ABIRATERONE EFFECTIVE ALSO IN HIGH GLEAN SCORE PROSTATE CANCER

In 1,048 prostate cancer patients previously treated with docetaxel, and 996 metastatic, castration-resistant patients, treatment with the androgen-lowering drug abiraterone acetate (Zytiga) led to longer overall disease control, even when a very high Gleason score indicated especially aggressive cancer.

Study Findings

Results recently published by Fizazi et al in the Annals of Oncology show that for patients with Gleason score greater than 8, postdocetaxel treatment with abiraterone extended progression-free survival from 5.5 months to 6.4 months, and prechemotherapy abiraterone treatment extended progression-free survival from 8.2 months to 16.5 months.

�We have the idea that with an unfavorable Gleason score, we have to immediately reach for the harshest chemicals, but this study shows that's not always the case. Abiraterone is easier to take, has fewer side effects, and shows prolonged survival,� said Thomas Flaig, MD, Associate Director for Clinical Research at the University of Colorado Cancer Center, and Associate Professor of Medicine at the University of Colorado School of Medicine.

Dr. Flaig was coinvestigator of clinical trials that led to U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval of abiraterone acetate, and with collaborators, continues to explore the best use of the drug. Previous work showed that the drug is useful even in cases of prostate cancer that has metastasized to the liver, another poor prognostic sign. The current study extends this finding to include all aggressive prostate cancers marked by high Gleason score.

�The main thing this analysis does is help us better understand how to use this new agent. Certainly there are cases in which cytotoxic chemotherapies are appropriate. But this study points to a broad use of this oral hormonal agent,� Dr. Flaig said.

In addition to extending the duration of progression-free survival, this study showed greater overall survival and better control of prostate-specific antigen with abiraterone treatment. The treatment is used in combination with prednisone.

�Thus, the Gleason score at the time of diagnosis should not factor into the decision to prescribe or treat a patient with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer with abiraterone acetate plus prednisone,� the authors concluded.

FACTS FOR BREAST CANCER SCREENING

Findings of a systematic review of the benefits and harms of breast cancer screening commissioned by the American Cancer Society (ACS) to inform its updated guideline on screening in average-risk women were reported in JAMAby Myers et al of the Duke Evidence Synthesis Group. Their findings were published along with the updated ACS guideline.

The review included literature searches through March 2014, yielding 7 reviews, 10 randomized clinical trials, 72 observational studies, and 1 modeling study providing relevant data. Key findings of the systematic review are reproduced here.

Key Findings

• Across all ages of women at average risk, pooled estimates of the association between mammography screening and mortality reduction after 13 years of follow-up were similar for 3 meta-analyses of clinical trials: relative risk (RR) = 0.80, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.73�0.89, in a UK Independent Panel analysis; RR = 0.82, 95% CI = 0.74�0.94, in a Canadian Task Force analysis; and RR = 0.81, 95% CI = 0.74�0.87, in a Cochrane analysis.
• Risk reduction was greater in a meta-analysis of cohort studies (RR = 0.75, 95% CI = 0.69�0.81) and similar in a modeling study (Cancer Intervention and Surveillance Modeling Network; median RR equivalent among seven models = 0.85 (range = 0.77�0.93).
• There is uncertainty about the magnitude of screening-associated mortality reduction in the entire U.S. population, among women aged 40 to 49 years, and with annual vs biennial screening.
• There is uncertainty about the magnitude of overdiagnosis associated with different screening strategies, attributable in part to a lack of consensus on methods of estimation and the importance of ductal carcinoma in situ in overdiagnosis.
• For women with a first mammography screening at age 40 years, the estimated 10-year cumulative risk of a false-positive biopsy result was higher with annual (7.0%, 95% CI = 6.1%�7.8%) than biennial screening (4.8%, 95% CI = 4.4%�5.2%). Ten-year probabilities of false-positive biopsy results were similar among women first screened at age 50 years, but indirect estimates of lifetime probability of false-positive results were lower.
• Evidence for the relationship between screening and life expectancy and quality-adjusted life expectancy was of low quality.
• There was no direct evidence for any additional mortality benefit associated with the addition of clinical breast examination to mammography. Observational evidence from the United States and Canada suggested an increase in false-positive findings compared with mammography alone, with both studies finding an estimated 55 additional false-positive findings per extra breast cancer detected with the addition of clinical breast exam.

