Three Everyday Foods Are Discovered to Be Powerful Weapons Against Prostate Cancer

Apples, curry, grapes: They all contain ingredients that can starve prostate cancer cells, potentially offering a new way to fight one of the deadliest cancers men face.

Knowing the early signs and taking steps to protect yourself can help you catch prostate cancer—the most common male cancer in the United States—before it turns deadly. But now scientists from the University of Texas at Austin believe they’ve made a breakthrough in treating the condition, using natural compounds found in plants.

In the new study, published in Precision Oncology, scientists began by testing 142 natural compounds found in turmeric, apple peelings and green tea, which had already been identified as effective at thwarting the growth of cancer cells. They tested these plant-based compounds on cells from mice and from humans, and identified the three most effective compounds. Then, they set out to see if combining them increased their power to thwart cancer cells.

The three chemicals they focused on included ursolic acid (a waxy natural chemical found in apple peelings and rosemary); curcumin (the yellow compound found in turmeric); and resveratrol (present in cinnamon, red grapes, and berries).

Stefano Tiziani, PhD, assistant professor in the Department of Nutritional Sciences and Dell Pediatric Research Institute at UT Austin, explained the results in Science Daily: “After screening a natural compound library, we developed an unbiased look at combinations of nutrients that have a better effect on prostate cancer than existing drugs. The beauty of this study is that we were able to inhibit tumor growth in mice without toxicity.”

Why were the compounds so effective? When cells are damaged and weakened by chronic infection, inflammation from auto-immune diseases, or obesity, they’re more likely to mutate into cancerous cells. The plant-based nutrients minimize inflammation, lowering the risk of those cells becoming malignant.

Cancer cells need nutrients to help them grow. They get this from glutamine, an amino acid that is important in breaking down proteins in our diet. The plant compounds stop the cancer cells from “feeding” on glutamine, literally starving them of their nutrition.

The discovery of such powerful weapons against prostate cancer in ordinary foods is definitely a significant step. However, simply eating foods that contain these compounds is unlikely to be enough to protect you against prostate cancer. Tiziani emphasizes that they need to be concentrated in order to have a positive effect.

“These nutrients have potential anti-cancer properties and are readily available,” he says “We only need to increase concentration beyond levels found in a healthy diet for an effect on prostate cancer cells.”

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11 Yoga-Inspired Stretches to Get a Good Night’s Sleep

If you're losing sleep over losing sleep, we've got the news to help you snooze. Try these stretches tonight to wake up refreshed tomorrow.

Rising Crescent Moon

We're a sleep-deprived nation, but you probably already know that since one in every three adults in this country doesn't get enough shut-eye, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Logging less than seven hours per night is associated with obesity, diabetes, heart disease, and even problems on the job. It's no surprise we're always scoping out new sleep tricks and tips, but some experts suggest you first understand why sleep is proving to be so elusive, first. There are many possible reasons, but here's a solution that could address nearly all of them: "Stretching before bed resets ourselves and wipes the slate clean from the stresses of the day, which we carry in our bodies," says Susanna Harwood Rubin, author of the comprehensive lifestyle guide, Yoga 365 and an international yoga teacher with a home base in New York City. Additionally, making stretching part of your nighttime routine can automatically set the scene for these better bedtime habits. In creating this sequence of stretches for sleep, Susanna kept the focus on the pelvis, spine, and hamstrings because "they don't get enough movement throughout the day, whether we spend it sitting or standing. The tightness makes it difficult to relax and release, which is necessary for turning our time in bed into a restful time." With that in mind, Susanna's sequence begins with what she calls the "Rising Crescent Moon," which can be done beside the bed. It is essentially a lunge with the back knee on the ground, the torso fully upright (perpendicular to the ground), and the toes flexed. Having the toes flexed is an added bonus for releasing the soles of your feet (you're welcome, aching feet). Susanna's using blocks in the photo, but you can support your hands by reaching out and holding onto the the edge of your bed. Hold the pose for a slow count of ten on each side, Susanna says—plan to hold every stretch for that long. "It's a wonderful release of the hip flexors, the fronts of the thighs and the sole of the foot."

