Cancer was a disease that's rarely heard of 200 years ago.
Yet with the advance of medicine in the last century, we are experiencing a
cancer epidemic in modern societies. What has gone wrong?
The sad news is that cancer, by and large, is a man-made
disease, the result of veering too far away from the healthy lifestyles of our
ancient ancestors. While avoiding health-sustaining diets and activities, we
now embrace a highly unnatural lifestyle and continue to douse our environment
and food sources with toxic chemicals. We have shunned our native, whole food
cuisine for highly processed fare, engaged in very little physical activity,
and led stressful lives. No wonder we are getting sick!
The reality is that you have the power to change all that.
By adopting some natural prevention strategies, you can substantially reduce
your cancer risk. Diet is clearly the most important factor that impacts your
health, but before going into what foods are good for you, you need to know
what you should not put in your mouth. You must first stop eating foods that
give you poor health or promote cancer growth.
Top 4 Cancer-Feeding Foods
Needless to say, processed foods, fast foods, and soft
drinks do NOT belong to a cancer-preventive diet! Apart from these, you should
also avoid the following cancer-feeding foods:
1. Sugar
This includes all forms of sugar, be it natural or
processed. Sugar has no redeeming value at all. The minuscule nutrients present
in natural sugars are not enough to overcome the negative effects of sugar.
Eating sugar leads to a rise in blood glucose and insulin, and persistently
high insulin is a universal mechanism for chronic disease. It kicks up
inflammation and it kicks up free radicals associated with cell damage.
All of us carry around microscopic cancer cell clusters in
our bodies at all times. But when we are in good health, eat right and have a
healthful lifestyle, they remain suppressed. Sugar is the number one preferred
fuel for cancer cells. The more you consume it, the faster they grow.
Beware that all complex carbohydrates eventually break down
to simple sugars. If you eat too much, resulting in a constant elevation of
insulin, the health effect is still negative. Therefore, even whole grains
which are supposed to be nutritious cannot be over consumed. The same applies
to fruits, which are mainly fructose and glucose. Most nutrients in fruits can
be found in vegetables that contain substantially less sugar.
2. Factory-farmed meats
Animals reared in confined animal feeding operations are
given antibiotics, growth hormones, and other veterinary drugs that get stored
in their tissues. Cows that are fed a diet of corn (not their natural diet)
result in higher E. Coli growth in their stomachs, not to mention that the corn
they eat are most likely genetically modified.
Numerous studies have demonstrated the detrimental impact of
(factory-farmed) red meats on your health, especially in terms of feeding
cancer. What's worse is when you cook the meats over high heat, it creates
heterocyclic amines, which further adds to its carcinogenic effect. That's why
having a piece of charbroiled, factory-farmed steak or hamburger is definitely
not your idea of a healthy meal!
On the other hand, organically-raised, grass-fed meats are
totally healthy and beneficial to your health. They are like two different
species in terms of their nutritional content. One is health-harming and one is
healthful.
3. Bad fats
Fats are essential for your well-being. Every cell membrane
in the body is made out of fat, as is your brain. Bad fats in the diet are a
major contributor to ill health and cancer. On the list of fats to eliminate
are:
Fats from
factory-farmed animals
Partially
hydrogenated or hydrogenated fats
Trans fats
Healthy fats of particular importance for cancer prevention
are omega-3 and omega-9. Omega-3 is abundantly found in fatty fish, grass-fed
meats, and flaxseeds. Omega-9 is found in olive oil, avocados, almonds,
macadamias, cashews, pistachios, and pecans.
4. Xenoestrogens (chemicals that mimic estrogen)
Any item that contains xenoestrogens promotes cancer.
Unfortunately, in this day and age, the list is rather long. First and foremost
are foods contaminated with estrogen-mimicking chemicals. They include hormones
in factory-farmed meats, pesticides sprayed on vegetables and fruits, canned
foods with BPA linings, and foods packed in plastics that contain BPA.
Then there are environmental toxins such as those found in
personal care products and household cleaners. With personal care products,
avoid those that contain parabens, phthalates, sodium lauryl sulphate,
petrolatum, mineral oil, and artificial colors. With household cleaners, switch
to those that are natural, biodegradable, and environmentally-friendly.
Top 4 Anti-Cancer Foods
The reason why food can have such a powerful influence on
serious diseases such as cancer is due to its impact on a biological process
called angiogenesis - the process your body uses to build blood vessels. Cancerous
cells, like all other cells in your body, cannot thrive without the oxygen and
nutrients supplied by your blood vessels. Excess angiogenesis promotes cancer.
Our ancestors intuitively understood that nature has laced a
large number of foods that naturally inhibit angiogenesis, rendering them
natural "anti-cancer medicines". Simply by consuming these foods, you
can boost your body's defense system and prevent blood vessels from forming and
feeding the microscopic cancer cells that exist in your body at any given time.
1. Plant foods
Plants are packed full of flavonoids (antioxidants),
vitamins, and minerals that are crucial to your health. They also have numerous
phytochemicals (plant chemicals) that are like natural medicines. Each plant
has some anti-cancer properties but some are more potent than others.
Brassica vegetables, also known as cruciferous vegetables
standout as they have the most natural cancer-fighting substances -
indole-3-carbinol (I3C), calcium D-glucarate, and sulforaphane. Not only do
they help prevent the growth of breast, cervical, colon, prostate, and a
variety of other cancers, many studies show that they have resulted in dramatic
regression of tumor growth.
