Studies have shown that eating cruciferous vegetables, such as cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, and Brussel sprouts, has the potential to prevent cancer and inhibit the increase in the number of tumor cells that can cause cancer. According to the National Cancer Institute, it is important to eat at least 5 servings of fruits and vegetables per day as part of a cancer prevention strategy.

According to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, Americans discard about 19% of vegetables and 14% of fruits they buy because of improper storage and quick ripening of certain fruits and vegetables. In this bulletin, you will find some produce storing hacks to help reduce food waste and to help protect your budget.

Cancer screenings are important because they can help detect cancer even if no symptoms are showing. Some recommended screening tests include breast, cervical, colorectal, and lung cancers because of the benefits of detecting cancer early. This article contains information on the recommended guidelines for adults, based upon age.

Sweet potatoes are considered a superfood because of their great health benefits. These include being fat-free, low sodium, high in fiber, and packed with different vitamins. Check out this sweet potato ravioli recipe in this week’s Karen’s Wellness Bulletin.

Tobacco is addictive and many people struggle to stop smoking even though they know it is bad for their health. Recent studies have shown that vapors from e-cigarettes may develop into lung cancer. Dr. Perkins discusses the study further in this article.

Chard is sought after because of its large, crinkly green leaves. It comes in different colors that include yellow, purple, or red. In addition, all chard varieties are rich in vitamins A, C, and K. Young chard leaves can be eaten raw in salads, but when chard matures, it tastes best steamed, boiled, roasted, sautéed, or in a stew.

Vitamin A is important for many different functions in the body and can even reduce the risk of developing skin cancer. Some sources of Vitamin A include beef liver, fish oils, milk, eggs, leafy green vegetables, orange and yellow vegetables tomatoes, red bell pepper, cantaloupe, mango, and fortified foods.

Breast cancer is the most common cancer found in American women and will impact about 1 in 8 women. However, women can reduce their risk of breast cancer significantly by not drinking alcohol, staying physically active, maintaining a healthy weight, and eating a healthy diet.

The Produce for Better Health Foundation has designated September as National Fruits and Vegetables Month to encourage consumers to eat more fruits and vegetables every day for improved public health. A diet that is rich in fruits and vegetables can help reduce the risk of many leading causes of illness and death, including heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, some cancers, and obesity.

For women who are diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer, preventing recurrence and the spread of disease are top priorities. New research is showing, for a specific group of patients, that traditional radiation therapy raises the risk for secondary cancers to develop.