The investigators concluded: �For women of all ages at average risk, screening was associated with a reduction in breast cancer mortality of approximately 20%, although there was uncertainty about quantitative estimates of outcomes for different breast cancer screening strategies in the United States. These findings and the related uncertainty should be considered when making recommendations based on judgments about the balance of benefits and harms of breast cancer screening.�

The study was funded by the American Cancer Society.

SURGERY FOR METASTATIC BREAST CANCER ?

The overall survival of patients who are initially diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer has improved by 6 months over the past 2 decades, according to a population-based study conducted in the United States.

And the improvement is associated with breast surgery after the initial diagnosis, which is a debated practice in these patients, according to the authors, led by Mary Schroeder, PhD, a health services researcher at the University of Iowa in Iowa City.

The investigators reviewed data on 21,372 metastatic patients from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) program for two periods � 1988 to 1991 and 2007 to 2011. They found that median survival increased from 20 months in the earlier period to 26 months in the later period.

None of the patients received radiation therapy as part of their first course of treatment, and only 39% underwent surgery.

Nevertheless, surgery was found to be associated with better survival on multivariate analysis that controlled for patient characteristics, clinical characteristics, and time period (hazard ratio, 0.60; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.57 - 0.63).

The study, which was published online today in JAMA Surgery, provides a "contemporary" look at these patients, the investigators say.

"This updates earlier reports, which described outcomes for women diagnosed as having stage IV breast cancer more than a decade ago," they explain.

So does the study suggest that patients diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer should undergo surgery?

Not necessarily, according to the investigators.

Surgery might provide "critical disease control" for some patients and "could be" a component of prolonged survival, they conclude.

But they acknowledge that surgery might be a "surrogate" for other factors that extend life but are not reviewable in the SEER data, such as systemic therapies, social support, and access to care.

Randomized clinical trials and prospective patient registries are needed to truly define the observed survival benefit seen in this study, Dr Schroeder and her colleagues note.

In fact, a randomized trial being conducted in Canada and the United States (ECOG E2108) has recently completed accrual, and a Japanese trial is nearing completion, Dr Schroeder told Medscape Medical News.

In the meantime, what should clinicians and patients do?

"I offer breast surgery selectively to patients with stage IV disease," said Lisa A. Newman, MD, MPH, director of the breast oncology program at the Henry Ford Health System in Detroit.

The goals of surgery include the reduction of the "total body burden of disease," Dr Newman, who also wrote an accompanying editorial, told Medscape Medical News.

Patients who are "more likely" to benefit in this way are "medically fit with limited distant organ involvement and with disease that is amenable to targeted endocrine and/or anti-HER2/neu therapy," she said.

But other patients might also benefit. "Evidence of metastatic focus downstaging in response to primary systemic therapy would be another feature indicating possible benefit," Dr Newman added.

And patients with "bulky, ulcerated, or fungating breast tumors represent a distinctly different scenario, where surgery might be considered purely for palliation," she added.

Metastatic patients "often" want surgery, Dr Schroeder explained. However, "most commonly," surgery is not recommended by their multidisciplinary teams.

Two recent phase 3 trials comparing surgery with no surgery in metastatic breast cancer have shown no survival benefit with surgery, Dr Newman reports in her editorial.

However, both of these studies were international, and might not be relevant in a "more affluent country such as the United States, where patients have improved access to advanced diagnostic and treatment options," she said. For example, the trial conducted in India did not include anti-HER2/neu therapy, as reported by Medscape Medical News in 2013.

If surgery does indeed improve survival, it is probably a modest benefit, Dr Schroeder and her colleagues contend.

"A large benefit for many women with stage IV breast cancer with surgery to the intact primary tumor is unlikely, especially as an ever-increasing array of more potent and targeted drugs may be able to provide better control or even eradication of systemic disease," they write.

However, their results suggest that the benefit could be long term, which is the hoped-for outcome for all metastatic cancers.

Of the 7504 patients diagnosed with metastatic disease before 2002, survival of at least 10 years was seen in 353 patients who underwent surgery and in 107 who did not (9.6% vs 2.9%; odds ratio [OR], 3.61; 95% CI, 2.89 - 4.50).

