JEDDAH, 12 October 2005 — Cancer has become a leading cause of death. This life-threatening disease has claimed many lives. However due to progresses in diagnosis and treatment, survival rate of cancer patients has risen dramatically and medical breakthroughs in the field along with early detection have made gigantic leaps.
Cancer treatments vary, ranging from powerful drugs and surgery to radiation and chemotherapy. In spite of all the advancements, the aftereffects of treatments can be physically and mentally agonizing, debilitating, and devastating. Moreover, total recovery is neither guaranteed nor painless and treatment can be extremely traumatic and costly to both patient and family, regardless of the results. Fortunately with natural medicine and healthy lifestyles, most of these medical and drug side-effects can be mitigated; pain greatly relieved; recovery become speedier; and survival chances more likely.
It is important to understand why cells mutate and become cancerous. Normal cells turn cancerous when something goes awry in the body due to nutrient deficiencies, excess weight, toxic waste, radiation or chemicals in the environment or food. These conditions cause them to mutate, divide, and proliferate, resulting in abnormal growth and division. However with a healthy immune system, such freakish cells get separated and immediately eradicated before they spread to organs and body.
In studies, many cancer cases are found to be lifestyle-related. That is why with modification in lifestyle behaviors, one can lower cancer risk. Cancer perils range from a poor diet, extreme stress, food additives, obesity, nutrient and hormonal imbalance, smoking, and alcohol consumption to exposure to radiation, ultra-violet rays, air and water pollution, environmental toxins, and repeated viruses and infections.
Of all these mentioned causes, nutrition presents the most hazard. This fact is revealed by the tremendous improvement in cancer patients, resulting from diet therapy along with cancer treatment. A common cause in many kinds of cancer appears to result from free radical damage to the cell’s DNA. Most of the above-mentioned risk factors seem to encourage the transformation of healthy cells to damaging free radical cells that turn cancerous. However, a balanced nutrition along with antioxidants and important nutrients protect cells from stress, deficiencies, infections, toxins, and pollution damage. We will see how antioxidants safeguard our cells from free radical attack or alteration.
In the recent years, we have been hearing of the protective effects of certain nutrients called antioxidants that counteract infections, heart disease, and even cancer. Due to such substantial evidence in studies, a healthy nutrition has been linked to the protection of cells. Antioxidants range from vitamins and minerals to enzymes and phytonutrients found in fruit, vegetables, legumes, whole grains, nuts, and herbs. For example, a big dose of one type of retinol in vitamin A was found to cure acute myeloid leukemia; another kind inhibited the spread of certain carcinomas. Low levels of beta-carotene, a precursor of vitamin A, increased risk of lung cancer, while smokers who had high levels of the antioxidant lowered their risk of the cancer.
High vitamin C intake has the ability to neutralize the damaging effect of free radical cells. It is a powerful antioxidant that is effective on carcinogens like nitrosamines. Vegetables grown with chemical fertilizer such as nitrates can be harmful to the health of the consumer. Chemically fertilized soils contaminate spring waters and rivers, thus drinking water. Some cured meats and sausages contain nitrates that have cancer-causing properties. Vitamin C protects against such carcinogens and is effective against non-hormone-related cancer. Studies showed that high supplements of the vitamin extended life for cancer patients four times more than those who were not given the supplement.
A combination of vitamin C and E has reduced the risk of death by 50 percent for all cancer and heart patients. Both vitamins work synergistically. One vitamin deactivates a carcinogen or free radical, while the other recharges it, and vice-versa. Both vitamins become extremely potent against cancer when combined with the mineral selenium, which is also a cancer-fight agent against liver cancer as well as hepatitis B.
Hormone-related cancer such as breast, cervical, and ovarian cancer in women, and prostate and testicle cancer in men is associated to hormonal imbalance, which triggers cancer cell growth. Studies have shown that high estrogen in pre-menopausal women can encourage the multiplication of breast cancer cells. That is why women on hormone therapy have a high risk of developing hormone-related cancer. Prolonged stress, obesity, and environmental estrogens, caused by pesticides, industrial waste, plastics, and contaminated water also promote cancer risk. Hormone-fed animals and their dairy products, too, are related to this type of cancer as well as colon cancer. However, a plant-based diet rich in antioxidant nutrients counteracts these factors. People with estrogen dominance are also advised to regain hormonal balance, take antioxidant nutrients, and assume healthy lifestyles. They should also keep away from fried and burnt foods, which invite free radicals, and reduce meat and dairy consumption. Excess body fat also presents added risk that encourages this type of cancer.
The below-suggested cancer-fighting fresh and organically grown foods and nutrients can decrease risk of cancer and help restore body equilibrium in cancer patients. They also protect against heart-related and other diseases and maintain the body healthy. Here are a few dos and don’ts that should also be discussed with your treating physician while undergoing chemotherapy or radiation treatment.
• Fruit and vegetables are rich sources of antioxidants to counteract cancer and free radicals. Vitamin C and beta-carotene lower cancer risk. They are particularly available in carrots, broccoli and all the cabbage family, leafy greens, sweet potato, cantaloupe, pumpkin, apricots, asparagus, artichoke, turnip, papaya, berries, and citrus fruits. Interestingly enough papaya suppresses tumor growth.
