Cancer and Obesity

As you know, I work for the National Cancer Institute, supposedly helping to prevent cancer.  Some days I actually feel like I'm making a difference in that direction.  Other days I think I'm just putting words on a screen/page that no one will ever read or care about.  But that is neither here nor there for this specific entry.  What I am interested in discussing is the connection between obesity and cancer.  My particular background and the majority of my work has been in smoking prevention and cessation.  Consequently, my limited knowledge about cancer is in relation to lung and oropharyngeal cancers.  And I do mean limited.  I am on the prevention side of cancer, meaning I am not concerned with the actual biological mechanisms of cancer.  I want to change behaviors that contribute to the expression of these mechanisms.  This means I do not have to know much about them.

But I do find I am constantly interested and intrigued in the link between obesity and cancer.  I think our general tendency in the US is to believe that obesity leads to cardiovascular problems, and this is why people die when overweight/obese.  Unfortunately, we overlook the strong link between obesity and cancer.  A recent NCI Cancer Bulletin discusses why obesity is linked to cancer, and I include the link below.  I think you might find it fascinating.

Love,
Amber

http://www.cancer.gov/ncicancerbulletin/111511/page3

P.S. I'm not including the punchline (the why of the connection) because the Bulletin does it much better than I ever could.

Pecan pie brownies

So if you've read my posts the last couple of days, thank you and know that I'm doing much better.  Why, you ask?  Because I decided to be better I guess.  I lead a pretty fantastic life, so once I shared my feelings, processed a bit, and decided my next steps, I've felt better.  And thank you to those of you who have validated my feelings in one way or another over the last few days.  I feel heard and loved, and there is little else I can ask for in the world.

Also, if you read yesterday's post, you saw that I receive multiple emails a day reminding me to be strong, courageous, happy, loving, et cetera, and that I value those emails immensely, even when they push me outside of my comfort zone.

What you may not know is that I receive a second set of emails that also have the tendency to push me outside my comfort zone, my food comfort zone.  They are usually emails with ridiculously decadent recipes that I want to make or desire to have, but am not sure how to fit into my lifestyle.  

Today I share one of these recipes with you.  The recipe is from an email that was sent to me by the people at www.myrecipes.com but was originally published in Southern Living.  It does not have nutritional information, I assume because once you see the recipe you really won't want to know.  But I like the idea and I think I'll beg my brother to help me put these together for Thanksgiving.  I enjoy pecan pie and I enjoy brownies...put the two together and we just might have a new hit.  I hope you enjoy them, or enjoy drooling over the idea of them.

Love,

Amber

Ingredients

• 1 (2-pound) frozen pecan pie, thawed
• 1/2 cup butter 
• 1 3/4 cups (11.5-ounce package) semisweet chocolate chunks
• 1 cup sugar 
• 2 large eggs 
• 1 cup milk 
• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour 
• 1 teaspoon baking powder 
• Vegetable cooking spray 

Preparation

• Cut pie into cubes. Set aside.
• Microwave 1/2 cup butter and chocolate chunks in a glass bowl at HIGH 1 minute. Stir and microwave 1 more minute. Stir until mixture is smooth.
• Beat chocolate mixture, sugar, eggs, milk, and half of pie cubes at low speed with a heavy-duty stand mixer until blended.
• Add flour and baking powder, stirring with a wooden spoon until blended. Stir remaining half of pie cubes into batter. (Batter will be thick.) Spoon batter into a 13- x 9-inch pan coated with cooking spray.
• Bake at 350º for 50 minutes. Cool brownies completely on a wire rack. Cut into triangles or squares.
• Note: For testing purposes only, we used Mrs. Edward's Frozen Pecan Pie.

http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/pecan-pie-brownies-50400000110033/?iid=news-di-110811&PromKey=XET

Guac-ico de mole

My easiest and most delicious recipe of late involves purchasing guacamole and pico de gallo from Whole Foods, mixing them together in equal portions, and eating in any way desired.

Surprise...guac-ico de mole!

Love,
Amber

P.S. I have eaten this with a spoon as cold soup.  Don't judge.

The 5 to 1 zone

http://thechart.blogs.cnn.com/2011/10/20/are-you-nice-to-your-spouse/?sf2461789=1


Another new book to read titled "The Science of Trust: Emotional Attunement for Couples."  It basically says that if you can be nice to your partner in a five to one ratio, especially during fights, then you will probably have a successful relationship.  I have to read the book to determine whether he has qualitative data to support it and direct interviews of couples that pull this off, but if not....another addition to my book :-)


On a different note, it's been way way too long since I blogged.  I'm done with not making this a priority.  I love to write.  Moral of the story: I'll be back (daily).


Love,
Amber