Politics

'I (Heart) Boobies' Bracelet to the Supreme Court

Kayla Martinez (left) and Brianna Hawk (right)
(credit: articles.mcall.com)

Raising breast cancer awareness in young generations is very important because they are our future. In order to make a better society, the younger generations must be educated. You may have seen teenagers wearing ‘I (Heart) Boobies’ rubber wristbands. Teenagers are usually into fashions and accessories; this is the perfect way to reach the targets in this group. In 2010, two girls, Brianna Hawk and Kayla Martinez, were suspended for wearing ‘I (Heart) Boobies’ bracelets to their middle school in Pennsylvania (Burdo & Stamm, 2014). According to Morran (2014), the school’s principle states that the message on the bracelet is “sexual double entendre which is prohibited by the School District-wide dress code policy”. The parents of the two girls sued the school district in federal court; the judge stated that there was nothing lewd about the message on the wristband and that the school was “overreached in enacting the ban” (Morran, 2014). In August 2013, the school district appealed the case to the third Circuit Court; the court’s decision was that the “speech plausibly containing “social or political commentary may not be banned, unless the speech is plainly lewd” (Morran, 2014). The school district seems to be in court’s favor since the bracelet contains the word “boobies” with no other words that are related to breast cancer awareness; however, the students were in favor again with nine judges (out of 14 judges) sided with the students (Bomboy, 2014). After that, the case was appealed to the Supreme Court with the school district’s explanation stating that “student speech full of sexual innuendo or scatological implications must be tolerated by the Constitution just because an argument can be made to connect them with some political or social cause”, but the Supreme Court denied to hear the case with no explanation (Morran, 2014).

To many other students, the ‘I (Heart) Boobies bracelet may be childish, funny, or sexual if they do not fully understand the meaning of the message. I understand that Kayla Martinez and Brianna Hawk are just trying to express themselves since they have the right to do it. On the other hand, the school just wants to protect and keep the school’s environment clean and safe for other students as well. I believed that Brianna Hawk and Kayla Martinez has learned an important lesson to never give up and stand up and fight for what they believed is right. 

(credit: keepabreastshop.com)

What are your thoughts on this “Boobies” case?

Do you agree or disagree with the courts’ decisions?

Have you ever owned “I (Heart) Boobies” bracelet?

References

Bomboy, S. (2014, March 10). Update: How the “Boobies” case almost made it to the Supreme Court. The National Constitution Center. Retrieved from http://blog.constitutioncenter.org/2014/03/supreme-court-could-reject-or-accept-boobies-case-on-monday/

Burdo, A. & Stamm, D. (2014, March 10). U.S. Supreme Court Rejects “I (Heart) Boobies” Case. 

NBC10. Retrieved from http://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/politics/Supreme-Court-Rejects-I-Heart-Boobies-Case-249276501.html

Morran, C. (2014, March 10).  Supreme Court Won’t Hear “I Heart Boobies” Bracelet Case. Consumerist. Retrieved from http://consumerist.com/2014/03/10/supreme-court-wont-hear-i-heart-boobies-bracelet-case/

Important Researchers/Scholars

Make Olive Oil As a Part of Your Cooking

(credit: news.softpedia.com)

           The right food choices are very important for a healthy life. As I have mentioned, foods, such as leafy-green vegetables, berries, whole grains, and garlics, are able to reduce the chance of developing breast cancer. The recent studies show that olive oil can also cut the risk of breast cancer. DeNoon (2008) states that the studies by Javier A. Menendez, PhD and his colleagues show that olive oil can reduce “20% to 30% of breast cancers that express the HER2 molecules”. 

Cooking with Mary M. Flynn, PhD

(credit: news.brown.edu)

            Mary M. Flynn, a research nutritionist who has been working at the Miriam Hospital since 1984, has been doing a research on how certain food affects health. She has come up with various meals consisting of healthy ingredients and appropriate portions. Flynn’s rule of her cooking is that “the meals are calorie controlled and contain extra virgin olive oil, at least 2 servings of healthy vegetables, 2-3 servings of starch which will be whole grains and/or legumes (beans), whenever possible” (Mary Meal, n.d.). Home-cook meals are healthier because foods from restaurants may not be processed properly thus, increasing higher risk of diseases. For example, the restaurants usually use recycling cooking oil to cook your deep-fried foods such as fried chicken and French fries. According to Chosen Foods (2013), when oils break down due to exposure to heat, it becomes oxidized oil; it is rancid and harmful to the health. The article Mary Meal (n.d.) states that “Extra virgin olive oil has been shown to decrease blood pressure, fasting insulin and glucose, decrease oxidation and decrease inflammation, all risk factors for heart disease and some cancers”.