This family of cruciferous vegetables includes:
Arugula (rocket)
Bok choy
Broccoli
Brussels sprouts
Cabbage
Cauliflower
Chinese broccoli (gai-lan)
Chinese cabbage (Napa cabbage)
Collard greens
Daikon radish
Horseradish
Kale
Radish
Kohlrabi
Maca
Mizuna
Mustard greens
Rapini (broccoli rabe)
Rutabaga
Tatsoi
Turnip
Virginia pepperweed
Wasabi
Watercress
To reap the cancer-preventing benefits of cruciferous
vegetables, you need to eat at least five servings per week. You want to make
sure the vegetables are fresh and ideally locally grown and organic. Stir
frying or steaming them retains the maximum amount of nutrients. Boiling
destroys most of the nutrients.
Beware that cruciferous vegetables also contain goitrogens.
When consumed raw in sufficient amounts, they can inhibit thyroid function and
make it more difficult to absorb iodine. However, cooking them will destroy
most of the goitrogens.
Plant foods that contain carotenoids and lycopene are also
powerful anti-cancer foods. Carotenoids are the compounds that give your
vegetables the red, orange, and yellow colors. Lycopene is the compound that
gives tomatoes their red color.
2. Curcumin
Curcumin is the principal curcuminoid of the popular Indian
spice turmeric, which is a member of the ginger family. It has a distinct
bright yellow color and is a primary spice in Indian curry. It is also a
principle spice in Ayurveda, India's ancient holistic health system.
Much research has been done on curcumin's power to modulate
genetic activity and expression, both by destroying cancer cells and by
promoting healthy cell function. Curcumin enhances the body's antioxidant
system and is a potent free radical scavenger. This may be the reason why
cancers of the breast, colon, lung, and prostate, common cancers in America,
are much less prevalent in India.
Turmeric has been used in large quantities as a condiment
for thousands of years with no adverse reactions. Studies show that curcumin is
not toxic to humans up to 8,000 mg daily. Average intake in the Indian
population is around 200 mg a day. If you are looking for a curcumin
supplement, make sure it is organic, contains no fillers, and is in a
bioavailable form for enhanced absorption.
3. Flaxseeds
Flaxseeds are very high in lignans which are capable of
inhibiting the growth of estrogen-related cancers in about a dozen different
ways, including the exact same mechanism as the anti-cancer drug Tamoxifen and
Arimidex. Lignans are also powerful antioxidants that scavenge free radicals
associated with cell damage. When eaten, the lignans are activated by bacteria
in the intestine. Lignans, however, are not present in flaxseed oil, only in
the fiber portion of flaxseed.
Flaxseeds are very high in alpha linolenic acid (ALA), a
precursor to omega-3. That's why they go rancid extremely quickly, so be sure
to store them in the refrigerator. They also need to be lightly ground to
remove their hard hulls before eating, otherwise, they will be passed whole
through your system. Grind them fresh in batches of 2-3 tablespoons in a coffee
or spice grinder before adding them to your foods.
4. Vitamin D
In the last 10 years, there has been a huge body of research
evidence showing that this sunshine vitamin is an important factor in cancer
prevention. Not only does it activates the immune system to work against rogue
cells, it can also adjust almost everything in the cancer cell, from switching
genes on and off, reduce cell division, to even return a cancer cell to a
normal and healthy state.
Most people seldom expose their bare skin (without sunscreen
protection) to natural sunlight on a regular basis owing to skin cancer
concerns. As a result, studies find that majority of Americans are vitamin D
deficient. The only way to know if you have enough D is through a blood test.
For healthy people, you want to be in the optimal range of 50-70 ng/ml. If you
are being treated for cancer, your D level should be closer to 90-100 ng/ml.
Most people need to take a 5,000 I.U oral vitamin D3
supplement daily to reach the optimal range. Keep in mind that when using a
supplement, regular testing becomes even more important to make sure you are
staying within the therapeutic range.
Lifestyle Factors
Aside from diet, lifestyle factors also have a huge impact
on chronic diseases and cancer.
1. Stress
Research shows that norepinephrine, a hormone produced
during periods of stress, can stimulate tumor cells to produce compounds that
break down the tissues around the tumor cells, allowing the cells to travel to
other organs and tissues and form additional tumors, a process called
metastasis. In addition, norepinephrine may also stimulate the tumor cells to
release a chemical that can help in the growth of blood vessels that feed
cancer cells.
Hence, nourishing your emotional health is an important
cancer prevention strategy. Optimal health involves addressing and resolving
your emotional traumas as quickly as possible. If you find that you cannot
tackle it on your own, seek professional help.
2. Sleep
Persistent disruption in your circadian rhythm, the body's
internal clock, accelerates the growth and spread of malignant tumors. Revise
your priorities in life so that you are able to sleep 7-8 hours nightly,
preferably from 10-11 pm till 6-7 am. Make sure your room is completely dark
and keep the temperature below 70 degrees.
3. Exercise
Exercise lowers your risk of cancer by reducing elevated
insulin levels, which creates a low sugar environment that discourages the
growth and spread of cancer cells. What's more, exercise improves the
circulation of immune cells in your blood. Your immune system is your first
line of defense against everything from minor illnesses like a cold to
devastating, life-threatening diseases like cancer.
Carol Chuang is a Certified Nutrition Specialist and a
Metabolic Typing Advisor. She has a Masters degree in Nutrition and is the
founder of CC Health Counseling, LLC. Her passion in life is to stay healthy
and to help others become healthy. She believes that a key ingredient to
optimal health is to eat a diet that is right for one's specific body type.
Eating organic or eating healthy is not enough to guarantee good health. The
truth is that there is no one diet that is right for everyone.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7308229
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