Newsbites: Breast cancer survival; herbal supplement quality issues; healthy dietary patterns are good for the planet
Being physically active has been associated with lower risk for developing breast cancer. Now, a study has found that being active after a diagnosis may help survival. The study surveyed 315 postmenopausal survivors of early-stage breast cancer on their leisure time physical activity and tracked deaths up to eight years. Researchers found that being active or moderately active was associated with lower risk of death compared to more sedentary participants. [Activity level was calculated based on how many times a week participants reported being active for at least 15 minutes, and how strenuous that activity was.]
Compared to women who were “insufficiently active,” being active or moderately active was associated with a 60 percent lower risk of death. The U.S. national guidelines recommended that all adults aim for at least 150 minutes a week (an average of 20 minutes a day over seven days) of moderate physical activity such as brisk walking or easy bicycling, or 75 minutes a week of vigorous physical activity such as jogging, dancing, or singles tennis. The potential to preventing and survive breast cancer offers one more reason to get up and get moving.
Many Herbal Products Found to Have Substantial Quality Issues
Herbal products are available in a wide variety of forms, from pills and powders to teas and oils. Consumers expect such “natural” products to be safe and to contain the ingredients advertised on the label. Although natural, herbal remedies do carry risks and, unfortunately, a review of studies found they are not always what they claim to be.
The review looked at 46 studies that performed chemical analysis on a total of 727 different herbal products. The vast majority of studies reported quality problems with herbal products, including large variations in chemical composition that ranged from the total absence of the expected compounds to unnaturally high concentrations. Quality varied even within batches of the same product.
The authors report that the majority of adverse events related to the use of herbal products are due either to improper use or poor product quality. Quality issues—such as the use of poor-quality or misidentified herbs; incorrect processing, manufacturing, and storage methods; and contamination of starting materials or products—have the potential to reduce the desired effect of the product or even potentially cause adverse and herb-drug reactions. (Herbs such as St. John’s Wort, ginkgo, ginger, ginseng, and green tea are known to interact with specific drugs.)
These variations not only make it difficult for consumers to know what they are getting, but also make it hard for researchers to study the effectiveness of herbal supplements. The authors recommend manufacturers focus more on quality, standardization, and reproducibility. Regulating bodies should also provide more oversite for herbal products. In the meantime, consumers can check packaging for the marks of independent appraisers such as U.S. Pharmacopeia (USP), ConsumerLab. com, and NSF International. Consult your health-care provider before starting any herbal supplements.
Healthy Diets are Also Good for the Planet
Plant-based diets (those that emphasize more plant-derived foods) have been found to be associated with better health if they emphasize whole and minimally processed plant foods. In other words, plant-based diets that are based on fruits, vegetables, nuts, legumes, vegetables oils, and whole grains are better for you than plant-based diets high in refined grains, potato products, sugarsweetened beverages, and sweets. New research shows those healthy plant-based diets are also the best choice for the environment. Diets that include a lot of animal products, especially red and processed meats, are worst for the environment.
Researchers analyzed the reported food intake of more than 65,000 people, the environmental impact of that food, and individuals’ cardiovascular disease risk. Environmental impact was calculated by looking at greenhouse gas emissions and use of irrigation water, nitrogen-containing fertilizer, and land for a given type of food. They concluded the “dietary patterns associated with better health had lower greenhouse gas emissions and nitrogenous fertilizer, cropland, and irrigation water needs.” Take care of the planet’s health along with your own!
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