Tag Archives: Drink

Drink THIS to Cut Your Cancer Risk

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Jonesing for a caffeine fix? Reach for some tea. A new study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition suggests that sipping tea regularly could slash your risk of certain digestive system cancers by up to 29%.

The Shanghai Women’s Health Study tracked the tea consumption and cancer rates of more than 69,000 non-drinking, non-smoking, middle-aged and older Japanese women during an 11-year span. Regular tea consumption, defined as at least three times a week for more than six months, was associated with a 17% reduced risk of all digestive cancers combined. “We can conclude that women who drink tea regularly may have a lower risk of developing some digestive system cancers, particularly colorectal and stomach/esophageal cancer,” says lead study author Sarah Nechuta, Ph.D., MPH, assistant professor of medicine at Vanderbilt University.

Better yet: The study found that drinking more tea contributed to an even lower risk. Women who sipped two to three cups a day had a 21% lower risk of digestive system cancers overall. And those who drank tea regularly for 20 years or more were 27% percent less likely to develop any digestive system cancer, and 29% less likely to develop colorectal cancer, in particular. “We observed the strongest reduction among long-term tea drinkers,” says Nechuta.

And while this study was observational (i.e., lifestyle factors such as diet and exercise were not controlled), and researchers didn’t investigate tea temperature, strength, or whether food or supplements containing tea extracts would have similar effects, the study did have implications for the most effective type of cancer-fighting tea, according to Nechuta. “As most women in our study drank green tea, our results suggest drinking green tea is associated with reduced risk of digestive system cancers,” she says.

So drink more green tea, but don’t stop there. Here are 12 more ways to reduce your cancer risk.

photo: Hemera/Thinkstock

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ALERT: Popular Energy Drink Linked to Five Deaths

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This Monday, the FDA announced an investigation into five deaths and a heart attack allegedly tied to consumption of Monster Energy drink.

The investigation was launched after the death of a 14-year-old girl, who died of a heart attack due to caffeine toxicity after drinking two 24-ounce cans of Monster Energy, which together contain 480 milligrams of caffeine. That’s the caffeine equivalent of 14 cans of Coke.

“In moderate levels, caffeine is not harmful,” says Keri Peterson, M.D., physician on the Women’s Health advisory board. Even in not-so-moderate levels, caffeinated beverages typically aren’t deadly. Death from caffeine toxicity is rare, with toxic levels estimated to fall between 150 and 200 milligrams per kilogram of body weight—that’s about 50 cups of coffee for a 150-pound woman, consumed in a very short period of time.

But because energy drinks are considered dietary supplements, their contents aren’t currently FDA regulated.

“Many of these drinks not only have very high caffeine levels, but they also combine them with other herbs that contain caffeine such as guarana and yerba mate, which can cause significant side effects,” Peterson says.

While the FDA isn’t certain whether Monster Energy drinks were the direct cause of the reported deaths, or whether preexisting conditions, alcohol, or drugs played a role, there were more than 13,000 emergency department visits related to consumption of energy drinks in 2009—up nearly tenfold since 2005, according to a 2009 Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration report.

In light of this alarming stat, one thing’s for sure: it can’t hurt to be more mindful of your caffeine consumption. While your caffeine tolerance depends on your size and current consumption habits, the American Medical Association Council on Scientific Affairs recommends no more than 250 mg of caffeine, or about three 8-oz cups of coffee, a day.

And if you really want to avoid common caffeine side effects such as sleeplessness, jitters, irritability, headaches, and nervousness, Peterson recommends no more than 200 mg of caffeine a day. Top that, and you could suffer from a host of even more serious health issues: a Polish study presented by the European Society of Hypertension in 2012 found that subjects who drank an energy drink containing 360 mg of caffeine developed anxiety and insomnia, with significant increases in heart rate and blood pressure compared to a control group that took placebos, and participants who took energy drinks with just 120 mg of caffeine. (Find out more about how caffeine effects your bod.)

Another study found that consuming over 200 mg of caffeine can lead to a blood pressure spike of up to 14 points, putting you at heighten risk of heart disease, stroke, and kidney failure, and more especially if you already have high blood pressure. For these reasons, Peterson recommends that those with high blood pressure steer clear of caffeine altogether.

