Reduce your risk of bladder cancer by over 50 percent
I’ve told you before about the cancer-fighting properties of broccoli. And though you don’t hear as much about the cancer-battling powers of broccoli sprouts, these young broccoli plants pack one powerful health punch.
A new study revealed that a concentrated extract from broccoli sprouts may reduce the development of bladder cancer by – are you ready for this? – over 50 percent. And while the researchers admit that this was an animal study, they are convinced that the benefits extend to you and me as well.
Published in a recent issue of the medical journal Cancer Research, this study adds to an already staggering amount of research that there is a significant protective effect among cruciferous vegetables (i.e., kale, cabbage, collard greens, brussels sprouts, cauliflower and others) when it comes to bladder cancer.
It’s the high levels of glucosinates in cruciferous vegetables that gives them their many health-boosting properties. Once these chemicals are metabolized by the body, they become effective anti-carcinogens called isothicyanates. Don’t worryI won’t continue to bore you with the nuts-and-bolts aspect of these findings. There are so many -phades, – ates, and -ides that it will make your head spin. But I’m sure you get the gist.
To find these powerful sprouts, you’ll likely have to journey farther afield than your big chain grocery store. You’re more apt to track them down in a health-conscience specialty grocery like Trader Joe’s or Whole Foods.
Of course, “adult” broccoli carries plenty of its own benefits. Just remember: the closer to raw the better. Often when you order broccoli away from the home – even at a good restaurant – what you get is nasty, wet, and limp. Well-prepared broccoli should be bright green when you get it. And it should have a nice, crisp snap when you bite into it – that way you know that all of the critical, health-packed vitamins haven’t been boiled out of the stuff.
When it comes to broccoli, just remember mom’s demand that you finish them all. Eat ‘em and often and don’t try to pass them off to the dog under the table!
Text messaging: addiction or stupidity?
The cell phone, text messaging, and mobile e-mail devices such as the BlackBerry are certainly the curse of our modern age. Everywhere you go, you see dozens of people yammering and button-pushing, whether it’s behind-the-wheel, in line at the store, walking down the street, sitting next to you on the bus, or – and this one really gets under my skin – at the table across from you in restaurants.
Now there’s new research out that claims that excessive text messaging and emailing may be part of a compulsive/impulsive spectrum disorder, and a form of addiction.
Dr. Jerald Block summed up four symptoms that are typical of this latest form of “addiction”: a feeling of withdrawal when the computer/cell phone/pager cannot be accessed; the feeling of a need for more time to use the device; the need for more and better “equipment;” and negative repercussions from this use. Block also included excessive video gaming and virtual sex in his analysis of “new” addictions.
If you ask me, this all sounds a little hokey. A lot of these broad-stroke “symptoms” that Block mentions can be applied to all manner of behaviors, from biting your nails to watching too much TV. Some people text too much. Some people talk on the phone too much. (Who knows how many people were “addicted” to talking on the phone before the cell phone came along and took phone calling out of the living room and on to the street?)
Does the public really need another hokey, pseudo-medical excuse for not taking accountability for their behavior? Personally, I don’t think so.
To me, these behaviors are not patterns of addiction, but patterns of rudeness and stupidity. Unfortunately, no one’s discovered a way to treat that yet.