Resting Crescent Moon

After you've done Rising Crescent Moon on each side, it will be time for you to climb into, or rather, onto, your bed. After doing this a few nights in a row, it will come to signify the transition into bed in a gentler and more pleasant way than simply putting on pajamas and brushing your teeth (although bedtime routines are crucial to sound sleep). Once on your bed, you should gather your pillows and have one under each hand as you get into your Rising Crescent Moon position. Now, instead of holding the torso upright, however you can let your torso sink down, slowly, gently, to come to rest on your front thigh. If your torso doesn't reach your thigh, that could indicate lower back tightness or hip-flexor tightness, which will ease in time. For now, use another pillow or a folded up blanket on top of your thigh to bridge the gap to your torso. The important thing is to feel supported. From here on in, every stretch will be done on the bed, supporting a gentle transition into the bed, under the covers and out of wakefulness.

Hero's Rest

After you're finished with your second side of Resting Crescent Moon, tuck your feet under you and sit on your calves. If this feels pinchy on your knees or thighs, then place a pillow between your rear and your calves. Place your palms on your knees, and keep your torso upright as you breathe 10, slow, victorious breaths, because, as Susanna says, "You've already conquered your day. Now take a moment and reflect on it quietly, without judgment, regret, or worrying about tomorrow." The Hero's Rest focuses on releasing your front-thighs. Your feet are stretched out behind you. Your hands brace your upper body. This stretch should calm the mind, lightly stretch the front thighs, and continue the stretch of the feet begun in the Crescent Moons.

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You Need These Tips to Navigate the Gym After New Year’s

New Year's resolutions send the masses to the gym, which makes regular gym rats want to avoid it like the plague. Here's how to enjoy your workout without getting in a fight over your favorite elliptical machine.

The early bird gets the treadmill

Even the most well-meaning New Year's resolution setters sleep through their alarms sometimes so, even at the beginning of the year, the gym is filled with more regulars than newbies in the wee early morning hours. (Plus, morning workouts have all of these insane health benefits.) If you have a flexible schedule, mid-afternoons and late nights are also safe bets.

Try a new class

Ask the front desk or group fitness manager which classes are least popular and give them a try. Every gym has a different flow so a club filled with moms might be busiest mid-morning while a gym with more young professionals is likely packed in the late evening. The busiest class doesn't always translate to mean the best so you might find a new favorite, with plenty of space, if you do your research. Avoid making these mistakes in your group fitness classes.

Hire a trainer

If you're nervous to navigate the busy weight room floor on your own, hire a personal trainer who will scope out open machines or even ask other gym-goers when they'll be finished (helping you to avoid any awkward encounters).

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Do You Really Have to Stop Drinking on Antibiotics?

he surprising reason one drink (probably) won’t hurt.

With the holidays in full swing, invitations for family dinners, office parties, and cocktail hours come in droves. One thing that could spoil all the holiday fun? Being the guest who turns down a glass of champagne because you’re on antibiotics. Thankfully, there’s a way to avoid becoming the scrooge of the soirée.
First things first: Can you mix your favorite holiday cocktail with antibiotics? Well, that depends. In a London survey, 81 percent of patients believed that alcohol inhibits the effectiveness of antibiotics, while 71 percent believed that it creates side effects to the drugs. But according to experts, both are slight misconceptions.
A study published by the National Institute of Health notes that while certain antibiotics can cause extreme reactions when mixed with alcohol, others are less likely to do so. This news might come as a surprise to any partygoer who has declined a drink in the name of “doctor’s orders.”
Still, there are a specific handful of antibiotics that do cause a severe reaction when alcohol is consumed. Metronidazole (also called Flagyl), tinidazole (Fasigyn), and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (Bactrim) are three of the biggest culprits. These drugs impair the body’s breakdown of alcohol, boosting a chemical compound called acetaldehyde in the blood. High levels of this toxin will stimulate unpleasant symptoms akin to a hangover, including severe nausea, vomiting, facial flushing, and a rapid heart rate—even after just one glass of beer. Other antibiotics such as isoniazid and flucloxacillin can cause inflammation of the liver due to alcohol consumption. In these cases, it would be wise to heed the long lecture from your doctor or pharmacist and give booze the boot.
If you’re not taking these prescriptions (which typically combat infections in the gums and intestines, infected leg ulcers and pressure sores, or infections caused by childbirth), some experts say there’s little cause for serious concern.
Nevertheless, there’s still a myriad of reasons to avoid alcohol while on antibiotics, even if it’s just penicillin. For one, “although alcohol doesn’t reduce the effectiveness of most antibiotics, it can reduce your energy and delay how quickly you recover from illness,” according to James M. Steckelburg, MD, professor of medicine at Mayo Medical School, on the website of the Mayo Clinic. Plus, alcohol can increase the already existing side effects of antibiotics, making your queasy stomach and worsening dizziness and sleepiness.
For those reasons, most doctors and pharmacists recommend that patients avoid alcohol while taking any kind of antibiotic—and for another two to three days afterward. After all, “why risk it?” says Mohamed Jalloh, spokesman for the American Pharmacists Association and assistant professor at Touro University in California. “It’s better to avoid the possibility of interrupting your recovery. The last thing you want to do is increase the risk of something happening.” Always ask your doctor these essential questions whenever you’re prescribed an antibiotic.

