Nutrition and Cancer

  • Cancer./ Healthy Food/ Immune system - healing/ Nutrition and Cancer/ Nutritional Medicine

    The True Magic of Mushrooms

    Mushrooms

    For centuries we have known that certain mushrooms have a beneficial effect on health but only more recently have the active compounds contained within them been isolated and studied.

    Our immune systems are extremely complex and in order to protect us from bacteria and viruses and also genetic mistakes during cellular reproduction that result in cancer growth, these complex systems need to be in balance.

    Nature has provided us with many plants and herbs that enhance overall immunity. Immune -potentiating botanicals are also used to increase the effectiveness of drugs and reduce side effects. The Chinese call this Fu Zheng therapy, which means to support the body’s natural balance. Zheng (also called Zheng Qi) is translated as meaning life energy, activity and resistance and when it is deficient a favourable environment for cancer is created.In Western terms the immune systems surveillance function fails to discover and suppress the growth of cancerous or mutated cells. The flow of “Qi” (sometimes spelled Chi) may be disrupted by poor nutrition, lifestyle, overwork, stress repressed or excessive emotions and lack of exercise. This Zheng qi, or Qi, is also damaged by the core medical treatments for cancer, radiotherapy and chemotherapy, and in China and Japan Fu Zheng therapy has been used alongside these therapies with significantly improved outcomes.

    If you have an immune compromised condition (eg. cancer, AIDS, leukemia or chronic infections such as Epstein-barr virus) then learn how to boost your immune system using mushrooms, plants, acupuncture, Qi Gong and with a good diet, supplements and lifestyle.

    The technical advance is that we now know that many of the botanicals used in Fu Zheng therapy contain polysaccharides beta-1,6 glucan and beta-1,3 glucan. Beta-glucans are known as “biological response modifiers” and they specifically stimulate the innate branch of the immune system. Research has shown that beta-glucans stimulate macrophage, NK (Natural killer) cells, T cells and the production of immune system cytokines. They may also enhance Dendritic Cell function. Recent research has shown that frequently immune suppression means that these cells may be produced but may not mature and therefore not function as they should.

    Obviously not everyone has access to an Integrated Oncologist or a Chinese Medicine Practitioner but there are products on the market like ” Immiflex” and “Biobran” (made from rice) and there are mushroom extracts, Astragalus, and other botanicals that can be taken alongside conventional therapy to minimise the damage and the side effects. Some mushrooms have specific action against certain cancers or conditions – for instance Turkey tail and Agaricus have been shown to kill sarcoma in laboratory conditions when few chemotherapy drugs have any effect. For a chart detailing specific actions of each kind of mushroom please see the link to Paul Stamets website, below. Shiitake, Maitake, Reishi and Oyster mushrooms are some of the more well-known varieties with very well documented research.

    So, if you have a compromised immune system, try some Eastern therapies to improve your immune function, your Qi and your wellbeing and you will be amazed by how effective they can be.

    My favourite sites for information on Mushrooms and extracts are:

    www.healthy.net

    wikipedia on Medicinal mushrooms

    Paul Stamets Mushrooms

    See also  http://cancer2resolution.blogspot.com

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  • Blood sugar management/ Cancer./ Energy/ Mineral Depletion/ Nutrition and Cancer/ Nutritional Medicine/ Sizzling Minerals

    Magnesium – an essential mineral.

    Magnesium

    One of the reasons we sometimes crave Chocolate is possibly that we have a Magnesium deficiency! Dark 80% + Cocoa solids would have the highest magnesium content.

    On a more serious note, you may have no idea that you are deficient in Magnesium. 65% of patients admitted to Intensive Care Units have a magnesium deficiency and up to 40% of the general population have also been found to be deficient in this very important mineral.

    Magnesium is mentioned rarely (certainly not as much as calcium) and yet it is vital to so many functions in the body. Stress depletes the body of magnesium as well as the B vitamins that work with magnesium and therefore if you have been under a lot of stress it will be beneficial to supplement with both of these nutrients for a while. In this stressful era we need more magnesium, it is the mineral of relaxation, but we tend to get  less because of our heavier reliance on fast foods and alcohol.

    Magnesium – what does it do?

