In this issue: 
 Incompatible Remedies 
 Slice Your Storke Risk in the Produce Aisle 
 Can't Be Beet 
 
 
Incompatible Remedies

To block breast cancer recurrence, more and more women are being given a type of drug called aromatase inhibitors, which work by blocking estrogen production. This new therapy has been proven so effective that it's becoming more common than the old standard follow-up drug, tamoxifen.

But the effectiveness of this therapy is also one of its drawbacks. Since the drugs do their estrogen-suppression job so well, a lot of women get menopause symptoms while undergoing treatment. For example, nearly 20 percent of women on aromatase inhibitors are hit with atrophic vaginitis, a condition that can include inflammation, acute dryness, urinary urgency, itchiness, and pain during intercourse.

To combat these very uncomfortable symptoms, many women turn to topical vaginal estrogen products. The trouble is that doctors don't completely understand what impact these creams can have on blood estrogen levels. Over the short term -- a month of using the topical products, for instance -- no red flags have gone up. But long-term use may cause blood estrogen levels to rise, canceling out some of the effectiveness of the aromatase inhibitors.

One group of researchers decided to test the impact, and found that the topical estrogen creams did raise level of estradiol (one estrogen hormone) in women using aromatase inhibitor therapy. The cancer remedy suppresses estrogen, but if the hormone is put back through the cream, it may raise the risk of recurrence. The scientists are recommending that any women on an aromatase inhibitor regimen should avoid estrogen-based creams to relieve their discomfort.

Fortunately, there are several natural alternatives that shouldn't interfere with the protection power of that common breast cancer treatment. Like drinking aloe juice twice a day, which can help ease overall menopause-like symptoms.

For quick topical relief, try a cream containing calendula: It can restore moisture and help heal irritated vaginal walls. Vitamin E oil is another good choice. Simply pierce a capsule, and apply the oil directly to the uncomfortable area to soothe dryness and irritation.

On the flip side, avoid using any product containing goldenseal, since it works to dry up mucous membranes, and will probably make the problem worse.

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Slice Your Stroke Risk in the Produce Aisle

According to a new British study, eating plenty of fruits and vegetables can substantially reduce your risk of suffering a stroke -- the third leading cause of death among American adults.

Researchers combined the results from eight studies, which followed a grand total of more than 250,000 adults for about 13 years. Among the various trials, 4,917 strokes occurred during the test period...but for people that ate at least five servings a day of fruits and vegetables, the risk was 26 percent lower.

If you're like most people in the U.S., you eat around three servings of produce each day -- and that's more than half the battle. Add a small salad with dinner, throw some blueberries on your oatmeal, and you're done.

Though the researchers didn't look into which specific fruits or vegetables played the biggest part in lowering risk of stroke, it makes sense that eating a variety would benefit your cardiovascular system. Many produce varieties contain plentiful potassium, fiber, folic acid, along with numerous antioxidants...all of which may contribute to keeping your risk of stroke at its lowest.

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Can't Be Beet 

Beets can do a lot more than stain your kitchen counters. These nutrient-packed root vegetables can boost your health in lots of ways. Like protecting you against heart disease, fighting to prevent colon cancer, or supporting your immune system with a wide range of vitamins and minerals.

On the nutrient front, a single cup of beets provides 34 percent of your daily folate RDA, 28 percent of your manganese requirement, 15 percent of potassium, and 10 percent of vitamin C...not to mention fiber, potassium, magnesium, and crucial trace minerals like copper and phosphorous.

This unique nutrient combo comes in a very brightly colored package, and the compound responsible for that rich color (called betacyanin) is a mighty cancer-fighter. In fact, it's been proven in several studies to be particularly powerful against colon cancer. In one animal study, scientists discovered that subjects fed beet fiber showed a remarkable increase in special immune cells -- called colonic CD8 cells -- that find and kill off abnormal cells.

Stomach cancer patients can also benefit from beet juice. This ruby-colored drink can reduce levels of nitrosamines, compounds known to produce cancerous cells using nitrates, a very common (and very unhealthy) ingredient in the standard American diet.

But beets have also been shown to boost heart health: In animal studies to lower total cholesterol by 30 percent and drop triglycerides by 40 percent.

Yours in better health,

Michele Cagan
BETTER HEALTH...for Better Living