Natural Treatments for Menopause Symptoms

Black Cohosh
Symptom: Hot Flashes, Night Sweats
Benefit:

Black cohosh is derived from a species of buttercup. Studies have had mixed results on whether black cohosh is effective in reducing hot flashes. Some studies indicate it may help with mild hot flashes and night sweats for short-term treatment. May lower blood pressure as well. In rare cases, hepatitis has been reported.

Natural Treatments for Menopause Symptoms

Soy
Symptom: Hot Flashes, Night Sweats
Benefit:

Soy has isoflavones, which are phytoestrogens (plant estrogens). Some studies have observed that soy may be effective in reducing menopausal symptoms. However, other studies have found no benefit. Soy may also lower cholesterol. Only food forms of soy, like tofu and soy milk, are recommended. Soy in tablet or powder form is not advised.

Flaxseed, ground or oil
Symptom: Hot Flashes
Benefit:

Flaxseed has omega-3 fatty acids and lignans, which act as phytoestrogens. Results from studies have been mixed, but it may help symptoms in some women. It is also believed to help lower cholesterol. Avoid whole flaxseed because it is difficult to digest.

Vitamin E
Symptom: Vaginal Dryness, Hot Flashes
Benefit:

Topical vitamin E oil applied to the vagina helps improve lubrication and may also reduce hot flashes.

Yoga, Aerobic Exercise, Breathing Exercises
Symptom: Mood Swings, Sleep Disruption
Benefit:

Exercise and meditation reduce irritability, even hot flashes, in some women. Yoga combines both. Exercise also helps most people sleep better.

Cold Drinks
Symptom: Hot Flashes, Night Sweats
Benefit:

Cold drinks help you feel cooler. Avoid caffeine and alcohol, which are diuretics that encourage dehydration. Try cold water or fruit juices with antioxidant vitamins.

Warning
While the supplements mentioned above are among the most commonly used supplements to help control menopause symptoms, It’s important to note that research is still ongoing to determine their effectiveness. To date, no supplement has consistently been shown to work better than placebo in managing symptoms.

Also, keep in mind that dietary or herbal supplements may have side effects or interactions with each other or with other drugs. Some may be unsafe to take due to certain medical conditions. Consult with your doctor prior to using them.

source: web md


Now, toolkit to help treat menopause

Now toolkit to help treat menopause

A first of its kind toolkit can be used by doctors to help manage menopausal conditions for women globally – from Madras to Manhattan, scientists say. Created at Monash University, the toolkit is designed for general practitioners (GPs) to use with women from the age of 40.

The Practitioner Toolkit for Managing the Menopause includes a diagnostic tool, as well as a compendium of approved hormone therapies. Led by Professor Susan Davis, the research team from the School of Public Health and Preventative Medicine, combined existing research on menopause, diagnostic algorithms and extensive clinical experience to develop the diagnostic tool.

Designed for use in a GP surgery, it also works through a patient’s medical history and risk factors to arrive at the best treatment solution. Davis said the toolkit fills the void of clear guidelines on menopause diagnosis and management, equipping doctors with the fundamentals to care for any woman who walks through the door.

“Based on feedback from patients and doctors we realised there’s widespread confusion, not only in how to determine when menopause starts but also prescribing appropriate treatment to help with side effects,” Davis said. Menopause marks the end of the monthly cycle of menstruation and reproductive years in a woman’s life.

Most women reach menopause between the ages of 45 and 55. Davis said due to hormonal changes, menopausal symptoms, which include hot flushes, anxiety and depression and joint pain, vary widely from none at all to debilitating, making a straightforward diagnosis difficult.

The kit includes a flow chart of standardised questions for doctors to ask, and assess women who are potentially experiencing menopause.

The kit also flags safety concerns, provides a list of all hormone therapies approved by regulators in different countries and lists non-hormonal therapies that have evidence to support their use.

“Hormone therapy is commonly prescribed to women, but its success varies according to symptom type and severity, personal circumstances and medical background,” Davis said.

“This toolkit has the potential to change that because it’s designed to work as just as well for a 41 year old woman in Madras as it will for the 48 year old in Manhattan,” she said. The toolkit can be downloaded for free from the journal Climacteric.

Source: The financial express


Post-menopausal woman at risk of developing heart diseases

Menopause-Hormone-Treatment-Heart-Disease-Risk

A staggering 43 million Indian women are affected by heart disease, with one in every three women dying of the condition as against one in 31 from breast cancer and experts say that it is post-menopausal women who are at a greater risk.

