Wellness Newsletter, September, 2007

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WELLNESS NEWSLETTER # 14
September, 2007
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This newsletter provides research-based information and tells you about books, e-books, and web sites that can enhance well-being, promote health, and help develop self-care skills. Please share it with colleagues, families, friends, clients, students and whomever you think could benefit.
Scroll down to what interests you…
1. Your wellness message
2. Wellness news:
a. Diet linked to colorectal polyps/colon cancer
b. Food to quell menopause complaints
c. Alzheimer’s linked to stress
d. Aluminum correlated with breast cancer
e. Two or more drinks/day linked with endometrial cancer
f. Calcium alone reduces bone fractures in people over age 503. Books to keep you (and others) well
4. Online living well with menopause support group
5. Inexpensive self-care/wellness e-books for you, family, friends, or clients
6. A new book for nurse educators
7. A new book to help holistic nurses
8. To find archives of past Wellness Newsletter issues.
9. Have a wellness book or event you want others to know about?
10. Book Tour Stop for Floridians
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1. WELLNESS MESSAGE:
I spend all my time improving myself
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2. WELLNESS NEWS
a. Diet linked to colorectal polyps/colon cancer.Researchers at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston examined food-frequency questionnaires for women enrolled in the Nurses’ Health Study and estimated choline content in their diets. Greater amounts of choline, including red meat, eggs, poultry and dairy products, were associated with an increased risk of colorectal polyps, which can, but do not always, lead to colorectal cancer.
Source: Journal of The National Cancer Institute, August 8, 2007.
Another study from the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute (August 15. 3007) examining the effect of the Western diet (red meat, fatty products such as French fries, refined grains and desserts) on colon cancer patients found that eating this diet may be increasing their chance of disease relapse and early death.
Although other studies have shown the relationship between diet and lifestyle and risk for developing colon cancer, Jeffrey Meyerhardt, MD, MPH of Dana-Farber said “This is the first large observation study to focus on the role of diet in recurrence of the disease. Our results suggest that people treated for locally advanced colon cancer can actively improve their odds of survival by their dietary choices.”
Participants in this study were enrolled in a large, phase III clinical trial sponsored by the National Cancer Institute of follow-up (“adjuvant”) chemotherapy, had their tumors surgically removed within the two months prior to enrolling in the study. They reported their dietary intake on specially designed questionnaires at two different time points---during the period they were receiving chemotherapy and six months after the completion of chemotherapy.”
Meyerhard and colleagues identified a prudent dietary patterns including high intakes of fruits and vegetables, poultry, and fish. If you’re eating a Western diet, now’s the time shift toward a more prudent dietary pattern.
Yet another study showed which fruits and vegetables may be especially helpful. Researchers at Ohio State University tested foods of the red, purple and blue color, containing high amounts of anti-cancer anthocyanins. They found these foods to slow the growth of colon cancer cells in rats and in human colon cancer cells. They chose the following foods and tested them based on their extremely deep colors and therefore high anthocyanin content: grapes, radishes, purple corn, purple carrots, chokeberries, and bilberries. Although the researchers didn’t test other red, purple and blue colored vegetables, blueberries, raspberries, and strawberries may also be beneficial.
b. Food to quell menopause complaints.
Researchers from the University of Messina in Italy assessed the effects of genistein (a phytoestrogen isoflavone found in soy products) on bone metabolism in 389 postmenopausal women with a bone mineral density (BMD) less than 0.795 grams/centimeter squared at the femoral neck who had no significant other conditions, in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.
The researchers found that BMD significantly increased in the soy participants and decreased in the placebo recipients.
Source: Annals of Internal Medicine, June 19, 2007, 839-847.
Menopausal women are at a relatively high risk for memory loss, high blood pressure and diabetes. A decade ago, the standard treatment for these problems was long-term hormone replacement (HRT). Since then, studies have shown that use of HRT is associated with significant effects including heart disease, breast cancer, and more.
Some naturally occurring component of plants (dietary polyphenols) have been shown to have beneficial effects similar to HRT but without the negative effects. Grapes, soy and kudzu are dietary polyphenols tested by physiologist J. Michael Wyss, Department of Cell Biology, University of Alabama at Birmingham on memory, blood pressure and pre-diabetes.
