.::::::: Doctorhollic :::::::.

The cause of ovarian cancer is not known. Genetics are a risk factor for some women. A family history of ovarian or breast cancer is found in 10% to 20% of women with ovarian cancer.

In general, fewer than 2 in 100 women (less than 2%) will get ovarian cancer in their lifetime. That risk goes up to 4 or 5 in 100 if one family member has had ovarian cancer, and 7 in 100 if two relatives have had it. But if at least two first-degree relatives (meaning mother, sister, or daughter) have had ovarian cancer, the risk is 25 to 50 in 100 (25% to 50%).

Women who inherit changes (genetic mutations) in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes have a higher chance of developing ovarian cancer and breast cancer. Women who inherit the gene change in BRCA1 have a lifetime chance of 20 to 60 out of 100 of getting ovarian cancer. For women who inherit the gene change in BRCA2, the lifetime chance is 10 to 35 out of 100.

You have a higher chance of developing ovarian cancer if you:

* Are unable to become pregnant (infertility).
* Have never had a baby.
* Have not used hormonal birth control methods. Hormonal methods change the normal cycle of the female hormones, estrogen and progesterone, so ovulation does not occur each month.

If you have a strong family history of ovarian or breast cancer, you may want to talk with your doctor or a genetic counselor about having a blood test to look for BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene changes. Women who inherit these changes in one or both of these genes have a higher chance of developing ovarian cancer, breast cancer, or both.

Ovarian cancer does not cause many symptoms in its early stages. This is why most cases are not found until the cancer has spread. 4 Most women do have symptoms in the 6 to 12 months before ovarian cancer is found. Symptoms that occur in later stages are most likely caused by the pressure of the growing cancer. Symptoms include:

* Ongoing cramps or pain in your belly.
* Ongoing pain in your pelvis or lower back.
* Abnormal bleeding from your vagina, especially after menopause if you are not using any hormonal medicines.
* Abnormal discharge from your vagina, containing mucus that may be tinged with blood.
* Pain or bleeding during sex.
* Nausea or loss of appetite, or you cannot eat normally.
* Ongoing bloating or intestinal gas that is not relieved by home treatment measures.
* Bigger belly size or a lump that can be felt in your belly.
* Decreased energy level.
* A change in your bowel habits, such as constipation or diarrhea.
* A change in your bladder habits, such as urinary frequency or urgency.
* Weight loss.

If you often feel ravenous by noon despite a good breakfast, try drinking some of this with your morning meal: skim milk.

In a small study of overweight people, those who drank about 20 ounces of skim milk with breakfast ate less at lunch than the folks who drank fruit juice in the a.m.

An Appetite-Dousing Drink
The milk drinkers also felt fuller and more satisfied after their morning meal. Most likely thanks to the whey and casein proteins that are in milk; they’re better at quelling hunger than the carbs in fruit drinks.

Other Hunger Crushers
If you don’t like the taste of milk, have lactose intolerance, or don’t drink milk for other reasons, don’t worry. There are lots of other ways to introduce lean protein into your morning meal. For example, try making this quick, protein-rich, milk-free smoothie: Banana-Cocoa Soy Smoothie.

Pasta salad. Summer isn’t complete without it. And here’s the noodle you should use to do your blood pressure some good at the same time: whole-wheat pasta.

How’s it work? Well, whole-wheat pasta contains glutamic acid, a vegetable protein that has been linked to better blood pressure in recent research.

Protective Protein
In a study released last month, the more glutamic acid people got in their diets, the better their blood pressure was. In fact, just a 4.7 percent increase in the proportion of protein people got from glutamic acid instead of other sources was associated with systolic numbers that were 1.5 to 3 points lower on average. And diastolic readings were lower, too, by about 1 to 1.6 points. The effect occurred in both men and women but was strongest in women.

Great Glutamate
Researchers aren’t sure how glutamic acid affects blood pressure, but it’s possible that components of glutamic acid enhance the blood-pressure-lowering effects of nitric oxide or help blood vessels relax. And whole-wheat foods are only one source. You also can get glutamic acid from rice, beans, and soy products like tofu. Here are a few more ways to lower your blood pressure:

* Change your attitude. Discover the thought process that aids blood pressure.
* Take a few steps. Find out why a short walk is so good for your blood pressure.
* Just breathe. Check out this simple six-step breathing exercise that can help your BP

Not feeling like much of an athlete these days? Eat an onion.

