Support Breast Cancer Awareness

Drink
Women who stay hydrated reduce their risk of breast cancer by 79 per cent, according to a study done at the University of Sheffield, England. With Brita’s limited-edition Pink Pitcher ($34.99), taking in your five glasses a day is even easier, as it filters tap water. This year, the company will contribute $50,000 to the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation.

Youth Booster bonus: A study of healthy adults aged 38 to 100 published in the American Journal of Epidemiology found that women who drank more than five glasses of water a day were 41 per cent less likely to die from a heart attack than those who drank less than two glasses. The impact was even greater for men.

Protect
Researchers from Lund University and Malm University in Sweden say that drinking at least two to three cups of coffee a day may reduce a woman’s risk of developing breast cancer. So have a java: 10 cents from each Folgers Canada’s Classic Roast pink coffee tin sold will go to the Canadian Cancer Society.

Youth Booster bonus: The key to coffee’s health benefits lies in its antioxidants, says Karen Collins, a nutrition adviser with the American Institute for Cancer Research in Washington, D.C. Antioxidants occur naturally in some foods, and they protect the cells in our body from damage caused by free radicals.

Run
It’s easy to fall for the Running Room’s Pink Ribbon athletic wear. The moisture wicking, breathable, stretch fabrics are comfortable for exercising, and the stylish designs can easily take you to meet friends or run errands. Prices range from $19.99 to $89.99, and a portion of proceeds will go to the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation.

Youth Booster bonus: Dr. Edward Lakatta, chief of the Laboratory of Cardiovascular Science at the National Institute on Aging in Maryland, says that aerobic exercise conditioning can offset normal aging of the heart by making it a better pump, even for those who begin later in life, at age 60 or 70. At maximum capacity, he says, the heart function of older athletes seems to be closer to that of younger men than to older men who do not exercise regularly.