Americans spend more than $30 billion a year on vitamins, herbals and other supplements. It is not uncommon for our patients to arrive to their oncology consultations with a large bag (or long list) of the supplements they are taking. It has been estimated that 65%-80% of all cancer patients take one or more vitamin or mineral supplements, and many of these patients START taking supplements just prior to starting their treatment.
The lines of cars outside Dunkin Donuts and Starbucks every morning attest to America’s love affair with coffee. In fact, 64% of Americans drink just over three cups of coffee a day, for a total of 400 million cups consumed daily.
“I’ve been told to avoid all sugar and white flour since it can make my cancer grow. Is this true? Do I have to give up everything that I love?” The question about sugar and cancer is undoubtedly the most frequently asked nutrition question at the Leever Cancer Center, and it often creates fear in patients who are already anxious. The answer is complex and brings up many issues about the role that our food plays in preventing and/or promoting health and disease.
OPEN MOUTH. INSERT CHOCOLATE. CLOSE EYES. SAVOR. SMILE.
Chocolate is one of America’s favorite foods and is often associated with love, comfort, and well-being. In fact, every year, Americans consume about eight billion pounds (11 pounds per person) and spend over $22 billion on chocolate. Halloween and Valentine’s Day are all about chocolate.
Next time you could use an energy boost, try one of these quick pick-me-ups.
We all need human connections, but how do you make and maintain those connections when so many in-person events are on hold?
As the Harold Leever Regional Cancer Center continues to follow Governor Lamont's executive order for wearing masks in public places in the state of Connecticut, we wanted to share some guidelines for wearing a mask that we have adapted from our caregiver protocols.
Americans spent $31 billion on bottled water in 2018, with the average American consuming 42 gallons. In fact, bottled water has become the country’s number one beverage, according to Consumer Reports. Most people think that bottled water is safer or healthier than tap (or municipal) water, but 64% of all bottled water sold in the United States is just filtered tap water.
Wiped out. Pooped. Exhausted. Zero energy. I cannot move without some caffeine. Chances are you have experienced at least one of these feelings. Perhaps you have been burning the candle at both ends, or maybe you haven’t been getting enough sleep. A great nap or eight hours of sleep can often resolve the problem, but if it doesn’t, maybe you are experiencing fatigue.
If you want to turn a recipe from bland and boring, to interesting and complex, try adding herbs and spices. Imagine apple pie without cinnamon, or tomato sauce without basil, oregano, garlic and pepper. It turns out that herbs and spices not only enhance the flavor of food, but they also add significant health benefits.