New research suggests that quercetin -- an antioxidant found in onions (and tea, and broccoli, and apples) -- may help your body work harder longer.

Taking a Cue from Quercetin
The small study in question compared healthy college students on stationary bikes. Those taking quercetin supplements pedaled 14 percent longer than the placebo group. Still, it’s not yet clear how this information translates into real-world use, because the supplement takers were getting really large doses -- about 500 milligrams twice a day. That is far more than a person gets in a regular diet. Still, the results are pretty impressive, especially considering how much fitter the students were able to get with little effort. Feeling lazy ?

Secret Energy Source
Besides possibly giving your workout a boost, quercetin has countless other health benefits. A growing body of research shows quercetin may help prevent everything from asthma and allergies to cancer and heart disease. And the latest research has scientists speculating as to whether quercetin may also help the body build mitochondria -- those all-important energy centers found inside each of your cells. So sip some tea and get invigorated!

If you’ve got a testy lower back, here’s something you can do in your sleep that might help: Sleep on your side.

Health experts say that this position puts less strain on your spine than sleeping on your back or your stomach does.

Less Painful Positioning
Joseph A. Abboud, MD, and Soo Kim Abboud, MD, coauthors of No More Joint Pain, contend that sleeping on your side is better for your back because it produces less curve in the spine. Also helpful: a firm mattress that supports your lower back. Tucking your legs up a bit and placing a pillow between your knees can help keep your spine comfier, too.

More Back Issues
Another novel way to protect your back: Avoid cigarette smoke. Aside from all the obvious reasons that tobacco smoke is bad for you, it could also decrease blood flow to your spine and even fuel disc degeneration, according to the book’s authors. Smoking also slows down your body’s ability to heal and recover from injuries.

Keep your spine feeling fine with these other back tips as well:

- Feed it the good stuff
- Get a buff backside
- Sit strong in front of the TV

You wanna try ?

If you’re in the middle of a long-term relationship with your treadmill, stationary bike, or elliptical trainer, do whatever it takes to keep that love alive.

New research shows that staying committed to exercise over the long haul gives you the brain structure of someone years younger.

Good-Looking Gray Matter
When researchers performed brain imaging tests on adults between the ages of 60 and 80, the noggins of the most active people looked similar to the brains of people years younger. The exercisers’ small blood vessels looked less twisty, suggesting better cerebral blood flow -- which translates to healthier mind muscle and better brain function. Been off the workout wagon for a while?

Mind-Body Strength
In the study, the heavy exercisers didn’t just go through the motions. They had gotten at least 3 hours of exercise a week for 10 years. It’s not clear yet whether the long-term exercise caused favorable changes in the study subjects’ brain anatomy or if the people with healthier brains were simply more likely to exercise. But loads of other studies show that working up a sweat is good for your longevity.

In the perfect world, everyone would get the nutrients they need by eating a well-balanced, healthy diet. But because many people have poor/finicky eating habits, allergies and medical conditions, that’s not always the case. Here’s my opinion on supplements for the general healthy population.

Multivitamin

I do think most people will benefit from a basic multivitamin – one that provides about 100 percent of the Daily Value for a number of vitamins and minerals – especially Vitamin D (very important vitamin that people just don’t get enough of). Coupled with a stellar diet - one that includes antioxidant rich vegetables, fruit, whole grains and lean proteins - a MVI can simply fill in any potential nutrient gaps. Think of it as an “insurance policy.”If you decide to take a multivitamin, make sure it’s appropriate for your age and gender:

1. Peri-menopausal women who are losing monthly blood through menstruation should take a MVI with Iron.
2. All men and women over 50 should take a MVI without Iron.

Calcium with Vitamin D

Many foods provide the calcium we need; reduced fat dairy foods, calcium-fortified foods, broccoli, kale and beans are among the best bets. However, additional calcium supplements are sometimes important for women who don’t get enough from food.

The amount women need is between 1000-1200 mgs each day. So consider how much you’re getting through food and work backwards. For women who are candidates, consider taking 1000-1200 mgs – in two separate doses (that’s because you can only really absorb about 500-600 mg at one time).

Your calcium supplement should have added Vitamin D3 (Vitamin D enables the absorption of calcium so it can do its job. And “Vitamin D3” is the most bioactive form). Speak with a registered dietitian or your pharmacist if you get confused.

Omega-3 Fish Oils

I’m also a fan of "omega-3 fish oil supplements" because they’re so good for overall heart health (plus brain health, depression and arthritis). First and foremost, aim for two 4 ounce servings of fatty fish per week – hands down, low-mercury fish is your best source (i.e., wild salmon, sardines, Atlantic mackerel, anchovies, and pacific oysters).

