In celebration of World Breastfeeding Week, some common questions about breastfeeding nutrition are answered below. Breastfeeding provides many benefits for both mother and baby. Exclusive breastfeeding for at least the first six months of a child’s life helps reduce the development of many acute and chronic illnesses. (more…)
Here is the bad news: Heart disease kills more women than do all cancers combined, yet many women still cite breast cancer as their chief health concern. Young women, especially, do not think heart disease is a threat. But, since 1984, more women than men die each year from heart disease. Although death from heart attack has declined in both men and women over the last 30 years, the decrease has been more pronounced in males than females. Depression after a heart attack is twice as likely to occur in women than men, and depression increases the chance of a second heart attack. (more…)
For most of us, when we hear “vitamin D,” our mind conjures up the image of a glass of milk. This is fair, since fortified milk does contain vitamin D. But what if I told you milk might not be the best source of vitamin D, and in fact, there’s a whole lot more to know about this nutrient? (more…)
A woman’s menstrual cycle can say a lot about her. A monthly menstrual cycle indicates she is healthy and her hormones are probably within normal levels. For the most part, a menstrual cycle will occur every 21 to 35 days, although the frequency can change a bit through the reproductive years. To understand how and why these changes occur, it is important to understand how the menstrual cycle works. (more…)
Guest post by Susan K. Boolbol, MD FACS, Chief of the Appel-Venet Comprehensive Breast Service at Mount Sinai Beth Israel and Amanda Brandt, MS, Certified Genetic Counselor of the Mount Sinai Health System.
In an effort to raise public awareness about breast and ovarian cancer prevention, actress and director, Angelina Jolie, shared her personal story with the world. The New York Times letter revealed that a family history of ovarian cancer had prompted Jolie to seek genetic testing for the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes, which are associated with hereditary breast and ovarian cancer. The testing revealed a heightened risk for both and she made the decision to undergo a preventative double-mastectomy and breast reconstruction surgery, reducing her breast cancer risk to under 5%. (more…)
This guest post was written by Simone Walters, MS, RD.
Osteoporosis and low bone density (osteopenia) — conditions characterized by loss of bone mass — are major health concerns in the United States. Throughout our lifespan, bone is constantly broken down and rebuilt, usually in a balanced way that results in bone growth and mineral accumulation in bones (“bone mineral density”) that supports a strong skeleton. As we age, this accumulation reaches its highest point (“peak bone mineral density”) and gradually shifts towards bone loss. Osteopenia occurs when bone mineral density declines below a healthy value; osteoporosis is its more severe manifestation, and both increase the risk of bone fractures. (more…)