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We are all familiar with side effects of chemotherapy like hair loss and stomach upset, but did you know that taste changes are also a common side effect? Almost half of people who undergo chemotherapy experience a change in their sense of taste. From too sweet to too bitter, chemotherapy can affect how foods and drink taste.
What Taste Changes Occur During Chemotherapy?
Not all people will develop taste changes during chemotherapy. Certain chemotherapy drugs are more likely to cause it than others. Drugs such as carboplatin, cisplatin, doxorubisin, gemcitabine, and paclitaxel are known to cause taste change.

Taste changes can occur a few hours after completing a round of chemotherapy or days after. It varies from person to person, and there is no way to predict when it may occur. When people do experience taste changes, they generally experience any of four different taste sensations, such as: * bitter * metallic * loss of taste * sweet
What Can My Doctor Do About My Taste Changes?
Unfortunately, there is not much your doctor can do to prevent taste changes caused by chemotherapy. Even so, it is very important that you let your doctor know about any side effects of treatment you are experiencing — even taste changes. Side effects involving taste changes can lead to weight loss. When foods taste differently, you can develop an aversion to certain foods or eating altogether, which can cause weight loss and malnutrition.
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Memorial Day — a tradition followed at many national cemeteries today. In recent years, the custom has grown in many families to decorate the graves of all departed loved ones.

The origins of special services to honor those who die in war can be found in antiquity. The Athenian leader Pericles offered a tribute to the fallen heroes of the Peloponnesian War over 24 centuries ago that could be applied today to the 1.1 million Americans who have died in the nation’s wars: “Not only are they commemorated by columns and inscriptions, but there dwells also an unwritten memorial of them, graven not on stone but in the hearts of men.”

National Moment of Remembrance

To ensure the sacrifices of America ’s fallen heroes are never forgotten, in December 2000, the U.S. Congress passed and the president signed into law “The National Moment of Remembrance Act,” P.L. 106-579, creating the White House Commission on the National Moment of Remembrance. The commission’s charter is to “encourage the people of the United States to give something back to their country, which provides them so much freedom and opportunity” by encouraging and coordinating commemorations in the United States of Memorial Day and the National Moment of Remembrance.

The National Moment of Remembrance encourages all Americans to pause wherever they are at 3 p.m. local time on Memorial Day for a minute of silence to remember and honor those who have died in service to the nation. As Moment of Remembrance founder Carmella LaSpada states: “It’s a way we can all help put the memorial back in Memorial Day.”
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January is National Hot Tea Month and most of us have already contemplated or made resolutions of one sort or another. A press release circulated by the Tea Association of the USA dated 1/1/09 states that January is also the height of cold and flu season and that tea just may be a natural deterrent.

The CDC estimates that over 200,000 people will be affected by colds and flu this season. While a flu shot is highly recommended another natural preventative may be found in your tea cup.

According to a recent study conducted by Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard University theanine, a natural component found in tea, may help to support and strengthen the body’s immune system important to avoiding the sniffles or worse.

Even with an annual flu vaccination, healthy adults are 30% less likely to contract the infection. Tea is not a sterile bubble against colds and flu but can certainly aid to increase the strength of your immune system helping to keep you healthy and feeling great.

Resolutions that are simple to incorporate into our lives are the ones we are most likely to stick with past January. Adding a cup or two of tea to our daily routine seems like a simple, affordable way to improve the quality and taste of our lives in 09.

Besides great taste, tons of variety and the simplicity of specialty tea, this list of potential benefits is even more reason for adding tea to our diets;

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Going Up! 7 Pointers to Lift a Bad MoodBy Dr. Maoshing Ni -
A bad mood not only gives you a gloomy outlook, it also lowers your immune function, leading the way to illness. Here are some suggestions to lift your mood, your spirit, and your health.