You can also get omega 3 fats from ground flaxseeds, walnuts, canola oil and omega 3 eggs…. although significantly less when compared to fish. If you don’t regularly eat omega-3-rich fish - like salmon and sardines – and you’re not willing to add ground flax and walnuts to your daily diet, you may want to consider a supplement.

Three brands I recommend include Vital Oils 1000mg (to order call; 800-770-4360 or visit www.VitalRemedyMD.com), Kirkland Signature and Nordic Naturals Ultimate.

Supplement Safety

How can you ensure your supplements are safe? Your best bets are to buy products that display the “USP verified” logo on the label; it means the supplement has been tested and verified for:

1) Content claims (it has what it says it has)
2) Absorbability in the body

Everybody wants a long life full of vitality. But beyond the basics of good diet and exercise, what can you do? For more than 2,000 years, Chinese medicine has refined the use of meditation to build the body's life force. And the scientists agree. The well-documented effects of regular meditation include lowered blood pressure, less heart disease, decreased chronic pain, and increased mental clarity. Meditation is an indispensable tool for living a longer, richer life and avoiding the burnout that comes from constant stress.

Meditation How-To
Many people find the idea of meditation to be daunting. They think they do not have the time, saying, "Someday I will devote the time to study meditation." Meditation is simple. You don't need training and you don't need to be alone in the mountains. You can learn it right now! All you need is a quiet place to sit and the curiosity to try for ten minutes.

Practice meditation in a quiet environment. Begin with 10 to 15 minutes. The morning is the best time, but anytime you can find an uninterrupted and quiet chunk of time will work. One warning: never meditate after eating. Silence your phone and close the door to any other possible interruptions.

Sit comfortably in a chair with your spine erect and both legs and thighs forming a ninety-degree angle with the ground, keeping your feet at shoulder width apart. You can also sit on the floor cross-legged-"lotus" position. And you can lie down for meditation if that is the only way that is comfortable.

Start by breathing as naturally as possible. After a few times, try breathing with your abdomen only. Slowly, your breath will deepen as you practice. You notice that babies breathe with their abdomen, but as we grow older, we become affected by our stress, our lifestyle, and environment and start breathing way up in the chest area. For meditation, breathe deep and low from the abdomen.

Begin to quiet your mind. Of course, the thoughts will come-and they will always be there. Don't struggle against them. Let the thoughts come, but don't dwell on them. Keep relaxing, and bring your consciousness back to your breath. If you have trouble concentrating, focus on one thing, a word or a mantra that can invoke a calming effect within you.


3 Simple Meditation Techniques:
These meditation-based practices fuel your life with the vital energy.

1. Stress Release Meditation
Stress, often called "the silent killer", is the root of many illnesses: from high blood pressure and heart disease to cancer and depression. You can learn how to release the stress and tension build up through this simple stress release meditation.

Sit comfortably or lie down on your back. Slow your respiration to deep, abdominal breathing. Utter the word "calm" in your mind with every exhalation. You will be visualizing the relaxation of a body part and releasing tension with every exhalation. Trace the following 3 pathways outlined below.

Start on top of your head. Inhale and then exhale while visualizing your scalp muscles relaxing. Say "calm" in your mind. Repeat this with each body part as you move down through your face, throat, chest, stomach, abdomen, thighs, knees, legs, ankles, and feet. When you've relaxed your feet, visualize all the tension in your body leaving through your toes as dark smoke.

Start from the temples of your head. This path focuses on the sides and upper extremities. Inhale and then exhale while visualizing your temple muscles relaxing. Say the word "calm" in your mind. Repeat this with each body part as you move down through your jaws, the sides of your neck, shoulders, upper arms, elbows, forearms, wrists, and hands. Once you've relaxed your hands, visualize all the tension leaving your body via your fingertips as dark smoke.

The final pathway begins on the back of your head. This path relaxes the back side of your body. Repeat the breathing-visualization-word routine as you go from the back of your neck to your upper back, middle back, lower back, back of thighs, calves, and heels.

Repeat this sequence until you feel free from tension. Practice this for 15 minutes every day. If you feel that you would be more successful with a guide, try my Meditation for Stress Release audio cd.

