Coke, Pepsi recipes and cancer warning for 4-MEI

Coke, Pepsi

Coke and Pepsi caramel coloring contains a chemical, 4-methylimidazole (4-MEI), that is a potential carcinogen.

4-MEI has been known to cause cancer in laboratory mice and rats and could be potentially risky to humans as well. 

State of California has included this chemical, 4-MEI, in the list of carcinogens. California Prop 65 law requires that a product label should warn consumers if it contains a substance that is known to cause cancer. In January 2012, Brazilian Blowout, a hair care products company, paid $600,000 in a settlement over such labeling issues in California.

coffee may reduce the risk of breast cancer

more coffee less cancer

According to a researcher of the Karolinska Institut in Stockholm, women who drink more than five cups of coffee a day may be reducing their risk of one type of breast cancer known as estrogen-receptor negative cancers. This type of breast cancer is less likely to respond to hormone therapy than estrogen-receptor positive breast cancer.

The study evaluated coffee drinking and breast cancer risk in 2,818 patients with breast cancer and 3,111 study participants who did not have breast cancer.  Participants were all Swedish, ages 50 to 74. The researchers collected information on coffee drinking habits. education, family history of breast cancer, menstrual history, reproductive history, and habits such as smoking, drinking alcohol, and exercising.

The researcher herself is not convinced about the results and is unclear whether this observation was a chance finding. However, a U.S. expert cautiously warns that the only thing this study suggests is: "Drinking coffee doesn’t seem to increase the overall risk of breast cancer."

So, I would suggest: ladies, enjoys your cup of coffee and keep it brewing.

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SOURCES

telegraph.co.uk

webmd

cell phone use can cause cancer

According to the World Health Organization (WHO, radiation from cell phones can possibly cause cancer similar to engine exhaust and chloroform.

cell phone cancer

WHO felt it was important to investigate, understand and monitor any potential public health impact of cell (mobile) phone use. Cell phones are now an integral part of daily communication and there were an estimated 4.6 billion subscriptions globally at the end of 2009. In some developing countries, the mobile phones are the only means of telecommunications.

WHO also mentioned  that that no harmful health effects had been established yet. However, a team of  31 scientists from 14 countries, felt that there was enough evidence to conclude that mobile phone use can potentially cause cancer in humans.

Mobile phones communicate by transmitting radio waves through a network of fixed antennas called base stations. The type of radiation emitted by a cell phone is called non-ionizing. It is not like an X-ray. It is more like a microwave oven radiation and it can potentially cook your brain similar to what microwave oven does to food.

It is worth noting that many cell phones already come with some form of health warning from the manufacturer and advise consumers to keep their phones away from their body.

higher rate of cancer reported among gay men

According to a BBC report, a study of 122,345 people in California suggests that the gay men are twice as likely to have had cancer. It is not clear from this study why this might be.

The survey was based on interviews of "survivors" so is not a true representation of the number of cancer cases. It was not possible to conclude that the gay men have a higher risk of cancer. Further research would be needed to determine if homosexual men were actually getting more cancer or had greater survival rates than heterosexuals.

There was no such link in women. However, lesbians and bisexual women were reported to have poorer health after cancer than heterosexuals.

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SOURCE

BBC Health News