On multivariate analysis, survival of at least 10 years was associated with receipt of surgery (OR, 2.80; 95% CI, 2.08 - 3.77). Surgery was a more powerful predictor of this long-term survival than age, tumor size, year of diagnosis, marital status, race/ethnicity, or tumor receptor status, the investigators report.

This study was supported in part by the University of Iowa Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center Population Research Core, which is supported in part by a National Cancer Institute grant. The study authors and Dr Newman have disclosed no relevant financial relationships.

ANTHRACYCLINE USE LINKED TO LONG TERM MEMORY PROBLEMS?

Anthracyclines might increase the risk for certain long-term memory problems and brain injury in patients with breast cancer, according to a small study published online December 3 in JAMA Oncology.

The study is the first to directly assess the neurotoxic effects of anthracyclines and nonanthracyclines in long-term survivors of breast cancer.

Cognitive problems related to cancer and its treatment are sometimes referred to as "cancer brain." These problems can persist over the long term and greatly decrease quality of life. Studies have linked chemotherapy to faster brain aging and to neurodegenerative disorders like Alzheimer's disease.

So far, the neurotoxic effects of various types of chemotherapy regimens are unclear, say researchers Shelli Kesler, PhD, from the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, and Douglas W. Blayney, MD, from the Stanford University School of Medicine in Palo Alto, California.

But their study indicates that regimen matters.

"Using standardized neuropsychological tests and resting state fMRI, we demonstrated significantly lower verbal memory performance and left precuneus connectivity in participants who received anthracycline regimens compared with those who received nonanthracycline regimens and to participants who did not receive chemotherapy," the pair write.

The left precuneus region is involved in memory, visuospacial processing, and consciousness. It is part of the brain's default mode network, which refers to cognitive activities carried out while the brain is at rest. Changes in connectivity in this region could lower the efficiency of information processing. Past studies have suggested that the default mode network is particularly vulnerable to the chemotherapy used to treat breast cancer. Studies have also linked changes in the default mode network to neurodegenerative disorders, Drs Kesler and Blayney report.

In their study, the researchers evaluated results from standardized cognitive tests and resting state functional MRI data for 62 survivors of primary breast cancer (mean age, 54.7 years). Patients had been off therapy for an average of 2 years. Twenty patients had received four to eight cycles of anthracycline-based chemotherapy, 19 had received four to eight cycles of nonanthracycline chemotherapy, and 23 had no history of chemotherapy. Patients were treated at Stanford University from 2008 to 2014.

There was a significant decrease in verbal memory performance in the anthracycline group, compared with the other two groups. This included a decrease in immediate recall (F = 3.73; P = .03) and delayed recall (F = 11.11; P < .001).

There was also less left precuneus connectivity in the anthracycline group than in the other two groups (F = 7.48; P = .001). And patients treated with anthracyclines had significantly less default mode network connectivity (effect size, 0.6 - 1.3; P = .001).

Patient-reported outcomes for cognitive dysfunction and psychologic distress were worse in patients treated with anthracyclines (F = 7.27; P = .002) and nonanthracyclines (F = 5.64; P = .006) than in those not treated with chemotherapy. Executive functioning and fatigue were also worse in both chemotherapy groups than in the no-chemotherapy group.

There was no association between the number of chemotherapy cycles and cognitive status (P > .50), or between the number of cycles and treatment with endocrine therapy (P > .63). Adjustment for disease stage did not significantly change the results.

The small sample size and the retrospective cross-sectional design limited the study, the researchers acknowledge.

"Larger, prospective studies are needed that include pretreatment and post-treatment assessments so that patients' individual cognitive and neurobiologic trajectories can be evaluated with respect to potential anthracycline-related neurotoxic effects," the researchers conclude. "Continued research regarding the mechanisms by which anthracyclines disrupt neurocircuitry could help identify interventions that will protect against anthracycline-associated neurotoxic effects without reducing the anticancer efficacy of these regimens."

The complexity of research in this area was highlighted in an accompanying editorial by Kelly Nudelman, PhD, Brenna McDonald, PsyD, and Andrew Saykin, PsyD, all from the Indiana University School of Medicine in Indianapolis.

Imaging studies have suggested that a wide array of brain regions are affected by cancer and chemotherapy, they write. "Connectomics," they suggest, could help create a larger picture of the way cancer and its treatment affect cognitive functioning and brain networking.