• Garlic, onion, and its family should be used freely raw and cooked. Some of garlic compounds are powerful antioxidants that detoxify the body from cancer-causing toxins, free radicals, and infections.
• Soybeans and their byproducts (tofu, soy milk, flour, and nuts, tempeh, miso, edamame) balance hormones, reducing hormone-related cancer, cholesterol, incidents of diabetes and osteoporosis, and more. The power is in their phytosterols. Other legumes such as all types of beans, lentils, foul mudamas, and hummus can also be protective against many more diseases.
• Flax seeds, black sesame and sunflower seeds, their cold-pressed oil, walnuts, almonds, and all nuts in moderation are sources of omega-3-and-6 oils, vitamins B and E, protein, folate, selenium, magnesium, potassium, calcium, zinc, and phytosterol. All have potent antioxidant effects against cancer and other diseases. For instance, zinc in the body appears to reduce the proliferation of cancer cells.
• Low-fat organic yogurt can reduce colon cancer risk. Lactobacillus acidophilus and calcium in live fresh yogurt slow down the division of abnormal cells in the colon and increase the beneficial intestinal bacteria, boosting the immune system.
• Seaweeds (kombu, nori, wakame, arame) and microalgae (chorella, spirulina) are detoxifying and cleansing to the lymphatic glands. They also reduce swelling and soften hardened nodes. Seaweeds are sold dry in natural food stores and microalgae are found in the form of tablets.
• Cereal grass (wheat, barley, oats) juice is another excellent way of cleansing the different body systems and strengthening immunity. They can be used for most diseases except for extreme weakness. You can grow cereal grasses at home in organic soil with organic whole grains. They also come in tablets.
• Mushrooms are detoxifying and cleansing especially from meat toxins. They are also immune boosters and effective for many ailments including cancer. They increase antibodies and improve natural killer cell ability. The most powerful ones are shiitake, miitake, and reishi. Shiitake is found in natural food stores in a dry form and sometimes fresh in supermarkets. Other mushrooms also have healing effects. There are immune boosting tablets made from mushrooms.
• Whole grains (oats, barley) contain soluble and insoluble fibers that are healthy and detoxifying. Whole rice is very rich in nutrients and cleansing to the body. Wheat germ is a good source of vitamin E, an effective antioxidant.
• Fish and their oils are good for health. Fatty fish (salmon) provide omega-3 oil, which is protective to the vascular system, brain, cells, and whole body and effective against breast and colon cancer, stroke, hypertension, inflammation, autoimmune diseases (lupus, rheumatoid arthritis), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), mental disorders, and many more. Omega-3 balances the hormonal system, too.
• While saturated fats are damaging to health in general, monounsaturated fatty acids in extra virgin olive oil have protective properties against cardiovascular disorders and cancer cells and help regulate body hormones. Including olive oil in cooking raises protection against cancer. I encourage cooking with such healthy fats. I use virgin olive oil in most of my cooking except frying.
• Green tea and herbal teas like oregano, ginseng, mint, cinnamon, sage, chamomile, and ginger are effective antioxidants. Green tea is rich in the antioxidant polyphenol, which is probably more powerful than vitamin C or E to fight cancer and other diseases. Substances in the plant slow down the proliferation of cancer, suppress tumor growth, and prompt precancerous cells to self-destruct. Herbal teas should not be boiled; they should only be infused for 15 to 20 minutes.
• Melatonin is the hormone that regulates sleep and the body’s biological clock. It decreases toxicity that results from radiation and chemical therapies, reduces their side-effects, reinforces the effects of the treatment, and improves sleep. Enhanced sleep allows the body to repair, boosts immunity, speeds the healing process, and gives feeling of well-being. The synthetic form of melatonin has a lower risk of contamination than the animal-based hormone. A 20 mg dose is usually adequate, but you should consult your physician before taking supplements or medication. Melatonin should not be taken along with antidepressants, corticosteroids, or sedatives.
• Please remember to do these as well:
* Drink lots of water. Keep your body well-hydrated; your cells, brain, energy, and all your body systems depend on water.
* Eat organic, unrefined, and unprocessed foods.
* Keep away from fat, refined sugars, added sugar, and chemical sugar substitutes (aspartame), additives, and preservatives. Avoid weight gain; obesity and excess body fat lead to cancer, diabetes, and heart and other diseases.
* Eliminate fried, browned, and burnt foods, alcohol, smoke, secondhand smoke, and pollution. They contribute to cancer.
* Reduce the intake of cow’s milk; use goat’s milk instead.
* Discard rancid nuts, seeds, and their oils; they cause free radicals, cancer, and more. Store them in air-tight glass jars in dark, cool, dry places. Their shelf-life is very short.
* Exercise regularly; a half hour walk or swim will do tremendous good to your mental and physical health. Remember to breathe deeply while you exercise. Oxygen renews cell power and regular activity improves circulation.
* Reduce stress; prolonged stress leads to hormonal imbalance and weakens immunity, triggering cancer.
* Enjoy family support; be happy; and think positively. Such factors as well as prayer, meditation, and spirituality improve mental, physical, and emotional health, give serenity, and enhance and speed the healing process.
Remember, even the simplest approaches can produce miracles.
(Mariam Alireza is a holistic science specialist. Send comments to [email protected].)
