FabSugar

On Our Radar: Gwyneth Paltrow Leads the Fight For the Cure

FabSugar — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 10:00:22 PDT

Gwyneth Paltrow has been named the 2008 ambassador for the Key to the Cure campaign with Saks Fifth Avenue. Paltrow will be the sixth Oscar-winning actress to become the ambassador to the program, which has raised over $28 million for cancer institutions.

The actress, who lost her father from the disease in 2002, stated, “If there is anything I can do to help raise money, especially with a charity like this, I will. I read about the charity and how aggressively they are trying to find a cure, not only for women’s cancers but also for other cancers. They target a lot of different areas out there. They support people who are coming up with innovative ideas to cure cancer. It’s an issue that touched me in a lot of ways.”

Karl Lagerfeld has created this year's T-shirt to benefit the campaign. The $40 tee features two arrows crossing on its front with a heart, and illustration of the designer himself on the back. Items will be available Oct. 16-19 at Saks stores, Off 5th Stores, and Saks.com.

To see more more images from the star-studded campaign,

View 5 Photos ›

Source

Fab Flash: Stars Design Charms to Aid Cancer Research

FabSugar — Tue, 28 Aug 2007 13:30:22 PDT

Kate Moss, Scarlett Johansson and Christian Louboutin have all contributed a charm for this year's limited edition necklace in aid of Cancer Research UK. Each charm reflects the personal experience and character of its creator. Kate's (far right) is a pretty turquoise and silver swallow; Scarlett's (second from left) a white, yellow and orange lily; Christian's (center) is what else but a small golden shoe with his signature red sole.

The necklace, about $51, can be purchased starting September at Wallis. Twenty dollars from each necklace will go towards Cancer Research UK's work.

Source

The Skinny On: Cranberry, More Than Just Sauce

FitSugar — Tue, 21 Nov 2006 13:00:00 PST

When I think of cranberries, four things come to mind:

A refreshing Thanksgiving side dish
The song Linger ("Do you have to, do you have to, do you have to let it linger?")
Yummy Cosmopolitans
Horrible bladder infections

Maybe you just like the taste of cranberry sauce but cranberries are more than just a pretty fruit. For starters, they are very high in antioxidants and vitamin c.

What's more? MSNBC reports that drinking cranberry juice can block bladder infections, can prevent a plaque formation on teeth (mouthwashes with the compound are already in development) and in some people, regular cranberry juice consumption can kill the bacteria which can cause stomach cancer and ulcers.
Furthermore:

The National Institutes of Health is funding research on the cranberry’s effects on heart disease, yeast infections and other conditions, and other researchers are investigating its potential against cancer, stroke and viral infections.

Fit's Tip: Good, fresh cranberries are only available for a brief time, from late September to December, but you can get cranberry juice and supplements year round.

Is It Unhealthy to Wear Antiperspirant While Exercising?

Jenny Sugar — Sat, 12 May 2012 19:08:01 PDT

Exercising and sweating go hand-in-hand, and since no one wants to be known for their stinky BO, for many gym-goers, gliding on antiperspirant is just like slipping on a sports bra - it's something you just don't forget. Sweating is a natural process though, and when you're working out, it's your body's way of keeping you cool and preventing heat exhaustion. Some say sweating also releases harmful toxins from your body. So is it bad to wear sweat-stopping antiperspirant to prevent your body from doing what it naturally wants to do?

When you're hot, your body emits moisture from its sweat glands to cool you down. If you wear an antiperspirant, the aluminum used in them penetrates your sweat glands and squeezes them shut, which stops the flow of sweat to the skin's surface in that area. Remember that sweat's only purpose is to cool you off, and since your armpits aren't the only place you have sweat glands, your body can still find a way to lower your body temperature if you get too hot while exercising. So as long as you can wear antiperspirant while working out without overheating, you can feel good about slathering it on to prevent odor. And don't worry about preventing the release of toxins, since only trace amounts of toxins are released from your sweat glands.

Keep reading to find out if the aluminum found in antiperspirants leads to breast cancer.

A Strawberry a Day May Keep the Doctor Away

Susannah Chen — Thu, 07 Apr 2011 11:30:59 PDT

Strawberries aren't just delicious; they may also help fight certain kinds of cancer. A preliminary study suggests that strawberries could potentially prevent esophageal cancer.

Oncologists at Ohio State University showed that freeze-dried strawberries, when dissolved in a glass of water twice a day for six months, slowed the growth of precancerous lesions among subjects. Although the study employed the use of freeze-dried strawberries, researchers suggested people can still benefit from eating fresh strawberries on a daily basis.

These findings challenge a European study that shows higher fruit intake doesn't change cancer risk. Still, I'll take an excuse to eat more strawberries; they're delicious and in season. Would added health benefits inspire you to eat more fruit?

This Weekend, Go For a Jog

Leta Shy — Fri, 04 May 2012 12:23:12 PDT

In the midst of all your margarita- or mint julep-fueled celebrating this weekend, here's a reminder to pull on your running sneakers and go for a jog: a new study has found that regular jogging can help you live longer.

The study compared joggers and nonjoggers as part of a larger Danish study that's been tracking 20,000 people for over 30 years. Researchers compared about 2,000 joggers from the study with nonjoggers and found that the joggers were 44 percent less likely to die from any cause compared to those who didn't jog, and in general had longer life spans - up to six years longer. Running and jogging can help lower your risk of many diseases and conditions, like high blood pressure, cancer, and high cholesterol, so it's no surprise that the regular joggers in the study were healthier overall.

