Your Diet and Cancer by Joy Morgan

Did you know that there are about 8.2 million deaths worldwide caused by cancer today? Worse, the National Cancer Institute estimates this number to rise by 22 million within the next two decades. Today it seems everyone is getting diagnosed with cancer. If not you, then someone you know will likely be diagnosed with cancer. Despite the bleak forecast, there are ways that we can greatly improve our health and delay the onset of cancer and other diseases.

You truly are what you eat. The food we consume can either cause and foster cancer cells, or prevent and destroy them. Choosing the right foods is vital in preventing cancer, treating cancer, and recovering from cancer. In an effort to share the ‘right foods’ one must also consider where our food comes from, what it comes shipped in, and how it is prepared.

Why What You Eat is SO Important

For those who have been diagnosed with cancer, it is especially important to monitor what foods they consume. Individuals suffering with cancer have a weakened immune system and have a crucial need to fuel the body with nutrient rich foods that will help the body endure both the disease and the treatments.

Various studies are proving that specific foods carry the nutrients that can combat and kill cancer and cancer-causing cells, as well as build immune system health, both aiding the body in recovery and in wellness.

Eat Organic

Genetically modified organisms are currently the majority of produce available to the public, even though there is little research available on the effects of consuming GMO produce on human health. GMO crops have genetic mutations that allow them to survive applications of toxic pesticides and herbicides in order to have higher crop yields and save money for crop producers. Not only is it widely believed amongst the holistic community that GMO crops have lower nutritional value, the pesticide coating on produce is causing extremely adverse health effects, including cancer.

Packaging and Processing Matters

If your food is wrapped in plastic… throw it away and never look back. Most plastic on the shelf contains bisphenol A (BPA), which is known to leach out of plastics as the packaging ages, if the food is microwaved, or if the packaging is washed with harsh detergents. In the journal, Environmental Health Perspectives, low dose exposure of BPA to mice resulted in birth defects and death, as well as testicular and breast cancer. This exemplifies why microwaving your food with a plastic cover is so dangerous to human health, because doing this directly releases toxins into the food, altering its chemistry negatively. Plastic wrap, bottles, containers, and Styrofoam containers are all classified as endocrine disruptors by the National Institute of Environmental Health Institute. You might consider stainless steel, ceramic, or other non-plastic alternatives for food storage.

The Good Stuff

Ingesting antioxidant rich foods can help prevent cancer and treat cancer. Antioxidants are naturally occurring molecules that protect the body from ravenous free radicals. When antioxidants donate an electron, both the free radical and the antioxidant are stable and the body can continue to operate in good health.

If you haven’t already heard, free radicals are currently in your body scavenging for a spare electron to stabilize their molecular structure. Free radicals steal electrons from other molecules such as fats, proteins, cell membrane, and fragile DNA. There has been an association established with high amounts of free radicals in the body causing cell damage, leading to diseases and cancer.

My mother always told me, if your plate is colorful, then you are taking in key nutrients. Below are some vitamins and nutrients with naturally occurring antioxidants and immune system boosters, many of which you can identify by color alone!

Anthocyanins: Purple in pigment, this is easily discoverable and remembered by rich colored foods, such as; berries, eggplant, red cabbage, red grapes, and raspberries.
Beta-carotene: Deep orange in pigment. Can be found in: carrots, sweet potatoes, pumpkins, spinach, squash, cantaloupe, and peaches. I remember this because carotene and carrot sound similar!
Lycopene: Bright red in pigment: Can be found in: tomatoes, watermelons, and papayas. Vitamin C: Renowned for being a cold buster is an excellent support for the immune system AND an antioxidant. Can be found in: red and yellow bell peppers, kiwis, broccoli, cabbage, strawberries, and, of course, citrus fruits like oranges and lemons.
Vitamin E: It is important to also incorporate good fats into your diet. Vitamin E is fat soluble and found in: Green vegetables, nuts, seeds, and oils like sunflower and safflower.