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The Danger of Swallowing Pills Without Water—It’s Not Choking

Think popping an Advil on the fly is totally harmless? You won't believe what can happen.

Most of us at some point have taken a pill without water, either because we were in a rush, too lazy to get up from our desk, or there wasn’t a drink nearby. But here’s why it’s actually quite dangerous—even fatal.
Washing a pill down with water is important not only because it makes swallowing easier, but because it helps prevent the pill from getting stuck in your esophagus, which can cause much more than discomfort. “Medications that are lodged in the esophagus are very likely to cause inflammation and irritation,” says Jennifer Caudle, DO, a board-certified family medicine physician and assistant professor in the department of Family Medicine at Rowan University-School of Osteopathic Medicine. “This can cause a number of symptoms from heartburn and chest pain to esophagitis, or even bleeding and holes.”
Since there are no pain nerves in parts of the esophagus, symptoms don’t always begin right away, which can make it difficult for you to know if a pill doesn’t make it all the way down. Some people experience chest pain or a feeling similar to heartburn, so they might just dismiss the sensation as a temporary discomfort. Over time, however, pills that get stuck along their journey can break down and erode the delicate tissue of the esophagus, causing painful bleeding and hemorrhaging, or severe dehydration, all of which can become quite serious.
A study from the Turkish Journal of Gastroenterology found that almost any kind of drug can cause an ulcer in the esophagus, but according to Dr. Caudle, a few common medications can cause significant damage when they get stuck, including drugs to treat osteoporosis, antibiotics, and over-the-counter pain relievers. “Pain relieving medications such as Motrin and Advil are commonly taken without water, and that class of drugs can be notoriously problematic if they get lodged in the throat,” says Caudle. A surgeon at Morristown Memorial Hospital in New Jersey tells the story of a teenage football player who would pop two Advil with no water before every game—and developed an esophagus that looked “like Swiss cheese” for all the holes the pills had burned. Vitamin C and iron supplements have also been found to be especially problematic.
To avoid dangerous complications when swallowing pills, it’s always best to wash them down with at least eight ounces of water, Caudle advises. She also recommends taking pills standing or sitting up, never lying down. This means you should avoid taking medication right before bed, or at least 15 minutes before bed, to allow the pill time to travel down the esophagus.
“It’s not to say that if you don’t drink anything, your pill will always get stuck,” says Caudle. “But the risk is higher if you don’t have a full glass of water.” Don’t miss the other over-the-counter medication mistakes you’re probably making.

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Medical Reasons You Always Feel Hungry

Depression:

Eating can be a coping mechanism for people with depression or anxiety. Part of this might be because they don’t have enough of feel-good hormone serotonin, and eating comfort foods like pasta and bread can bring those levels up, says Holly Lofton, MD, weight management specialist and director of the medical weight management program at NYU Langone Medical Center. “You’re not treating depression with celery,” she says. “It’s whatever your mom gave you to feel good.” Here's what else your food cravings reveal about your health.