Larger studies need to include different types of cancer, evaluate genetic factors, and look at the differential role of various cancer agents in neurodegeneration and cognitive aging, they explain.

"Additional prospective studies are needed to address baseline differences and the impact of specific treatments on cognitive function, the underlying neural substrate, and specific biological pathways," the editorialists write. "Resolving the pathways leading to cognitive dysfunction will be important for development of targeted interventions."

Dr Kesler and her colleagues note that anthracyclines, such as doxorubicin, work by inducing double-stranded DNA breaks and free-radical damage in both healthy and cancerous cells. The use of these agents has been linked to neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, and cerebrovascular disease, such as microinfarcts, all of which could contribute to neurodegeneration.

NINTEDANIB FAILED IN OVARIAN CANCER

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - In a phase III trial, women with advanced ovarian cancer had a small improvement in progression-free survival with nintedanib, but at the expense of gastrointestinal side effects, according to European investigators.

Nintedanib is an oral inhibitor of the VEGF receptors (VEGFRs) 1-3, fibroblast growth factor receptors (FGFRs) 1-3, and platelet-derived growth factor receptors (PDGFRs) alpha and beta, with anti-angiogenic activity.

"The trial supports the concept that angiogenesis is a valuable target in ovarian cancer," wrote Dr. Andreas du Bois, in an email to Reuters Health. At this point, however, it's not clear whether the company will try to register the drug for ovarian cancer, he said. It is approved for lung cancer treatment.

In a paper online November 15 in Lancet Oncology, Dr. du Bois of Oslo University Hospital in Norway and colleagues reported on 1,366 women with International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) stage IIIB-IV ovarian cancer and upfront debulking who were randomly assigned to receive standard carboplatin and paclitaxel chemotherapy protocols with or without nintedanib.

Nine study groups in 22 countries participated.

Median progression-free survival was about two weeks longer with nintedanib vs placebo (17.2 vs 16.6 months; p=0.024).

"There will be another analysis focusing on overall survival," Dr. du Bois told Reuters Health. "It is not mature yet."

Post hoc analyses revealed that women with low postoperative tumor burden saw the largest benefit in progression-free survival. In this non-high-risk subgroup, median progression-free survival was 27.1 months with nintedanib, compared to 20.8 months with placebo.

Gastrointestinal side effects occurred in 21% in the nintedanib group vs 2% in the placebo group.

Rates of grade 3 and grade 4 neutropenia were 20% and 22%, respectively, with nintedanib and 20% and 16% with placebo.

Serious adverse events occurred in 42% of the nintedanib group and 34% of the placebo group. The rate of adverse events leading to death were 3% with nintedanib and 4% with placebo.

The high rate of adverse GI events "demands more attention and needs further optimization," Dr. du Bois said. "However, the rate of patients stopping the drug completely was not so high, indicating that dose modifications and pauses may be an appropriate way to improve tolerability."

Dr. Charles Drescher of the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center at the University of Washington in Seattle, who was not involved in the research, told Reuters Health, "Similar to prior trials, it is demonstrating some activity for anti-angiogenesis effect. However, the effectiveness is pretty modest and not a huge impact."

He added: "You have to balance that against the GI toxicity and the cost of the drug."

In a comment published with the paper, Dr. Sean Kehoe from the Institute of Cancer and Genomics at the University of Birmingham, UK, points to the "intriguing" finding that "women at lower risk of progression or lower postsurgical tumor burden who were in the nintedanib group had a longer median progression-free survival."

Dr. Kehoe contrasts this with findings from the ICON7 trial of bevacizumab added to upfront therapy, in which women with larger tumor burden or stage IV disease had improved overall survival.

"Besides the different drugs used, how can this difference be explained?" Dr. Kehoe asks. He suggests, as does Dr. du Bois, that patients with stage IV cancer in ICON7 might have been reclassified in this trial as low-risk after tumor clearance.

The study was funded by Boehringer Ingelheim.

SOURCE: http://bit.ly/1MRD51Q

Lancet Oncol 2015.

Anti-aging secrets and beauty solutions of the world famous artists

Discover the secrets of anti-aging and beauty secrets of artists and celebrities in the world.


Every woman, even the modern man wants to keep looking younger and want to have a bright face, healthy, and well-groomed skin. You do not need to worry. It has now been discovered her secret. Continue reading this article until the end and discover its secrets to the final sentence of this article.

