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Enjoying
some green tea every day can protect you from stomach cancer.
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Doctors
say one in three of us is now at increased risk of stomach and esophageal
cancers - but their simple strategies can cut your risk as much as 80%.
New
tests, treatments and preventive measures have led to dramatic victories
in the war against cancer; these days, more people than ever are surviving
lung, breast, colon and other types.
But
now a new threat is emerging: stomach and esophageal cancers. The National
Cancer Institute (NCI) reports in the last 20 years, the number of people
stricken with them has shot up as much as 350%, - and now, one in three
Americans is at risk.
Preventing
stomach and esophageal cancers is particularly important because they
are difficult to treat.
"Unlike
other cancers, they progress rapidly, and they usually don't produce
symptoms until they're advanced," says oncologist Judy L. Smith,
M.D., at the Roswell Park Cancer Institute in Buffalo.
Fortunately,
the latest research is uncovering some simple strategies that can reduce
your risk by an amazing 80% or more:
1.Putting out
your inner fire
Smoking
and heavy drinking increase your likelihood of stomach and esophageal
cancers. But Swedish researchers have identified a surprise risk factor:
chronic heartburn. In their studies, suffering from heartburn at least
once a week raised the risk of esophageal cancer eight-fold!
People
who eat just one vegetable a day are 60% less likely to get stomach
cancer.
"Heartburn
occurs when stomach acids splash into the bottom of the esophagus and
irritate it." explains gastroenterologist Michael Kochman, M.D.,
of the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine. "Over time,
that can lead to cancerous changes in the cells lining the esophagus."
If
you're prone to heartburn, doctors recommend avoiding caffeine, spicy
foods, citrus fruits, tomatoes, peppermint and alcohol; they all increase
stomach acid. Eating five or six small meals a day instead of three
large ones can also help.
Feeling
the burn despite your best efforts? Don't be stoic. "An OTC or
prescription antacid such as Pepcid AC, Tagamet HB or Zantac 75 will
ease the symptoms and reduce irritation to the esophagus." Dr.
Kochman says. If the problem persists, see your doctor; new and potent
medications called proton-pump inhibitors have been proven to eliminate
chronic heartburn for close to 80% of sufferers.
2.Putting less
fire under your fare
Americans
cook out more than twice a week during the summer months, but if you're
lifting charred chicken and well-done burgers off the grill, you could
be putting your stomach in jeopardy. Research from the NCI has shown
that overcooking meat creates chemicals called heterocyclic amines,
which have been linked to cancer in animals.
3.Eating
like a cow
They
get the bulk of their diet from plant foods, and following their lead
can make you practically cancer-proof.
Previous
research shows that eating just three ounces of plant food daily (the
amount in either one cup of broccoli or an orange or one large carrot)
makes us 60% less likely to develop stomach cancer. And the NCI just
reported that a diet rich in yellow and orange veggies and beans can
slash the risk by 80%.
"Eating
at least five servings of fruits and vegetables each day can help you
reap these benefits," says the American Cancer Society.
4.Getting
your garlic
Hailed
for its ability to lower cholesterol, garlic has now emerged as an equally
powerful weapon against stomach cancer. Chinese researchers report that
eating a clove a day can cut the risk by 40%.
"Garlic
is rich in substances called allyl sulfides, which neutralize bacteria
in the stomach and prevent the formation of nitrosamines - potent cancer
causing agents that result from bacterial overgrowth," says New
York City oncologist Mitchell Gaynor, M.D.,
author of Dr. Gaynor's Cancer Prevention Program.
"A
whole clove of raw garlic is best, but you can also take 1,000 mg. of
deodorized garlic twice a day." he says. Garlic capsules are available
in drugstores, nutrition centers and supermarkets. -Denise Mann
Cancer-proof
Your Coffee Break!
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Trading
your coffee cup for a mug of green tea can also protect your stomach
and esophagus. The National Cancer Institute reports people who
drink two or more cups of green tea a day lower their risk of
esophageal cancer 60%, and probably lower stomach cancer risk
as well.
"Green
tea contains antioxidants 20 times more powerful than vitamin
E, and 500 times more powerful than vitamin C, at protecting the
body from cancer," says Mitchell Gaynor, M.D. And researchers
say it also inhibits an enzyme called COX-2, which tumors need
to grow.
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