Cover Up: Stay protected from the sun as summer heats up

As summer heats up in Connecticut, the Department of Public of Health (DPH) is reminding residents to protect their health in the face of the sun, high temperatures and humidity. As we enter another heatwave, it’s a great time to brush up on some sun and heat safety tips. The State of Skin Cancer in Connecticut According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), skin cancer is the most … [Read more...]

Angelina Jolie's pre-emptive mastectomy puts cancer prevention in spotlight

Src: creatingahealthylifestyle.com

Hollywood actress Angelina Jolie’s decision to have a preventive double mastectomy continues to be the topic for public debate three weeks after she announced in a New York Times editorial that she had the surgery. Jolie is hardly the first woman to make this very difficult choice, and it’s one that women who already have breast cancer face as well. A recent study presented at the American Society … [Read more...]

Living With Lupus: Allergic to the Sun

By Renée Canada/The Mind-Body Shift

As late spring slides into mid- to late summer weather this week here in Connecticut, I am beginning to be blinded by that bright light of revelation: The sun is still not your friend. With temperatures in the high 80s and the bright, sunny days an appealing alternative to the dreary, dark and wet days of last week, I can’t help but want to spend time outside. It’s a perfect time to do yoga in … [Read more...]

Conn. Makes History as State Senate Approves GMO Labeling Bill

Src: GMO Free CT

Connecticut made history last night, May 21, by voting in favor of a bill that would require the labeling of genetically engineered food, becoming the second state to do so, following Vermont. Following a rally of more than 400 people gathered outside the state capitol in support of the bill, the State Senate approved the bill, 35-1, which would give the public the right to know if genetically … [Read more...]

New study questions Gingko biloba’s safety, Chinese herbalist touts its benefits

Gingko Src: Herbalisl.com

On Thursday, The Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) advised consumers to avoid Ginkgo biloba, based on a new government study that showed evidence of the extract causing liver cancer in mice and thyroid cancer in rats. On its Chemical Cuisine guide to food additives, CSPI downgraded ginkgo from “safe” to “avoid.” While extracts from the leaves of the Ginkgo biloba tree are legally … [Read more...]

Salt and processed foods linked with autoimmune disease and early mortality

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Last week, researchers from three different studies reported in the journal Nature identified an association between dietary salt and the development of autoimmune disease. This precedes a study published yesterday that links the consumption of processed foods with an increased risk of early death due to cardiovascular disease and cancer. According to the Voice of America, researchers were … [Read more...]

Dense breasts a factor for more young women with advanced breast cancers

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A recent study published this Tuesday, Jan. 26, in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that number of women ages 25 to 39 developing metastatic breast cancer, the most advanced stage of cancer when it spreads to vital organs and threatens life, has tripled between 1976 and 2009. While the number of cases were still relatively small, these women had cancer that spread before they … [Read more...]

Yale Identifies Where Fat Comes From, With Big Ramifications for Future

src: health-news-blog.com

Focusing on nutrition and lifestyle, we know that the causes of the rise in obesity include the overconsumption of processed foods and sugar, too few nutrient-dense foods and too-large portion sizes, as well as stress, a sedentary lifestyle, sleep disturbances, not getting enough exercise, metabolic factors, and even environmental toxins. Now, a new study by researchers from Yale University School … [Read more...]

Improve the Health of Your Heart with Yoga

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A new study suggests more evidence that yoga is good for your heart. Researchers from the University of Kansas Medical Center, aware of the significant benefit of yoga on cardiovascular health, studied the affect of the practice on atrial fibrillation (AF). They found that yoga reduced symptomatic AF episodes. According to the study report, AF is the most common cardiac arrhythmia. An arrythmia … [Read more...]

Connecticut One of 26 States Set to Tackle Toxic Chemicals in 2013

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According to Safer States, Connecticut is one of 26 states across the country to consider policies addressing concerns over toxic chemicals in 2013. These states will be tackling concerns such as bans on toxic flame retardants and identifying harmful chemicals in consumer products. According to a Jan. 24 statement, an analysis done by Safer States, a national coalition of state-based … [Read more...]