2. Pain Tamer Visualization
Visualization meditation is one of the most powerful pain management tools, used with great effectiveness by pain specialists, psychologists, and biofeedback therapists. Learn to erase your pain with this meditation:

Sit or lie quietly, and breathe slowly. With each exhale, feel your tension subside until you are completely relaxed. Visualize fine vertical lines running through your body from head to toe. Keep breathing deeply as you tune in to these lines. Now bring your focus to the painful area of your body and visualize crisscross lines at the spot that hurts. Using your imagination, erase the crisscross lines that intersect and disrupt the smooth vertical ones. Slowly, one line at a time, erase the cross-hatching with your mind until only the verticals are left. You've created a mental picture of your body's energy meridians and restored their smooth flow. You may also try my Pain Management Visualization Meditation audio CD to help guide you.

3. Five Clouds Meditation for Energizing
This is a simple meditation practice that can help you energize your internal organs. In traditional Chinese medicine, there are five organ systems in the body and five elements. Five Clouds meditation involves visualizing the elemental colors associated with each of the five organ systems. The five colors corresponding to the five organ systems are green for the liver, red for the heart, yellow for the spleen, white for the lungs, and blue for the kidneys. Start by imagining a gathering cloud of the corresponding color enveloping the organ, in the order given. Take two to five minutes for each organ system. When you have completed all five-color clouds, expand them so that the five colors intermix, ultimately becoming a rainbow.

To find out more about meditations that will also increase your years, click here: Meditations to Live to Be 100.

Don't worry or be critical of whether you are meditating correctly. Just know that if you feel quiet and relaxed and you are paying attention to your breathing, you are on the right path. With continued practiced, your body will know how to relax more quickly and the healing and wisdom of deep practice will come to you.

Bring a breath of fresh air to your home and an injection of wealth into your finances. Here are some simple, yet effective, tips to bring you peace and prosperity this year.

You may be surprised to learn that your home surroundings can affect your financial health. The Chinese art of feng shui is based on the science of energy alignment in one's living and workspaces to help optimize health, wealth, and happiness in one's life. You can learn how to use it to empower you and unblock your vast potential. My father, a feng shui master, passed down to me thousands of years of wisdom about how to change people's lives through environmental alignment with positive, constructive energy.

1. New Years: Out with the old
Early in the New Year is a good time to assess your surroundings. One principle for revitalizing your life through feng shui is to cleanse, detoxify, and let go of the past. Would you like to surround yourself with open space and colors that uplift the senses, or be faced with clutter that elicits agitation?

Create some space in your home. Clutter leaves you feeling disorganized, increasing your stress level when you can't find what you're looking for. Clear out the clutter by donating, reselling, or recycling anything you haven't found a use for in the past year-and don't forget to keep the receipt for a tax write-off.

Clean your living space thoroughly to remove stains, mold, and dirt. Get rid of junk piles and any indoor plants that have died. Repair or discard any broken, chipped, and cracked items -- these reflect aspects of your life that are broken and can trap energy you need to free up and use.

2. Metal: The money element
Feng shui principles observe that material wealth correlates to the metal element. Therefore, to balance matters of money, gold and silver color décor should be featured and metallic objects should be intentionally placed around the home. For instance, place a bronze sculpture in the foyer or a silver vase holding fresh flowers on your dining table. Also, a waterfall placed in the western perimeter of your home with the direction of water flowing towards east will bring in metal elemental energies and expressions into your home, paving the way for gold in your finances.

3. Symbols for fruitful finances
A traditional Chinese symbol of wealth and prosperity is orange fruit. Consider planting kumquat or orange trees on your property, in pots on your balcony, or even a bowl of oranges on your dining room table. Images of fish, such as Koi or carp, symbolize abundance and should be a welcome addition to any home's décor.

4. Grow your own money tree
Recently, a popular practice among feng shui aficionados is to have a money tree in your home. A money tree is an indoor bonsai tree from the Panchira aquatica species that measures one to two feet tall and has clusters of five-lobed leaves. Take good care of the bonsai so that it radiates healthy, vibrant, and prosperous energy in your life. Of course, no matter how many money trees you possess, your financial health will not improve if you do not also take care of it on a practical level. You must institute principles of good money management in your life, including setting budgets, living within your means, and paying yourself first. Paying yourself first means always put aside money in your savings before you pay your bills. These are the ways to achieve abundance in your life.

Even with these small changes, you may be pleasantly surprised by how much better you feel and the good changes that occur in your finances and your life. Now that you have balance in your home, bring balance to your body, with the Five Elements of Health Formula. It helps boost your organ function and maintain balance in all your elemental energies.