According to a new study, adults and children can reduce their exposure to hormone-disrupting chemicals, including bisphenol-A (BPA), by eating more fruits and vegetables and less food from plastic containers and metal cans, USA Today reported.

Twenty study participants showed a 66 percent reduction of BPA in their urine after three days on a diet of fresh, organic and unpackaged food, scientists said.

Levels of another chemical, bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate or DEHP, fell 3 percent.

“This is the first study to provide clear evidence that food packaging is a major source of BPA and DEHP exposure in children and adults,” said study co-author Julia Brody,. executive director of the Silent Spring Institute, a Massachusetts-based nonprofit that studies environmental factors in women’s health.

Prior research has found that BPA is present in at least 90 percent of Americans due to how prevalent it is in food packaging and other consumer items.  BPA is used to harden plastics in bottles and cups and is also in the linings of metal cans and cash register receipts.  DEHP is used to soften PVC and other plastics.

Researchers remain uncertain as to what are safe levels of these chemicals, which have been linked to breast cancer, heart disease, diabetes, male infertility and other health problems.  The Food and Drug Administration has also expressed “some concerns” in the past about potential effects on the brain development of fetuses, infants and children.

Meanwhile, the American Chemistry Council, which represents plastic manufacturers, insisted that BPA levels remain safe.

Currently, the U.S. government is spending $30 million for the National Institutes of Health to research the safety of BPA, and the FDA is supporting the efforts of food packaging companies to find alternatives. Some states are banning BPA use in food and drink containers intended for children aged 3 and younger.

The study authors recommended these tips to help consumers reduce their BPA levels, as quoted from USA Today:

1. The Fresh is best. BPA and phthalates can migrate from the linings of cans and plastic packaging into food and drinks. While it’s not practical to avoid food packaging altogether, opt for fresh or frozen instead of canned food asmuch as possible.

2. Eat in. Studies have shown that people who eat more meals prepared outside the home have higher levels of BPA. To reduce your exposure, consider cooking more meals at home with fresh ingredients. When you do eat out, choose restaurants that use fresh ingredients.

3. Store it safe. Food and drinks stored in plastic can collect chemicals from the containers, especially if the foods are fatty or acidic. Next time, try storing your leftovers in glass or stainless steel instead of plastic.

4. Don’t microwave in plastic. Warmer temperatures increase the rate of chemicals leaching into food and drinks. So use heatresistant glass or ceramic containers when you microwave, or heat your food on the stove. The label “microwave safe” means safety for the container, not your health.

5. Brew the old-fashioned way. Automatic coffee makers may have BPA and phthalates in their plastic containers and tubing. When you brew your coffee, consider using a French press to get your buzz without the BPA.

The study was published in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives.

Click here to read more from USA Today.

While it’s important for young women to get vaccinated against HPV, it’s equally important that they not be lulled into a false sense of security: Women who receive the HPV vaccination will still need to get screened for cervical cancer in the future.

British researchers found an alarming lack of clarity among both parents and girls concerning the link between the HPV vaccine and the need for future cervical screening.

In some cases, parents provided their consent for daughters to receive the vaccine because they falsely believed that it would render cervical screening unnecessary.

The researchers also found that there was a significant lack of awareness about cervical screening among vaccination-aged girls.

The truth is, while the HPV vaccine is effective against the two most common high risk HPV types (16 and 18), it does not protect against all types of high risk HPV.  The vaccine offers only 70 percent protection against cervical cancer, making it imperative for women to still undergo cervical screening as they age.

“Cervical screening can prevent around 34 percent of cervical cancers in women in their 30s, rising to 75 percent in women in their 50s and 60s,” stressed Hazel Nunn, Cancer Research UK’s senior health information manager.  “Women should be reminded of the crucial role of screening in the fight against cervical cancer.”

The study was presented Thursday at the Annual Scientific Meeting of the Society of Academic Primary Care.

Cancer can be overwhelming, to say the least. For those who are suddenly saddled with the diagnosis, it can be a jolting – and often confusing – experience. To help cancer patients navigate this new chapter in their lives, Angela Fagerlin, Ph.D, at University of Michigan Medical School, and her colleagues have compiled a list of 10 ways patients can become “fluent” in the language of cancer care and better understand their options. Check it out below.

1. Insist on plain language. If you don’t understand something your doctor says, ask him or her to explain it better. “Doctors don’t know when patients don’t understand them. They want patients to stop them and ask questions,” said Fagerlin.

2. Focus on absolute risk. The most important statistic to consider is the chance that something will happen to you. “It’s important that patients and doctors know how to communicate these numbers, and patients need to have the courage to ask their doctor to present it so they can understand,” said Fagerlin.

Rather than using unclear statements like “This drug will cut your risk of developing cancer in half,” use solid numbers like, “This drug will reduce your cancer risk from 50 to 25 percent.”

3. Visualize your risk. “Instead of just thinking about risk numbers, try drawing out 100 boxes and coloring in one box for each percentage point of risk. So, if your risk of a side effect is 10 percent, you would color in 10 boxes,” the researchers advised. Images can help you understand the numbers.

4. Consider risk as a frequency rather than as percentages. Similar to visualizing risk, thinking of risk in terms of groups of people can help make statistics easier to understand.