The researchers found grape polyphenols enhanced short-term (working memory) and long-term (reference memory), grape seed reduced salt-sensitive high blood pressure, soy-deprived animals increased arterial blood pressure, and kudzu root extract reduced high blood pressure and reduced insulin resistance (a precursor to type 2 diabetes) by 20-50%.
Source: The role of estrogens and polyphenols in hypertension and diabetes, Sex and gender in cardiovascular-renal physiology and pathophysiology, August 9-12, 2007, Austin, TX.
c. Alzheimer’s linked to stress.
High stress and levels lead to increased memory decline. Research appearing in the September 1, 2007 issue of Biological Psychiatry presented evidence that in 91 older, healthy adults (mean age 78.8 years) with high stress who carried the APOE gene, were most likely to show memory impairment. The APOE gene contributes to the risk for memory loss related to Alzheimer’s disease. In this study, those individuals experiencing with high stress and who were positive for APOE showed the greatest memory impairment.
The researchers believe chronic stress may interact with the risk genotype to promote age-related memory impairment. These findings raise the possibility that psycho-social interventions, such as relaxation therapy and cognitive-behavioral therapies that teach people how to stay calm when experiencing stressors, may preserve memory function in older adults.
This suggests that all of us, APOE gene or not, could benefit from learning and practicing stress reduction measures.
d. Aluminum correlated with breast cancer.
Breast cancer is the most common malignancy in women and the leading cause of death among women aged 35-54. Aluminum is a metalloestrogen, is genotoxic, and has been shown to be carcinogenic. The confirmed presence of aluminum in breast tissue biopsies highlights its potential as a possible factor in the cause of breast cancer.
The major constituent of antiperspirant is aluminum salts, which have long been associated with breast cancer and other human disease. In a study of women who had undergone mastectomies and biopsies, a research team led by Dr. Chris Exley of the Birchall Centre for Inorganic Chmistry and Materials at Keele University in the United Kingdom, measured the aluminum content of breast tissues. They found a high concentration of aluminum near the underarm where the highest density of application of antiperspirant could be assumed. There is evidence from previous studies that the skin is permeable to aluminum when applied as antiperspirant.
Source: News release, Keele University, September 2, 2007.
A preventive measure for all women is to cease using antiperspirants. The human body was meant to sweat as a temperature-reducing measure. A wellness approach seeks to work with natural processes, not stunt them. Evidence is accumulating that trying to artificially stop such a natural body process with aluminum salts could result in breast cancer. Weigh the importance of a wet underarm vs. breast cancer. Which is more important?
Instead of antiperspirants, try various deodorants and find one that works for you. Many people find a mineral salt “rock” beneficial and others find an aloe-based deodorant works. *NOTE: always read ingredient label to make sure it contains no unwanted substances.
e. Two or more drinks/day and endometrial cancerThe findings from a study led by researchers at the University of Southern California (USC) will appear in the International Journal of Cancer. This is the first prospective study to report a significant association between 2 or more alcoholic beverages a day and endometrial cancer. This amount of alcohol may double your risk of endometrial cancer.
Endometrial cancer is the most common cancer of the female reproductive system. Veronica Wendy Setiawan, assistant professor of preventive medicine at the Keck School of Medicine of USC said, “It’s important for women, especially postmenopausal women, to know and understand the consequences of high alcohol consumption. It does not affect just the liver, but alcohol has been associated with breast cancer and now endometrial cancer.”
The researchers drew on data form the Multiethnic Cohort Study (MEC) an epidemiological study of more than 215,000 people from Los Angeles and Hawaii. They followed 41,574 postmenopausal African-American, Japanese-American, Latina, Native-Hawaiian and White women for 8 years. Data on alcohol intake and endometrial cancer risk factors were obtained from a baseline questionnaire.
This discovery is important,” says Brian Henderson, MD, dean of the school of medicine at USC, “because it suggests that changes to certain lifestyle choices may potentially help alter risk of disease.”