Tapan Ghose, director and head of department of cardiac sciences at Paras Hospitals, said that in 2012, 56 percent of women identified heart disease as the leading cause of death compared with 30 percent in 1997.

India is considered the cardiac as well as the diabetic country of the world. It has been estimated that 60 percent of the Indian population is suspected to be suffering from some cardio-vascular disease. Ninety percent of women have one or more risk factors for developing heart disease,” Ghose told IANS.

“While one in 31 Indian women die of breast cancer each year, one in three dies of heart disease,” he added.

Agreeing with Ghose, N.N. Khanna, senior consultant, cardiology at Indraprastha Apollo hospital, said that post-menopausal women are at greater risk as compared to their male counterparts.

“Once they develop a cardiac disease, chances are they might face death due to it. We do not have real statistics in India; but death toll is higher in India since women are prone to diabetes,” Khanna told IANS.

Women are more susceptible to cardiac ailments after menopause since their natural protection wears off, he added.

According to Deepak Khurana, director of cardio thoracic and vascular surgery at Rockland Hospital, Manesar, urbanization of society, stress level, smoking, consumption of alcohol and lack of physical work are some of the main reasons for the growing trend.

Anil Bansal, chief cardiologist at Columbia Hospital, Gurgaon, said that diabetes, hypertension and obesity are equally responsible.

“With changed patterns in urban culture, the trend of smoking and excessive alcohol has increased among women, making them vulnerable to heart diseases. Cardiovascular diseases are also rising due to affluence with which there is increased dependence on junk food, leading to rising heart conditions,” Bansal told IANS. “Along with high cholesterol, obesity, reduced physical activity combined with over-nutrition, increase in smoking and alcohol consumption and sedentary or moderate lifestyle,” he added.

Intake of oral contraceptives is another reason, said Khanna

Listing out the challenges faced by women suffering from heart diseases, Khanna said that symptoms of cardiac ailments can be very different in women as compared to men.

“Women usually have atypical symptoms such as breathlessness, palpitations, listlessness, fatigue, dizziness, nausea, vomiting… which are difficult to diagnose.

Another challenge is denial amongst women and society when it comes to female health. Women tend to neglect their health and disregard the symptoms and hence, early detection of the disease is not possible,” he contended.

He added that the biggest challenge for women suffering from heart diseases is to get the appropriate diagnosis at right time which he said can be attained by long-term heart monitoring with the help of implantable devices like Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator (ICD).

“The device automatically monitors heart rhythm and delivers therapy as needed to prevent sudden cardiac arrest,” he said. Sharing similar opinion, Bansal said that proper diagnosis is one of the many challenges as the heart disease is either misdiagnosed or the symptoms are perceived to be linking towards some other heart problem.

“The reason behind this is that the symptoms are vague and the parameters of diagnosis of heart disease is majorly based on symptoms that are found in men which result in under diagnosis. Symptoms can be atypical from men, normal classic symptoms are less, more shortness of breath, and even modern standard screening test like exercise stress test are more likely to be falsely positive in women,” he said.

Source: first post


Avoid menopause induced bone loss and disease

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Unfortunately, conventional medicine has done a poor job helping women to avoid the health risks associated with menopause. Just to be clear – an excessive loss of hormones will cause a loss of energy, muscle mass, bone strength, cognitive function and memory. With an estimated 6,000 women per day, in the United States alone, reaching menopause – this health issue should not be ignored.

Conventionally speaking, menopause ‘officially’ begins 12 months after a woman’s final menstrual period and is connected to a huge drop in estrogen levels. This dramatic drop in estrogen can produce a wide variety of symptoms like, hot flashes, sexual dysfunction, urinary tract infections, joint pains, plus sleep disorders and mood swings. These menopausal symptoms are early warning signs of disease and should not be ignored. So, let’s focus on some natural solutions.

Related news:  6 tips for eating healthy during Menopause

According to a study conducted by researchers at Brown University, and published in The Obstetrician and Gynecologist (TOG), ‘physicians should recommend herbal medicines and complementary therapies to women seeking relief from the symptoms of menopause.’ Dong quai or “female ginseng”, red clover and black cohosh are three widely-used herbal remedies for menopausal symptoms. These herbs contain plant compounds which mimic estrogen.

