The Anti-Cancer Life

Almost weekly I hear of another person diagnosed with cancer.  In fact, statistics today show that 2 out of every 5 Canadians  will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime.  This is a staggering statistic but in truth there is so much we can do to prevent cancer from occurring.  Did you know that every single one of us has malignant cells?  What we need to do is prevent these malignant cells from proliferating.  This is especially true for those of us who have had a previous diagnosis of cancer.  Instead of watchful waiting and living in fear for the other shoe to drop we can take a proactive approach.  We can create an inhospitable terrain for cancer cells to proliferate.  Even something as seemingly simple as relaxation techniques can alter our physical environments.  I have spent the last eight years reading and researching everything I  could to help ensure my own healthy future.  I would like to share what I have learned in a 5 part series called the The Anti Cancer Life.

DIET

Cancer prevention can be broken down into five key areas.  Diet, Exercise, Supplements, Mind/Spirit Care and Minimizing Exposure to Carcinogens.  The first area which holds enormous potential in creating an inhospitable environment is what we eat.  For example, the regular consumption of red meat has been linked to cancers of the breast, colon, esophagus, prostate, lung, kidneys and ovaries.  For those with a personal or family history of cancer, eating red meat substantially increases the risk of cancer recurring.  In a 1998 study it was shown that each serving of red meat actually doubled the risk of breast cancer recurrence.  This is because meat is high in iron which increases free radical production and in turn damages our DNA.  Red meat and poultry are also high in omega 6 fats which can increase inflammation and feed tumour growth.  Diets high in red meat also increase our levels of the hormone estradiol which can feed any hormone related cancer such as breast, ovarian, uterine and prostate cancer.  Eating a diet that is high in mercury free fish such as salmon, cod, mackerel and haddock provide a much healthier source of protein. Eating nuts, seeds and beans also provide ample protein.

The same hold true for diets high in dairy consumption.  Milk is made up of  two kinds of protein, casein and whey protein.  Casein makes up 80% of milk protein which is known to stimulate tumour growth.  The remaining 20% whey protein (which you can buy as a supplement and add to smoothies) is an excellent source of protein.   The hormones and growth factors in our milk today also stimulate the growth of cells.  Malignant cells will actually proliferate or grow even faster than our normal cells.  The IGF-1 or insulin like growth factor found in our milk is especially dangerous for breast cancers as it is a potent tumour stimulant. There are so many delicious milk alternatives today why take the risk?  In fact, my children now drink goat milk which tastes exactly the same and is much lower in casein and lactose than cows milk.

Sugar is another culprit in the development of cancer.  According to researchers at the University of California, sugar consumption is related to around 35 million deaths annually.  A very interesting fact is that tumour cells use a great deal more sugar than our normal cells do.  Research in the journal Molecular Biology showed that depriving these cells of glucose actually could lead to cell death.  Imagine what that means for our diets.  Keeping our sugar intake to less than 20 mg a day could change our future.  A 2004 study involving teenage girls demonstrated this fact showing girls who consumed more that 20 mg of sugar a day had a substantial increase in cancer rates later in life.  In fact,  the journal Cancer Research concluded that if you want to decrease your cancer risk, start by decreasing your sugar consumption.  Reading labels and adding up your daily sugar consumption is an important first step in remaining cancer free.

Eating a diet high in omega-3 fatty acids such as those found in salmon or flax oil is another important dietary aspect in cancer prevention. Omega-3 fats decrease estrogens effects on hormone dependent cancer cells by slowing down cell division. As well, they decrease the levels of inflammation in our bodies and can lower incidence of metastases substantially. Dr Christine Horner recommends 1-2 tablespoons of flax oil daily.

Finally, important food sources containing cancer preventive substances include cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, cauliflower, brussel sprouts and cabbage. These contain a wondrous chemical compound called  I3C or indole 3 carbonyl.  Many studies have shown that I3C inhibits the growth of hormone related cancers.   As well, foods high in flavonoids such as apples, green tea, dark chocolate, berries and grapes contain important cancer fighting compounds.  Eating a diet high in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts and seeds while avoiding meats and dairy can substantially reduce the risk of cancer in our lifetime.

We do have control over futures.