1. A Laughing Matter
“Laugh Therapy,” pioneered by Norman Cousins, has turned out to have real substance. Research has discovered that laughter and joy boost immune functions, especially the production of the natural killer cells that help defend the body from illness and cancer.

Laughter also increases the release of endorphins - compounds that give you a sense of well-being - in your brain. Without a doubt, joyful people liver longer and healthier lives. So read your favorite comics, watch your favorite comedies, and laugh it up!

2. Amino Acid for Restored Mindset
When an imbalance or deficiency is creating a bad mood, the Europeans use supplements of a natural compound found in human cells to regulate mood and restore a healthy mindset. SAMe (S-adenosyl-L-methionine) is produced from methionine, an amino acid that plays a role in the production of uplifting neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine.

One study indicated that SAMe worked on patients who had unsuccessful results with conventional antidepressants. To get a boost from SAMe, take a supplement combining it with vitamins B6 and B12.

3. Hands-On Healing
Human touch increases the production of endorphins, growth hormone, and DHEA, all of which lengthen your life span and lower the negative impact of stress. Studies have found that patients who are regularly touched recover faster than those who are not touched. So give someone a hug and feel both of your moods improve.

4. Boost Your “Youth Hormones”
You don’t need pills to flood your body with a rejuvenating flood of growth hormones. Research has found that doing squats and leg presses will greatly increase your natural production of the “youth hormone”. Increased growth hormone translates to an elevated mood, among other physical benefits. Keep it up with weight training, knee bends, push-ups, and rowing.

5. Take a Bracing Breath
Breathing correctly is important for dispelling the toxins and wastes from your body; in fact, it is estimated that we expel only about 30 percent of toxins in our bodies through the bowels and bladder-the rest is all respiratory. Breathing is also a great way to clear your mind, boost your energy, and improve your mood. Practice deep, slow, rhythmic, breathing daily with mind-body disciplines such as tai chi, yoga, qigong, and meditation.

6. Smell the Joy
Research has shown that smell has a definite impact on our bodies and minds. When you stimulate the olfactory nerves inside your nose, you activate the limbic system of your brain, which is associated with moods and memory. This concept is instrumental to aromatherapy, a natural health tradition that makes use of the healing powers of plants with strong scents.

Aromatherapy recommends treating depression with jasmine, eucalyptus for exhilaration, and grapefruit to increase alertness and joy. Just put a dab of the essential oils from these plants on your temples, back of your neck, or acupressure points. Another option? Boil the herb in water and inhale the steam through your nose.

7. Feel Fine with Flowers
There is a reason that flowers are the traditional get-well gesture. Colorful flowers have a powerful influence on moods; they can uplift a patient’s mood and even combat stress. One study found that during a five-minute typing assignment, people sitting next to a flowering bouquet were more relaxed than those who sat near foliage-only plants.

I hope these tips help the good feelings flow! I invite you to visit often and share your own personal health and longevity tips with me.

May you live long, live strong, and live happy!
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Cancer Loves Sugar – Truth or Rumor?
This familiar saying, “cancer loves sugar” has been around since the 1924 publication of Dr. Otto Warburg’s paper, “On metabolism of tumors.” Warburg was a Nobel Prize winning cell biologist who wrote, “Summarized in a few words, the prime cause of cancer is the replacement of the respiration of oxygen in normal body cells by a fermentation of sugar.” Many people who referred to his work in later years misquoted Warburg’s statement by saying, “cancer loves sugar.”

Warburg’s hypothesis stated that cancer growth was caused when cancer cells converted glucose into energy without using oxygen. Healthy cells make energy by converting pyruvate and oxygen. The pyruvate is oxidized within a healthy cell’s mitochondria, and Warburg theorized that since cancer cells don’t oxidize pyruvate, cancer must be considered a mitochondrial dysfunction.

Now that we know more about the genetics of cancer, we know that cancer is not a mitochondrial dysfunction, but is caused by genetic mutations, such as appear on the genes BRCA1 and BRCA2. It is true that healthy cells and cancer cells convert their food to energy in different ways, but that difference is an effect, and not a cause, of cancer.