Phytoestrogens – found in sesame and flax seeds, red clover tea and fermented soy products like, tempeh, miso and natto contain high amounts of plant-based estrogens called isoflavones – which can provide natural relief for women with menopause symptoms. In a study performed at The University of Naples, Italy – in 2005 – it was discovered that isoflavones were effective in reducing hot flashes and relieving vaginal dryness during menopause. Their recommendation is 45 grams per day.

Related news:  Avoid Confusing Thyroid Symptoms With Menopause

Can homeopathy help women with menopause? In some cases, the answer is yes. For example, cimicifuga has been shown to help with night sweats, vaginal dryness, bleeding and mood swings. Lachesis tends to help women who feel warm to hot – all the time and may crave alcoholic beverages. Sepia is especially useful for women having difficulty with sexual intercourse, and felling chilly.

On the next NaturalNews Talk Hour, Jonathan Landsman and Dr. Daved Rosensweet will talk about how to avoid musculoskeletal deterioration, life-threatening hip fractures, depression plus much more.

Do bioidentical hormones increase the risk of a stroke?

According to a large study from France, published in an American Heart Association journal, bioidentical hormones do not raise the risk of stroke in menopausal women. In fact, following nearly 100,000 women, researchers reveal that women using estrogen patches and progesterone – in pill form – had a slightly lower risk of stroke compared to women not using any type of hormone replacement.   Doing yoga during menopause may help insomnia

Having said that, remember, bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT) is not necessarily safer than any other drug therapy. To bring hormones back into balance – one must consider the nervous system (neurotransmitters) and all of the hormone levels from the pituitary and thyroid gland to the pancreas, adrenals and ovaries (last). Simply put, don’t take the ‘magic bullet’ approach toward health.

Obviously, if you’re suffering from hormonal imbalances and serious health issues, work with a qualified medical professional to improve all aspects of your life – physically, emotionally and spiritually.
Source: natural news

 


Testosterone no hope for early menopause

Bringing testosterone levels up to normal for women who lose ovarian function owing to early natural menopause or hysterectomy is of no good, shows research.

Before age 40, ovaries stop functioning in about 1 percent of women without some obvious genetic abnormality to blame, bringing on an early menopause.

Called ‘primary ovarian insufficiency’ or POI, the condition can spell not only infertility and other physical problems but also depression and decreased quality of life.

Adding back lost estrogen and progesterone helps.

But ovaries normally produce testosterone too which has mental and physical effects.

According to a study by the National Institutes of Health Clinical Center in Bethesda, Maryland, adding testosterone for women who lose ovarian function have not yielded consistent results.

In the controlled study, 61 women used placebo patches and 67 women used patches that delivered 150 micrograms of testosterone a day.

After 12 months, testosterone levels were back up to normal for the women who got the treatment.

The researchers saw no detrimental effects of testosterone but they found no significant improvement either in measurements of quality of life, self esteem and mood compared with placebo, said the study published in Menopause, the journal of The North American Menopause Society (NAMS).

“Bringing testosterone back to normal doesn’t help these aspects of life, suggesting that it’s something other than testosterone that plays a role in mood problems for women with POI,” said researchers.

“This study makes an important contribution toward understanding what testosterone can and cannot do,” added NAMS executive director Margery Gass.

Source: Times of India


Chilly winter can affect the eyes too

Chilly winter can affect the eyes too

A dry-eye condition caused by cold winds evaporates the tears, which could partially affect vision and cause constant eye pain.

Blurred vision, scratching and burning sensation and irritation in the eye – these are not minor irritants in your daily routine but might be the pointers to a condition called the dry-eye syndrome which plagues many people during an extreme winter.

According to doctors, even though a person’s entire body might be covered up as a protection against the chilly winter winds, there is one part that is always exposed: the eyes.

The surface of the eye is covered with a thin layer of liquid known as the tear film, which is essential for its health. A dry-eye condition caused by cold winds evaporates the tears, which could partially affect vision and cause constant eye pain.

“Occurrence of dry-eye syndrome is very common during the winter season because of the cold, dry outdoor air and dry indoor heat,” Sanjay Dhawan, director of ophthalmology at Fortis Hospital, told IANS.

Dhawan said when there is insufficient lubrication in the eye, the conjunctiva (the white part of the eye) becomes much less moist than normal.

He said this causes severe pain, discomfort and inflammation of the conjunctiva and cornea of the eye, due to inadequate tear secretion.

It is a common problem faced by both men and women above 50.

