Rejuvalife Vitality Institute
Beverly Hills CA

Excess Body Fat = Thousands of Cancer Cases Annually

A shocking new study was published last week by researchers with the American Institute for Cancer Research,  that states more than 100,000 cases of cancer are caused annually by excess body-fat and obesity. The researchers studied seven cancers with known links to obesity along with actual case counts that were likely obesity-related.

From

The report says that 49 percent of endometrial cancers are caused by excess body fat. That number is followed by 35 percent of esophageal cancer cases; 28 percent of pancreatic cancer cases; 24 percent of kidney cancer cases; 21 percent of gallbladder cancer cases; 17 percent of breast cancer cases; and 9 percent of colorectal cancer cases.

“This is the first time that we’ve put real, quantifiable case numbers on obesity-related cancers,” said Glen Weldon, the American Institute for Cancer Research educational director. In addition, he said, it’s not just causing cancer that’s an issue.

“Obesity not only raises the risk for getting cancer,” Weldon said. “It also has a negative effect on survival and can make treatment more difficult.” (Link to full story)

The sheer magnitude of this is a bit overwhelming, and calling attention to the problem is certainly necessary. In addition to cancer, we know obesity-related health problems abound, including heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, strokes and various other maladies. As I’ve explained before, increased body fat can lead to increased cellular inflammation, which is linked to DNA mutation and diseased cell growth, as is seen in cancers and many other diseases.

Unfortunately, the study doesn’t propose any solution. While some would suggest simply losing the weight, or not gaining it at all, I can’t help but add “keeping your soup clean” – i.e. not just counting calories, but eating a nutritionally dense and healthy diet and adopting an active lifestyle are paramount to good health.

Thanks for reading,

Andre Berger, M.D.

Related recent posts from the archives:

• Obesity Shrinks Your Brain & Shortens Your Life
• Is Your Soup Clean? Questions & Answers about Diagnostic Testing
• This is Your Brain on Junk Food
• Food Choices Supersede Genetics

News & Research on Alzheimer’s Disease

Alzheimer's Disease Currently Has No Cure

I posted several entries about Alzheimer’s Disease in the last few months, and discussed risk factors and prevention.  You can read those posts here,  here, here and here, but in a nutshell, I talked about how your genetic risk for developing diseases like Alzheimer’s is based partially on genetics – about 70% – and the rest on “the soup” those genes are swimming in. “Cleaning up your soup”, i.e. maintaining a healthy, active lifestyle with good nutrition, adequate exercise and mental stimulation, are the keys to reducing your risk, and there are diagnostic tests available to gauge your propensity for developing Alzheimer’s or other diseases.

The genetic part of that equation was bolstered by new research that discovered new genes directly related to Alzheimer’s Disease. This new information will eventually help unlock the secrets to treating that debilitating and heartbreaking disease.

From

The first new genes tied to Alzheimer’s disease in a decade have been identified by European scientists, adding insight into the biology of the most common cause of dementia and potentially leading to treatments.

The studies, published yesterday in the journal Nature Genetics, may one day help speed creation of therapies for a malady that progressively destroys brain cells and affects 30 million people worldwide, the investigators said during a Sept. 4 news conference. Doctors already know that as much as 80 percent of a person’s chance of having Alzheimer’s is inherited.

(More – Link)

A different study of Alzheimer’s recently discovered that even a mild cold or infection can have a drastic effect on sufferers of the disease:

From 

Common infections, like colds and upset stomachs, may make memory loss more rapid in people with Alzheimer’s disease, a new study has found. It may be that infections cause inflammation in the body, which speeds up the damage caused by Alzheimer’s. However, another explanation for the link is that people with worsening Alzheimer’s are more vulnerable to infections.

(More – Link)

And in a third study, Australian researchers discovered that those who eat a diet high in saturated fats are at a higher risk for developing the disease.

From Australian Broadcasting Company:

Australian researchers believe they have discovered why foods high in saturated fat increase the likelihood of developing Alzheimer’s disease.

Researchers from Curtin University of Technology in Perth found that saturated dietary fat damages the lining of blood vessels in the brains of mice, allowing a protein called amyloid to enter the brain.

The study, to be published in the British Journal of Nutrition, is one of the first to demonstrate a scientific link between diet and Alzheimer’s disease. (More – Link)

For more information on how you can keep your “soup” clean, I’ve included my recent video on the subject.

Additional reading on Alzheimers:

One – Alzheimer’s Part 1 – Risk Factors

Two – Alzheimer’s Part 2 – Preventative Measures

Three – Cholesterol Levels Tied to Risk for Dementia

Four – Diagnostic Testing

Thanks for reading,

Andre Berger, M.D.