Reducing Negative Affect through Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Hypnosis
Journal of Clinical Psychology, (April 1, 2009); 65 (4): 443-55
Forty women undergoing radiotherapy for breast cancer participated in a study to see if combining cognitive- behavioral therapy with hypnosis (CBTH) would reduce distress. Participants were randomly assigned to receive either CBTH or standard-care, which included no additional emotional support, for a six-month period of time. Participants completed weekly self-report measures including sleep onset, total sleep time, and level of distress. Researchers found that the CBTH approach reduced the levels of negative feelings and increased the levels of positive feelings during their treatment as compared to the standard-care group. Overall, the CBTH group also had a higher number of days where positive feelings were greater than negative (85% of days for the CBTH versus 43% for the standard-care group).
Yoga May Help Treatment Side-Effects
National Cancer Institute,Office of Cancer Complementary and Alternative Medicine (May 2010)
410 cancer patients participated in a research trial to identify the effects of yoga on sleep quality, fatigue, and overall quality of life in cancer survivors. Participants who had completed treatment for cancer were split into two groups: a yoga group consisting of a four-week yoga program with twice weekly sessions and a non-yoga group. Researchers measured how all participants felt before the trial began with regard to sleep quality and fatigue. Those who participated in the yoga program reported improvements in sleep quality and fatigue and used less sleep medication than they did before the study. Non-yoga participants actually reported an increase in their use of sleep medication. This study provides good evidence that yoga may be an effective tool for side-effect management.
Nutrition Bites by Christine Sardo, MPH, RD,
Partnerships and Policies Director at The Canyon Ranch Institute in Tucson, AZ
Follow the Rainbow to Optimal Health!
The message about eating a “rainbow of colors” at every meal isn’t a new one. What’s new is that the many rich pigments found in bright colored fruits and vegetables are being characterized and scientifically studied to better understand their role in cancer prevention and survivorship. Foods such as berries, tomatoes, and cruciferous vegetables (i.e., cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, Brussels’ sprouts) are sources of highly concentrated, health-promoting and disease-preventing antioxidants such as flavonoids, lycopene, sulforphane, and anthocyanins. Each of the phytochemicals (plant chemicals) contributes to the color of the fruit or vegetable and to the specific way that the plant resists disease. Anthocyanins are responsible for the dark-blue color seen in berries and dark grapes, whereas lycopene lends tomatoes, watermelon and other foods their red color. The practice of having a “rainbow of colors on your plate” is important because the synergy between all these different phytochemicals in foods can make all the difference in our health and the variety can improve the way that these foods offer cancer prevention and survivorship. Berries, squash, tomatoes, or broccoli should be part of a diet full of colors and flavors, no one food can do it all!