“Sometimes it becomes severe as this abnormality may result in disruption of the ocular (eye) surface, causing difficulty in vision,” Dhawan said.

The other symptoms of the eye problem include a persistent watery discharge and irritation if one is using contact lenses.

“If menopause occurs at an early age, then the chances of developing dry-eye syndrome during the winter gets increased even among middle-aged women,” Dhawan said, adding that at an initial stage, it may seem like a minor irritation but can become potentially serious.

According to Kinshuk Biswas, opthalmologist at Gurgaon’s Columbia Asia Hospital, the condition could also be a result of constant use of a computer.

“Dry-eye syndrome is caused by the low humidity factor during winter which leads to evaporation of the lubricant in the eyes. Another contributing factor for this condition is the use of a computer and continuously looking at the screen for long,” Biswas told IANS.

To prevent this condition, one should use eye drops (as prescribed by a doctor) three-four times a day.

One could also close the eyes for half-a-minute while sitting in front of the computer screen to bring moisture back to the eyes, Biswas said.

Listing out the preventive steps, Dhawan said patients should wear sunglasses to protect the eyes from the cold wind, while artificial tears – also known as tear substitutes – should be applied at least four times a day.

If the condition aggravates, use lubricating ointment at bedtime and run a humidifier to put moisture back into the air.

Also, lay a warm, damp washcloth across your eyelids for a couple of minutes, drink extra fluids and use a hot- or cold-air humidifier, Dhawan said.

According to the American Association of Ophthalmology, approximately 3.2 million women and 1.7 million men over the age of 50 suffer from chronic dry eyes.

Source: Khaleej times


Avoid Confusing Thyroid Symptoms With Menopause

Many middle-aged women experiencing menopausal-like symptoms may be experiencing thyroid-related problems. They are often difficult to tell apart but lab tests may help with the diagnosis.

Millions of women with menopausal-like symptoms may be suffering from undiagnosed thyroid disease. These non-specific symptoms consist of fatigue, depression, mood swings, weight gain, irregular menstrual periods, and sleep disturbances.

These are frequently associated with menopause, especially when they occur in women who are in their 40s.

However, only one out of four of these women who have described these menopause-like symptoms with a physician are actually tested for thyroid disease.

Perimenopausal Symptoms

It is common for women in their late 40s to their early 50s to expect the symptoms of menopause. This perimenopausal stage is the period when the signs and symptoms of menopause have not stabilized. Menopause is defined as the complete cessation of menstrual periods and loss of fertility. Before this occurs, a woman may undergo a long transition stage, called perimenopause, which may start as early as their mid-30s, although most women experiences changes in their mid to late 40s. This transition period may last for five to ten years, during which, one may undergo these signs and symptoms:

Irregular menstrual periods
Longer or shorter periods
Heavy menstrual flow or spotting
Absent periods
Menstrual cramping
Breast tenderness
Premenstrual syndrome, or PMS, which consists of fatigue, irritability, food cravings, and depression
Sleep problems

Hot flushes alternating with intermittent coldness

Weight gain

Menopause is a natural stage in a woman’s life that begins with a gradual decline in estrogen levels and ends with cessation of menses and with the ovaries failing to release eggs.

Symptoms related to these hormonal changes may come and go, some days being better than others are, especially during the long perimenopausal stage. For some women, undergoing these changes may be very challenging and they may feel that these are unnatural or perhaps related to some other health condition. They may seek medical consultation for vague symptoms, for which they may not get satisfactory treatment.

However, the diagnosis of menopause is usually made retrospectively, since it is established only a year after menses disappear.

Source: steady health


Sleep problems common among middle-aged women

Almost a quarter of middle-aged women report their quality of sleep is less than good, according to a new study.

Sleep problems were tied to poor quality of life, chronic illness and medication use, researchers found.

The new study adds to earlier research by looking at common sleep problems among women before they hit menopause, according to Dr. Päivi Polo. She led the study at the University of Turku in Finland.

“Typically we think that these are problems of menopause and thus menopause is the reason for everything,” Polo told Reuters Health.

“Then we try to treat all menopausal insomnia symptoms with hormone replacement therapy … but because in some women the sleep problems are already evident before the menopause, the HRT may not alleviate all sleep problems and we physicians are wondering what to do next.”

After menopause, hot flashes and night sweats increase sleep problems, she said.