Whether we idolize them or criticize their behavior, there�s no denying that celebrities now are the epitome of beauty. But how come they are often mistaken for their age- at their flattery at that. Well, let�s find out some secrets why celebrities look younger than they are.

Eating lots of citrus and vegetables

Greens and citrus like lemons, grapefruit, and oranges are high in Vitamin C, a natural antioxidant. This wonder worker serves as a primary ingredient of collagen, a glue-like protein that binds cells together to form tissues, and makes up about 25% of the whole-body protein content. 

The secret of anti-aging. Image: 7-themes.com

Collagen production is vital to skin suppleness, firmness and averts the onset of premature wrinkling. Collagen is, in fact, a much-endorsed ingredient in facial moisturizers and hand lotions Therefore, the more citrus and veggies celebs eat, the softer their skin becomes.

Avoiding excessive alcohol

Celebrities going in and out of rehabs due to alcoholism look worn-out and spoiled. That is why a lot more celebrities keep their alcoholic intake to a minimum. Despite the sparkling delight it brings, alcohol causes skin damage and loss of moisture due to its dehydrating effects. In turn, this will cause sagging and wrinkling of skin.

A High School Musical star says its even better to soak one�s self o he beach without sun protection that drinking too much of alcohol.

Alcohol causes dilatation of the blood vessels in the skin and every time you drink, the blood vessels will dilate and stay permanently dilated until they lose their tone. Abusing alcohol will also deplete the body of Vitamin A, an important antioxidant.

Avoiding Coffee

Despite its antioxidant content, too much coffee causes skin dehydration, and even causes the body to eliminate needed liquids and minerals. It causes skin to look like crepe paper and have very little elasticity if you pinch it up into a peak. A country music diva even shared that drinking too much coffee stains her teeth and causes little winkles around her eyes to look horrible.

Celebrities who drink coffee suggest drinking a cool glass of water after a cup of coffee.

Drinking LOTS of Water

No one can dispute the role good hydration plays to a healthier skin. If hydration does not come from sodas or alcohols and only from clean water, then it has potentially helpful effects on your skin. Furthermore, water helps cells move nutrients in and toxins out, which leaves skin looking better.

Paris Hilton disclosed that she drinks more than ten glasses of water a day cause if not she notices her skin to look dull, vapid, and gray.

Limited exposure to sunlight

More exposure to sunlight puts the skin at higher risk for aging caused by free radicals. But if you cannot avoid it, use a quality high sun protection factor lotion.

A former Mickey Mouse club member uses SPF50 on her neck and face and SPF35 on her body to develop nice brownish tan where she likes.

Beautiful skin. Image: truongton.net

Moisturizers

Lastly, for celebrities, using a night time moisturizer is the simplest yet one of the most necessary parts of their beauty routine. They choose a night cream with proven age-fighters like retinol.

If applied at night, this will reduce the effect of aging and the environment on your skin.

Great news. 

Do you want to have the secret of eternal youth and beauty as has been enjoyed by artists and celebrities around the world? However, if you do not have time to prepare and carry out tips as mentioned above, then you can do this alternative. 

Now have available a variety of anti-aging solutions and secrets to having a beautiful face and skin healthy at the same time. Get information about the secret of youth and natural beauty for yourself. Please click. 

Discover the secret now. 

How to Prevent Cancer by Boosting Your Immune System

Healthy life. Image: www.renovemedspa.org

Cancer is a deadly disease, but with a healthy lifestyle, you can prevent it. Get unique tips from the article below, so you can get enlightenment.

Cancer usually occurs from genetic, environmental, food, and lifestyle factors. The bodies of most people will fight off cancer cells before they have a chance to multiply and grow; however, sometimes the body is unable to eliminate toxic cells.

The best way to fight off cancer cells before they have a chance to attack the body is to make sure your immune system is healthy. Effective ways to prevent and fight off cancer cell are as follows:

Step 1
Avoid sugar and sugar substitutes to prevent cancer. Cancer feeds off sugar and the harmful chemicals in sugar substitutes.

Step 2
Substitute unsweetened soy milk for regular milk. Most milk has added hormones that are toxic to the body.


Step 3
Drink green tea to boost your immune system. Green tea contains anti-oxidants that help prevent cancer.


