What Causes Cancer? 7 Strange Cancer Claims Explained
By Megan Johnson, US News
Wed, Jan 26, 2011
Bras, deodorant, and mouthwash—just a few of the everyday products that have been linked to cancer at some point during the past several decades. Preposterous? Not at the time, and new suspects have been added to the list. The following slides reveal the real story behind ordinary household items that have come under scrutiny.
Artificial Sweeteners
The link: Calorie watchers scored a win when diet sodas were introduced in the early 1950s. Then lab studies suggested that the sweetener cyclamate caused bladder cancer in rats, and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration banned its use. Then saccharin, the replacement of choice, was also shown to cause tumors in rats. Although saccharin was never banned, all products containing the sweetener were required to carry a cancer warning on their packaging.
The reality: No evidence has since emerged that either cyclamate, which is used in other countries, or saccharin causes cancer in humans, according to the National Cancer Institute. Although cyclamate is still banned, saccharin was taken off the government's list of possible carcinogens in 2000, the same year in which saccharin products shed the warning label. The sweetener aspartame has come under suspicion, but scientists have found no increased risk of cancer in humans.
Mouthwash
The link: A handful of studies since the late '70s have tied mouthwash that contains ethanol to oral cancer. Investigators theorize that it may make oral tissues more vulnerable to known carcinogens, such as those in cigarettes.
The reality: The evidence against mouthwash is weak, according to the American Dental Association. Studies don't show, for example, that brands with higher alcohol content present a greater risk than those with lesser amounts. Mouthwash is safe when used as directed, says the ADA, which, depending on the product, may mean swishing once or twice daily and not swallowing. People who smoke, have a family history of oral cancer, or have other risk factors may want to choose alcohol-free brands to be on the safe side, the ADA says.
Statins
The link: Could these cholesterol-lowering drugs raise the risk of cancer? A 2007 study inspired this belief when researchers investigating the side effects of certain statins—lovastatin, simvastatin, pravastatin, fluvastatin, and atorvastatin—found that participants taking high doses were more likely to be diagnosed with various cancers, including those of the breast, colon, and prostate.
The reality: A 2008 review of 15 clinical trials involving statins cast doubt on the initial results; low LDL cholesterol levels, the reviewers found, were associated with cancer, whether or not participants were taking statins, suggesting that cholesterol levels, not the drugs, were to blame. "This study should reassure those taking statins that they are not increasing their risk of cancer by trying to reduce their risk of cardiovascular disease," senior author Richard Karas of Boston's Tufts University School of Medicine said in a statement. A separate review of research involving roughly 170,000 participants found no link between statins and cancer.
Cell Phones
The link: In 1993, a man suing the manufacturer of his wife's mobile phone claimed on Larry King Live that the device was responsible for her brain cancer. The broadcast provoked a public outcry, a rash of similar lawsuits, and millions of dollars poured into studying whether radio waves emitted by cell phones could be harmful.
The reality: The largest study to date, published in 2010, could neither confirm nor dismiss a connection between cell phones and cancer. Scientists tracked nearly 13,000 adults for a decade and found a slightly higher rate of one of four cancers—gliomas, a particularly aggressive variety of brain cancer—among frequent cell users. But cell users overall had a lower rate of the cancers than never-users. Participants gave their own estimates of how much time they spent talking, which may have muddied the results. Researchers have now embarked on an even larger study in Europe.
Antiperspirant and Deodorant
The link: A decade ago, an E-mail warning women that using antiperspirant could cause breast cancer went viral. Since then, some research has suggested that aluminum in antiperspirants and preservatives called parabens in both antiperspirants and deodorants mimic the hormone estrogen, which in high amounts can increase a woman's breast cancer risk.
The reality: There is no evidence that antiperspirants or deodorants cause cancer. Although a 2004 study heightened concern when researchers found parabens in breast cancer tissue samples, suggesting the chemicals may have caused the tumors, the investigators did not check for the presence of parabens in healthy tissue. Evidence suggests that 99 percent of us are exposed to parabens from numerous sources, including various cosmetics and foods, according to the American Cancer Society. Little evidence indicates they may be harmful. The organization says more study is needed to be certain that there is no risk. A 2002 study of hundreds of women with and without breast cancer, found no sign the antiperspirants or deodorants upped cancer risk.