Ultimately

It’s What’s Inside that Counts; the organic properties and the nutritional values of the food you eat, what chemicals are leached into the food, all determine if your diet is helping your health or hurting your health. Whether you are currently diagnosed with cancer or if you’re aiming to prevent cancer in your life, it is imperative that you are mindful of your food and your meal preparations. If consumed properly, food can be medicine and it can help to strengthen your body to fight off disease.

References

Perinatal Bisphenol A Exposure Increases Estrogen Sensitivity of the Mammary Gland in Diverse Mouse Strains.

Wadia, P. R., Vandenberg, L. N., Schaeberle, C. M., Rubin, B. S., & al, e. (2007).

November 21st,2017

Retrieved from https://bluehawk.monmouth.edu:2443/login?url=https://bluehawk.monmouth.edu:4764/docview/222617126?accountid=12532

Endocrine Disruptors

National Institute of Environmental Health Institute

Does Grilling your Food Really Cause Cancer?

Mens Health Magazine

Paul Kita

https://www.menshealth.com/nutrition/does-grilling-really-cause-cancer

November, 14^th, 2017

National Cancer Institute

Link: https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/understanding/what-is-cancer

Date Visited: November 13^th, 2017

Title:Pesticides and cancer epidemiology in the agricultural health study

Author: Laura Beane Freeman

Publication: Occupational & Environmental Medicine

Link: http://oem.bmj.com/content/73/Suppl_1/A115.2

Date Visited: November 13^th, 2017

Do Microwave Ovens Destroy Food Nutrients?

Author: Lana Billings-Smith

https://www.livestrong.com/article/368262-do-microwave-ovens-destroy-food-nutrients/

November 14^th, 2017

Author/ Website Name: National Cancer Institute

Link: https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/causes-prevention/risk/diet/antioxidants-fact-sheet

Date Visited: November 13^th, 2017

Title: What are Free Radicals?

Author: Dr. Edward Group DC, NP, DACBN, DCBCN, DABFM

Link:https://www.globalhealingcenter.com/natural-health/what-are-free-radicals/ Date Retrieved: November 13, 2017

What are Free Radicals?

Dr. Edward Group

Global Healing Center

https://www.globalhealingcenter.com/natural-health/what-are-free-radicals/

Retrieved November 14^th, 2017

Additional References:

Vitamin C decreased risk. Processed red and white meats increased risk. Alcohol intake and BMI/ saturated fats increased risk.

http://bluehawk.monmouth.edu:2053/science/article/pii/S0959804910007033

Title: Diet and cancer prevention: Contributions from the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) study

Author: Carlos A. Gozalez & Elio Riboli

Published: European Journal of Cancer

Link: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejca.2010.07.025

Retrieved: November 13^th,2017

etiology: the cause, set of causes, or manner of causation of a disease or condition.

inversely associated definition

Epidemiology is the study and analysis of the patterns, causes, and effects of health and disease conditions in defined populations.

Studies with evidence of correlation between eating specific foods and cancer risk as well as some methods: http://bluehawk.monmouth.edu:2053/science/article/pii/S0959804901000703

Author is an MD; polyphenols, fish, antioxidants, no pesticides:

https://www.prevention.com/health/health-concerns/cancer-prevention-advice-world-without-cancer

Readers Digest Editors:

30 foods for cancer preventions

https://www.rd.com/health/conditions/10-foods-to-help-prevent-cancer/

Choosing Healthy Fats:

https://www.helpguide.org/articles/healthy-eating/choosing-healthy-fats.htm

Awesome article to use as model, GMO, cooking Methods + carcinogens, spice with cancer fighters,

https://www.helpguide.org/articles/diets/cancer-prevention-diet.htm

Another Model Article; Goes through bad and good foods + compounds cites EPIC a scholarly study etc.

https://draxe.com/cancer-fighting-foods/

Here is the study: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20843485