Posted in Cancer

A conversation with Dr. Douglas E. Guggenheim, MD Q: What are the first steps someone with cancer can take if they aren’t sleeping well? 
A: There have been lots of anecdotal conversations with regard to how to manage insomnia and sleep problems throughout the cancer continuum. The problem with insomnia is that it can be multifactorial, treatment related, social, or psychological in nature. With that, the approaches and strategies with which we must employ must first start with co...

New research explores how genetic and environmental disruption of the circadian clock can impact colorectal cancer (CRC) progression. According to the National Institutes of Health, there has been an alarming rise in early-onset colorectal cancer among young individuals. Today, nearly 10 percent of CRC cases are now diagnosed in people younger than 50 years, and this trend is on a steady rise. Suspected risk factors include environmental aspects, such as lifestyle and dietary factors, which ...

We know from experience that having a good laugh can help put us in a good mood, but there’s actually a lot of science behind the benefits of laughter. Research shows that laughter can help relieve stress, boost happiness, and even improve the immune system. Which of these ideas will you try? Listen to a comedian you love: “Listening or watching to stand-up comedian Jim Gaffigan always makes me laugh! It’s even better when I can do it with my family. Having us all laugh t...

Cheese often gets a bad rap for its high calorie count and fat content. But when consumed in small portions, cheese — particularly Jarlsberg cheese — can help preserve bone health. A small comparative clinical trial, published in BMJ Nutrition Prevention & Health, shows that a small daily portion of Jarlsberg cheese helps ward off bone thinning (osteopenia/osteoporosis) — without raising harmful low-density cholesterol. The benefits appear to be limited to Jarlsberg che...

What Is Folate?
Folate is a water-soluble B-vitamin that occurs naturally in foods such as spinach. Its synthetic form-folic acid-is found in dietary supplements and fortified foods - this form makes up a large part of the dietary intake in the United States. The body absorbs and utilises folic acid twice as efficiently as it does food sources of folate. Because they play an integral part in making DNA and RNA, folate and folic acid are responsible for producing and maintaining red blood cel...

In 1984, Bernard Bihari, MD, a Harvard University physician and researcher, observed that while naltrexone successfully blocked heroin’s ability to bind the opioid receptors, the complete blockage led to such severe side effects that the former addicts would not comply with continued use. With his knowledge of naltrexone’s effect on the immune system, he turned his research attention in that direction. Realising that naltrexone’s effects included increasing endorphins and t...