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The Healing Power of an Organic Wholesome Diet for Cancer PatientsBy Jeanne M. Wallace, PhD, CNCWhat can a healthy organic diet accomplish?While wholesome organic foods and nutrients are not a cure for cancer, they can provide an important complementary strategy to help bolster the body's regulatory "controls" against cancer. A healthy organic diet is one of the best ways to boost your immune system and there are several other ways good nutrition can help.NOTE: To avoid harmful interactions with your medications or treatments it is extremely important that the doctor supervising your condition is aware of any dietary changes, including changes in eating patterns and usage of dietary supplements and herbs. Phytonutrients: Our Cancer "Phyters"The anti-cancer benefits of diets rich in organic fruits and vegetables have long been attributed to their high vitamin, mineral and fiber content. More recently, however, researchers have discovered that fruits, vegetables, legumes, whole grains and kitchen spices and fish oil contain thousands of other health-promoting compounds, collectively known as phytonutrients. Many phytonutrients appear to have significant cancer fighting properties. Among these are: elemene (found in ginger), tangeretin and limonene (in citrus peel), catechins (in green tea), anthocyanins (in blueberries and chokecherries), curcumin (in turmeric), the omega 3 oil EPA (from fish oil), Genistein (in soy).Perhaps most compelling are new studies that demonstrate phytonutrients have the remarkable capacity to talk directly to and influence our genes! We are learning that genes are not fixed and immutable (i.e., we're not stuck with the genetic "luck of the draw" we were born with). Rather, genes alter their expression depending on nutritional and environmental influences. A growing body of research on phytonutrients shows they can inhibit oncogenes (tumor-promoting genes) and increase the expression of tumor suppressor genes. One compelling study found that when mice were fed nutrient-deficient diets mimicking the standard American diet, their gene expression moved toward cancer. When these same mice were then fed healthy, nutrient-dense diets, their gene expression reversed, returning to a healthy profile. In addition, organic food-based phytonutrients are the richest source of antioxidants - far more potent than vitamin pills! The antioxidant capacity for vitamin E (one 400iu capsule) has been measured as 125 ORAC units, but it's over 1,000 units per serving for blueberries, cinnamon, pomegranate, juice, figs, prunes, raspberries, green tea, strawberries, spinach and kale. Food based antioxidants are important for promoting gene stability and preventing mutations to the DNA of cancer cells that may lead to more aggressive behavior of tumors and/or resistance to chemotherapy. ANTIOXIDANT CAPACITY OF SELECTED FRUITS, VEGETABLES AND SPICES IN ORAC (oxygen radical absorbing capacity) UNITS:>3000: Blueberries>2000: Oregano, pomegranate juice, figs, cinnamon >1000: Prunes, pomegranates, turmeric, raspberries, blackberries, Brussels sprouts, green tea, strawberries, spinach, kale >500: Oat bran, oranges, plum, red cabbage, cranberries, broccoli, parsley beets, basil No vitamin pill can offer you a complete array of phytonutrients. These cancer "phyters" can only be obtained from whole foods. To get the beneficial effects of phytonutrients, here's what to do: [1] Emphasize vegetables and fruits that are fresh (in season), locally grown and organic (these pack the highest phytonutrient levels) [2] Choose produce with the richest, deepest colors and eat from every color of the rainbow to get a full complement of phytonutrients [3] Eat 2 - 3 servings of fruits and at least 4 servings of vegetables daily (a serving = 1/2 cup cooked or raw vegetables, 1 cup of salad, 1 medium piece of fruit or 1 cup berries) [4] Aim for 5,000 or more ORAC units daily Quenching InflammationAnti-inflammatory strategies are essential in slowing tumor growth. This is because cancers utilize the inflammatory process to promote their growth and progression. In one study, an excessive amount of inflammatory compounds was the strongest predictor of poor outcome for cancer patients, so your goal is to reduce inflammation levels and improve your prognosis!To help reduce inflammation, consider the fats you eat. Dietary fats are incorporated in our cell membranes and function to produce chemical messengers (called eicosanoids) that modulate inflammation. It's no surprise that saturated, hydrogenated and Trans Fats are inflammation promoters! Read ingredient labels and avoid foods that contain hydrogenated fats. These and other omega-6 fats are precursors of pro-inflammatory messengers, while omega-3 fats, especially EPA, are antiinflammatory. Sources of omega-3 fats are cold-water fish (sardines, tuna, mackerel, lake trout, Atlantic halibut, herring and wild—not farmed—salmon), flax seeds, and organic, grass-fed meats, poultry, eggs and dairy products. Omega-6 fats predominate in commercially-raised (corn-fed) meat, poultry, dairy and eggs; and also in nuts, seeds, margarine, and vegetable oils (such as corn, peanut, canola, safflower, soybean, sunflower, and grapeseed oils). Olive oil is an omega-9 and is beneficial; it should be the primary bottled oil in the house for use in cooking and salad dressings. The typical American diet provides 10-20 times more omega-6 than omega-3, but a healthier ratio is 3:1 or 4:1! Cut back on your omega-6 (choosing healthy omega-6 foods like nuts, seeds, and avocado) and increase omega-3. Excessive intake of sweets and high carbohydrate diets increase inflammation, and can also suppress immune function. A wholesome diet emphasizing healthy organic fats, whole grains, legumes and increased intake of vegetables and fruits has been shown to reduce markers of inflammation. Limit your intake of sweets and refined, processed carbohydrates (breads, cereals, pastas, etc.). Instead, choose organic whole-grain high-fiber foods. See if you can find pasta with 2 grams fiber per serving, bread with 3 grams per slice, cereal with more than 5 grams of fiber per bowl! Consider replacing table sugar with a substitute, such as stevia, agave syrup, or brown rice syrup. Inhibiting AngiogenesisAngiogenesis is a process whereby tumors stimulate the development of a dense network of new blood vessels to nourish tumor growth and progression. Many of the enzymes that foster angiogenesis require copper. Steps to avoid excess intake of copper may help lessen angiogenesis. Foods that are particularly rich in copper include shellfish (lobster, oysters, crab, and clams); organ meats (liver and kidney), and chocolate sauces, syrups and candies that are prepared in copper kettles. You may wish to filter your drinking water if you have copper plumbing and avoid cooking in copper pots/pans.Inflammation is also a known promoter of angiogenesis, so the strategies discussed above for reducing inflammation are very important. Eating excessive sugar or too many calories promotes angiogenesis in animal studies. Increase your intake of low-calorie and nutrient-dense foods (organic vegetables, fruits, legumes and whole grains) while reducing refined and processed foods. Many nutrients have demonstrated anti-angiogenic properties in published research studies. Incorporating these foods into your diet may help inhibit angiogenesis. These include: - Apigenin, a bioflavonoid found in many common kitchen herbs—especially mint, but also thyme, oregano, parsley, marjoram, and basil. Celery, lettuce, apples, beans, broccoli, cherries, grapes, onions, tomatoes and artichoke are foods that have apigenin. - Berries: blueberries, cherries, cranberries, raspberries and strawberries. - Curcumin found in turmeric and curry. - Garlic. - Genistein found in soy foods (tempeh, tofu, miso, edamame and soymilk). - Green tea. - Omega-3 fats found in cold-water fish and organic grass-fed meat, poultry, dairy, and high omega-3 eggs. - Resveratrol found in grapes, berries and peanuts - Selenium - Brazil nuts are the richest source (275mcg per 3-4 nuts). ConclusionInstead of viewing mealtime as merely a chance to fill your belly and tickle your taste buds, consider the medicinal value of the foods you eat. With each meal, you have the opportunity to choose foods that can normalize gene expression, quench inflammation, boost your immune system, and inhibit angiogenesis. The guidelines in this article will empower you to harness the healing power of a healthy diet!NOTE: Dietary supplements and herbs may also be useful in accomplishing these strategies, but it is extremely important that you seek the guidance of a nutrition professional who specializes in working with cancer patients to help you select appropriate supplements and avoid harmful interactions with your medications or treatments! Organic Super Foods and Phytonutrients for Cancer Therapy- Berries: blueberries, raspberries, cherries, strawberries, cranberries (anthocyanidins, ellagic acid and resveratrol)- Cruciferous vegetables: arugula, broccoli, broccoli sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, collards, kale, kohlrabi, radish, turnip and watercress (sulfurophane, isothyanates, indole-3-carbinol) - Brazil nuts (selenium, magnesium) - Carrots, pumpkin, yam, and all yellow, orange and green fruits and vegetables (carotenoids) - Citrus peel (limonene, tangeretin) - Curcumin (turmeric) - Garlic (allyl sulfides) - Ginger (elemene) - Green tea, white tea or black tea (catechins, EGCG) - Mint, parsley, thyme, marjoram (apigenin) - Mushrooms (vitamin D and beta glucans) - Onions, apples (quercetin) - Peanuts (resveratrol) - Rosemary (carnosol) - Spices: basil, black pepper, cinnamon, oregano, (high antioxidant) - Spinach, kale, collards, beet greens, chard (lutein, LOX inhibitos) - Super greens - chlorella, spirulina, barley greens - Raspberries, strawberries, walnuts (ellagic acid) - Sweet bell peppers - Tomatoes (lycopene) ABOUT THE AUTHORJeanne M. Wallace, PhD, CNC educates clients and their oncologists about evidence based nutritional and botanical protocols that can safely and effectively complement their medical care. She is a member of the National Association of Nutritional Professioanls and the American Holistic Health Association. Specializing in malignant brain tumors since 1997, she has worked with over 600 brain tumor patients in the U.S. and abroad. Visit her site www.nutritional-solutions.net for more information.REFERENCESArbiser JL, Klauber N, et al: Curcumin is an in vivo inhibitor of angiogenesis. Mol Med, 1998; 4:376-83.Augenlicht LH: Nutritional genomics and proteomics in cancer prevention conference. NIH Conference on NutriGenomics, Sept 5-6, 2002. Bagchi D, Sen CK, Bagchi M, Atalay M. Anti-angiogenic, antioxidant, and anti-carcinogenic properties of a novel anthocyanin-rich berry extract formula. Biochemistry (Mosc). 2004 Jan; 69(1):75-80. Boik J: Natural compounds in cancer therapy. 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