What You Eat Is Linked to Your Risk of Cancer
Regardless of the therapeutic approach - conventional
or alternative - a nutritional program to improve
overall health and strengthen the immune system is
beneficial for all cancer patients. Cancer
cells siphon off nutrients for their own use, leaving
the body in a weakened state. In addition,
conventional treatment modalities ravish the body,
particularly the immune system. The result is loss of
nutrient reserves and, in many cases, malnutrition.
Most doctors don't counsel cancer patients about
nutrition. I'm not touting diet and nutrients as a
cancer cure, but research shows that foods and
supplements that prevent cancer boost a cancer
patient's immune system and energy levels and give the
body a fighting chance to heal itself. In addition,
they enhance the effectiveness of conventional
therapies and reduce their negative side effects. The
nutritional approaches in this report are beneficial
for all types and stages of cancer.
Phytonutrients
Studies have demonstrated a two-fold reduction in
cancer risk in those who ate the most fruits and
vegetables. Yet, only nine percent of Americans eat
the recommended five daily servings. What is it about
vegetables and fruits that makes them such powerful
cancer fighters? Low blood levels of antioxidants are
associated with an increase in death rates from many
types of cancer. Studies have shown that antioxidants
from dietary sources, particularly plant foods, confer
additional protection against free radicals and
cancer. Among the most important antioxidants are
vitamins C, E, A, beta-carotene, and the mineral
selenium.
Cruciferous vegetables - broccoli, cabbage, Brussels
sprouts, cauliflower, kale, bok choy, turnips, mustard
greens, and rutabagas - are especially rich in phytonutrients. Research at Johns Hopkins University
School of Medicine found that the phytonutrient
sulforaphane in broccoli blocks the formation of
breast tumors in rats. Indole-3-carbinol (I3C)
inhibits the growth of estrogen-responsive cells
associated with breast cancer tumors. And
phytonutrients in cruciferous vegetables have also
demonstrated cancer protection in laboratory-induced
cancers of the lung, larynx, esophagus, liver, and
skin.
Carotenoids
Carotenoids are phytonutrients that give plants color
and provide powerful protection from free radical
damage caused by constant exposure to the sun. The
most abundant carotenoids in humans are beta-carotene,
lutein, and lycopene. Increased intakes of carotenoid-rich
foods are associated with decreased rates of cancers
of the ovary, mouth and pharynx, lung, digestive
tract, endometrium, and breast. Increase your intake
of fruits and vegetables, especially leafy green and
orange/yellow vegetables such as squash and sweet
potatoes. Tomatoes are rich in the carotenoid lycopene
- ten servings of tomato products weekly has been
shown to cut the risk of prostate cancer almost in
half. Your multivitamin should contain at least
15,000 IU of beta-carotene, preferably as mixed
carotenoids.
Fats
High intake of saturated animal fats has been
shown to be a clear risk factor for cancers of the
lung, colon, rectum, breast, prostate, and
non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Eating too much of the wrong
fat accelerates tumor growth. On the other hand, some
fats enhance immune system function and protect
against cancer. Omega-3 fatty acids, for example, have
been shown to suppress tumor growth, and women with
breast cancer have demonstrated low tissue levels of
omega-3 fatty acids.
Keep your fat intake low - around 20 percent of total
calories. Stay away from saturated animal fats and
processed vegetable oils. Use olive oil for cooking.
The best sources of omega-3 fatty acids are cold-water
fish and flaxseed.
Fiber
High-fat diets are often deficient in fiber. Insoluble
fiber is found in grains and the skins of fruits and
vegetables; soluble fiber is primarily in fruit pectin
and beans. Both are important in preventing cancer of
the colon, rectum, pancreas, and breast. Fiber
performs several important functions:
1. Certain bacteria in the intestinal tract
reactivate estrogen. Fiber causes this estrogen to
be excreted, rather than recycled.
2. Fiber limits exposure to toxins and carcinogens
in the stool by speeding substances through the
intestinal tract.
3. Fiber draws water into the stool which helps
dilute harmful substances.