Step 4
Eat less meat and more fish. Most meat in the United States contain harmful hormones, antibiotics, and parasites, which are harmful to everyone, especially people who already have cancer.

Step 5
Eat more fresh vegetables, fruit, nuts, seeds, and whole grains to prevent cancer.

Step 6
Take supplements that boost the immune system. Take anti-oxidants, vitamins, minerals, and amino acids to help your immune system. Vitamin E helps the body eliminate bad cells.

Step 7
Exercise every day. Even a daily twenty minute walk will help improve your immune system and prevent cancer.

By CM Herold (ehow.com)

How to prevent stroke in simple steps

How to Prevent Stroke can be the one you do from now on. Preventing the stroke attack is the important thing, without the good prevention everything is useless.

There are many things that you have to know in order to stay in shape. Many people are trying to do the healthy life to make the better condition. What is the disease or symptom that is frequently happened? Well, stroke can be the one that gives you goosebumps. Because no matter how good you are on taking care of your health, stroke can come anytime. 

How to prevent stroke attacks yourself? Well, there are many things to do, from the food you consume to the activity you do. 

 

Be happy and healthy. Image: drmagicsmile.com

It is not a simple thing to keep your self from the unhealthy food or unhealthy activity. The lifestyle changes from time to time. The changing lifestyle affects all parts of the body. Stroke not comes because no reason, it comes with the symptoms to alert people to do preventive actions. Have you ever heard tips on taking the care the body from stroke? It is the time to get to know more about the tips and steps on how to prevent stroke.

Steps on How to Prevent Stroke:

Stroke is the scariest part for everyone. It attacks people immediately and gives the worst aftermath. How to prevent stroke should be done earlier, start even when you are young. When you are young, sometimes you feel free to eat or drink anything without any restriction. That�s why the lifestyle is the may cause for people to get stroke. If you knew this problem, why don�t you change it now? Here are the lists to do on preventing the stroke.

-     Exercise Frequently

This simple step on going to the gym frequently might overcome the chance on getting stroke. The way on working out is not only happening in the gym, but also you can do it all at home. Exercising with lots of efforts can cause a good advantage in long time. What if you don�t have time to go the gym? You can do sit-up, push-up, or jogging every morning. At least you have to exercise three to four times a week.

-     Stay in Shape

What the meaning of staying in shape? It means you have to keep the ideal weight, not too heavy or not too small. Many problems in your body come because the overweight problem. You can overcome the situation by losing weight by keeping the good food or exercising a lot.

-      Stop Smoking

Smoking for a long time will surely harm your body. The parts of your body like lungs, hearts, and liver get the aftermath effect later on. For the better future, limit the amount of your smoke, or even stop smoking on how to prevent stroke.

-      Drink in a Limitation

Too much alcohol gives no good for your body. If you are an addict on alcohol, it is time to quit drinking too much and gives you bad feeling.

Stop the unhealthy way of living and get more benefits by doing healthy life. How to prevent stroke is not hard, the only thing you have to do is giving an effort. Your health is the most important thing overall.

Additional tips: 

Another simple thing you can do is start your day with a sincere smile, and laugh with family and friends, although for a simple joke. Remember the old adage, laughter is a panacea for a healthier lifestyle, where your nerves will be calmer and more flexible in the face of various pressures on around you.

Yoga class in Bali. Image: amazingbali-vacation.blogspot.com

Take time for a vacation whether alone or with your loved ones to a place of interest, so you get a new atmosphere that make your life more cheerful. If you have time to spare, do not just play your gadget, what if it started to move your body with basic yoga moves. You can get a yoga techniques from books or searching for information to Uncle Google or other search engines. Another clever way, join a yoga class in Bali, so you get a double benefit, namely the practice of yoga and once on vacation in Bali, a tropical island.

With tips and simple solution to the above, you would be free from the dangers of stroke, and can enjoy a healthier and happier life. 

Are you ready?

Understanding the dual effect of a cup of coffee for human life

Start your day with black coffee. Image: austinnfp.org

The true coffee drinker would proudly say, that a cup of coffee could make their activities more optimal and more healthy life, so that every day becomes productive and enjoyable at the same time. 

Meanwhile, for those who are having problems with the coffee, of course regard coffee as the main enemy in their lives. Are you a real coffee connoisseur or anti coffee?