Bras
The link: Women got a shock in 1995 when "Dressed to Kill," written by a husband and wife team of medical anthropologists, alleged that those who regularly wore bras had a much higher risk of cancer than women who didn't wear them. They theorized that bras promote the buildup of cancer-causing toxins in the breast.
The reality: Experts stress that a link between bras and breast cancer has never been proven. Considerable evidence points to other variables affecting a woman's risk of breast cancer, such as weight, age, and family history. Women who don't wear bras tend to weigh less or have less dense breast tissue, both of which reduce breast cancer risk. Those factors alone, according to the American Cancer Society, "would probably contribute to any perceived difference in risk."
Hair Dye
The link: In 2008 researchers from the World Health Organization's International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) revived concern of a hair dye-cancer connection after finding a pattern of bladder cancer in male hairdressers and barbers. They found too little evidence to say whether people who used the products every so often at home were also at risk.
The reality: The IARC finding was based on studies conducted at different times, so any increased risk could result from heavy exposure to chemicals that were discontinued decades ago after scientists discovered they caused cancer in rodents. It's unclear whether the chemicals used in current dyes cause cancer, according to the National Cancer Institute. Most evidence, however, does not support a link.
Quoted: http://health.yahoo.net/articles/cancer/what-causes-cancer-7-strange-cancer-claims-explained
Saturday, January 29, 2011
Dating insights from the opposite sex
Dating insights from the opposite sex
By Andrea Barbalich
When it comes to dating advice, women usually turn to their girlfriends, while guys seek out their more-evolved buddies. But who is better at giving the inside scoop on the opposite sex than… the opposite sex? We tracked down five pairs of platonic friends and asked: What was the best piece of dating advice you got from each other? Enlightening answers lie ahead!
Jill and Kevin’s advice: Keep things real
“The best thing my friend Kevin ever told me is that it’s very important to do ‘everyday life’ things with my date early on. Instead of always having plans (like going to dinner or the theater), just have a day of doing errands or going to the grocery store. You’ll learn quickly whether he is a helpful guy or not.”
— Jill, 42, managing director of an asset-management firm, Litchfield, CT
“Jill is constantly reminding me that you have to look below the surface to find something great. In fact, she is pretty blunt. She says, ‘Stop looking at anything superficial, including her figure.’”
— Kevin, 42, investment banker, New York City
Bryan and Nancy’s advice: Let chemistry guide you
“Bryan’s best advice? That moving too quickly with guys can be a deal-killer. Try to be light and breezy on dates without backing him into a corner to find out how he feels about you, the relationship, or where things are headed.”
— Nancy, 43, loan officer, Stoneham, MA
“Nancy’s motto is, ‘If you don’t feel it, don’t fake it.’ When it’s right, it’s right, she always tells me, and if there’s no chemistry, you just need to accept it and move forward.”
— Bryan, 38, portfolio manager, Dorchester, MA
Audrey and Jim’s advice: Maintain some perspective
“Jim says to ask yourself: Does this person value the same things you value? Do you want similar things out of life? At the end of the day, that’s what counts.”
— Audrey, 31, writer, Washington, D.C.
“Audrey reminds me that you need to give your dates the benefit of the doubt. It’s very easy when something comes up to just assume the worst about the other person, but try turning that around and assuming the best instead.”
— Jim, 32, physical therapist, De Forest, WI
Patrick and Sheila’s advice: Take charge of your own love life
“Patrick always says you should change your scenery by going to different places. If you want to find somebody you’re compatible with, go to a place where you can be yourself, relax and have fun.”
— Sheila, 25, magazine editor, River Vale, NJ
“Sheila’s words of wisdom? You just need to be decisive. The little games people play, like waiting three days or five days before you call, forget it. If you’re going to pursue someone, put all that to the side and go for it!”