You need at least 30 grams of fiber per day.
Best sources are vegetables (especially beans), whole
grains, fruits, and flaxseed. Other components in
flaxseed, lignans, are believed to protect against
cancer, particularly breast cancer. Flaxseed oil is
extremely fragile. Exposure to light and air rapidly
destroys its beneficial effects. Get a minimum
daily serving of one to two tablespoons of flax oil,
1/4
cup freshly ground flaxseed or take two 1,000 mg fish
oil capsules daily.
If you are taking Forward
Plus Daily Regimen, you're covered. Flaxseed is
sold in health food stores. Phillips Products and
Services sells the Golden Flax Program, which includes
three two-pound bags of flaxseed, a grinder, and a
recipe guide (800-705-5559).
Soy
Soy has powerful anticancer activity. Studies have
shown that regular intake of soy decreases the risk of
cancers of the breast, prostate, rectum, colon,
stomach, and lung. Antioxidant-rich compounds in soy
help curb free radical production. They also inhibit
cancer cell growth and encourage normal cell
development by restricting the growth of blood vessels
around tumors (angiogenesis). Isoflavones, or
phytoestrogens, have weak estrogenic properties that
bind to estrogen receptors and prevent stronger,
potentially harmful estrogens from occupying receptor
sites in the breast. Studies have suggests that
genistein, another soy compound, inhibits the growth
of implanted tumors in animals.
You should try to consume at least 50 mg of soy per
day. You can get this from 1/4 cup textured soy protein,
3/4 cup tofu or tempeh (a block of cultured soybeans
that can be used as a meat substitute), 1-1/2 cups soy
milk, 1/2 cup cooked dried soybeans, or 3-1/2 tablespoons
soy protein powder. Soy protein powders are very
concentrated. One ounce contains 13 to 24 grams of
protein and 35 to 100+ mg of isoflavones. For soy
recipes and more information on soy foods, call
800-825-5769 (800-TALKSOY).
Advanced cancer patients might want to consider soy
isoflavone extracts such as Ecogen Fermented Soy
Drink or a concentrated fermented soy product
called Haelan 951. They are high in genistein
and daidzein. In one study, 239 patients with several
types of cancer were given Haelan 951 in addition to
chemotherapy and/or radiation. They experienced
significant improvements in quality of life, energy,
treatment side effects, and immune system markers.
Haelan 951 is available in some health food stores or
from 800-542-3526 (800-5HAELAN). Ecogen Fermented Soy
Drink can be ordered from EcoNugenics (800-308-5518).
Juices
Fresh juices are especially helpful for cancer
patients. They're easy to get down, and are an
excellent way to get concentrated amounts of vitamins,
minerals, phytonutrients, and enzymes. Juicing or
blending smoothies (which contain whole fruit and are
thick and creamy) ensures fresh, nutritious drinks.
For pulpless juice, you can use a manual juicer; for
smoothies you need a high-powered blender or juicer.
To juice at home, I recommend the Miracle Juicer with
the Miracle Blender available from Phillips Products
and Services (800-705-5559).
Natural Food
Buy organic foods whenever possible. According to a
National Research Council report, there are more than
200 known carcinogens in food! Some chemicals are
added to food to retard spoilage and enhance flavor
and appearance. Artificial sweeteners (saccharin and
aspartame), coloring agents, and nitrates used in hot
dogs and cured meats have been found to cause cancer
in animals. Carcinogens can be generated during food
preparation. For example, when fat in meat is heated,
a very powerful carcinogen is produced. Smoking or
charcoal-broiling meat creates nitrosamines that
contribute to stomach cancer.
NUTRITIONAL SUPPLEMENTATION
A healthy diet is the first step toward cancer
prevention, but it's impossible to get enough
nutrients through food alone - even if you eat a
healthy diet. Supplementation guarantees a steady
supply of cancer-fighting nutrients. Cancer patients
often need to supplement in amounts considerably above
the government's ludicrously low recommended daily
allowances (RDAs). Begin by taking a broad-spectrum
multi-nutrient such as my Forward Plus or one
of the high-potency multivitamin/mineral supplements
available in health food stores. Potency will vary
widely, so you may have to add certain nutrients to
your regimen.
