Sproutwells and Soccer Moms

The Sproutwells are a fruit and vegetable family who are living among us. This short episode currently shows Mom watching Ruby’s soccer game. I enjoyed this short clip and I didn’t even expect it!

I have heard of a lot of crazy soccer mom stories, some hilarious and some pretty disturbing but it all boils down to them being stage mom’s. I know all moms would love to see their kids succeed and they would also want to encourage their kids. Some have gone waaay overboard though and have picked fights here and there. Cat fights, anyone?

The Sproutwells are also fond of freshfunds, a website similar to Ebay where you can rack up points, bid online and make donations to charity online. Not only that, you get to learn more about fruits, vegetables, read about healthy tips, and know more about your health.

Want more Sproutwells? Check out this episode and tell me what you think!

Conversations: Breast Cancer and Celiac Disease

Since Christina Applegate got diagnosed with breast cancer, increased buzz has been circulating about the said disease. But what do you know about breast cancer? In school, we have been taught about the general signs of cancer.

Roughly, cancer symptoms can be divided into three groups:

• Local symptoms: unusual lumps or swelling (tumor), hemorrhage (bleeding), pain and/or ulceration. Compression of surrounding tissues may cause symptoms such as jaundice (yellowing the eyes and skin).
• Symptoms of metastasis (spreading): enlarged lymph nodes, cough and hemoptysis, hepatomegaly (enlarged liver), bone pain, fracture of affected bones and neurological symptoms. Although advanced cancer may cause pain, it is often not the first symptom.
• Systemic symptoms: weight loss, poor appetite, fatigue and cachexia (wasting), excessive sweating (night sweats), anemia and specific paraneoplastic phenomena, i.e. specific conditions that are due to an active cancer, such as thrombosis or hormonal changes. (Wikipedia.org)

Is anyone experiencing these signs and symptoms (I hope not!)? Better check with your physician ASAP. Just so you know (if you don't already know), guys can have breast cancer.



And? What about Celiac Disease?

Celiac disease, is an autoimmune disorder of the small intestine that occurs in genetically predisposed people of all ages from middle infancy. Symptoms include chronic diarrhea, failure to thrive (in children), and fatigue, but these may be absent and symptoms in all other organ systems have been described.

Like me?

Health Watch: Parabens and Aluminum Containing Antiperspirants may Cause Breast Cancer

Recent studies have showed that there is a link between aluminum and parabens containing deodorants and breast cancer. This is alarming because we all know that breast cancer is the second most common type of cancer and the fifth most common cause of death especially in women.
As a woman, being aware with all these findings is beneficial because I have learned that “prevention is the best cure.” Preventing certain conditions and diseases are critical in maintaining a healthy lifestyle; as a result, we would live a long life. I know most of us would want that, wouldn’t we?
There have been controversies surrounding antiperspirants containing aluminum and parabens, as one of the possible causes of breast cancer. What is parabens, you ask. Well, parabens are a group of chemicals used as preservatives in the cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries. Generally, they are non-toxic and are excreted from our body; however, recent studies have shown that samples of parabens have appeared in samples of breast tumors. Aluminum is also used in antiperspirants and food additives. Although they are absorbed by the body and increased absorption of aluminum may cause reduced bone mineralization, there has been no clear reports about it contributing to cancer.
Does parabens and aluminum containing antiperspirants contribute to breast cancer? Probably. I know we have discovered and used many chemicals that have made our lives easier. Everywhere we look, we cannot seem to escape carcinogens. Whether we breathe in air or we drink processed drinks, we are exposed daily to carcinogens. Antiperspirants may indeed contribute to breast cancer but I know that it isn’t the main cause. There are certain people who are predisposed to have breast cancer which cannot be changes like age, sex, gender, and hereditary. Avoiding probable causes of cancer are also good for our health but I know we cannot avoid it 100%.

A lot of debate has been done regarding this findings. To know more, share your ideas, join the Breast Cancer Link Debate.

Like me?