASE share this with anyone you care about. Breast cancer is becoming frighteningly common. This awareness may save lives.
TO YOUR HEALTH
10 ways to avoid weight gain
Jul 4th
Eatwell Plate
I am always being asked how to avoid weight gain over this festive time of year. In fact you should be able to follow this simple ways all the year round:
1. Eat your normal portion size! Fill up on vegetables rather than all the foods that are high in fat. Remember a Christmas day dinner is loaded with calories – 1500 and above. Nigella’s Christmas day lunch was the highest in calories and the lowest was Jamie Olivers.
2. Don’t stay too close to the buffet table - try and stay away from these types of foods as they are loaded with calories – try and eat before you go and just have a little nibble instead.
3. Drink lots of water - try and drink lots of water – have a glass of water inbetween the alcholic drinks – this will help to keep the headaches away as you will be hydrated.
4. Eat before you go out - try and eat during the day as it is important to keep your metabolism up.
5. Drink sensibly - if you go out don’t binge – drink sensibly and remember the water!
6. Try and not eat after 8pm - if you eat late at night then you tend to go for the fatty foods which in turn are stored as fat. Try and eat little bits all day long so that when you do go out you are not really hungry.
7. Don’t buy goodies - try and not purchase lots of snack type food – crisps, biscuits, etc as you only end up eating them and feel guilty afterwards.
8. Focus on friends rather than food - If you have friends over try and focus on conversation, games etc and that will keep you away from the food table.
9. Exercise - try and keep up the exercise during this time of year – I no its hard when it is snowing, raining, foggy and frosty. You can always grab the neighbours dog and take it for a lovely brisk walk – you will feel better and the dog will love it.
10. Finally if you have put a few pounds on - then start thinking about eating properly again – get out low gi cookery books and start planning your meals. Remember the eatwell plate and visit http://www.eatwell.gov.uk for lots of good tips.
Do you suffer from gluten intolerance, irritable bowel syndrome or thrush?
Jul 4th
Bread, Bread, Bread
Bread has always been made the same way with flour, water, salt and yeast. In 1961 a new method was introduced called the Chorleywood Process which reduced the time to make bread and labour input, thereby reducing manufacturing costs. All the bread that is produced is made in this way and it has affected many people in different ways:
• The wheat is milled at high speed so that it can absorb more water – so when you buy an 800g loaf you are paying for a higher water content – nearly half of the bread is water. Wheat flour is mixed with ascorbic acid and yeast and when the gluten in the wheat is released it creates a very stiff dough in a small fraction of the time compared to the normal proving process. This process is being linked to the increase in Coeliac disease – a serious gluten intolerance.
• The Chorleywood Process also uses hard fractionated fats which are very similar to hydrogenated fats – these fats are linked to heart disease
• Two or three times the usual amount of yeast is added compared to traditionally made bread. This extra yeast creates a large volume of gas and you get a spongy loaf.This large amount of yeast we consume is being cited as one possible cause for the growth of yeast intolerance, irritable bowel syndrome and thrush (candidiasis/candida albicans) disorders over the past few decades.
• To help the fats bond to the wet flours, emulsifiers are added to the mix, plus vinegar (acts as a preservative) and large amounts of salt about double to that of a normal recipe. High salt intake being linked to heart disease and raised blood pressure.
• Finally as it has a high water content, just to stop if going mouldy, it is often dosed with anti-fungal compound.
So after reading this, perhaps we should all be making our own bread again! What to you think?
Is your posture perfect?
Apr 2nd
Did you know that back pain costs the economy billions of dollars a years? Low back problems account for more lost work hours than any other occupational injury.
The spine or vertebral column is make up of 33 individual bones and looks like an S-curve. This curve makes it 16 times stronger than if it were straight. The spine has a high degree of flexibility forward and to the sides, with a limited amount backward. The neck and lower back can rotate. Dense ligaments and strong muscles groups surround it and strengthen it, however the abdominal muscles may account for up to 40 percent of torso support.
Here’s how to find a good posture balance for yourself: Stand with your pelvis titled in a neutral position. This means you pull in your abdominal muscles and slightly tighten your buttocks. This distributes your weight evenly and protects your lower back. Shoulders should be relaxed, down and back slightly. Keep your knees slightly flexed, not locked.
Here’s a quick way to correct your posture if you notice you are slumping: Place your elbows against the side of your waist with the arms bent 90 degrees and your hands in front of you. Keeping your elbows in place, rotate your hand and forearms to the sides. Your shoulder blades will move toward each other and lift your chest, correcting your posture. Then lower your forearms and maintain the improved posture! Walk with your head, trunk and thighs aligned, shoulders held back yet relaxed, chest high, and your stomach tucked in.