Finally, check the chart below to help you put a cap on your daily intake of caffeine.

Beverage

Standard serving (oz.)

Caffeine Content (mg)

Mega Monster Energy

24

240

Red Bull

8.3

80

5-Hour Energy

1.93

207

Espresso

2

30-90

Brewed Coffee

8

102-200

Brewed Tea

8

40-120

Bottled iced tea

16

10-100

Soft drink

12

71 or less

Coffee-flavored ice cream

8

50-84

Dark chocolate bar

1.45

31

Hershey’s Chocolate Bar

1.55

9

Excedrin (Extra Strength)

2 tablets

130

NoDoz (Maximum Strength)

1 tablet

200

Source: Center for Science in the Public Interest

photo: iStockphoto/Thinkstock

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Does Marriage Drive You to Drink?

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Wives are boozers. Single ladies, not so much.

A new study from the University of Cincinnati has found that married women drink more than their single counterparts—and even more than divorced women.

Researchers studied more than 5,000 adults over 11 years and found that while on average, divorced women enjoy six and a half drinks per month, married women knock back nine. Meanwhile, men who are married actually drink less than divorced men—downing 19.2 drinks a month as opposed to the 21.5 drinks divorced men do.

So why are women drinking more in marriage? And why are men drinking less? It has to do with couples meeting in the middle, says study author Connie Reczek, Ph.D, assistant professor of women’s, gender, and sexuality studies at the University of Cincinnati. Many women are introduced to alcohol by their husbands, and drink significantly more after they are married, says Reczek. While wives tend to fill up to keep up with their husbands’ drinking, men drink cut back, drinking less to match the habits of their wives. (If you’re drinking more, make sure you’re not filling your glass with one of the 20 Worst Drinks in America.)

When couples get divorced, men often turn to alcohol to deal with stress and are prone to more nights out at the bars with their friends. Women, however, are likely to drink less since their alcohol supplier is no longer in the house. What’s more, women often turn to food to deal with stress, she says. (Emotional eating isn’t always bad. Try noshing on these healthy foods that fight stress.)

But don’t pick a fight with your hubby over it: His alcohol influence can be great for your health. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has named moderate drinking one of the key healthy lifestyle behaviors that can help you live longer—right up there with healthy eating and exercise. But with a buzz.

“Our finding suggests that even though married women drink more than others, this higher amount is still considered moderate,” says Reczek. Moderate drinking—defined as one drink a day for women—is the saucy sweet spot for health benefits ranging from weight loss and diabetes protection to a 40% slash in heart disease risk.

Raise a glass to your health with these healthy drink varieties:

Best Beer: Miller64
Besides packing only 64 calories (duh), one bottle has 2.4 grams of carbohydrates, about a third as most other light beers.

Best Wine: Pinot Noir
It contains more antioxidants than any other alcoholic beverage. Plus, wine has been found to be better at boosting brainpower than beer or hard liquor.

Best Cocktail: Bloody Mary
One serving is sure to fill you up, and the antioxidant lycopene from the tomato juice provides a heart-healthy bonus.

photo: Thinkstock Images/Comstock/Thinkstock

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Drinking on a Diet
Alcohol and Weight Loss
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The Drink that Fights Cancer

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Before you soak up the sun this weekend, finish your coffee. The strong stuff can reduce your risk of developing the most common type of skin cancer, according to a new study published in the journal Cancer Research. Don’t worry, it can be iced.

Researchers from Harvard Medical School followed 112,897 people for more than 20 years over which 20% of participants developed basal cell carcinoma. People who drank three cups or more of caffeinated coffee each day had the lowest risk of developing the skin cancer. Female coffee addicts slashed their risk of developing basal cell carcinoma by 21%. Here’s what you should know before you place your next coffee order:

How does coffee prevent basal cell carcinoma?
Caffeine is to thank for the coffee’s preventative effect, says study co-author and epidemiologist Jiali Han, PhD. Good thing you never liked decaf anyway! Studies done on animals have shown that caffeine kills and helps eliminate UV-damaged cells, reducing the risk of basal cell carcinoma. While researchers also looked at the effects of caffeine consumption from tea, soda, and chocolate, any and all caffeine-carrying foods should decrease risk of the cancer.