5. Focus on the additional risk. Does a treatment come with side effects you wouldn’t have experienced if you didn’t take the treatment? “You want to make sure the risk number you’re being presented is the risk due to the treatment and not a risk you would face no matter what,” Fagerlin said.

6. The order of information matters. “Studies have shown that the last thing you hear is most likely to stick. When making a treatment decision, don’t forget to consider all of the information and statistics you’ve learned,” the researchers said.

7. Write it down. After meetings with your doctor, ask him or her to help summarize all the new information presented, including risks and benefits, in writing.

8. Don’t get hung up on averages. Knowing the average risk of a disease does not help patients make good decisions about what the best course of action is for themselves. “Your risk is what matters – not anyone else’s. Focus on the information that applies specifically to you,” the researchers said.

9. Less may be more. Don’t get overwhelmed by too much information. In some cases, there may be many different treatment options but only a few may be relevant to you. Ask your doctor to narrow it down and only discuss with you the options and facts most relevant for you.

10. Consider your risk over time. Your risk may change over time. “What seems like a small risk over the next year or two may look a lot larger when considered over your lifetime,” the researchers said.

If you’re told the five-year risk of your cancer returning after a certain treatment, ask what the 10-year or 20-year risk is. In some cases, this data might not be available, but always be aware of the timeframe involved.

Though aspirin has protective benefits against cardiovascular disease and certain cancers, a new study has found that even low dosages of aspirin can increase the risk of gastrointestinal bleeding.

The risk is increased further with the use of additional prescriptions meant to prevent cardiovascular disease, such as clopidogrel and anticoagulants.

“The use of aspirin has been proven beneficial in reducing cardiac events and deaths in patients who have cardiovascular disease, and has even been shown to reduce cancer risk,” said Angel Lanas, MD, PhD, lead author of the study. “However, clinicians need to be more proactive in their efforts to reduce potential risk factors associated with all doses of aspirin, especially gastrointestinal bleeding.”

Low-dose aspirin, typically 75 to 325 mg daily, is one of the most common therapies for cardiovascular disease. Patients with cardiovascular disease have fewer heart-related deaths when they take aspirin regularly compared to patients who do not take it.

Aspirin has also been shown to effectively prevent against GI and colon cancer.

However, the people who take aspirin, especially in combination with other cardiovascular drugs, are also at much greater risk of major intestinal bleeding, according to the researchers. Patients particularly at risk are those who have previously suffered from GI ulcers or bleeding.

However, the researchers did find that the bleeding risk appeared to decrease in patients who took proton pump inhibitors (PPIs).

The study was published in the journal Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology.

New research from the University of California Davis has identified two biologically different subtypes of autism.

The findings another important step forward in understanding the causes of autism and developing effective treatments – and maybe even a cure.

The Autism Phenome Project at UC Davis’s MIND Institute has been ongoing since 2006, studying the brain growth, environmental exposure and genetic make-up of 350 children.

The two autism strains identified by the project target different systems of the body. One group of children, all boys, had enlarged brains, and most regressed into autism within 18 months, while another group all appeared to have improperly functioning immune systems that contributed to their autism.

The research complements earlier findings that have linked some cases of autism with genetic alterations that affect brain development in children.

Again, the significance of this study is that it could help specifically tailor treatments for different children and therefore improve the ability of early intervention in changing some of the behavioral and social patterns affected by autism.

For example, if a child has the autism strain associated with a dysfunctional immune system, it would likely do little good to prescribe a treatment that targets the synaptic functioning in the brain.

Lead researcher David Amaral, a UC Davis psychiatry professor, made a comparison between treating autism and treating cancer when he said, “If we were trying to cure all cancer at the same time, it would be hopeless. Well, the same is true for autism. My guess is that there just isn’t going to be a single diagnostic marker for autism – there’s going to be a whole panel.”

I hope these scientists will continue with their groundbreaking work in identifying the different strains of autism, so we can move forward in treating the condition and finding a cure.

According to a nutrition expert, trans fats are getting a bad rap.

In a new scientific review, University of Alberta researcher Spencer Proctor reported that while some trans fats are bad for you, other natural trans fats found in dairy and beef are not detrimental for health, and can in fact have positive effects.

Some evidence even links these natural trans fats to reduced risk of heart disease and cancer.

Proctor explained that naturally occurring trans fats have a different fatty acid profile than industrial trans fats, which explains why they have drastically different effects on health.

The main difference between natural and industrial trans fats is that industrial trans fats are typically a component of partially hydrogenated vegetable oils, which are strongly associated with cholesterol and coronary heart disease.

While fat is typically demonized in health adverts, Proctor urged government officials to make a clearer distinction between good fats and bad fats.

“A change in how trans fat information is presented on nutrition labels would be a huge step forward,” Proctor said. “Right now, in the U.S., a substantial portion of natural trans fats content is included in the nutrition label trans fats calculation, which is misleading for the consumer. We need a reset in our approach to reflect what the new science is telling us.”

He pointed to some European countries, where natural trans fat is not included in the nutrition label calculation. Another solution could be to have separate listings for industrial trans fats and natural trans fats.

Proctor and his colleagues plan to continue to study the health effects of natural trans fats.

“With industry, the science community, regulators and other important groups in this area working together, we can continue to make strides to help the public better understand the health implications of natural ruminant trans fats,” Proctor said.