    • it aids detoxification
    • relaxes the system to diminish – irritability, anxiety, unstable emotions, muscle spasms, insomnia, low back pain, constipation.
    • it raises HDL (good) cholesterol and lowers LDL cholesterol
    • it lowers blood pressure – if given I/V as soon as possible after a heart attack it improves survival.
    • it is a useful treatment in Angina
    • helps lower eye pressure in Glaucoma
    • improves Insulin production and utilization in Type II diabetes
    • lessens headaches and migraines and is useful to aid coffee withdrawal.
    • works with calcium to maintain healthy bones
    • regulates the absorption of other nutrients and the action of enzymes in our bodies
    • is essential in the Krebs cycle (energy)
    • helps to regulate body temperature
    • it is essential for nerve and muscle function

    Here are some of the symptoms that magnesium deficiency can cause:-

    • muscle weakness
    • abnormal heart rhythms or palpitations
    • tiredness
    • loss of appetite
    • cramps
    • fits
    • high blood pressure ( magnesium is the natural Calcium channel Blocker)
    • insomnia
    • sensitivity to loud noises
    • anxiety
    • difficulty swallowing

    Anyone who has any of these symptoms or who suffers from Fibromyalgia, Chronic fatigue, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Heart disease, Kidney Stones or Attention Deficit Disorder could benefit from taking 400 – 1000mgs magnesium supplement but anyone with heart disease or kidney disease should discuss this with their doctor first. The most absorbable forms are citrate, glycinate or aspartate so avoid the cheaper forms that are not well absorbed. If you take too much magnesium it will cause diarrhoea. I always advocate taking a complete plant-derived mineral supplement because minerals work synergistically and your body needs the full complement of minerals to ensure health.
    Low magnesium and high sodium – a recipe for cancer.

    Magnesium is essential in moderating the levels of potassium (high) and sodium (low) in all our cells. If you are low on magnesium and eat lots of salty foods then the cells can become poisoned, low on oxygen, low on potassium and produce less energy. The acidity within the cells then goes up which impairs the chemical reactions and reduces the oxygen even further. Cells reproducing in this toxic state are more likely to mutate.

    The best sources of magnesium are:-

    • cocoa powder and dark chocolate 70% cocoa solids or more
    • seaweeds like Kelp, Nori, Dulse, Kombu etc.
    • Nuts – Brazil nuts, Pine nuts, Cashew nuts, Hazelnuts, Walnuts and Almonds
    • Seeds – sunflower seeds, sesame seeds.
    • Soya – mince and beans
    • Liquorice
    • Wheat germ and wheat bran
    • Millet
    • Rye
    • Brown rice
    • Dark green leafy vegetables
    • Figs and dates
    • Beans
    • Garlic

    For a quick fix prior to going to bed try soaking in a hot bath with 2 Tablespoons of Epsom Salts (Magnesium Sulfate)added to the water and a few drops of a relaxing essential oil such as Lavender or Chamomile, the magnesium will be absorbed through the skin and you should sleep like a baby!

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  • Nutrition and Cancer

    Helping Yourself during Chemotherapy

    Although many people fear chemotherapy more than they fear cancer, it, unfortunately, often seems to be the only option they have. I believe that within the next few years we will have other options within mainstream medicine and that some of these options will be drugs derived from foods and herbs that are already known to have healing and protective properties. At present most Oncology Units around the World are offering the three main treatments of Surgery, Radiotherapy and Chemotherapy and extremely damaging nutritional advice that encourages high calorie intake such as ice cream, cakes and milk shakes. If you have cancer going sugar free will slow the growth of the cancer or stop it completely – Cancer feeds on sugar. The Tide is Changing and some Oncologists are now encouraging their patients to work with these treatments with supportive nutrition and supplements. Education is empowering and nothing is more encouraging than knowing that you can do things that will help the therapies work and give you a better quality of life and a better outcome. A very good website, overseen by Oncologists, is www.oncologychannel.com and I was excited to see that Naturopathic treatments and advice are included with information on drugs and side effects and also advice on which natural substances decrease toxicity and which enhance effectiveness. I will list some of the main self help measures that have been proven to be effective..

