I’m very excited to post this article by Jillian Mckee, a Complementary Medicine Advocate at the Mesothelioma Cancer Alliance in the US. Thanks Jillian for the time and efforts spreading information about the integration of complementary and alternative medicine when used in conjunction with traditional cancer treatment.
Hope you or someone around you can benefit from this information!!
Although many health problems are unavoidable, you likely have greater control over your health than you realize. Studies are showing that a sizable percentage of cancers are tied to lifestyle choices like drinking, smoking, not exercising, and unhealthy diets. Limiting alcohol, not smoking, and exercising regularly are a good beginning to a lifestyle that helps prevent cancers like mesothelioma or mitigate its effects.
The foods you eat and don’t eat have a strong impact upon your health and how you respond to cancer treatment. You may be eating a diet that supports your cancer, rather than one that supports your immune system, provides an energy lift, and reduces feelings of anxiety and depression.
An estimated 35 percent of cancers are linked to diet. Many different diets have been proposed to prevent or fight cancer, but few of them have definitive evidence to say for sure if they are effective. The main dietary risk factors seem to be the consumption of alcohol and overeating. Eating red meat seems to be associated with an increased risk of developing cancers of the breast, pancreas, and colon. This may be due to the prevalence of grilling or charring meat, which can create carcinogens.
Catechins and flavonoids are nutrients that tend to have a bitter taste but appear to be promising anti-cancer nutrients. The best source seems to be black and green tea, wine, chocolate, and grapes. Catechins are extremely powerful antioxidants that help prevent the growth of cancer cells. They are much more powerful that vitamin E or vitamin C in inhibiting the growth of cancer.
The most effective diet for fighting or preventing cancer seems to be one based upon plants, with a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables, and whole grain foods. Stick to foods that are not processed, but are closer to their original state when harvested as possible.
For example, fiber is one ingredient that has been removed from many of our foods during processing. The natural color for bread is not white, it is brown. The flour for bread has been bleached and stripped of its natural grain coating. This makes for a product that has a long shelf life, but is missing much of its original nutrition. Whole grain breads have more vitamins and minerals, and provide fiber to speed along your digestion and keep your blood sugar steady.
Sudden increases in blood sugar tend to prompt our bodies to put on weight in the form of fat. It seems the body prefers a certain blood sugar level. When that limit is exceeded, the pancreas secretes insulin- a hormone that encourages the body to move the excess sugar into fat cells. Fiber takes longer to digest, so it prevents all that sugar from hitting your bloodstream all at once, lowering your risk for weight gain and diabetes.
According to the Harvard School of Public Health, research suggests tomatoes may be helpful in preventing prostate cancer in men, particularly the aggressive forms of prostate cancer. Lycopene — an ingredient in tomatoes that lend them a red color — could be responsible for the preventive effect. Studies have differed in concluding how effective the link actually is, but the preponderance of the evidence supports the association.
Animal studies have been showing how certain phytochemicals help block the effect that some carcinogens have in helping specific cancers grow. One phytochemical found in turnips and cabbage has proven helpful in inhibiting the growth of lung cancer in mice and rats. One specific action it has is protecting cells from DNA damage caused by tobacco smoke.
Studies indicate that vegetarians enjoy a fifty percent less chance of developing cancer than people eating diets with meat. Meat has no fiber and other nutrients that protect against cancer. It is also loaded with saturated fat. Diets high in unhealthy fats have been linked with cancer. Meat, when cooked, can also contain carcinogens.
Good choices of meat for cancer patients are lean meats like fish, turkey, and chicken. Fish also contains essential fatty acids like omega-3. Of course, you will want to avoid frying fish as much as possible, instead try baking or grilling. When cooking chicken, be sure to remove the outer layer of fat first and avoid frying it. These types of meat will ensure that you get an adequate intake of protein without much of the saturated fat found in red meat.
Be sure to get healthy nuts into your diet. Nuts pack a double punch by providing both fiber and omega-3 fatty acids. They promote heart health and add some protein into your diet. Good ways to get nuts into your diet are either as snacks or on salads. Be careful of eating too much salt.
Inspiring Healthy Lifestyles 