All women should think twice before having that second drink. One glass of wine may be relaxing, but two or more could increase the risk of breast and endometrial cancers. Sparkling grape juice is a nice alternative.
f. Calcium alone reduces bone fractures in people over age 50
Calcium supplemention alone, or in combination with vitamin D supplementation, reduces the risk of fractures in people aged 50 and over by 12% concluded researchers at the University of Western Sydney who conducted a pooled analysis of previous trials (meta-analysis) of 17 studies featuring 62,365 people all aged over 50 years and published their results in the August 25th issue of The Lancet.
When participants took their supplements regularly, there was a 24% fracture risk reduction. Risk reduction improved with calcium doses of over 1200 mg (compared with doses of less than 1200 mg; 20% versus 6% reduction), and with vitamin D doses of 800 IU (international units) or more than with doses less than 800 IU (16% reduction versus 13% reduction). The treatment effect was also greater in elderly individuals who lived in institutions, had a low bodyweight, had a low calcium intake, or were at a higher baseline rate (before study began) than other individuals.
The authors believed those in institutions may have benefited more due to assistance with dosing regimen from nurses who made sure patients took their supplements.
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3. Books to keep you (and others) well
Now for the books that can help you and others get well and stay well…
* Aging Beyond Belief by Wellness Guru, Don Ardell, 2007. If you plan to age, prepare yourself - it's later than you think and the challenge of aging well should be taken seriously. Discover what aspects of aging can't be changed and guide the rest that can. Aging Beyond Belief includes 69 recommendations for a more healthful, enjoyable and meaningful existence at every stage of life, written by the world's most prolific, outrageous, humorous and athletic expert on wellness. The book can be ordered from:http://www.wholeperson.com/x-selfhelp/aging.html#Anchor-Aging-47857 or Don’s web site: http://www.seekwellness.com/wellness/index.htm
*Living Well with Anxiety: What Your Doctor Doesn’t Tell You That You Need to Know. This helpful self-care manual provides a mind, body, and spirit wellness approach to anxiety. Contents include how to self-diagnose your anxiety, wellness approaches (nutrition, herbs, environmental changes, exercise, other anxiety-reducing and healing measures), relationships, purpose and spirituality, creating your own anxiety plan and finding and working with the right practitioner. Free sample chapter or a personalized autographed copy at http://home.earthlink.net/~cccwellness/id28.html---or ask your local book store to order LWW Anxiety if you don’t find it on the shelf. You can also find this book at www.harpercollins.com or www.amazon.com
*Encyclopedia of Complementary Health Practice. Includes concepts and issues, economic and practice issues, education issues, legal/legislative/health policy issues, historical perspectives, conditions (from a-z), influential substances, practices and treatments, contributor directory, and resources directory. Available from Springer Publishing Company www.springerpub.com or www.amazon.com
*Garden Therapy Guidelines for Special Needs by Judith Gammonley, ARNPBC, EdD, LCP includes how to use garden therapy with those who are memory impaired, brain injured, or who struggle with developmental or physical challenges for symptoms as widely divergent as wandering, distractibility, poor communication, mood changes, disorientation, fatigue, frustration, aggression, limited social skills, lack of self-confidence, limited mobility, depression, lack of motivation, anxiety, and social withdrawal. For copies, contact Dr. Gammonley at goodgam@aol.com or phone her at (727) 784-2449.