The good news is that you don't have to become a serious runner to reap the benefits; researchers say that the most benefits came from jogging at a slow or average pace (not strenuous enough to feel too out of breath) for one to two and a half hours a week, and it's fine to break your jogs up into a few sessions during the week. Why not start now? Here's an easy jogging-walking workout for you to try this weekend.

A Cancer Survivor's Goal: 50 Triathlons by Her 50th Birthday

espnW — Fri, 04 May 2012 04:26:06 PDT

We are pumped to share one of our fave stories from espnW here on FitSugar!

By Julia Savacool

It's a good thing Jenn Sommermann discovered triathlons when she did. "I was turning 40 years old, and my friend and I were looking for a way to commemorate the occasion," Sommermann said. "We decided to train for a triathlon." Because Sommermann was on the East Coast and her friend was on the West, the two trained together virtually, exchanging workout notes and messages of encouragement. Several months later, they competed in the Danskin Women's Tri in Seattle.

"That was it, I was in love with triathlons," Sommermann said. Little did she know, two years later the fitness she gained through the sport would help her win a battle against ovarian cancer.

It was December 2006 when Sommermann received her diagnosis. She'd been feeling out of sorts for months, but had been reluctant to see her doctor.

The symptoms for ovarian cancer are subtle: Bloating, weight gain, fatigue and indigestion are all indicators for the disease, but they are also common symptoms for many women during their monthly cycle. The main difference with ovarian cancer, explained Sommermann, is the symptoms don't go away.

It was by chance she discovered the cancer - she was pressing on her stomach one night and came across a hard lump. "I called my husband over, and he felt it, too," she said. "I knew this wasn't good." She went to see her physician immediately, and an ultrasound revealed a tumor about the size of an eggplant. "I had Stage 3 ovarian cancer," said Sommermann. "I was in shock. The disease is 94 percent curable if you catch it by Stage 2. But after that, the numbers are not in your favor."

Surfing gets Anastasia Ashley through tough times

Read more about Jen's inspiring story after the break.

5 Reasons Why You Should Remember to Eat More Berries

Michele Foley — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 14:54:32 PDT

Berry season is right around the corner, and if a big bowl of strawberries, blueberries, and blackberries didn't excite you before, maybe this news will: eating at least two servings of berries per week can help delay age-related memory loss in women. A recent Harvard study followed 16,010 women over the age of 70, finding those who ate berries slowed memory loss by almost three years. Researchers cite the plethora of antioxidants packed into these small fruits as being the reason. If preventing memory loss weren't enough, here are five more reasons why you should up your berry intake.

They help with weight loss: Berries are loaded with the antioxidant anthocyanin, which has been shown to alter the activity of genes found in human fat cells, making it more difficult to put on weight. Blueberries, specifically, have been shown to diminish stubborn belly fat.
They are good for your brain: Investigators with the US Department of Agriculture Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging in Boston found that the polyphenols in berries help the part of the brain that takes care of regular maintenance and "housekeeping." Blueberries and strawberries were said to contain the most polyphenols.
They are good for your eyes: Berries, especially blueberries and raspberries, contain lutein, which is important for healthy eyes and sharp vision.
They help protect against disease: Berries are brimming with carotenoids, an antioxidant that has been shown to reduce the risk of cancer. Other phytonutrients in berries have been shown to protect against heart disease, diabetes, and arthritis. Those deep hues pay off tenfold when it comes to maintaining the health of your body.
They help slow down the aging process: The powerful antioxidants in berries prevent free radical damage in your body, and less free radical damage means slowing down the aging process to help you live longer!

Amped up for berry season yet? Mix things up by making one of these healthy berry recipes for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and cocktail hour!

A Reader Recipe: Low-Cal French Silk Pie

Fit Community — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 14:44:07 PDT

FitSugar reader Connoisseur4TheCure shared this low-cal recipe for chocolate cream pie in our Healthy Recipe group.

This no-bake chocolate pie is fantastic! You won't know it's healthy while you are eating it! This recipe contains tofu, which is high in protein. One slice of this pie has about 230 calories, which is about half of the calories in a regular chocolate pie.

Chocolate is believed to have many health benefits from its antioxidant properties. Go here for more on the research of chocolate and its anti-cancer properties.

Learn more about the recipe after the break!

Caffeine Combined With Exercise Reduces Skin Cancer Risk, Study Says

Jenny Sugar — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 11:20:25 PDT

Warm, sunny weather is not too far away, and with it means spending more time outdoors. Of course protecting yourself from UV rays is your best defense against skin cancer, but a new study presented at the annual meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) suggests exercise combined with caffeine consumption could cut your skin cancer risk. This news couldn't come at a better time considering sunburns coupled with indoor tanning has made skin cancer more prevalent than ever among young adults.

The exercise and caffeine study was conducted using mice bred to be at high risk of developing skin cancer. After being exposed to UV radiation, the mice were split into four groups. One group was given plain water and no exercise wheel (the controls), another group had water mixed with caffeine and no exercise wheel, a third group had plain water and an exercise wheel, while the fourth group had water mixed with caffeine and an exercise wheel.

The results? After 14 weeks of treatment, the mice given both exercise and caffeine had 62 percent fewer nonmelanoma skin tumors, and the tumors they did have were much smaller than the mice in the other groups. Exercise and caffeine on their own did have positive effects, but not as much as when the two were combined.

This is not the first study to illustrate the benefits of caffeine combined with exercise. Previous studies have already suggested drinking caffeine can improve your endurance when working out - perhaps another reason to grab a cup of joe before hitting the gym.