    Preparing for Chemotherapy

    • Reduce your anxiety about your treatment by asking your doctor questions about what side effects you are likely to experience and how best to deal with them.
    • Try to relax and focus on yourself and healing. Find someone or some method that suits you and will help you through it. Yoga, Qi Gong, Tai Chi, Meditation, Massage, swimming, Music….. the list is endless but it is important that it suits you.
    • Get plenty of sleep. There are many supplements that can help relieve insomnia. Herbal ones like Passionflower, Valerian and Kava. Homeopathic treatments like “Calms” and nutritional supplements like Magnesium, Flax seed Oil and 5-HTP that is the precursor to Serotonin. Melatonin(1 -5 mgs) taken early evening is also an extremely strong antioxidant that can help lessen the toxicity of chemotherapy and also help normal sleep patterns especially in older people who produce less. Melatonin is not available over the counter in some countries.
    • Take care of your immune system and your gastrointestinal health. Treat any candida or parasite infection with herbal remedies. One of the best ways to enhance your system is to take a good probiotic and also a green food like Chlorella or Spirulina and this will help you body to produce vitamins B and K in the intestines as well as provide many minerals. Milk Thistle (Silybum marianum) helps protect the liver from toxins and therefore improve nausea, loss of appetite and fatigue. Glutamine is an amino acid that will help stop inflammation of the mouth and stomach and also significantly reduce nausea associated with chemotherapy. Powdered Glutamine can be added to water and drunk three times a day. A good antioxidant that includes Vitamins A, C and E plus Selenium. CoQ10 as an antioxidant and heart protector. As well as Milk Thistle, herbs like Astragalus, Cat’s Claw and Echinacea can help the body deal with the chemotherapy and recover quicker between treatments. Take Vitamin D3 5,000iu a day especially if you cannot go out in the sunshine.
    • Eat Well. Try to eat a really nutritious diet with plenty of wholefoods, low fat proteins(fish, chicken and beans), fruits and vegetables. Drink a Nutri -Shake (see in previous blog) with added ground flax seeds as these have many beneficial properties for before, during and after chemotherapy.
    • Drink plenty of fresh, pure water.
    • Exercise within your capabilities ever day to increase energy and vitality by improving the oxygenation and detoxing of you body.
    • Take 1000mgs- 3000mgs of L-Carnitine a day. This is sold in many supermarkets as a sports supplement and it can significantly reduce the fatigue that often accompanies chemotherapy and radiotherapy. It is currently undergoing clinical trials in several countries and it is also possible that it may protect the heart from the side effects of certain drugs like Doxorubicin.
    • Drink Green Tea and Aloe Vera. Avoid alcohol during treatment.

    During Treatment

    Continue with all the recommendations above and if you still experience nausea try:

    • Snacking on healthy foods in small quantities 5 or 6 times a day  and some of these snacks can be in the form of the protein powder smoothies.
    • Don’t drink liquids with meals and don’t lie down immediately after eating. If you can, a short walk after a meal would help digestion.
    • Ginger and Peppermint can both help settle the stomach. Cut up a little root ginger and steep it in hot water, then add a slice of lemon and drink it warm or chill it and sip it cold. Carrot and ginger juice is very soothing and full of vitamins. Avoid sugar and pure fruit juices because these can encourage overgrowth of yeasts in the stomach and intestines.
    • If you have sickness and diarrhea make sure that you add some sea salt to your vegetable broths or make a soup with Miso which is naturally salty.

    For more info on helpful alternative and complimentary cancer therapies visit Cancer Resolution Blog and

    www.the truthaboutcancer.com

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  • Nutrition and Cancer

    Nutrition and Cancer – let’s start now

    Nutrition and Cancer – let’s start now to alter our chances of survival and have a better quality of life. The aim is to die of old age!

    The World Cancer Research Fund now says we can slash cancer rates by at least one third by promoting healthy foods and exercise.(http://www.wcrf.uk.org )

    With the addition of supplements and lifestyle changes we could push this to nearer 90% reduction.

    The Tide of Change is growing. Many hospitals around the world are now researching and using ‘Alternative’ and ‘Complementary’ therapies and they are now embracing the work of the nutritional pioneers like the Gerson Institute and Dr. Gonzales in New York. The World is uniting in a quest to find the answers and all the exciting developments are coming from areas outside chemotherapy. The New Millennium is supposed to be a more gentle, understanding age.

