Lol’s Anti-Cancer Notes

A work in progess...

Contents

A Healthful Diet

Anti-Cancer Foods

Immune System Boost

Sleep

Summary: the “must dos”

Recommended Reading

Glossary

A Healthful Diet

Nutritional therapy is never claimed to cure cancer but it is used to create the best possible conditions for the body’s own immune system to deal with cancerous cells and to restore health.

What Not to Eat

Foods to reduce or limit

Things to avoid entirely!

The cumulative effect of exposure to multiple low-level carcinogens may well be significant. It makes sense for cancer patients to reduce exposure to such combinations of carcinogens.

Anti-Cancer Foods

A balanced nutritional plan is a good way to keep your immune system in good shape.

Nuts & Seeds

Nuts and seeds contain protein and fat is almost equal amounts. If you are able to eat nuts, eat a good variety of them as they each contain beneficial anti-cancer compounds.

Oily Fish

Fish with oil in their soft tissues are known as oily fish. Some examples are salmon, trout, mackeral, herring and sardines. If you choose to consume fish in your diet, use wild-caught fish whenever possible.

Alternatively, use an Omega-3 supplement to boost the long-chain Essential Fatty Acids (EFAs) EPA and/or DHA in your diet. These EFAs are known to have a beneficial anti-inflammatory effect in the body.

Fish oil supplements can be taken in capsule or liquid form. It's possible to get naturally filtered cod liver oil that doesn't have a nasty fishy taste, making it a much more pleasant supplement to take.

This is what I use:

Nature’s Best - liquid cod liver oil

Veggies

Leafy greens - eat plenty of leafy green, cruciferous vegetables (or brassicas) such as cabbage, kale, broccoli, cauliflower, brussels sprouts, bok choy, watercress, etc.

Seaweed - Like microalgae, seaweed is one of the few plant groups that contain both EPA and DHA, making it a useful and environmentally-friendly source of Omega-3 for people on vegetarian or vegan diets (6).

NB. The EPA and DHA content vary depending on the particular type of seaweed, be it wakame, kombu, nori, or dulse.

Herbs & Spices

Generally, herbs contain many beneficial compounds. The following list is not exhaustive:

Turmeric (active ingredient: curcumin) - studies suggest that for increased uptake of curcumin, use with black pepper (active ingredient: piperine) and mix both with oil (Eg. olive oil) as a transport mechanism.

Ginger - (active ingredients: gingerols, shogaols, zingerone, gingerdiols, paradols) lots of positives including helping to relieve symptoms of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting.

Maca - a South American root that’s been used for thousands of years as a vitality elixir.

Basil - antioxidant, antimutagenic, antitumorigenic, antiviral, and antibacterial properties.

Healthful Beverages

Tea - Camellia Sinensis

Green tea and black tea are all derived from the same tea plant, Camellia Sinensis.

Tisanes

An infusion or decoction made from a plant other than "Camellia Sinensis." Also referred to as herbal teas although not technically tea.

Kombucha

Tea fermented using a symbiotic colony of yeast and bacteria (or "SCOBY").

There's limited empirical evidence that kombucha is beneficial to health, but there is plenty of anecdotal evidence to suggest that it may be beneficial. Careful production if made at home is essential.

Coffee

To do

Immune System Boost

A balanced nutritional plan is a good way to keep your immune system in good shape.

Macro-Nutrients

Fats

Fats have been wrongly vilified in recent years. The truth is, healthy fats, most notably Omega-3 fatty acids, should be an essential pillar of any balanced diet.

Omega-3s are found in three different forms: Alpha-Linolenic Acid (ALA), Eicosapentaenoic Acid (EPA), and Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA).

