Don’t let the darkness win. As long as you’re breathing there’s hope. Don’t let the darkness win. Let the light in and the darkness will disappear.
stress
Today’s Health Tip ~ Does Alcohol Cause Cancer?
The Less You Drink the Better
We know that alcohol increases the risk for several cancers, including oral cancer, pharynx and larynx cancers, colorectal and esophageal cancers, as well as liver and breast cancers.
How does drinking alcohol increase a person’s cancer risk?
There are many ways in which alcohol can increase a person’s risk of cancer:
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- The ethanol in alcoholic drinks breaks down to acetaldehyde, a known carcinogen. This compound damages DNA and stops our cells from repairing the damage. This can allow cancerous cells to grow.
- Alcohol can affect levels of hormones like estrogen. These hormones act as messengers that tell our cells to grow and divide. The more cells divide, the more chances there are for something to go wrong and for cancer to develop.
- Alcohol makes the body less able to break down and absorb several important nutrients such as vitamins A, C, D, E, and folate. These nutrients help protect the body against cancer.
- The important thing to remember is that every time you drink, you increase your cancer risk. As with cigarettes and processed meat, there is no safe amount of alcohol.
Today’s Health Tip ~ Red and Processed Meats Increase Health Risks.
You Don’t Need to Eat Red Meat
There is an accumulated body of evidence shows a clear link between high intake of red and processed meats and a higher risk for heart disease, cancer, diabetes, and premature death.
Red meat has high amounts of protein, which helps promote muscle growth, and vitamin B12 to make red blood cells. For example, a 3-ounce serving has about 45% of the Daily Value (DV) of protein and 35% of the DV for B12. A serving of red meat is also a good source of zinc, which can help the body produce testosterone, and selenium, a powerful antioxidant. Plus, red meat is rich in iron. However, Dr. Hu says that you don’t need to eat red meat to get these essential nutrients. “You can get the same amounts — and in some cases even more — from poultry, fish, eggs, and nuts, and as well as by following a plant-based diet.”
A Better Life ~ Working Together Works
Working together works. Working together is always better than working against each other. Why spend time arguing and fighting to see whose viewpoint prevails when there may be another way that combines the best of the differing viewpoints.
A Better Life ~ Understanding
When we have someone in our life who understands our struggles, stresses, and goals, we are fortunate. We can offer the same gift to others. Understanding takes time to listen and understand how deeply another feels about his/her struggles, stresses, and goals. There is an empathic give and take that helps the other know that someone in this world understands me.
A Better Life ~ A Tried & True Method
A rancher gave me some advice when I was younger. He said, “Ray, if you’re going wish in one hand or poop in the other, which do you think you’re going to get first?” He used a much more crude word than I used, but I understood his advice. Set goals, work toward them, don’t let anything get in your way. It’s a tried and true method for anyone who wants to be successful.
A Better Life ~ Making Competition Work for You
Competition is a part of life. There is a difference between competing with others and competing against others. When I compete with others, I am placing my self-esteem on the outcome. When I compete against others, I am measuring my performance against another’s performance. Whatever the outcome, I can use the results to improve my next performance.
A Better Life ~ Celebrating our Differences
What’s right for you may not be right for me. The music you like may hurt my ears, and my music may give you the shivers. I don’t understand how you can eat a big juicy hamburger. You make fun of the tofu I eat. We humans are a diverse lot. Cutting each other slack and accepting our differences makes everything a bit better.
A Better Life ~ Going the Distance
Occasionally becoming upset with each other is part of the nature of relationships. It happens. What a wonderful opportunity to forgive each other and start again. Acknowledging one’s fault and saying, “I’m sorry, can you forgive me?” When the immediate answer is, “Yes, can you forgive me?” When the answer is yes, you know this relationship has the stones to go the distance,
A Better Life ~ Differences of Opinions
Differences of opinions are the spices that add flavor to life. When we remain open to new ways of viewing our differences, we learn more about each other, and may come to understand why one thinks differently. Keep communicating, keep learning, stay open.