*Group Leadership SkillsNow in its 4th edition, this book focuses on an introduction to group work, basic group concepts and processes, working to achieve group goals, special group problems, beginning/guiding/terminating the group, supervision of group leaders and co-leadership, behavioral approaches for group leaders, recording and analyzing group process, groups for the old adults, working with focal groups, when the organization is the group, and when the community is the group. Available from Springer Publishing Company www.springerpub.com or www.amazon.com
*Health Promotion in Communities: Holistic and Wellness ApproachesFocuses on wellness and holistic concepts to community work and includes a model for health and wellness promotion in communities, health promotion with changing and vulnerable populations, community self-assessment, principles of planning effective community programs, community mobilization and participation, evaluating community health programs, health promotion in rural settings, health promotion on the internet, nutrition and weight management, fitness and flexible movement, typical childhood communicable diseases: promoting community resilience, stress management, smoking cessation, violence prevention, environmental wellness, complementary health care practices, advanced communication skills with individuals and groups, working with groups, working with families, health promotion with African American women, establishing a lay health promotion program in a Hispanic community, diabetes programs in Hawaii, parish nursing, conducting a survey: the example of a youth service organization, violence prevention in schools: a model violence-prevention center, evaluating small community-based health promotion programs: lessons learned from Colorado Health Promotion Initiatives, health promotion in a homeless center. Available from Springer Publishing Company www.springerpub.com or www.amazon.com
*Healthy Holistic Aging: A Blueprint for Success
This book not only provides an easy to follow blueprint for health and holistic aging, but the author is an exceptional role model for his program. Can you live a healthy and independent life to the age of 100? Can you enjoy positive relationships? Can you maintain a healthy environment? Carl Helvie, RN, DrPH says you can and at age 74, he's a perfect example of the right things to do. He has no chronic illnesses and is among the 11% of the age 65-and-overs who take no prescribed medications. The book cites overwhelming scientific evidence that good diet, exercise, adequate sleep, prayer, meditation, positive relationship with others and a clean and safe environment can ensure successful aging. Ask for it at your local bookstore or find it online. Also visit Dr. Helvie’s web site where you can also obtain the book as well as other helpful information. Click on www.HealthyHolisticAging.com
*The American Holistic Nurses’ Association Guide to Common Chronic ConditionsPrimarily for clients, but also serves as a useful guide for nursing and other health care students who want to know about self-care options that complement medical approaches. Focuses on 20 conditions including: AIDS, allergies, Alzheimer’s Disease, arthritis, cancer, carpal tunnel syndrome, chronic fatigue syndrome, depression, diabetes, digestive problems, fibromyalgia, heart and blood vessel disorders, kidney disease, liver and gallbladder conditions, multiple sclerosis, osteoporosis, overweight/obesity, pain, Parkinson’s Disease, sleep disorders. Find it at www.amazon.com
*Holistic Nursing Approach to Chronic DiseasesBased on holistic nursing assessments and interventions, this book helps nurses and nursing students use a holistic approach to AIDS/HIV, Allergies/Asthma, Alzheimer’s Disease, Arthritis, Cancer, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Depression, Diabetes, Digestive Problems, Fibromyalgia, Heart and Blood Vessel Disorders, Kidney Disease, Liver Disease, multiple sclerosis, osteoporosis, overweight/obesity, pain, Parkinsons’ Disease, and/or sleep disorders. Available from Springer Publishing Company www.springerpub.com or www.amazon.com
*Holistic Assertiveness Skills for Nurses
Useful for nursing students, practitioners, educators, or leaders who are highly stressed and could benefit from stress reduction and nutritional, physical fitness, touch, and other approaches related to assertiveness, gender issues, anger, time management, criticism, career, and nursing leadership. Readers report they refer to the book often for empowerment and to learn new skills to apply in their work and home settings. Available from Springer Publishing Company www.springerpub.com or www.amazon.com or ask your local bookstore to order it.
*Living Well with Menopause: What Your Doctor Doesn’t Tell You That You Need To Know. A self-care manual to help women learn about using hormones, and what to do if they'd rather not. Table of contents includes: menopause: a natural process, medical treatment, nutrition, herbs, environmental actions, exercise, other stress reduction and healing measures, relationships, finding and working with the right practitioner, and putting it together: your menopause success plan. For a free sample chapter or an autographed copy find this book at http://home.earthlink.net/~cccwellness/id23.html---Or ask your local bookstore to order it for you (if it’s not on the shelf).
4. Don’t Forget about the Menopause Support/Information Group
If you or a friend, colleague, or client could benefit from support and information during menopause, go to www.yahoogroups.com and sign up for the living well with menopause group at www.health.groups.yahoo.com/group/livingwellwithmenopause.
