Five Seasons Women’s Wellness: Health and Wellness Blog

The Institute of Medicine of the National Academics released a report this week evaluating various environmental and lifestyle factors that may impact a woman’s chance of developing breast cancer.

The report, entitled Breast Cancer and the Environment: A Life Course Approach, is based on a consensus review of the evidence, and evaluates a number of supposed risk factors including alcohol consumption, smoking, exercise and various environmental factors.

The highlights to reduce your risk: avoid inappropriate medical radiation exposure, avoid hormone replacement therapy, avoid exposure to cigarette smoke, limit or eliminate alcohol consumption, stay active, maintain a healthy body weight and limit exposure to chemicals.

Q & A Booklet

Read the full article

Consumer Reports recently tested 88 juice samples- mostly apple- of popular brands and found that 10 percent of the samples contained high levels of arsenic, and one-quarter contained high levels of lead.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is collecting additional data, and has said it will consider setting a standard for how much arsenic should be permitted in apple juice.

Doctors and pediatricians warn against drinking too much juice, as it is high in sugar and has been linked to obesity, gout, gastrointestinal problems and other health concerns.

Read the Consumer Reports Results

Read the NPR article