Stress:

During fight or flight mode, the stress hormone cortisol floods your body, which convinces your body to eat, even if you don’t physically need the calories, says Shanna Levine, MD, clinical educator at Mount Sinai School Medicine. “It’s not out of necessity, but cortisol tells your brain you’re not full,” she says. “That’s why stress causes people to overeat.” These are the best foods to eat when you're stressed.

Hyperthyroidism:

If you’re eating more than usual but are somehow still dropping pounds, your thyroid could be overproducing hormones, triggering your body to kick things up. “Think of the thyroid as an endocrine hormonal organ that speeds everything in the body up,” says Dr. Lofton. “So you would also speed up metabolically, and increase their hunger as a result.” The thyroid is also involved in satiety, so you might find your cravings harder to satisfy if it’s overactive, says Dr. Levine. See if your hunger is paired with fatigue, moodiness, brittle nails, or hair loss—they’re all signs of hyperthyroidism. Try these little habits for a healthy thyroid.

Obesity:

Overeating can lead to weight gain, but in a vicious cycle, obesity itself can also make you hungry. Excess fat could cause your insulin levels to skyrocket, making your appetite go up in response, says Dr. Lofton. Plus, fat cells make your body less sensitive to the satiety hormone, leptin, says Dr. Levine. “Because fat produces its own hormones, part of obesity is that people tend to feel more hungry than someone with higher metabolism and in better shape,” she says. (Related: These sneaky things could affect your weight, regardless of diet and exercise.)

Hypoglycemia:

Low blood sugar can come from a number of causes, from meal skipping to pancreas problems. But the result is the same: a growly tummy while your body begs for an energy boost. “The body produces hunger as a signal to the brain to tell you to take in more food to have enough blood glucose to enter the cells,” says Dr. Lofton. Here are more ways to treat low blood sugar.

Diabetes:

Type 1 and type 2 diabetes both mess with sugar levels, which can create a cycle of hunger when people try to get their blood sugar back on track. Low blood sugar triggers appetite, but going overboard can make those cravings worse. “What happens is people overeat and get too high of sugar levels, which also cannot be satiating,” says Dr. Levine. “It’s a cause and effect that goes back and forth.” Try keeping your blood sugar steady with foods by staying away from carb-heavy or refined, processed foods, she says. Don't miss these symptoms of high blood sugar.

Your Period:

Hormonal changes during your period could lead you to polish off a dozen cupcakes, but you also need more calories to keep up with your body’s extra demands that time of the month. “It’s a high-energy state for your body, which is why women tend to feel tired, and dehydrated,” says Dr. Levine. “In any type of high-energy state, the body physically requires more calories.” Should you talk to a doctor about your period problems?

Medication:

Increased appetite is a side effect of some medications, including SSRI antidepressants, steroids for conditions like allergies or lupus, and anti-seizure medications. Don’t stop taking your medicine though—ask your physician about switching prescriptions. “Any medication you take is a chemical that you’re putting in your body,” says Dr. Lofton. “Talk to your doctor and see if there are any alternatives less likely to cause side effects.” Read these other questions to ask before taking medication.

Dehydration:

Even if you feel hungry, you might just be misinterpreting your body’s plea for water. “When you’re dehydrated, before you become physically thirsty you will feel hungry, and often people mistake that,” says Dr. Levine. She recommends starting the day with an eight-ounce glass of water, then carrying a water bottle with you so you can get 1.5 to 2.5 liters throughout the day. Try to stick with plain water over sugary drinks, which can trick your brain into thinking you’re hungry, despite the extra calories you’re sipping. Find out why you're always thirsty.

Insomnia:

Without your recommended seven to eight hours of sleep every night, your body will find it harder to regulate the hormones that control your hunger levels when you wake up. The hunger hormone ghrelin will spike, making you reach for food, even when your body doesn’t need the calories. “Every day, you’re getting up and have metabolic demands,” says Dr. Levine. “It’s a form of stress when you deprive yourself of sleep and cause hormone disregulation.” Don't miss these clear signs you'll sleep badly tonight.

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