Know someone in the throes of menopause or starting to show signs of menopause---sleep problems, irritability, anxiety (or even panic attacks), hot flashes? This may be a helpful group. It’s a new group, but there are some articles and questions/answers already posted. No one need identify themselves and Yahoo keeps their email address a secret. Please share this information with anyone who could benefit---including spouses and partners who may want to learn more about menopause. ____________________________________________________________________
5. Inexpensive e-books for you, family, clients, or colleagues
Available e-books include ADHD, acne, bladder spasms/bladder infections, couple communication, depression relief, great body, headaches, healing veggies, healing with affirmation & imagery, healthy hair, helping with homework, natural diuretics, pain free, parenting, peri-menopausal bleeding, permanent weight loss, pregnancy, success in school, teaching math concepts, thyroid, and whole brain thinking. All are from a wellness, self-care perspective. Give someone you care about a gift of wellness! Inexpensive, but effective. Find them all at www.carolynchambersclark.com (Scroll down the left hand column of the web site to find them.)
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6. New Book for Nurse Educators *Classroom Skills for Nurse Educators. Hot off the press, this new book for nurse educators provides ways to promote interactive learning even in large classes, while teaching asynchronously online and more…also introduces creative ways to use role playing, simulations, simulation games, group methods, peer learning, value clarification, perceptual exercises, journal writing and poetry. Educator vignettes present situations that help integrate theory into practice for varied nurse educators from nursing faculty, clinical nurse leaders, graduate students in nursing education programs to staff development experts. Presents indepth analysis and tips for overcoming the teaching/learning problems that can interfere with the learning process, and even shows how to develop your own learning materials (including simulations and games) in simple but effective ways.
Find the book on the Jones & Bartlett web site by clicking on www.jbpub.com and looking for Classroom Skills for Nurse Educators. Sample chapters and more information available at the web site.
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7. *NEW BOOK FOR HOLISTIC NURSES AHNA/ANA Holistic Nursing: Scope and Standards of Practice Pages: 135 Cover: Paperback © 2007. The most recent version of the Holistic Nursing Standards, this book is a foundational volume that articulates the essentials of holistic nursing, its activities and accountabilities at all practice levels and settings. It serves as an essential resource for nurses, other care providers, educators, researchers, administrators and those in funding, legal, policy and regulatory activities. To learn more or order, call (800) 278-2462 Ext. 10. To order online today, visit www.ahna.org/public/public.html
________________________________________________________________________8. *ARCHIVES OF THE WELLNESS NEWSLETTER
To read recent past issue of The Wellness Newsletter, click on www.carolynchambersclark.com/id103.html
9. *HAVE A BOOK OR EVENT YOU WANT OTHERS TO KNOW ABOUT?
Have you written a book you want others to know about? Contact Book Tour and they’ll put it on their web site along with any speaking engagements you have coming up. Here’s the address: http://booktour.com/signup?referrer=985
If you have a holistic or wellness book or activity/event you want me to put a blurb about in my newsletter, contact me by clicking on my picture at www.carolynchambersclark.com and provide the particulars, or just reply to this email with the info…title, author, year of pub, a short blurb, and where to get the book or the directions to the activity. Just follow the format I’ve used above for the other books, please. That’s Times Roman 12 point. That will make my life a whole lot easier…Thanks in advance.
10. *BOOK TOUR STOPS FOR FLORIDIANS
a. If you (or any of your friends or family) will be anywhere near Englewood, Florida on Saturday, October 20, 2007, at 2 p.m. I’ll be doing a menopause book talk and book signing at Richard’s Whole Foods and giving away a free related e-book. Come and visit! Call for reservations and directions: 10-6 pm at (941) 473-0278.
b. If you (or any friends, colleagues, or family) will be anywhere near Sarasota, Florida on Saturday November 3, 2007 between 10 and 10:30 a.m. or 1:00 and 1:30 p.m., I be doing a book talk, giving away a free e-book, and signing my book, LIVING WELL WITH ANXIETY. For more information, email the Executive Director of the Sarasota Reading Festival about the Wellness Pavilion location at srfdirector@comcast.net.
c. If you (or any of your friends or family) will be anywhere near Englewood, Florida on Saturday, December 1, 2007 at 1 p.m. I’ll be doing an anxiety book talk and book signing at Richard’s Whole Foods and giving away a free related e-book. Come and visit! Call for reservations and/or directions: 10-6 p.m. M-Sat (941) 473-0278.
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In Wellness,
Carolyn Chambers Clark
ARNP, EdD, FAAN, AHN-BC
Editor
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