A study conducted in China by the National Institute
of Cancer followed over 30,000 people on various
combinations of nutritional supplements for five
years. The group taking beta-carotene, vitamin E, and
selenium had a 13 percent reduction in cancer
mortality and a 21 percent drop in incidence of
stomach cancer. The chart on page 8 gives recommended
amounts of essential nutrients for cancer patients.
I've chosen a few to discuss here.
Vitamin C (Ascorbic acid)
Cancer begins when the DNA of a cell is damaged or
mutated, often by a free radical. But only when normal
repair mechanisms break down are abnormal cells able
to replicate into full-blown cancer. Vitamin C works
on two fronts to fight cancer. It protects cellular
DNA from free radical damage, and it enhances the
immune response that mops up these abnormal cells.
Linus Pauling, Ph.D., found cancer patients had
subnormal levels of vitamin C. In a study at the
University of California, Los Angeles, researchers
followed more than 11,000 adults for an average of 10
years. They found that the men with the highest intake
of vitamin C had a 22 percent reduced risk of death
from cancer, compared to those with the lowest vitamin
C intake. For women, the risk was decreased by 12
percent. I recommend taking at least 1,500 mg of
vitamin C daily for prevention. High doses may
cause gastrointestinal upset; build up gradually. If
you have cancer, I recommend 2,500 to 10,000 mg of
vitamin C every day. High doses may cause
gastrointestinal upset, so build up gradually. Cut
back on your dosage if you experience stomach upset or
loose stools.
Vitamin E (Alpha tocopheryl)
Several large epidemiologic studies showed that high
blood levels of vitamin E offer protection against
cancer. A Finnish study of cancer patients noted that
those with low blood levels of vitamin E and selenium
had a higher risk of death than patients with high
levels of these antioxidants. And a 1998 study
published in the Journal of the National Cancer
Institute found that men taking supplemental
vitamin E for five to eight years had 32 percent fewer
cases of prostate cancer and 41 percent fewer deaths
form prostate cancer than men not taking vitamin E.
Other studies have produced similar findings regarding
cancers of the lung, skin, and cervix. I recommend
800 IU per day.
Vitamin A and Beta-Carotene
Vitamin A is a fat-soluble antioxidant that enhances
the immune system. Beta-carotene is sometimes called
pro-vitamin A because when the body needs it, it's
converted to vitamin A. Many studies have demonstrated
definite links between low blood levels or low intake
of vitamin A/beta-carotene and increased risk of
cancer. Vitamin A in the form of retinol (Accutane) is
used as a cancer treatment in conventional oncology.
It is particularly effective in preventing recurrences
of cancers of the mouth, larynx, pharynx, head, and
neck. Both vitamin A and beta-carotene are useful in
leukoplakia, a precancerous mouth condition.
Beta-carotene supplements have been shown to lower
risk of prostate cancer by 36 percent. British
researchers gave 25 healthy, non-smoking men 15 mg of
beta-carotene daily. Within one month the factors in
their white blood cells that enable the immune system
to distinguish cancer cells from normal cells rose
significantly. Their production of tumor necrosis
factor, which helps kill cancerous or damaged cells,
also increased.
Vitamin A can be toxic in large doses. I don't
recommend over 10,000 IU unless you are under the care
of a physician. However, take as much beta-carotene as
you want. I recommend a minimum of 15,000 IU daily
of beta-carotene, which can be safely doubled or
tripled. Its only side effect is that it may turn your
skin yellowish orange.
B Vitamins
New research has shed light on a metabolic process
that may be the root cause of a number of diseases,
including cancer. When your system metabolizes
protein, one result is the formation of small amounts
of a toxic byproduct called homocysteine. Under normal
circumstances it is rendered harmless by methylation,
a process which detoxifies homocysteine by converting
it to harmless amino acids. Methylation requires
vitamin B12 (cobalamin) and folic acid; and when these
nutrients are in short supply, homocysteine builds up.