Polo and her colleagues surveyed 850 mothers about their sleep when they were 42 years old, on average. One third had a chronic illness, like diabetes or heart disease, and 28 percent were on regular medication.

Women most often reported waking up frequently at night. Sixty percent of them had that problem at least once a week.

Sixteen percent of women reported having difficulty falling asleep and 20 percent said they woke up too early in the morning on a weekly basis.

Morning sleepiness was reported by 42 percent and daytime sleepiness by 32 percent.

Sleep troubles are not new for people of any age, but they do seem to be a bit more common among women. Hormonal changes related to menstrual cycles or menopause may be partly to blame, the authors write in Maturitas.

Occasional alcohol drinking was tied to better sleep quality and less falling asleep at work, they found.

But women’s weight and physical activity levels were not linked to sleep problems. That might be because most women in the study were in the normal range for body size, Polo said. Other studies have tied obesity to sleep problems like sleep apnea.

“There is likely a bidirectional association such that obesity may induce poor sleep, and short sleep may induce weight gain and subsequent obesity,” Dr. Helen Driver, who researches sleep at Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario, Canada, said.

“The study was not designed to assess much detail about the relationship between physical activity and sleep, which is a complex interaction depending on factors such as physical fitness, aerobic capacity, exercise type (aerobic, non-aerobic, stretching) and timing,” Driver told Reuters Health in an email.

All sleep problems can affect daytime tiredness, work performance and quality of life, Driver said.

Women tend to get about seven hours of sleep each night during the week, but sleep needs are unique to individuals, she said.

“Sleep is so crucial, since we sleep one third of our life and it affects so much of our health,” Polo said. Sleep problems can be a symptom of a disease or mental state, which doctors should keep in mind, she said.

Women having sleep problems should talk to their doctor and be sure to note any potential sleep-related side effects of medications, researchers said.

“A good start is to keep a sleep diary and note any patterns or symptoms such as snoring, restlessness, morning headache,” Driver said. “If there is concern ask your family physician for a referral to a sleep center for a
n assessment by a qualified sleep specialist.”

Source: US web daily


6 tips for eating healthy during Menopause

Menopause is a frightening word for women. This transition is a consequence of biological aging and accompanying signs and effects that can occur during the menopause years can significantly disrupt their daily activities and sense of well-being. The most common symptoms include hot flushes, sweating, insomnia, anxiety, impairment of memory and fatigue. Long term consequences can include a decline in libido, osteoporosis, heart disease, even dementia – all linked to reduced oestrogen levels. During menopause, many women experience increased anxiety and stress. During such time, only good nutrition and effective handling of stress can reduce certain conditions that may develop during and after menopause.

So eat your way to a happier and healthier menopause. Here’s how:

Eat foods that are high in phytoestrogens: During menopause, a woman’s estrogen production considerably decreases, so eating foods that are high in phytoestrogens, like soy products and flaxseeds, can act like estrogen. Drinking soymilk, eating soybeans, tempeh, and roasted soy nuts might help. You can also go for Flaxseeds as they contain lignans, another type of phytoestrogens that may help with hot flashes.

Calcium is a must: According to a report,it is recommended that women over age 50 should consume 1,200 mg of calcium per day. Calcium will increase your bone density and prevent osteoporosis. So include yogurts, cheese, broccoli, salmon in your diet and drink milk regularly.

Include carbohydrates in your diet: Eating carbohydrates can release tryptophan that helps produce serotonin, a neurotransmitter in the brain that calms and relaxes people. Go for turkey, milk, eggs and fish. You can also try out cherries as it has melatonin which gives you a good night’s sleep.

Go for Vitamin-B: B-vitamins are known to stabilize moods, generate calmness and improve metabolism. Whole, unprocessed foods like lean meat and poultry, liver, whole grains and lentils are all rich in B vitamins. Other foods that have vitamin B are spinach, Brussels sprouts, kale, asparagus and beets.

Have legumes, nuts and seeds: The nutrients and the oils in nuts and seeds may help prevent dry skin and normalise hormone levels. Foods such as pumpkin, sunflower, almonds contain these essential nutrients.

Switch to a fibre rich diet: Due to the fluctuating hormones, the digestive system slows down, so bloating becomes a common problem. Foods that can get rid of the bloat are asparagus, celery, watermelon, and berries. A diet that is high in fibre, such as lentils, legumes, fruits and whole cereals, pasta, rice, fresh fruits, and vegetables can improve digestion and decrease bloating.

