Articles ¬ The Source ¬ Nutritional & Cancer

I see a lot of people with cancer in my office, all at different stages of dealing with it and all asking the same question, "Why me?" This article is the first of a three part series on cancer. In part one, I will cover the nutritional basics for preventing cancer.

Cancer is formed when a cell in the body doesn't get the signal to stop growing and forms other cells which come together to form a tumour. The body forms single cancerous cells almost every day, but a healthy immune system stops them from growing any further. Naturopathic medicine holds the belief that cancer forms as a result of the body's inability to heal itself, whether from toxic overload from the environment, or lack of needed rest, exercise, or nutrients.

Eating as close to a vegetarian diet as possible is important in cancer prevention. Although it's still not known whether it's the meat itself that can be a factor in the onset of cancer, or the fats in the meat, it's agreed that some forms of cancer can be traced back to meat intake. Another factor under consideration is the toxic chemicals, such as sprays and environmental pollutants, that store in meat fats. For this reason, if you're going to use meat, eggs, or dairy products, it's important to buy them organically, or free range.

Having a diet in which less than 20% of the calories come from fat is highly recommended for both the prevention of cancer. The types of fats being ingested is also important, as some types are actually beneficial for the health. If you use oils, the best to purchase are cold pressed, extra virgin, and stored in dark containers. Olive oil is excellent, although it shouldn't be used for cooking. Hydrogenated oils like marjarine, should be avoided, as they can form transfatty acids, which can encourage the formation of abnormal cells.

Fiber is very important in cancer prevention, as it protects the intestines from toxins contained in the stool and also binds onto the toxins to facilitate their elimination from the body. Fiber can be increased in the diet by eating more vegetables, fruit, and whole grains such as whole wheat and brown rice.

Keep the intake of caffeine, alcohol, salt and sugar low, as they can decrease the efficiency of the immune system and cellular nutrition.

Drinking freshly pressed vegetables juices is an excellent way to obtain needed vitamins and minerals, especially if you are not a vegetable eater. Juices need to be used within a half hour of making them and should be made using organic vegetables, since you will otherwise also be concentrating the chemicals in the produce.

Vegetables that are high in numerous chemicals that are proving to be important in the prevention of cancer include; garlic, onions, cabbage, turnip, beans, brocolli, cauliflower, brussel sprouts, asparagus, tomatoes, and soy beans.

Green tea can be used for its strong antioxidant properties, and may be marketed under the name oolong or bancha. Used as a tea, it can be taken 2-3 cups daily.

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