Nutrition Q&A: Cherries, America’s Superfruit
Cherries are one of my favorite fruits. With it being cherry season I have been eating them by the pound. Do they provide any health benefits? Not only are cherries satisfying to eat, they provide a wealth of health benefits earning them the title of “Super Fruit”. Cherries have many important health benefits – from helping ease the pain of arthritis and gout, to reducing risk factors for heart disease, diabetes and certain cancers. Cherries can be one of the recommended 5-9 daily servings of fruits/vegetables recommended for cancer prevention and decreased recurrence. Cherries also contain melatonin, which has been found to help regulate the body’s natural sleep patterns, aid with jet lag, prevent memory loss and delay the aging process. The cherry season runs mid May to mid August with June being the peak of the season, so summer is the perfect time to enjoy them fresh. Even though the season is relatively short, they can be eaten all year round weather dried, frozen or as juice. Cherries have among the highest levels of disease-fighting antioxidants, when compared to other fruits. They also contain other important nutrients such as beta carotene (19 times more than blueberries or strawberries) vitamin C, potassium, magnesium, iron, fiber and folate. Cherries’ red color is provided by the fruit’s powerful antioxidants called anthocyanins. Anthocyanins are responsible for providing the many health benefits stated above. They can reduce inflammation, total cholesterol, and can drastically reduce your risk for heart disease. With more than 80 million Americans living with some form of heart disease, the heart-healthy qualities of eating cherries are more relevant than ever. Anthocyanins can also help ease the pain of inflammatory-related conditions such as arthritis, and gout. Cherries’ post-exercise benefits are good news for the increasing number of active adults who feel the aches and pain of post-exercise muscle soreness. These post-exercise benefits are likely because of the fruit’s natural anti-inflammation properties. As of today there’s no established guideline on how many cherries it takes to reap the benefits, but the experts do suggest that 1-2 servings of cherries daily can help provide some of the health benefits identified in the research. Single serving size examples include: • 1/2 cup dried • 1 cup frozen or fresh • 1 cup juice • 1 ounce (or 2 Tbsp) juice concentrate
Evidence Update: TurningPoint – Avon Breast Center at Grady Study Published
Hot off the press! This month’s evidence update features a study published this week by TurningPoint and our research partners at The Avon Breast Center at Grady Hospital and Emory University. The study examined the benefit of early identification and treatment of the physical side effects of breast cancer treatment, such as pain, limitation in motion and function and lymphedema (chronic arm swelling). Participants were 120 patients being treated for breast cancer at the Avon Breast Center at Grady Hospital. Grady is a safety net hospital in downtown Atlanta. Study participants were primarily underserved and minority women who would not typically be able to access this type of care. Pain, range of motion, arm volume and function were evaluated by a physical therapist at designated intervals. These assessment intervals were: pre-op, early post-op (2-4 weeks), 6 weeks and 3, 6, 9 and 12 months after surgery. All patients received range of motion exercise and education. Patients with identified impairments such as significantly limited range of motion, axillary cording or lymphedema received more intense individualized rehabilitation. One third (36) of the patients required this more intense intervention. Sixteen patients developed lymphedema during the first post-operative year. In 12 patients, lymphedema was identified and treated early and managed at low levels (<10% greater than baseline measure). In just four patients, lymphedema progressed to more severe levels, defined in the study as 11% greater than baseline. Of interest is that participants who needed more intense rehab intervention had significantly lower arm function and more pain in the early post-operative phase as well as more nodes removed and higher stage of breast cancer. This finding may help us to identify early which patients will require more intense rehabilitation and plan their care accordingly. Our research team concluded that health care providers should have heightened awareness for rehabilitation intervention and that early identification and management of lymphedema, range of motion and functional issues appear to benefit breast cancer patients. The work exemplifies TurningPoint’s commitment to evidence-based practice and reducing barriers to breast cancer rehabilitation and exercise. Read the published study here. Lai L, Binkley J, Jones V, Kirkpatrick S, Furbish C, Stratford P, Thompson W, Sidhu A, Farley C, Okoli J, Beech D and Gabram S. Implementing the Prospective Surveillance Model (PSM) of Rehabilitation for Breast Cancer Patients with 1-Year Postoperative Follow-up, a Prospective Observational Study. Ann Surg Oncol. 2016 Jun 22. [Epub ahead of print]
Nutrition Q&A: Smart Plastics
I’m trying to be good and stay hydrated this summer and, out of convenience, I’ve been grabbing a water bottle out of the fridge on my way out the door and refilling it all day. I know that I should be avoiding BPA, but can you tell me which recycling codes on the bottom of my bottles I need to avoid? BPA stands for Bisphenol A, an industrial chemical used to make polycarbonate plastic resins, epoxy resins, and other products. It is an organic compound that possibly acts similarly to estrogen when ingested into the body. A growing number of health experts and consumers are becoming concerned about the adverse health effects that can be caused from high-dose or long-term exposure to BPA. BPA has been used to harden plastics for more than 40 years. It’s in more things that most people think. We all know that it can be in the lining of canned foods and water bottles, but BPA can also be found in medical devices, compact discs, and even dental sealants. More than 90% of us have BPA in our bodies, coming mostly from eating foods or drinking beverages that have been in containers made with BPA. To decrease your exposure to BPA follow these Tips to help you avoid BPA in plastics: Find products that are BPA-free. It isn’t as hard as it once was. Choose non-plastic containers for food. Containers made of glass, porcelain, or stainless steel do not contain BPA. Do not heat plastic that could contain BPA. Never use plastic in the microwave. Heat can cause BPA to leach out. For the same reason, never pour boiling water into a plastic containers. Hand-wash plastic bottles, cups, and plates. Throw out any plastic products — that are chipped or cracked. They can harbor germs. If they also have BPA, it’s more likely to leach into food. Use fewer canned foods and more fresh or frozen. Many canned foods still contain BPA in the can linings. Avoid plastics with a 3, 6, or 7 recycle code on the bottom. These plastics might contain BPA. Safe codes are 1,2,4 and 5.
Patient Perspective: Cara Inman
Patient Perspective: Cara Inman When I was diagnosed with breast cancer, I was scared and in shock. I was so lucky to be surrounded with a dream team of doctors – breast surgeon, plastic surgeon, and oncologist – who were fabulous. My role with them was to be the most compliant patient possible while they took care of business. The next step was physical therapy and this was my opportunity to take an active role. I knew physical therapy would be critical to putting my world back together again. My doctors told me about TurningPoint and I booked my first appointment from my hospital room. It’s hard to express how important this partnership has been. At my first appointment, my therapist was confident and reassuring. Since they only deal with breast cancer patients, they were just the experts I needed! I had a team of two therapists and the level of care was exceptional. It was amazing how quickly my body responded to my therapy sessions. They also gave me just the right exercises to do at home and I saw improvement daily. Since TurningPoint specializes in helping breast cancer patients, it was very assuring at each visit to know that they knew exactly what I was going through and better yet, how to get me through the last step of healing and recovery. I feel that my physical therapists have truly become coaches for me – giving me guidance and cheering me on. My experience at TurningPoint has been wonderful. I will forever be grateful to this wonderful group of professionals!