— Patrick, 25, real-estate manager, Crestwood, NY
Lowell and Allegra’s advice: Keeping things light helps love bloom
“My friend Lowell says you need to give things time. I will complain that a guy is being a jerk and he’ll say, ‘Yeah, he is, but give him space. Let things be for a bit, and they’ll probably work themselves out.’ That advice has served me well!”
— Allegra, 25, public relations director, New York City
“The best advice Allegra gave me is to find someone who makes me laugh — and make the other person laugh as much as possible, too.”
— Lowell, 26, student, Los Angeles
Andrea Barbalich is an editor and writer in Westchester County, New York. Some of the best advice she’s received on dating has come from her platonic guy friends.
Quoted: http://yahoo.match.com/y/article.aspx?articleid=9253&TrackingID=526103&BannerID=723937
By Andrea Barbalich
When it comes to dating advice, women usually turn to their girlfriends, while guys seek out their more-evolved buddies. But who is better at giving the inside scoop on the opposite sex than… the opposite sex? We tracked down five pairs of platonic friends and asked: What was the best piece of dating advice you got from each other? Enlightening answers lie ahead!
Jill and Kevin’s advice: Keep things real
“The best thing my friend Kevin ever told me is that it’s very important to do ‘everyday life’ things with my date early on. Instead of always having plans (like going to dinner or the theater), just have a day of doing errands or going to the grocery store. You’ll learn quickly whether he is a helpful guy or not.”
— Jill, 42, managing director of an asset-management firm, Litchfield, CT
“Jill is constantly reminding me that you have to look below the surface to find something great. In fact, she is pretty blunt. She says, ‘Stop looking at anything superficial, including her figure.’”
— Kevin, 42, investment banker, New York City
Bryan and Nancy’s advice: Let chemistry guide you
“Bryan’s best advice? That moving too quickly with guys can be a deal-killer. Try to be light and breezy on dates without backing him into a corner to find out how he feels about you, the relationship, or where things are headed.”
— Nancy, 43, loan officer, Stoneham, MA
“Nancy’s motto is, ‘If you don’t feel it, don’t fake it.’ When it’s right, it’s right, she always tells me, and if there’s no chemistry, you just need to accept it and move forward.”
— Bryan, 38, portfolio manager, Dorchester, MA
Audrey and Jim’s advice: Maintain some perspective
“Jim says to ask yourself: Does this person value the same things you value? Do you want similar things out of life? At the end of the day, that’s what counts.”
— Audrey, 31, writer, Washington, D.C.
“Audrey reminds me that you need to give your dates the benefit of the doubt. It’s very easy when something comes up to just assume the worst about the other person, but try turning that around and assuming the best instead.”
— Jim, 32, physical therapist, De Forest, WI
Patrick and Sheila’s advice: Take charge of your own love life
“Patrick always says you should change your scenery by going to different places. If you want to find somebody you’re compatible with, go to a place where you can be yourself, relax and have fun.”
— Sheila, 25, magazine editor, River Vale, NJ
“Sheila’s words of wisdom? You just need to be decisive. The little games people play, like waiting three days or five days before you call, forget it. If you’re going to pursue someone, put all that to the side and go for it!”
— Patrick, 25, real-estate manager, Crestwood, NY
Lowell and Allegra’s advice: Keeping things light helps love bloom
“My friend Lowell says you need to give things time. I will complain that a guy is being a jerk and he’ll say, ‘Yeah, he is, but give him space. Let things be for a bit, and they’ll probably work themselves out.’ That advice has served me well!”
— Allegra, 25, public relations director, New York City
“The best advice Allegra gave me is to find someone who makes me laugh — and make the other person laugh as much as possible, too.”
— Lowell, 26, student, Los Angeles
Andrea Barbalich is an editor and writer in Westchester County, New York. Some of the best advice she’s received on dating has come from her platonic guy friends.