As in the case of tea, the coffee has two sides opposed to each other, where the coffee has many health benefits and enjoyment aspects. On the other hand, coffee can also make your body uncomfortable, even make you unhealthy. 

The coffee is the elixir of heaven. Drinking a cup of coffee is very nice to start a busy day, but coffee also has an adverse effect on human health. Let us examine the dual effect of coffee for our lives.

The researchers from Australia found that coffee or tea consumption could potentially reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes symptoms Rachel Huxley, a researcher from the University of Sydney, Australia, said that "A cup of coffee with a reduced risk equivalent to seven percent,". Meanwhile, the American Association for Cancer Research, reported that coffee consumption can reduce the risk of death due to prostate cancer. Other studies have also suggested coffee could reduce liver diseases, Alzheimer's, stroke, and Parkinson's. Of course the results of this study is good news for coffee fans all over the world.

Previously many experts suspect that the benefits of coffee just come from the caffeine in coffee beans, but in fact, experts also found that other components of these beverages, such as magnesium, lignans, and chlorogenic acid, has benefits that are not less important. It was also reported that the results of epidemiological studies are showing coffee addict lower their risk of colon cancer. Based on research Rachel, these components are a positive benefit to the regulation of blood sugar and insulin release thereby effectively preventing diabetes.

As we know, that there are two main types of coffee we have known; Arabica and Robusta. Apparently, the two types of coffee also contains nutritional components include proteins, amino acids, carbohydrates, lipids, and minerals. Coffee also contains non-nutritional components that are bioactive compounds for taste and preservative, such as caffeine and chlorogenic acid. Thereby the coffee gives double benefit to mankind.

Each type of food or beverages that we consume every day would have significant benefits for health and life satisfaction, but be aware of the way we consume. Is indeed true, that consume normal amounts of caffeine is beneficial. Utilization caffeine in coffee can give a stimulant effect, which is only temporary and not harmful.

 

                                     Coffee break in Kori Ubud, Bali. Image: Komang Setiabudi collections

The effects of caffeine on the nervous system is to prevent drowsiness, increased sensory perception, speed of mind, and reduce boredom, so you can be more productive in your activities. 

Therefore, there is a coffee break in formal activities such as when we are seminars, meetings and other non-formal activities such as family gatherings, parties or other events. Socially, coffee could be a bridge to melt the ice, on certain conditions, the ongoing of the two parties, that often occur in an important meeting. Perhaps you have experienced the awkward atmosphere in a meeting, and a cup of coffee plus a mild joke can help smooth an important meeting or negotiation.

Effect of caffeine in each individual is highly dependent sensitivity of each person. Most people can not stand at all when they consume caffeine or coffee, so after drinking coffee their heart into palpitations. But there are always exceptions, that there are also people who could consume more than 10 cups of coffee a day without any complaint. However, experts advise that safe dose of caffeine is 200 milligrams per day, equivalent to two to three cups of coffee and tea. It is indeed true that we need to be thoughtful with our lifestyle. Anything too excessive in doing something in our lives is a bad effect in the long term. A healthy lifestyle will make you healthy and happy forever.

If you would like to know the coffee in all its aspects, you can read the blog titled Coffee and Beyond.

The secret of healthy living and slim body of Japanese women

Samurai cooking. Image: program.hiff.org

If you noticed, when you vacation in Japan or when you meet Japanese people in your town, you probably never thought: Why do Japanese people in general have a slim body. Do they do a special diet? Similarly, the Japanese women, they not only have a clean skin, and healthy, Japanese women also known for having a slim and healthy body.

The Japanese, as well as Japanese women turn out obsessed with food. The Japanese are even referred to as a food utopia. Along the road or in a grocery store there are a variety of food on display in their stores. If the Japanese are so fond of eating, how could they stay slim, healthy, even longevity? Apparently, the secret of healthy and slim tips they have found, which is behind the kitchen of Japanese women.

The main tips of Japanese women in order to stay slim:

You need to understand, it turns out the Japanese women eat in small portions.

Since childhood, the Japanese people have been accustomed to eating in small portions. There is a Japanese proverb: "Hara hachi bunme", which means' eat until 80% full course.' If you watch carefully, they also eat slowly, they do not hurry, because every mouthful to be enjoyed perfectly. Each dish was served in a small dish or bowl. In addition to reducing the size of food portions, this way also beautify the look of the dish. Perhaps you also find a Japanese tradition of eating this in Korean soap operas. It turns out the women of Korea also slim as Japanese women. They have a tradition of eating that is similar to one another.

