Doctor Q&A: What is the best type of vegetable to reduce the risk of cancer? Dr Renee Hoenderkamp answers your questions

Hey doc, for the last few months I've been getting really painful periods. They are quite severe and accompanied by cramping. Nothing appears to have changed with my lifestyle so I am puzzled. Could you shed light on this? Thank you

What caught my eye with his question is that the pain with your periods is a new thing. This is called secondary dysmenorrhea; period pain that starts after having had periods without pain. There is often a developing underlying cause for new onset pain.

There are several potential reasons why your period pains have suddenly evolved. Lifestyle factors like a change to your diet, sleep habits or exercise routine could be to blame. There are also some chronic health conditions that can cause painful cramping.

In terms of the lifestyle elements, what you eat can change things. One study found that people who ate more snack foods were at higher risk of painful periods. Foods rich in salt or sugar may also lead to more pain. Then there is stress. Stress can affect periods. Research shows that stress experienced early in a menstrual cycle can produce more cramping and pain. People who are under stress before their periods are two to four times more likely to have moderate to severe period symptoms. And closely related to stress is sleep which can cause stress or result from it. Poor sleep before and during periods has been shown to produce more painful menstrual cramps. Poor sleep affects hormone levels, which in turn affects periods and can cause pain.

Assuming it is none of these lifestyle issues, let’s look at the common medical conditions which can develop over time and cause period pain:

Endometriosis

A chronic condition that occurs when tissue from the womb (uterus) walls to where it doesn’t belong, in the abdomen. Like the cells in the womb, these cells are affected by changing hormone levels and so bleed wherever they are. Over time, endometriosis may worsen and cause organs to stick together, causing severe pain.

Fibroids

Are benign (noncancerous) growths in the womb. They are often silent and don’t cause symptoms, but they can lead to increased bleeding and pelvic pain during your period.

Ovarian cysts

Fluid-filled sacs that develop on the ovaries. Often asymptomatic but they can cause period pain and feel like cramps.

I would try the common period pain solutions first, including ibuprofen/co-codamol pain relief combined with heat to the area, stretching/exercise (even though you won’t feel like it), avoiding sugary snacks and trying an anti-inflammatory diet. Bolster your vitamins with zinc, B vitamins and ginger.

Period cramps are common, and it can be challenging to know when to seek help. Reach out to your healthcare provider if you experience any of the following:

• No improvement in pain with over-the-counter medications
• Pain that is getting worse over time
• Pain without bleeding
• Fever with your period
• Unusual discharge between or with your period.

Hey Doctor Renée, why does everything I eat taste slightly salty to me recently? I thought it was psychological at first but after eating unsalted items to test it I'm still getting the same outcome so I am convinced something is up with me. Any help would be very much appreciated on this. Thank you

There may be several reasons that someone experiences a salty taste in their mouth. This may include eating salty food, damaged gums or a common cold.

However, in some cases, it can be a sign of an underlying health condition and where that condition causes a salty taste in your mouth, it can then appear that all the food you are eating tastes salty.

Causes include:

Postnasal drip

This is mucus dripping from the back of the nose down the throat and this mucus can sometimes taste salty.

Xerostomia (dry mouth)

Xerostomia can cause a sticky saliva which can taste salty. It can be caused by certain medications or smoking but in rarer cases can be a sign of diabetes, Alzheimer’s or stroke.

Dehydration

Dehydration causes disruption in the normal balance of salts and minerals in the body and can cause a salt-rich saliva.

Infection

Anything that causes bleeding in the mouth can produce a salty taste; gum disease/thrush/ulcers can all do this.

Gastro-oesophageal reflux

Acid from the stomach escaping upwards and into the oesophagus can cause a salty taste in the mouth.

Additionally, there are a few other things that may be at play;

Nutritional deficiencies

Lack of nutrients, such as zinc, can cause a taste disorder.

Medical conditions

Any condition that affects the brain or nerves (bells palsy, MS, head injury) can affect the tongue and how it experiences taste.

Hormonal imbalances

Hormonal imbalances seen at life stages such as menopause, can alter the way people taste.

Medication side effects

Ask your doctor to review your medication to see if there is a culprit there.

Sorry to give you a list of potential causes but there are, as you can see many causes. Please do speak to your GP about this in order to start further investigations and hopefully this will help you any eliminate any simple causes before you see them or at least be armed with the right answers. Good luck.

Hey doc, what is the best type of vegetable for reducing the risk of cancer? Everyone I know seems to be getting cancer. It's everywhere and I want to take all precautions. Thank you

Thank you for this question, using food to promote good health is a subject that I love. There is much research into all types of food that can help lower the risk of cancer, and many of them outside vegetables. But in direct answer to the question, it seems that cruciferous vegetables are the best place to start.

Cruciferous vegetables include:

Bok choy
Broccoli
Brussels sprouts
Cabbage
Cauliflower
Collard greens
Horseradish
Kale
Radishes
Turnips
Watercress
Wasabi

Cruciferous vegetables are rich in several nutrients: carotenoids (beta-carotene, lutein, zeaxanthin); vitamins C, E, and K; folate; and minerals and also contain a group of substances known as glucosinolates, all thought to have anti-cancer properties, either directly or in the products they produce in digestion.

Animal and in vitro studies have identified several potential ways in which they may help prevent cancer:

• Protect cells from DNA damage
• Inactivate carcinogens (cancer-causing substances).
• Antiviral and antibacterial effects
• Anti-inflammatory effects

It needs to be said that the evidence is mixed and often weak but there is some support for these veggies helping against lung, breast, prostate and colorectal cancer.

Having said all of this, a healthy, mixed and varied diet, prepared at home and so not processed is the best way to keep healthy in terms of bodily function and weight. Remember, obesity increases the risk of 13 cancers, so eating well, exercising and maintaining a healthy weight is the first part of the battle. I would recommend a diet that includes all the foods included in this article, which will achieve a nutritious balance as well as all of the suggested anti-cancer nutrients and will be yummy and be great for longevity.