Quoted: http://yahoo.match.com/y/article.aspx?articleid=9253&TrackingID=526103&BannerID=723937
Seven things you should never do on Facebook
Seven things you should never do on Facebook
By Ewen Boey – January 28th, 2011
There are some things that you should never do on social networking site, Facebook. Ever. (AFP file photo)
By Stuart Miles (Yahoo! News)
1) Never settle for the default settings
The people behind Facebook are keen for you to share your details with the world. The more you share, the more people you connect to, the more people want to sign up. However, sharing everything with all and sundry isn’t a good idea. To check and opt out of the recommended settings, open your Facebook page, click on ‘Account’ in the top right of the screen and then ‘Privacy settings’.
The ‘Recommended settings’ mean that your status, photo, posts, bio, favourite quotation, family and relationship details are shared with everyone. Photos and videos you’re tagged in, religious and political views and birthdays are shared with Friends of friends. Permission to comment on your posts, places you check in to, and contact information are shared with Friends only.
Change all to Friends only, and you’re safe from the prying world.
2) Never agree to have yourself listed on search engines
Telling your Facebook mates what’s going on in your life is one thing, but letting any old Tom, Dick or Harriet see your Facebook page via a web search is another.We would recommend opting to never have your Facebook details shared with other search engines.
To make sure you aren’t go to your Facebook page, ‘Account’, ‘Privacy Settings’, ‘Apps and websites’, then ‘Public Search’. De-tick the ‘Enable Public Search’ button.
3) Never put your address and phone number on Facebook
Unless you want app developers knowing where you live and how to contact you we wouldn’t recommend putting any real details in to Facebook for the time being. That means no home address and no phone number.
4) Never let apps lie dormant
One for the advanced Facebook user: Never let an app continue to suck your information once you’ve done with it.Remember the days when you played Zombies or maybe Vampires? Well those apps are most likely still active on your account and sucking in your personal data. Scary, huh?
Nip over to your Facebook page, go to ‘Account’, ‘Privacy Setting’ and then ‘Apps, games and websites’, and remove the ones you don’t want.
5) Never let your mum see your tagged photos
You’ve had one too many drinks and been tagged for all your friends, colleagues and family to see you not looking too hot. Not good. To avoid this, go to your Facebook page, ‘Account’, ‘Privacy Settings’, and make sure Photos and videos you’re tagged in is set to Friends only.
Taking this to the next level, you can also block individual people on top of those groups of people. Go to ‘Customise settings’, ‘Photos and videos I’m tagged in’ and chose to edit settings. Here from the drop-down menu chose ‘customise’ again and then start listing the people you want to hide your photos from.
6) Never give out your date of birth
What’s one of the first security questions you are ever asked when you deal with your bank? What’s your date of birth? And yet here you are giving it away on your Facebook page for all to see. You should never let people see the year you were born.
Go to your Facebook page, ‘Profile’, then ‘Edit profile’. In the first pane (‘Basic information’) chose as to whether you want to ‘Show my full date of birth in my Profile’, ‘Show only day and month in my Profile’ or ‘Don’t show my birthday in my profile’. If you still want birthday wishes go for the second option.
7) Never broadcast that you’re going on holiday
Always be careful about what you say on your status updates and never give out any personal information that you don’t want getting into the wrong hands.
Burglars prey on stuff like the fact that you’ve gone on holiday and left the keys under the flowerpot near the front door and the combination to the safe is…
Quoted: http://sg.yfittopostblog.com/2011/01/28/seven-things-you-should-never-do-on-facebook/
By Ewen Boey – January 28th, 2011
There are some things that you should never do on social networking site, Facebook. Ever. (AFP file photo)
By Stuart Miles (Yahoo! News)
1) Never settle for the default settings
The people behind Facebook are keen for you to share your details with the world. The more you share, the more people you connect to, the more people want to sign up. However, sharing everything with all and sundry isn’t a good idea. To check and opt out of the recommended settings, open your Facebook page, click on ‘Account’ in the top right of the screen and then ‘Privacy settings’.