Source: Zee News


Hunt for Environmental links to breast cancer

A decade-long research effort to uncover the environmental causes of breast cancer by studying both lab animals and a group of healthy US girls has turned up some surprises, according to AFP

At the center of the investigation are 1,200 schoolgirls who do not have breast cancer, but who have already given scientists important new clues about the possible origins of the disease.

Some risk factors are well understood, including early puberty, later age of childbearing, late onset of menopause, estrogen replacement therapy, drinking alcohol and exposure to radiation, AFP reports.

Advances have also been made in identifying risky gene mutations, but these cases make up a small minority.

“Most of breast cancer, particularly in younger women, does not come from family histories,” said Leslie Reinlib, a program director at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences.

“We have still got 80 percent that has got to be environmental,” said Reinlib, who is part of the Breast Cancer and the Environment Research Program (BCERP) program that has received some $70 million in funds from the US government since 2003.

Some of its researchers track what is happening in the human population, while others study how carcinogens, pollutants and diet affect the development of the mammary glands and breast tumors in lab mice.

The program’s primary focus is on puberty because its early onset “is probably one of the best predictors of breast cancer in women,” Reinlib said.

Puberty is a time of rapid growth of the breast tissue. Research on survivors of the Hiroshima atomic bombings in Japan has shown that those exposed in puberty had a higher likelihood of developing breast cancer in adulthood.

The 1,200 US girls enrolled in the study at sites in New York City, northern California and the greater Cincinnati, Ohio, area beginning in 2004, when they were between the ages of six and eight.

The aim was to measure the girls’ chemical exposures through blood and urine tests, and to learn how environmental exposures affected the onset of puberty and perhaps breast cancer risk later in life.

Researchers quickly discovered that their effort to reach girls before puberty had not been entirely successful.

“By age eight, 40 percent were already in puberty,” said Reinlib. “That was a surprising bit of information.”

Further research has shown that the girls appear to be entering puberty six to eight months earlier than their peers did in the 1990s.

A study published last week in the journal Pediatrics on this cohort of girls found that obesity was acting as a primary driver of earlier breast development.

Other studies on the girls have focused on chemicals that are known as endocrine disruptors because they are believed to cause either earlier or later breast development.

Initial results showed “for the first time that phthalates, BPA, pesticides are in all the girls they looked at,” said Reinlib.

Researchers were taken aback by the pervasiveness of the exposures, but also by the data which appeared to show some plastic chemicals might not be as influential on breast development as some have feared.

“They didn’t find much of an association between puberty and phthalates, which are these chemicals that leach out of plastic bottles and Tupperware,” Reinlib said.

Another major finding regarded blood chemicals from two nearby groups in Ohio and Kentucky, both drinking water that was apparently contaminated by industrial waste.

Girls in northern Kentucky had blood levels of an industrial chemical — perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA or C-8) found in Teflon non-stick coating for pans — three times as high as those who drank water from the Ohio River near Cincinnati, where water was filtered with state-of-the-art technology.

“Northern Kentucky did not have granular activated carbon filtration” in their water supply said researcher Susan Pinney, a professor at the University of Cincinnati School of Medicine.

“In 2012 they put it in after they learned of our preliminary results.” Families were also notified of their daughters’ blood levels, she said.

The chemicals can linger in the body for years. Researchers were dismayed to learn that the longer the girls spent breastfeeding as infants — typically touted for its health benefits — the higher their PFOA levels compared to girls who were fed formula.

What cannot be studied in the girls is tried on lab mice, who in one experiment are being fed high-fat diets and exposed to a potent carcinogen to see how the two interact.

Mammary tumors develop much faster in the high-fat diet group, said scientist Richard Schwartz of the department of microbiology and molecular genetics at Michigan State University.

Fat mice have more blood supply in the mammary glands, higher inflammation levels and display changes in the immune system.

Follow-up studies suggest that cancer risk stays high even if mice are fed high-fat diets in puberty and switched to low-fat diets in adulthood, he told AFP.

“The damage is already done,” he said. “Does this mean that humans are at risk the same way? We don’t know that with certainty.”

But the findings do reinforce the advice that people often hear regarding how to maintain good health — avoid fatty foods, maintain a normal weight and reduce chemical exposures wherever possible, experts say.

“It can’t hurt, and it can only help,” said Schwartz.

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women globally and took 508,000 lives in 2011, according to the World Health Organization.

Source: News OK