Japanese daily menu consists of fish, soy, rice, vegetables, and fruit.

In the classic Japanese-style home-cooked dishes, so their diet consists of grilled fish, a bowl of rice, vegetables, a serving of miso soup, and no fruit as dessert. They also enjoy a cup of hot green tea. Mere knowledge to you, it turns out the fish and soybean consumption in Japan is very high. They are also crazy about fresh vegetables. Their favorites are broccoli, bean sprouts, cabbage, and seaweed, which proved to have a high nutrient.

 

Japanese food. Image: web-japan.org

Japanese people rarely eat red meat. However, when meat served as a main dish, the meat will be cut tipis- thin, and served in moderation. Therefore, the Japanese dish is lower in fat, especially saturated fat, and higher good fats, such as omega-3 fats they get from fish. They also rarely eat fast food. Due to the influence of Western culture, they also consume milk, butter, cheese, and pasta, sometimes served in their homes, but not exaggerated, as the tradition of the American or European.

The Japanese turned out a lot more walking.

For the Japanese, have your own car it would drain too expensive. Therefore, they walk away from their home or office to the train station, and the Japanese have a train at a fairly high speed. On foot, they always burn maximum calories.

Japanese women is always enjoy a healthy breakfast.

In Japan, breakfast is the most important daily activities, even the portions are often larger than lunch or dinner. Every morning, there are hundreds of thousands of Japanese women prepare breakfast for themselves and their families. That classic Japanese-style breakfast consisting of green tea, a bowl of rice, miso soup with tofu, and onions, seaweed (nori), and a little omelette or a piece of grilled fish. The breakfast menu could provide the energy and nutrients is quite high. An important reason why they are very concerned with the breakfast, because breakfast will prevent excessive for lunch.

Japanese people often steaming food, instead of frying.

Instead of frying or grilling food in the oven, Japanese women prefer steaming, saut�ing, boiling, or roasting in the pan bumpy. The advantage of this cooking tradition is, substances in food ingredients will not be damaged. Moreover, Japan is also famous for its food enjoyed raw food, like sashimi. In addition, Japanese food is not much wear spices, cream, or sauce. 'Mission' major Japanese food is more emphasis on the beauty of the natural color, as well as letting out the original flavor of food. Instead of using animal fat, butter, or heavy oil, Japanese women also used to cook with a little canola oil or dashi, the broth of fish and sea plants.

 

Healthy food. Image: 12wbt.com

Just as the tradition of the Asian community, the Japanese people are also a huge fan of rice. However, the portions were not excessive. By eating rice, they can avoid eating too much bread or sweet snack. In ancient times, Japanese people are eating more healthful brown rice because it is high in fiber. As time went on, they switched to white rice. However, there is a recent trend, it turns out the Japanese women began to return to the old traditions, where they enjoyed the red rice. In restaurants and grocery stores, brown rice and brown rice more easily found.

Japanese women love to snacking, but in a special way.

Although always eat healthy food, Japanese women were also like snacking. They are also fond of chocolates, pastries, ice cream, rice cracker, and red bean cake. However, they do not snacked constantly. In addition, the portions are also small. Cakes in Japan most of it small (3 square centimeters) and packaged one by one. By doing so, the Japanese women are accustomed to eating only one or two cakes, and keep the rest to be eaten later. D Bank Tokyo there is even a The chocolate in a department store, which receives deposits chocolates, and stored in a special place at a certain temperature. The chocolate can be taken whenever you want.

Japanese women have a 'special relationship' with food.

Japanese women are not happy dieting like American women. Not because their daily food has been healthy, but because they have their own point of view in terms of food. They do not associate food with fat or slim body problem. In contrast, Japanese women have a 'healthy relationship' with food. They enjoy a variety of food and not dizzy limit what can be eaten and are not, or are fattening and not. You do not think the body of Japanese women stay slim and healthy just because of genetic factors. Research Menzies School of Health Research in Australia proves that, if the Japanese implementing the Western lifestyle, then they will suffer from heart disease and cancer.

Do you want to slim as Japanese women? Let's try to follow the Japanese diet, but you can still enjoy your tradition.