The ‘Recommended settings’ mean that your status, photo, posts, bio, favourite quotation, family and relationship details are shared with everyone. Photos and videos you’re tagged in, religious and political views and birthdays are shared with Friends of friends. Permission to comment on your posts, places you check in to, and contact information are shared with Friends only.
Change all to Friends only, and you’re safe from the prying world.
2) Never agree to have yourself listed on search engines
Telling your Facebook mates what’s going on in your life is one thing, but letting any old Tom, Dick or Harriet see your Facebook page via a web search is another.We would recommend opting to never have your Facebook details shared with other search engines.
To make sure you aren’t go to your Facebook page, ‘Account’, ‘Privacy Settings’, ‘Apps and websites’, then ‘Public Search’. De-tick the ‘Enable Public Search’ button.
3) Never put your address and phone number on Facebook
Unless you want app developers knowing where you live and how to contact you we wouldn’t recommend putting any real details in to Facebook for the time being. That means no home address and no phone number.
4) Never let apps lie dormant
One for the advanced Facebook user: Never let an app continue to suck your information once you’ve done with it.Remember the days when you played Zombies or maybe Vampires? Well those apps are most likely still active on your account and sucking in your personal data. Scary, huh?
Nip over to your Facebook page, go to ‘Account’, ‘Privacy Setting’ and then ‘Apps, games and websites’, and remove the ones you don’t want.
5) Never let your mum see your tagged photos
You’ve had one too many drinks and been tagged for all your friends, colleagues and family to see you not looking too hot. Not good. To avoid this, go to your Facebook page, ‘Account’, ‘Privacy Settings’, and make sure Photos and videos you’re tagged in is set to Friends only.
Taking this to the next level, you can also block individual people on top of those groups of people. Go to ‘Customise settings’, ‘Photos and videos I’m tagged in’ and chose to edit settings. Here from the drop-down menu chose ‘customise’ again and then start listing the people you want to hide your photos from.
6) Never give out your date of birth
What’s one of the first security questions you are ever asked when you deal with your bank? What’s your date of birth? And yet here you are giving it away on your Facebook page for all to see. You should never let people see the year you were born.
Go to your Facebook page, ‘Profile’, then ‘Edit profile’. In the first pane (‘Basic information’) chose as to whether you want to ‘Show my full date of birth in my Profile’, ‘Show only day and month in my Profile’ or ‘Don’t show my birthday in my profile’. If you still want birthday wishes go for the second option.
7) Never broadcast that you’re going on holiday
Always be careful about what you say on your status updates and never give out any personal information that you don’t want getting into the wrong hands.
Burglars prey on stuff like the fact that you’ve gone on holiday and left the keys under the flowerpot near the front door and the combination to the safe is…
Quoted: http://sg.yfittopostblog.com/2011/01/28/seven-things-you-should-never-do-on-facebook/
Veilded Prophecy
Have you ever wondered upon what prophecy is? In its simplest form, it is the Word of God, spoken to encourage, challenge, rebuke or warn us. Therefore, in essence, prophecy is something that is very useful and helpful for us. But why is it that sometimes God speaks and we are more confused after the words were given to us than before it? This is also God's means of encouraging and protecting us. He is encouraging us to pray and protecting us until the time is right for His words to be received and brought to fruition. Daniel was a mighty man of God who communed with the Lord intimately, but even he had prophetic dreams and visions that confused and even ailed him. The following is what Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary interpreted Daniel's situation to the unique words of prophecy he received in Daniel 8. "Daniel heard the time of this calamity limited and determined; but not the time when it should come. If we would know the mind of God, we must apply to Christ, in whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge; not hid from us, but hid for us. There is much difficulty as to the precise time here stated, but the end of it cannont be very distant. God will, for his own glory, see to the cleansing of the church in due time. Christ died to cleanse his church; and he will so cleanse it as to present it blameless to himself." As stated here, the ultimate goal for words of prophecy is for the body of Christ to prepare herself for the coming of her Bridegroom. In the end, words of encouragement or rebuke are God's way of cleansing and purifying us for the great wedding day.
Living Life
Living Life
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