However, you’d have to down three bottles of soda (or 20 servings of chocolate!) to score the amount of caffeine found in just one cup of coffee. No wonder why coffee accounts for about 80% of all caffeine consumed in the United States. Not a fan of Joe? Opt for tea. While tea contains just one-third of the amount of caffeine found in coffee, tea still offers plenty of cancer- and age-fighting antioxidants. (Read more about the best kind of tea for your health.)

How much coffee should I drink?
Three cups a day will keep the basal cell carcinoma away. Well, not quite. But it will help–and deliver a bevy of other healthful benefits. Besides preventing basal cell carcinoma, caffeine can help prevent type 2 diabetes, Parkinson’s disease, stroke, dementia, and depression, Han says. “Skin-cancer prevention alone isn’t reason enough to drink coffee, but it’s one of many pieces of evidence showing that drinking coffee is beneficial to ones health,” he says. Plus, coffee tastes better than the mystery formula in your 5-hour ENERGY shot. But still, there’s no need to go overboard: Studies have shown that more than five cups of coffee can be unhealthy.

What should I order?
Here’s one more reason to stick to your Starbuck’s habit: Its coffees have the highest caffeine content of the popular coffeehouse chains, according to the Center for Science in the Public Interest. Guzzle a grande Pike Place roast or Clover brewed coffee and you’ll score 330mg of caffeine. Don’t bother with blended beverages: Besides being loaded with sugar and calories, they don’t pack much coffee—or caffeine. (If you’re seriously craving a blended treat, try one of these healthy smoothie recipes.)

What else can I do to prevent basal cell carcinoma?
Sunscreen is still your friend, and your first defense in preventing basal cell carcinoma, Han says. What’s more, the study found that caffeine doesn’t reduce the risk of developing squamous cell carcinoma or melanoma, and sun exposure is the primary cause of basal cell carcinoma, which affects about 2.8 million Americans a year. In fact, it’s the most frequently occurring form of all cancers.

photo: iStockphoto/Thinkstock

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Drink Alcohol, Prevent Strokes

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Cocktails
The occasional drink can help prevent strokes, according to a new study from Brigham and Women’s Hospital.

The study tracked 83,578 women over 26 years and found that those who consumed a moderate amount of alcohol had a lower risk of stroke. Say what?!?

It turns out, moderate alcohol consumption can prevent blood clots and cholesterol from building up in the arteries. Strokes can be caused by a number of blood pressure illnesses. If you fall and scrape your knee, your body will form blood clots so you won’t continue to bleed long after the fall. However, dangerous blood clots occur around your heart which will block arteries. Arteries supply blood to your brain, and when they become clogged with fatty deposits and cholesterol, blood clots will form in the vessel walls, causing a stroke. High blood pressure (hypertension) is a main concern in stroke incidents because of hemorrhaging, or when bleeding occurs within the brain vessel itself.

But make sure your alcohol consumption is actually moderate. Overdo it and you could actually increase your risk of stroke. Researchers suggest having one drink per day. And no, one fish bowl doesn’t count as one drink. One drink equals a four-ounce glass of wine, a 12-ounce can of beer, or 1 to 1 ½ ounces of 100- or 80-proof spirits, respectively.

Also, make sure your drink of choice isn’t a fat-bomb like a sugary margarita.

Here are our favorite healthy alcoholic drinks:
Look Better Naked Cocktails | Four low-cal cocktails that can actually help you burn fat!
The Best Light Beers | These 10 beers won’t give you a beer belly.
Fruity Cocktails | These cocktails are packed with fruits and good-for-you ingredients.
Chocolate Cocktails | These drinks are good for your body and your taste buds.

More on Alcohol from WH:
Alcohol and Weight Loss
Exercise and Alcohol
Nutrition Labels on Alcohol

photo: iStockphoto/Thinkstock

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