OrganicAuthority.com - Organic Blog » women’s health http://www.organicauthority.com/blog Organic Authority - organic food, organic living, green living, organic thoughts. Sat, 25 May 2013 16:45:59 +0000 en-US hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.5 Cambridge Study Finds Major Health Benefits in Decreased Meat Consumption http://www.organicauthority.com/blog/organic/cambridge-study-finds-major-health-benefits-in-decreased-meat-consumption/ http://www.organicauthority.com/blog/organic/cambridge-study-finds-major-health-benefits-in-decreased-meat-consumption/#comments Mon, 17 Sep 2012 08:24:35 +0000 Jill Ettinger http://www.organicauthority.com/blog/?p=11239 Burger

New research coming out of Cambridge University suggests cutting meat consumption in half would lead to significant health benefits including a reduction in the number of cases of heart disease, diabetes and cancer.

]]> http://www.organicauthority.com/blog/organic/cambridge-study-finds-major-health-benefits-in-decreased-meat-consumption/feed/ 0 Nutrition & Gender http://www.organicauthority.com/blog/health/nutrition-gender/ http://www.organicauthority.com/blog/health/nutrition-gender/#comments Mon, 28 Aug 2006 16:34:35 +0000 Barbara Feiner http://www.organicauthority.com/blog/?p=234 When shopping for organic food, keep in mind that men and women have not been created equal in the nutrition department. The distinctions are subtle, but worthy of careful consideration, reports the September issue of Harvard Men’s Health Watch.

Fat
Monounsaturated fats are healthful for both men and women, and olive oil is a good source. So are the omega-3 fatty acids found in fish.

But a vegetable-based omega-3 called alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), found in canola and flaxseed oils, may pose a problem for men. ALA is good for the heart, but some studies suggest it may increase the risk of prostate cancer. For men with cardiac risks, ALA may be a good choice—but men with more reason to worry about prostate cancer should get their omega-3s from fish and their vegetable fats from olive oil.

Alcohol
In both men and women, low alcohol intake appears to reduce the risk of heart attacks and certain strokes, while larger amounts increase the risk of many ills. But while drinking responsibly doesn’t seem to cause any health problems for average men, even low doses of alcohol may increase a woman’s risk of breast cancer.

Calcium
A high-calcium diet may protect women against osteoporosis. There’s far less evidence that dietary calcium has the same benefit for men. In fact, large amounts may increase their risk of prostate cancer. The solution is moderation. The vitamin D in a daily multivitamin may also help offset the possible risks.

Iron
Men need less iron than women do and should avoid excess amounts. In the presence of an abnormal gene, excess iron can lead to harmful deposits in various organs.

Despite these points, men’s and women’s overall nutritional needs are more similar than different, Health Watch reports.

]]> http://www.organicauthority.com/blog/health/nutrition-gender/feed/ 0 Lifestyle and Stroke Risk http://www.organicauthority.com/blog/health/lifestyle-and-stroke-risk/ http://www.organicauthority.com/blog/health/lifestyle-and-stroke-risk/#comments Wed, 12 Jul 2006 14:05:46 +0000 Barbara Feiner http://www.organicauthority.com/blog/?p=197 The latest research proves, once again, the value of health-aware organic living.

According to a report in the July 10 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine, women who are nonsmokers, exercise regularly, eat a healthy diet (including moderate alcohol consumption) and otherwise live a healthy lifestyle may have a reduced risk of stroke.

About 700,000 Americans suffer strokes each year. Approximately 25% are fatal, and another 25% leave patients disabled. Risk factors include smoking, lack of exercise and high body mass index (BMI).

Over a 10-year period, Dr. Tobias Kurth and colleagues at Boston’s Brigham and Women’s Hospital and the Harvard School of Public Health studied the association between healthy lifestyles and stroke risk in more than 37,000 women age 45 or older.

At the beginning of the study, the women answered questions about their smoking habits, alcohol consumption, diet, exercise routine and body mass index. Researchers then assigned them a health index score from 0 to 20, with higher scores indicating a healthier lifestyle. Healthy behavior was defined as never smoking, consuming four to 10½  alcoholic drinks per week, exercising four or more times per week, having a BMI less than 22 and maintaining a healthy diet (rich in cereal fiber, folate, omega-3 fatty acids, polyunsaturated vs. saturated and trans fats).

Over the study period, 450 women suffered strokes. The 4.7% who had a health index score of 17 to 20 had a significantly lower risk than those who started with a score of 0 to 4.

“Our findings show the importance of healthy behaviors in the prevention of stroke,” the authors conclude.

Suggested Reading

New Nutrition Labels Highlight Trans Fat
Fat Tips for Heart Health
Hold the Salt
Obesity Health Risks

]]> http://www.organicauthority.com/blog/health/lifestyle-and-stroke-risk/feed/ 2