Based upon all of the information that I have researched for the past eighteen months, I have come to the conclusion that our bodies are under a constant onslaught from environmental and food poisoning. Your probably thinking poisoning, isn’t that harsh? No it is not. Synthetic hormones, pesticides, radiation, antibiotics, drugs and chemicals are all poisons to the body.

The war against cancer, and really, all degenerative disease, starts with each individual’s care of their own health and their immediate environment.

This page is a simple primer on the things that can be incorporated into your lifestyle that promote better health. There are many actions you can take, each of which, complement the other.

Your first line of defense for your immune system, are the components known as antioxidants. Powerful tools, which help repair cellular damage from our daily exposure to environmental pollutants, such as radiation, chemicals, illnesses and meats saturated with synthetic hormones.

N.B. I am not a medical doctor nor medically trained in any way. Do not, I repeat, do not take any supplements without consulting with your medical doctor. This is particularly important when you are undergoing medical treatment of any kind as herbs and supplements can adversely affect your treatment plan. None of the information on this page is intended for self medicating.  This is here for adopting healthier life styles when treatment is done.  This is also here for educational purposes.

Antioxidants

Antioxidants are substances that may protect your cells against the effects of free radicals. Free radicals are molecules produced when your body breaks down food, or by environmental exposures like tobacco smoke and radiation. Free radicals can damage cells, and may play a role in heart disease, cancer and other diseases. [1]

The medical library has over fourteen thousand pages with the words antioxidant in them. These studies varied from heart disease, breast cancer, Alzheimer’s, Dementia, and autism, to name a few.

When dealing with health one has to look at the WHOLE picture, i.e., diet, sugar intake, liquids consumed, exposure to environmental pollution, viruses, and hormones in food, etc.

If a person lives close to a nuclear power plant, wouldn’t one assume that the stress of being constantly exposed to radiation causes the body to require 10 times the normal amount of antioxidants? The diet would have to be above average to meet the constant stress of these environmental dangers.

An increasing body of evidence suggests beneficial effects of the antioxidants present in grapes, cocoa, blueberries, and teas on cardiovascular health, Alzheimer’s disease, and even reduction of the risk of some cancers. [2]

Antioxidants are abundant in fruits and vegetables, as well as in other foods including nuts, grains, and some meats, poultry, and fish. The list below describes food sources of common antioxidants.

This list is your main line of defense – a sort of armory that helps the body counter the stress presented by all of the environmental toxins we are forced to live with. Learn how to incorporate these things into your daily routine. Your life could depend upon it.

Please keep in mind that if foods are coated with pesticides and other chemicals you are counteracting the purpose of the healthy food by eating these items. Where possible I always try to purchase organic foods. This includes meats that are raised without hormones and antibiotics.

The United States is the only nation in the world that administers antibiotics to its livestock and these are the same medications that are used in hospitals for human care. This one practice is the main cause behind super bugs that are resistant to antibiotics. This example illustrates the importance of natural food products for your health.

List of Antioxidants

Acai Berry Here is a link to a short page on Acai berry and is endorsed by Dr. Oz http://webmdacaireview.com/a1/index.php?t202id=8279&t202kw=acai

Beta-carotene is found in many foods that are orange in color, including sweet potatoes, carrots, cantaloupe, squash, apricots, pumpkin, and mangos. Some green, leafy vegetables, including collard greens, spinach, and kale, are also rich in beta-carotene.

Alpha Lipoic Acid: Best Bet Food Sources– Meat. Most often used for: Diabetes and glaucoma. Alpha-lipoic acid is unique in several ways. Unlike other antioxidants, which work only in water (such as vitamin C) or fatty tissues (such as vitamin E), alpha-lipoic acid is both fat- and water-soluble. That means it can work throughout the body. In addition, antioxidants are depleted as they attack free radicals, but evidence suggests alpha-lipoic acid may help to regenerate these other antioxidants and make them active again. [3]

Alpha-lipoic acid can lower blood sugar levels, and its ability to kill free radicals may help reduce pain, burning, itching, tingling, and numbness in people who have nerve damage caused by diabetes (called peripheral neuropathy). Alpha-lipoic acid has been used for years for this purpose in Europe, and at least one study found that intravenous (IV) doses of alpha-lipoic acid helped reduce symptoms. However, the evidence indicating that taking alpha-lipoic acid orally will help is weaker; most studies have been small and poorly designed. One 2006 study did show benefit from taking alpha-lipoic acid for diabetic neuropathy compared to placebo. [3]

A healthy body makes enough alpha-lipoic acid. It is also found in red meat, organ meats (such as liver), and yeast (particularly Brewer’s yeast). I take Nutritional Brewers yeast every day in my protein shake. This is considered a food because it is composed of on celled plants. This is a powdered form of B vitamins and amino acids that are easily assimilated by your body.

Alpha-lipoic acid can be purchased in doses of 30 – 100 mg tablets. There are no established recommended doses.