Crucially, DHA contributes to the maintenance of normal vision* and brain function.*

Both DHA and EPA also contribute to the normal function of the heart** and the maintenance of normal blood pressure.***

* A beneficial effect is obtained with a daily intake of 250mg of DHA

** A beneficial effect is obtained with a daily intake of 250mg of DHA and EPA

*** A beneficial effect is obtained with a daily intake of 3g/day of DHA and EPA

Proteins

To do

Carbohydrates

To do

Micro-Nutrients

Whenever possible, the following micro-nutrients should be included in a healthy diet:

Vitamin C - supports the normal function of the immune system, protects cells from oxidative stress, and contributes to normal blood, fat and cholesterol levels. Most vital immune-boosting nutrient. Take with bioflavonoids (and rosehips?) for greatest effect. Supplementing is a good idea if you are a cancer patient. Gradually increase your dose from 3 grams to 10 grams/day as tolerated.

Vitamin A and beta-carotene (its vegetable form)

Vitamins B5, B6, B12 & folic acid -

Vitamin E - take with selenium for increased effectiveness.

Selenium, zinc, manganese and copper -

Calcium -

Cysteine - needed for production of glutathione to detoxify various toxins introduced into the body. Glutathione vital for macrophages to make the chemicals they need to kill invaders. Also critical for the function of natural killer cells.

Good sources are: meat, eggs, nuts, seeds, soya, quinoa, onions and garlic.

Anthocyanidins - found in red/blue berries, grapes and beetroot.

Co-enzyme Q

Carotenoids - substances related to beta-carotene, lutein and lycopene, found in high levels in cooked tomatoes.

Tocotrienols - similar to Vitamin E (tocopherol), found in seeds and nuts.

Sleep

When suffering with disturbed sleep patterns changes in diet and exercise should be the first consideration. If you are looking to soothe your symptoms while you make those changes then you may wish to consider some natural alternatives.

Melatonin is a hormone, a chemical messenger, produced naturally in the pineal gland in the brain. It is also present in certain foods, such as sour cherries, pomegranate, sunflower seeds, rolled oats and broccoli, to name a few.

Valerian root extract is traditionally used for the temporary relief of sleep disturbances and mild anxiety. Each tablet contains 300mg of extract, equivalent to 1,500mg - 1,800mg of Valerian root.

Cherry Max is a highly concentrated sour cherry juice, which is naturally sweetened with apple juice and red grape juice. Sour cherries are a natural source of melatonin and may be helpful for a restful night’s sleep.

Theanine is an amino acid which can be found in a soothing cup of tea. Theanine has the calming properties of tea but without the caffeine.

Magnesium is natures muscle relaxant. This mineral is essential in regulating the body’s stress response and encourages relaxation.

Lavender Essential Oil is known to have a soothing and calming effect, and is often used to relieve the anxiety related to disturbed sleep.

Summary: the “Must Dos!”

  1. Stick to a Healthy, Anti-Cancer Diet

    Consume little or no added dietary sugar (including high-glycemic index carbs).

    Try to include as many known anti-cancer foods in your diet as you can on a daily basis as there is no single magic ingredient.

    Reduce intake of foods known to cause inflammation, such as foods high in Omega-6, as we tend to get plenty of this and it is known to increase inflammation.

    Avoid as many toxic chemicals as possible (eg. wash pesticides off fruit and vegetables prior to consumption; minimise exposure to household cleaning products etc.).

  2. Exercise Daily

    Take daily exercise of at least medium-intensity (ie. at least a brisk walk). Aim for 20-30 mins or more.

  3. Reduce Stress

    Reduce daily stress levels wherever and whenever possible.

  4. Develop a Consistent Sleep Pattern

    Always aim to get a good night’s sleep; in bed before midnight and for 8 hours, if possible. 😴

Recommended Further Reading

Books

To anyone wanting to know more, I would recommend getting hold of copies of:

Articles

Learn more in these articles:

To Do

Glossary of Terms

EFAEssential Fatty Acid.

EPAEicosapentaenoic Acid is an Omega-3 fatty acid that is...

DHADocosahexaenoic acid is an Omega-3 fatty acid that is a primary structural component of the human brain, cerebral cortex, skin, and retina.

ALAAlpha-Linolenic Acid is an Omega-3 fatty acid that is...

ResveratrolFound in red wine

LaetrileFound in apricot kernels