Sugar and Proteins Keep Cancer Cells Alive
It’s been said that cancer cells are immortal – they don’t die off in an orderly way like healthy cells do. Scientists have studied this effect and may have discovered what tumor cells do to avoid cell death. In laboratory research at Duke University, cancer cells appear to use a combination of sugar and specific proteins to keep growing when they should die. These cancer cells appear to use sugar at a high rate, in order to ignore cellular instructions to die off. So might sugar – which appears to make cancer cells stronger – someday turn out to be cancer’s Achilles’ Heel?
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Mistakenly thought to be a strictly male disease, women actually make up forty percent of American hair loss sufferers. Hair loss in women can be absolutely devastating for the sufferer’s self image and emotional well being.Unfortunately, society has forced women to suffer in silence. It is considered far more acceptable for men to go through the same hair loss process.

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1) Go for a walk
Not only is walking a great mood-booster, but walking can burn calories and reduce body fat.

* Going for outdoor walks has an added benefit: the natural light stimulates the brain to produce serotonin, a neurotransmitter involved in mood.

2) Go to bed early
If late nights are a regular way of life for you, it may be affecting your mood and outlook on life. Getting less sleep than you need can increase anxiety, tension, and sadness.

Studies have shown that lack of sleep reduces emotional and physical well-being, reduces optimism, and even contributes to the onset and worsening of physical pain.

What you can do:

* Try to go to bed 30 minutes earlier every night.

* Make your bed a restful haven. Splurge on good pillows. Also consider treating yourself to soft sheets with at least a 300 thread count.

Sheets made of pima, supima, or better yet, egyptian cotton, which tend to be softer than muslin or percale.

3) De-clutter your space
It’s almost impossible to relax and feel great when everywhere you look, there are bills, papers, and appointment cards piled on workspaces and spilling out of drawers. Organizing your home and office is a great way to start off the new year. Having everything in order can help calm anxiety, and some people find the actual cleaning part therapeutic.

What you can do:

* Each weekend, tackle a different area of your home or office.

* Turn to home stores for help. There are many types of organizers available to store your things in a neat, easily accessible way.

4) Listen to music
Music has a powerful effect on mood. It activates areas of the brain involved in the feeling of happiness.

* Listen to music while traveling to work, during your lunch, or before you go to bed.

* What is most important is that you listen to music that you enjoy.

* Try music especially designed for relaxation or nature sounds.

5) Consider aromatherapy
Aromatherapy involves the use of concentrated, aromatic plant oils called essential oils.

A study in the International Journal of Neuroscience found that people exposed to the scent of lavender or rosemary essential oils felt more content than people who didn’t use essential oils.

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Hot Topics
DeCode Breast Cancer: Understanding What This New Test Can—and Can’t—Do
The company deCode Genetics recently announced that it would begin selling a new genetic test that, it says, can assess a woman’s lifetime risk of developing the most common types of breast cancer.

Currently, genetic testing is primarily used in women with an extensive family history of breast and ovarian cancer to see if they carry one of the breast cancer genetic mutations, called BRCA1 and BRCA2. These mutations account for about 5 percent of all breast cancer cases. But women who have the BRCA1 or BRCA2 genetic mutation have up to an 85% chance of developing breast cancer. In contrast, the average lifetime risk for a woman of European descent is about a 12%.