    There is so much information available now on the Internet, in books and the media that it can be daunting and confusing – especially for anyone who has just been diagnosed with cancer and who wants all the answers now.

    To make it as easy as possible I will give you the evidence based guidelines for an anti-cancer diet without long explanations as to why each food is beneficial. If you need to know more about the science behind it then there are some great websites in my Links column. I will then give you some easy ways to incorporate the changes into your daily regime.

    They say it is easier to get someone to change their religion than it is to change their diet. Preventing and treating cancer should be a strong enough incentive to start right now.

    Foods and drinks to avoid.               P1020424

    • Sugar, salt and most dairy foods (milk, cheese, yogurt, butter, cream and any foods that contain them) The only exceptions being organic, low fat cottage cheese or yogurt when mixed with flax seeds and flaxseed oil  as an anti-cancer treatment for which a recipe will be included later.
    • Red meat avoid as much as possible and if you eat it only have a small portion(about 3oz or 80g)
    • Fried food , minimise your intake  and heat cooking oil gently. Boil, steam, poach or bake food instead.
    • Bad Fats, Trans fats, hydrogenated fats and margarines that are solid at room temperature.
    • Avoid all processed meats, sausages, frankfurters, bacon and smoked meats and fish.
    • Avoid all burnt meat and food.
    • Cut out white flour products, pastry, cakes, biscuits.
    • Avoid Yeast and yeast products like marmite.
    • Limit your alcohol to no more than one or two units a day or less. Avoid spirits, red wine is preferable.
    • Avoid all soft drinks that are high in sugar. Dilute fresh fruit drinks with water.
    • Limit Coffee or avoid completely. If you are a coffee addict – cut down slowly to avoid severe headaches.

    Foods and Drinks to Increase                         P1020922

    • Free range chicken and game avoiding farmed meats if possible
    • Oily Fish like herring, mackerel, sardines and salmon avoiding farmed if possible.
    • Fresh Fruits and vegetables every day try to eat several portions, some cooked and some raw. Have as many different and colourful ones as you can and  organic if possible. If little is available then opt for frozen substitutes.
    • Cruciferous Vegetables like broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, brussel sprouts and kale – every day.
    • Garlic have some everyday.
    • Spices Turmeric, cumin, chili, curry powder, cinnamon and saffron.
    • Olive Oil for salads and cooking.
    • Flax seed oil, walnut oil, olive oil for salads and cold use only. Cold Pressed is best.
    • Avocados and homemade guacamole
    • Almond milk, rice milk, goats or soya milk can be substituted for cows milk.
    • Eat wholefoods such as oats, wholegrain rice and wholegrain pasta, lentils, beans, nuts and seeds. Wholegrain organic bread in small quantities.
    • Shiitake Mushrooms and dried seaweeds like Kombu and ginger can be added to cooked dishes.
    • Fresh Herbs mint, coriander, thyme, sage and lemon grass
    • Drink green tea and herb teas rich in antioxidants.
    • Drink pure water, filtered tap water or spring water from glass bottles.

    This diet will increase your vital energy and you will soon feel much better in body and mind.

    Dr. Gonzales suggests that if you have a solid epithelial tumour, such as tumours of the lungs, pancreas, colon, prostate, uterus etc. you would do better on a largely plant-based diet of fruits, vegetables, nuts, wholegrains and seeds and with minimal to no animal protein.

    If you have a blood or immune based malignancy such as leukemia, myeloma and lymphoma you would do better with more animal protein and good fats.

    If you have breast cancer and eat almost a vegetarian diet you need to supplement with Vitamin B12 which can be taken with a B complex vitamin and as a sub-lingual powder.

    More on supplements in the next post.

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  • Nutrition and Cancer

    Nutritional treatment for Cancer

    Before I start on the benefits of nutritional treatment for cancer I would like to give an overview of the time-line of scientific discovery and cancer because I think it might surprise some people that some of theses treatments are being used now and with more science to explain why they are effective.