It is now believed that excess homocysteine damages
DNA, which initiates cancer, and depresses the immune
system. Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) also reduces
homocysteine levels and has been noted to protect
against cervical cancer. In addition, Vitamin B3
(niacin) has anticancer activity. I recommend 75 mg
of vitamin B6, 100 mg of niacin, 150 mcg of vitamin
B12, and 800 mcg of folic acid daily.
Vitamin D
Clinical studies dating back to the 1970s show that
individuals with the highest blood levels of vitamin D
had an 80 percent decreased incidence of colon cancer,
compared to those with the lowest levels. Other
studies have shown that dietary vitamin D reduces
colon cancer rates by 50 percent. Vitamin D is
produced in the skin when you are exposed to sunlight.
Make sure you spend at least half an hour outside in
bright sunlight every day (when the sun cooperates).
The richest dietary sources of vitamin D are fortified
milk, fish, and egg yolks. Since an anticancer diet
calls for little milk and egg yolks, you should
supplement with 600 IU of vitamin D per day. This
is especially important in the winter. Note:
Doses over 2,000 IU may be toxic.
Selenium
Selenium is a powerful cancer fighter. In the
Journal of the American Medical Association
researcher Larry Clark, Ph.D., presented convincing
evidence that supplemental selenium could reduce
cancer death rates by as much as 50 percent!
From 1983 through 1991, 1,312 patients who had had
either squamous cell or basal cell carcinomas of the
skin removed were given a placebo or 200 mcg of high
selenium yeast daily. Blood selenium levels initially
averaged 114 ng/ml, and remained at this level in the
placebo group. Those taking selenium experienced a 67
percent increase in blood selenium to a level of 190,
which remained more or less constant throughout the
test. Interestingly, skin cancers, which the study was
initially designed to evaluate, showed little response
to selenium, but the selenium group had a 63 percent
reduction in the incidence of prostate cancer, a 58
percent reduction in colon or rectal cancer, and a 45
percent reduction in lung cancer.
The results of this study are remarkable. Even if the
reduction in death rate was only half as good, nearly
100,000 lives a year would be saved just from taking
an inexpensive, completely safe (at 200 mcg a day)
nutritional supplement.
Selenium protects against cancer on three levels:
1. Its antioxidant properties generate glutathione,
which mops up hydrogen peroxide, a potent free
radical produced in your body by normal metabolic
processes.
2. It facilitates quick repair of free radical
damage to the DNA molecule. Our current
understanding of cancer is that a damaged DNA
molecule replicates, carrying with it a "spark" that
ignites the growth of tumors. If adequate selenium
is present, the DNA molecule is repaired - and
normal cellular function ensues.
3. It initiates apoptosis, or cell death, in
cancerous and precancerous cells. Cancer cells
divide rapidly and die early. Selenium appears to
cause them to die before they replicate,
short-circuiting malignancy and tumor growth.
Selenium is found in some, but not all,
multivitamin/ mineral products. Forward Plus
contains 200 mcg, so if you're taking it, you're
covered. If not, you should supplement with 200 mcg
of selenium a day. The type used in the studies
discussed above is a high selenium yeast. Selenium
can be found in health food stores. I recommend
Solgar Selenium and Twinlabs Selenomax or selenium
from Willner Chemists (800-633-1106).
Other Minerals
Other minerals support overall good health and may
offer protection against cancer primarily by enhancing
the immune system: Zinc is particularly
important for many aspects of immunity. Calcium
may prevent the recurrence of colonic polyps that
sometimes lead to colon cancer. Copper and
manganese are required for the production and
proper function of superoxide dismutase, a powerful
antioxidant enzyme. Molybdenum deficiencies
have been positively correlated to cancer of the
esophagus, and areas in this country where molybdenum
is deficient in the drinking water have a 30 percent
increased incidence of that type of cancer. (See box
below for a complete listing of minerals and dosages I
recommend for cancer prevention.)