The new DNA test, called deCode Breast Cancer, is performed on a blood sample or a cheek swab. It must be ordered by a physician for their patient. (A woman can’t order it directly from the company herself.) The result is given as a numerical “score” that represents your personal lifetime risk of developing breast cancer.
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“Chemo brain” or “chemo fog” are terms used for thinking and memory difficulty that some associate with chemotherapy treatment. While some research suggests a link between chemotherapy and problems with thinking and memory, findings are not yet consistent and more studies need to be done. What we do know is that for many breast cancer patients, “chemo brain” is a very real issue. You may not remember where you put your keys or why you went to the store, or you may simply not be able to think of the right word.
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Build a Smarter Summer Salad
Summer is a great time for salads. You can make a meal without turning on the stove and take advantage of all the great in-season produce. The salad bar seems to beckon in the summer, too; when heavier restaurant meals seem to weigh you down, a trip to the salad bar is a lighter option. But lurking in that salad bar (or your fridge) are salad staples that may up your fat and calorie intake more than you realize.
Here are some ideas for what to keep and what to toss as you toss your next salad.
Basics for a Great Salad
At a salad bar, take a moment to look over the selection before you start preparing your plate so you can have healthy choices in mind beforehand.

When you do begin assembling your salad, pile up a large amount of leafy greens right away. Try to take up about 3/4 of your plate with greens, so you’ll have less room for high-cal stuff.
Tip: Swap iceberg lettuce for darker greens, such as romaine lettuce or spinach, as they pack in more vitamins and minerals.

Some of the most nutritious foods at the salad bar are also the tastiest and lowest in fat and calories. Aim to add these veggies to every salad:
beets
peppers
red cabbage
carrots
tomatoes
cucumbers
beans
sprouts
onions
peas
mushrooms
Tip: Tomatoes are a super-smart choice. They contain lycopene, which may help reduce the risk of some cancer and heart disease.
If you have never eaten fruit in your salads, try adding cranberries, tangerine sections, sliced strawberries, apples slices or red grapes. They’ll add sweetness that you may miss if you go sans dressing, and they’ll boost your salad’s nutrition, too.

What About the “Extras”?
A scoop here and a sprinkle there can lead to too many extra calories before you can say, “Where are the croutons?” Consider the calorie count of some of these popular salad add-ons:

chow mein noodles (½ cup) - 118 calories
peanuts (1 Tbsp) - 50 calories
regular cottage cheese (½ cup) - 116 calories
pepperoni slices (1 oz.) - 140 calories
fried noodles (½ cup) - 172 calories
marinated artichoke hearts (1 oz.) - 60 calories
potato salad (½ cup) - 179 calories
tuna salad (½ cup) - 192 calories
blue cheese (1 oz.) - 100 calories
Macaroni or pasta salad often contains a large amount of mayo (which provides around 100 calories per tablespoon). Dish out just half a cup of macaroni or pasta salad, and you’ll add hundreds of calories to your salad in one fell swoop.

Croutons can add about 90 calories per half cup. Homemade croutons often have added fat and may even be deep fried. If you just can’t have a salad without them, crush just a couple up and spread them all over your salad; you’ll get some of the crunch and flavor and fewer calories.

Cheddar cheese is something most people sprinkle on their salads without a thought, but it isn’t exactly a good choice, as most of its calories come from fat. Just two tablespoons of cheddar cheese provides a whopping 114 calories. If you just can’t say no to cheese, make sure to use shredded — as it’s easier to disperse throughout your salad, you’ll likely use less. Or, consider trying a stronger cheese, such as parmesan or Feta, since a very small amount goes a long way.

Marinated beets, marinated mixed vegetables, tomato and cucumber salad, carrot and raisin salad, and three bean salad should be enjoyed in moderation. They often are drenched in oil. While the “good” fat in olive oil provides benefits, its calories count, too, so it is possible to have too much of a good thing.

Tip: Say “adios” to the fried tortilla shell if you get a taco salad; the shell alone packs around 300 calories.

Give Your Salad Staying Power
To make your salad stick to your ribs, it is important to add a protein source. Some good protein choices are:

hard-boiled eggs
egg whites
grilled chicken
boiled or steamed shrimp
grilled salmon
roasted turkey breast
water-packed tuna
Tip: Salmon provides omega-3 fatty acids, making it a great choice for improving heart health while getting a protein boost.

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