General antioxidant support: 20 – 50 mg per day

Diabetes and diabetic neuropathy: 800 mg per day in divided doses. [3] Patients MUST check with their doctor before self -medicating. Alpha-lipoic acid may not mix well with other medications!

Astaxanthin: 500 times stronger than Vitamin C. Astaxsanthin is a member of the carotenoid family, is a dark-red pigment which is the main carotenoid found in the marine world of algae and aquatic animals. ASTAXANTHIN is present in many types of seafood, including salmon, trout, red sea bream, shrimp and lobster, as well as in birds such as flamingo and quail. This pigment is commercially produced from the micro alga Haematococcus pluvialis, the richest known natural source for ASTAXANTHIN. [5]

Recent scientific findings indicate that ASTAXANTHIN is a powerful antioxidant and can serve as a potent free-radical scavenger. Moreover, ASTAXANTHIN has been found to provide many essential biological functions, including protection against lipid-membrane peroxidation of essential polyunsaturated fatty acids and proteins, DNA damage and UV light effects; it also plays an important role in immunological defense. [5] ASTAXANTHIN can be found in Spirulina, Barley Greens, and Chlorella. www.bulkfoods.com has powdered supplements for very affordable prices.

Vitamin A is found in three main forms: retinol (Vitamin A1), 3,4-didehydroretinol (Vitamin A2), and 3-hydroxy-retinol (Vitamin A3). Foods rich in vitamin A include liver, sweet potatoes, carrots, milk, egg yolks, and mozzarella cheese. [4]

Beta-carotene The name “carotene” was first coined in the early 19th Century by the scientist Wachenroder after he crystallized this compound from carrot roots. Beta-carotene is a member of the carotenoids, which are highly pigmented (red, orange, yellow), fat-soluble compounds naturally present in many fruits, grains, oils, and vegetables (green plants, carrots, sweet potatoes, squash, spinach, apricots, and green peppers). Alpha, beta, and gamma carotene are considered provitamins because they can be converted to active vitamin A. [6]

Vitamin A deficiency leads to abnormal bone development, disorders of the reproductive system, xerophthalmia (a drying condition of the cornea of the eye), and ultimately death. [6]

Commercially available beta-carotene is produced synthetically or from palm oil, algae, or fungi. Beta-carotene is converted to retinol, which is essential for vision and is subsequently converted to retinoic acid, which is used for processes involving growth and cell differentiation. [Emphasis mine.] [6]

Blueberries

In one of the studies, three groups of rats—equivalent in age to 63-year-old-humans—were fed extracts of spinach, strawberry or blueberry along with their chow. A control group was fed only standard chow. When the rats were equivalent in age to 73-year-old humans, their performance levels were measured. Rats fed the blueberry extract far outperformed their peers while traversing a rotating rod to test balance and coordination. Further laboratory examination of the blueberry-fed rats showed much higher levels of dopamine in the brain than was found in rats among the other groups. Dopamine is one of several chemical neurotransmitters that help the brain’s billions of neurons “talk” to one another. It plays a role in many brain functions, including the way the brain controls movements.

Further studies with human volunteers are needed to assess whether similar improvements would be found in humans. [7]

Vitamin C is also called ascorbic acid, and can be found in high abundance in many fruits and vegetables and is also found in cereals, beef, poultry, and fish. [4]

Coenzyme Q 10 is a compound that is made naturally in the body. The body uses it for cell growth and to protect cells from damage that could lead to cancer. Animal studies have shown that coenzyme Q10 helps the immune system work better and makes the body better able to resist certain infections and types of cancer.

Clinical trials have shown that coenzyme Q10 helps protect the heart from the damaging side effects of doxorubicin, a drug used to treat cancer. [4] On this website is a page devoted to CO-Q10 and its use during cancer treatment.

Curcumin The rhizome (root) of turmeric (Curcuma longa Linn) has been used in traditional Asian medicine to treat gastrointestinal upset, arthritic pain, and “low energy.” Laboratory and animal research has demonstrated anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anti-cancer properties of turmeric and its constituent curcumin. Preliminary human evidence, albeit poor quality, suggests possible efficacy in the management of dyspepsia (heartburn), hyperlipidemia (high cholesterol), and scabies (when used on the skin). [8]

Cysteine: Best Bet Food Sources– Eggs, meat, dairy and some cereals. Most often used for: Radiation damage, liver damage due to drugs, alcohol or smoking, hardening of the arteries, promotes healing after surgery or with burns, helps iron to be absorbed into the system and helps in lung diseases such as bronchitis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and emphysema. [10]

Available as a supplemental powder through http://bio-alternatives.net/cysteine.htm?gclid=CL_EtYjjkJwCFQoKswodvGNBdg

Vitamin E, also known as alpha-tocopherol, is found in almonds, in many oils including wheat germ, safflower, corn, and soybean oils, and is also found in mangos, nuts, broccoli, and other foods. [4]

Garlic (Allium sativum L.)