Furthermore, Flynn has currently been granted to compare the diet recommended by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) to a plant-based olive oil (PBOO) in women of age of 50 years old and older with invasive breast cancer for weight loss and improvement of biomarkers (Associate Professor of Medicine (Clinical), n.d.). A plant based olive oil diet that she developed has moderate fat content; it’s shown to be foods that are beneficial to the health according to literature research (Associate Professor of Medicine (Clinical), n.d.). Not only is Flynn a nutritionist, she is also a professor teaching courses in nutrition at Brown University; her courses cover the introduction of nutrition about the relationship of food and its impact on the treatment and the development of chronic diseases.

         Mary M. Flynn has shown us the impact of olive oil on health and demonstrates how olive oil can be used to prepare delicious healthy dishes. Watch How to grill the perfect pizza to see how Mary M. Flynn, PhD cooks a healthy pizza using olive oil and other healthy ingredients.

After watching this video, would you like to try making one as well?

References

Associate Professor of Medicine (Clinical). (n.d.). Brown University.

Retrieved from https://vivo.brown.edu/display/mflynnph

Mary Meal. (n.d.). The Miriam Hospital. Retrieved from http://www.miriamhospital.org/services/outpatient-nutrition-services/mary-meals.html

Why You Should Never Reuse Cooking Oil? (2013, July 15). Chosen Foods. Retrieved from http://chosen-foods.com/blogs/blog/9636509-why-you-should-never-reuse-cooking-oil

DeNoon, D., J. (2008, December 18). Olive Oil vs. Breast Cancer. Web MD Health News. Retrieved from http://www.webmd.com/breast-cancer/news/20081218/extra-virgin-olive-oil-evoo-vs-breast-cancer

Current Events

The New Better Breast Research

(credit: http://blog.royaloakscc.com/?p=1072)

                                           

            On May 1^st, 2014, Bailey has informed that there is an ongoing study called the new Better Breast; it is led by Dr. Amelie Ramirez, professor and director of the Institute for Health Promotion Research at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio. The study is about the foods that help reduce the risk of the reoccurrence
breast cancer by having breast cancer survivors work with the scientists and researchers. Breast cancer survivors who participate will be randomly assigned to one of the two groups and each group will get different cancer nutrition tools (Bailey, 2014). The purpose of this study is to teach the breast cancer survivors the importance of healthy diets so that they will become more aware of their food choices. Although genetics and risk factors may play an important role on the development of breast cancer, eating right is the first step you could do to help prevent breast cancer and its reoccurrence.

What do these Breast Cancer Walking Campaigns have to do with Breast Cancer Victims?

(credit: walk.avonfoundation.org)

                                                                         

         
              Breast cancer walking campaigns can be seen throughout the commercials, random advertisement posters, or radio. The studies show that walking can reduce the chance of developing breast cancer. Simon (2013) states that people who walked at least 7 hours per week had a 14% lower risk of breast cancer compared to those who walked 3 hours or less per week and those who walked and worked out vigorously have 25% lower risk of breast cancer. There’s no doubt that exercise is a free medicine. Avon Walk for Breast Cancer is a fundraising campaign decided for participants and volunteers to join and walk together. The events are held annually during the weekend in eight major cities in America such as San Francisco, New York, and Washington D.C. It is a two days unforgettable experience of walking 39 miles while the participants can share their stories with others and on May 4^th, 2014, Avon Walk for Breast Cancer have raised $4.5 million in Washington D.C. (Avon Foundation for Women, 2014). If you are interested, you can register now for Avon Walk for Breast Cancer in Washington D.C. that will be held in 2015 on May 2-3. If you want to see the overview of the campaign or listen to the participants’ experiences, watch a short video of Avon Walk for Breast Cancer.



References

Avon Foundation for Women. (2014). About the Walk. Retrieved from http://www.avonwalk.org/about/about-the-walk.html

Avon Foundation for Women. (2014). Press & News. Retrieved from http://www.avonwalk.org/press/

Avon Foundation for Women. (2014). Washington DC. Retrieved from http://www.avonwalk.org/washington-dc/

Bailey, W. (2014, May 1). Health Science center launches cancer survivor food study.  American City Business Journals. Retrieved from http://www.bizjournals.com/sanantonio/blog/2014/05/health-science-center-launches-cancer-survivor.html

Simon, S. (2013, October 4). Study Links Walking to Lower Breast Cancer Risk

American Cancer Society. Retrieved from http://www.cancer.org/cancer/news/study-links-walking-to-lower-breast-cancer-risk

