News
Breast Cancer Risk: Do Fruits & Veggies Matter?
Consuming a diet high in fruits and vegetables is a key habit for obtaining and maintaining a healthy weight, and there is strong evidence that obesity or being overweight increases the risk of post-menopausal breast cancer. According to the American Cancer Society, at least 18% of all cancers and about 16% of cancer deaths in the U.S. are related to excess body weight, physical inactivity, alcohol consumption, and/or poor nutrition. However, when it comes to fruits and vegetables alone, the research is not as clear about these foods' direct link to lowering the risk of breast cancer.
A recent American Institute of Cancer Research (AICR) study published in the British Journal of Cancer, found that consuming high amounts of fruits and vegetables lowers the risk of breast cancer compared to eating smaller amounts. Additionally, the paper found that those with hormone receptor negative tumor types (not associated with estrogen or progesterone) saw an additional benefit of 26% reduced risk.
While the evidence linking diet and breast cancer is still being scientifically discovered, eating a hearty amount of fruits and vegetables still has several other health benefits. These plant foods contain important phytochemicals, fiber and nutrients the body needs for good health, maintaining a healthy weight, and for prevention of many chronic illnesses. The most recent AICR report found that fruits, vegetables and other foods containing fiber are important for preventing cancers of the colon and oral cancers.
The AICR recommends eating at least 3.5 to 5 cups of fruits and vegetables daily. Here are some tips for incorporating fruits and vegetables into your daily diet:
- Incorporate a variety of fruits and vegetables into breakfast smoothies.
- Add more veggies to your sandwiches or wraps.
- Have a salad with lunch and dinner.
- Add vegetables to soups, spaghetti sauces, and pizza.
- Incorporate fruits and vegetables into snacks.
- Make a choice to include at least 1-2 servings of fruit and/or vegetables every time you eat.
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Hot, Cold and Mental Health: Inside Vail Health’s CHILL’D Research Study
Depression, a mental illness affecting more than 18% of American adults, has no blood marker or single biological cause. It looks and feels different in everyone because the brain is a complex organ, and there is no single way that depression develops. Like many mental health conditions, depression can be treated through medical, pharmaceutical and alternative approaches. One promising avenue under study at Vail Health’s Behavioral Health Innovation Center is contrast therapy — combining sauna and cold plunge treatments.
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What to Expect Before, During and After a Colonoscopy
If you've been putting off a colonoscopy, you're not alone. It's one of the most recommended — and most avoided — preventive screenings in medicine. But here's what most people don't realize until after their first one: the procedure itself is a non-event. You're asleep. You don't feel a thing. What people actually dread, and what they talk about afterward, is the prep. The good news is that even the prep is manageable, and the payoff is enormous. Colorectal cancer is one of the most preventable cancers when caught early. A colonoscopy doesn't just detect it; in many cases, it stops cancer before it starts.
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Navigating Men’s Sexual Health: Erectile Dysfunction and the Bigger Picture
For something so common — and treatable — erectile dysfunction (ED) is still surprisingly difficult to talk about. “The biggest misconception men have is that there’s a mechanical or physical problem with them, and that’s usually not the case,” explains Dr. Joseph Dall’Era, a urologist at Vail Health. In reality, ED is far more nuanced and manageable than people realize. Understanding what’s happening and knowing when to speak up can shift the experience.