    • 1906 (93 years ago) Professor John Beard of Edinburgh University pioneered work that looked at young cells that are stimulated by  oestrogen (in both men and women) for healing tissue and are then terminated by pancreatic enzymes when they have completed the task. If these cells are not terminated cancer tumours are the result of the ongoing  “healing” process. He injected trypsin, a pancreatic enzyme, into mouse sarcomas and achieved a regression in each case.
    • 1911 Professor John Beard published a book “The Enzyme Therapy of Cancer”
    • 1920’s Gerson Therapy was first introduced to treat TB and then to treat cancer. A modified version of this extreme diet therapy is still used today. It involves juicing of vegetables and detoxing with the aid of coffee enemas.
    • 1931 Dr. Warburg won a Nobel Prize for proving that cancer is caused by a lack of oxygen respiration in cells. All normal cells meet their oxygen needs by respiration of oxygen whereas cancer cells meet their energy needs mainly by fermentation of sugars. Poor oxygenation comes from a build up of toxins within and around the cells and low essential fatty acids in the cell walls restrict oxygen exchange. When the cell doesn’t get enough oxygen it starts to ferment sugars which can produce energy without oxygen. Cells that do this lose their ability to function properly and therefore cannot do whatever they need to do in the body. These cells may turn cancerous if not destroyed by the immune system. Further research by the National Cancer Institute showed this to be true and that it took a reduction of just 35% in oxygen levels for this to happen. Cancer cells produce excess lactic acid as they ferment and as this builds up it prevents the transport of oxygen into neighbouring cells.
    • 1936 The US Senate produced a statement saying that there was concern that the vitamins and minerals were being depleted in farming soil and the effect that this could have on human health.
    • 1940 The first chemical nitrogen mustard was used to treat lymphoma but with no lasting effect.
    • 1950’s Ernst Krebs, following on from Professor John Beard’s research into natural substances that would kill cancer cells, isolated a Vitamin B17 that he called laetrile a selective toxin. This is present in some foods, seeds and fruits that are not frequently eaten now. News of B17’s effective spread throughout America but there were powerful interests within the government and pharmaceutical companies that would not sanction a vitamin that could not be patented, licensed or sold for huge profit.
    • 1960’s Combination chemotherapy started to successfully treat some lymphomas.
    • 1970’s Dr. Harold Manner, Professor of Biology at a University in Chicago, stated ” The frequent recurrence of a malignancy after treatment with the conventional methods of surgery, radiation and chemotherapy, result because the basic underlying metabolic cause of the cancer is rarely considered and consequently remains uncorrected.” He suffered much harassment from the medical profession over his claims that Laetrile worked and he moved to Mexico where he successfully treated many thousands of patients until his death in 1992. He wrote a book “Metabolic Therapy in Cancer”
    • Also in 1970’s A very well respected cancer researcher Dr. Kanemaysu Sugiura, after conducting five years of trials on B17 at Sloan Kettering Memorial hospital in New York, reported that it was the most effective anti-cancer agent that he had tested. The President of the hospital sanctioned several more trials trying to disprove these results and eventually managed to get Laetrile banned by the Food and Drug Administration.
    • 1979 Linus Pauling promoted his research into the effects of high dose Vitamin C and cancer treatment and prevention. Some Doctors are still using this but by intravenous injection.
    • 1980’s – present time Dr. Gonzalez  has been following the Nutritional approach to cancer since 1981 and he has succeeded in getting the National cancer Institute to sponsor a clinical trial on Pancreatic cancer( one of the hardest to treat).

    Many other Doctors across the World have been adding their voices to the Nutritional approach, Orthomolecular Oncology, Integrated Medicine, Complementary Cancer therapy or Alternative treatment. Cancer is still growing in pace as a major killer in the world. In 2005 7.6 million people died from cancer, that number is predicted to rise to 9 million by 2015 and to 11.4 million by 2030 ( Statistics from The World Health Organisation). Chemotherapy, although sometimes successful, is certainly not the magic bullet we had hoped it would be back in the chemical age of the 50’s and 60’s. Many people consider the side effects, risks and potential damage to their immune system more terrifying than the disease itself  and if we are to have  equality in care then we should also back research and development into other methods of treatment and not just the ones that make money but ones that can save more lives.

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