What to Expect at Avon Walk for Breast Cancer. (2012, November 13). Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gPw8YCK1MSY

Introduction to Foods that Reduce Breast Cancer

      

           (credit: robcares.com) 

(credit: ivillage.com)

Breast cancer started as one of the major mortality causes in women, but now has decreased due to advanced technology and studies about it.  Most people focus on its risk factors and treatments, but finding supplementary ways to reduce the chances of getting breast cancer is important as well. Since consuming food is a part of our everyday lives, it is important to know about the benefits of eating certain foods. Many people are eating healthy now because the media is slowly influencing people more on what they should or should not eat. Some harmful foods that the media has reported to people are sodium nitrate, monosodium glutamate (MSG), and refined carbs. It was once said that a glass of wine a day is healthy for you, although it’s true for better blood circulation in the body; it actually increases the risk for cancer (Ipshita, 2013). Foods containing antioxidant, whole grains, or allium can be beneficial by reducing the risk of getting breast cancer. When it comes to anti-cancer foods, many people would think about vegetables and fruits. Dark-green leafy vegetables have vitamin B (folate) that strengthens your DNA and low levels of folate have been linked to increased cancer risk (Asp, 2013). Although they are very beneficial, there are a large variety of foods that can help reduce the risk of breast cancer,and here is a short list of some common foods that I think it really is important in your daily diets.

Berries

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All berries contain high “antioxidants and phytochemicals which play a role in reducing oxidation and cancer cell formation in the body” (Ipshita, 2013). Not only do berries have high antioxidants, they are also rich in vitamins. Berries can be easy to find in any local markets and there are varieties of berries available all year long. Berries can be eaten fresh as a part of healthy snack or made into a delicious healthy smoothie.

Whole Grains

(credit: kimberlysnyder.net)

For the category of whole grains, it can be found in wheat, brown rice, barley, and oats. According to Johns Hopkins Medicine (n.d.), “whole grains are unprocessed foods that are high in complex carbohydrates, fiber, vitamins, minerals and phytochemicals”. As stated in “Whole Wheat” (2014), wheat can speed up the metabolism of estrogen, female hormones that promote breast cancer. The studies of whole grain products show that it may have a small decrease in risk of breast cancer (Warren, 2001).


Garlic

(credit: eofdreams.com)

Most people may not be familiar with the term allium, a genus of vegetables such as leeks, onions, and garlics (Ipshita, 2013). Garlic is one of the important ingredients in many European, South American, and Asian dishes. It is believed that garlic adds more flavors to the dish. Although many people do not like garlics because of its taste or smell; it is one of the anti-cancer foods. Garlic is the part of healthy diets because it burns calories by breaking down fat (Butler, 2010). Furthermore, garlic can decrease the breakdown of DNA strand caused by carcinogens, slow down the growth rate of cancer cells by stopping the cell from the process of apoptosis (a programmed cell death), and suppress angiogenesis (the formation of new blood vessels from pre-existing vessels)” (“Onion and garlic are highly recommended for breast cancer,” n.d.).

After knowing the benefits of these foods, are you considering adding more portions of these foods in your meal? Are these your favorite foods? 

References

Asp, K. (2013). What you should eat (and avoid) to beat breast cancer. NBC News Digital. Retrieved

from http://www.nbcnews.com/id/39726407/ns/health-cancer/t/what-you-should-eat-avoid-beat-breast-

cancer/#.U6YT3fldVqV


Butler, C. (2010). 10 Foods That Burn Calories. Made Man. Retrieved                 from http://www.mademan.com/mm/10-foods-burn-calories.html

Ipshita, M. (2013). Top 10 foods that prevent breast cancer. The Times of India. Retrieved from http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/health-fitness/diet/Top-10-foods-that-prevent-breast-cancer/articleshow/17129219.cms

Nutrition for Breast Cancer Patients and Survivors. (n.d.). Johns Hopkins Medicine. Retrieved from http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/avon_foundation_breast_center/treatments_services/nutrition.html

Onion and garlic are highly recommended for breast cancer. (n.d.). Food For Breast Cancer. Retrieved from http://foodforbreastcancer.com/foods/onions-and-garlic

Warren, B. & Devine, C. (2001). Whole Grains, Fiber, And Breast Cancer Risk. Program on Breast Cancer and Environmental Risk Factors. Retrieved from Cornell University, College of Veterinary Medicine website: http://envirocancer.cornell.edu/Factsheet/diet/fs36.grain.cfm

Whole Wheat. (2014). The World’s Healthiest Food. Retrieved from http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=66