Numerous case-control/population-based studies suggest that regular consumption of garlic (particularly unprocessed garlic) may reduce the risk of developing several types of cancer, including gastric and colorectal malignancies. However, prospective controlled trials are lacking.

Multiple cases of bleeding have been associated with garlic use, and caution is warranted in patients at risk of bleeding or prior to some surgical/dental procedures. Garlic does not appear to significantly affect blood glucose levels. [11]

Ginger The rhizomes and stems of ginger have assumed significant roles in Chinese, Japanese, and Indian medicine since the 1500s. The oleoresin of ginger is often contained in digestive, antitussive, (relieve coughing) antiflatulent, (lessen abdominal gas) laxative, and antacid compounds. [9]

There is supportive evidence from one randomized controlled trial and an open-label study that ginger reduces the severity and duration of chemotherapy-induced nausea/emesis (vomiting). Effects appear to be additive to prochlorperazine (Compazine®). The optimal dose remains unclear. Ginger’s effects on other types of nausea/emesis, such as postoperative nausea or motion sickness, remain indeterminate. [9]

Ginger may inhibit platelet aggregation/decrease platelet thromboxane production, thus theoretically increasing bleeding risk. [8]

The nausea page on this website has a ginger syrup recipe for nausea.

Glutathione: Food Sources– There are none. This is a protein produced by the liver and can be purchased in supplement form. Look for L-Glutathione. Most often used for: Defending the body against cigarette smoke, alcohol, chemotherapy and radiation damage, helps detoxify heavy metals, is used in anti-aging, and is good for blood and liver disorders. [12]

I checked into this supplement with my daughter’s oncologist. He said it is a very powerful antioxidant but Kayla cannot take it while on chemotherapy because it would counteract the chemo. He did recommend her taking it after she is done with treatment.

Green Tea All types of tea (green, black, and oolong) are produced from the Camellia sinensis plant using different methods. Fresh leaves from the Camellia sinensis plant are steamed to produce green tea. [10]

Green tea and green tea extracts, such as its component EGCG, have been used to prevent and treat a variety of cancers, including breast, stomach, and skin cancers. Green tea and green tea extracts have also been used for improving mental alertness, aiding in weight loss, lowering cholesterol levels, and protecting skin from sun damage. [10]

This website has a page dedicated to Green tea, history, science and cancer prevention.

Lutein, best known for its association with healthy eyes, is abundant in green, leafy vegetables such as collard greens, spinach, and kale.

Lycopene is a potent antioxidant found in tomatoes, watermelon, guava, papaya, apricots, pink grapefruit, blood oranges, and other foods. Estimates suggest 85 percent of American dietary intake of lycopene comes from tomatoes and tomato products. [4]

Minerals

Minerals are important for your body to stay healthy. Your body uses minerals for many different jobs, including building bones, making hormones and regulating your heartbeat.

There are two kinds of minerals: macrominerals and trace minerals. Macro minerals are minerals your body needs in larger amounts. They include calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, sodium, potassium, chloride and sulfur. Your body needs just small amounts of trace minerals. These include iron, manganese, copper, iodine, zinc, cobalt, fluoride and selenium.

The best way to get the minerals your body needs is by eating a wide variety of foods. In some cases, your doctor may recommend a mineral supplement. [13] In some cases… this is a play-it-safe statement. Our soils are de-mineralized and the crops have far less nutrients than they had two decades ago.

Minerals have three general functions in the body. First, as described in the previous chapter, minerals maintain electronutrailty across cell membranes and help to maintain water balance. Second, minerals are important to the structural integrity of the skeletal system and many proteins. Calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, and fluoride are important to bone and teeth. Zinc provides structural integrity to proteins important for DNA transcription. Finally, minerals act as cofactors to many enzymes. Although the functions of these cofactors vary considerably, the majority of mineral cofactors participate as electron carriers. For example, iron, zinc, and copper play an important role as electron carriers In proteins of the electron transfer chain. [14]

How Do You Do It?

This probably looks overwhelming at first glance. Here are some ideas.

Breakfast: organic eggs, whole grain toast. Old Fashion Oats take five minutes to cook or they can be eaten raw. Steel cut oats can be made the night before with added fruit. We use Almond milk instead of cow’s milk and sweeten with honey or xylitol. This is delicious. French toast made with Food of Life, Seven-Sprouted grain raisin bread, covered with real maple syrup.

We try and stay away from boxed cereals. These are used rarely.

Lunch: Bean Burrito’s, salads, sandwiches made with nitrate free meats, chicken, wild sockeye Salmon in a salad or with a vegetable. Turkey, sandwich or wrap with Italian dressing.

Vitamins: A good multi-vitamin as well as a multi-mineral would be an excellent start. I also have a protein shake everyday. My shake is made with almond milk, banana, egg white protein powder and brewers yeast. Believe it or not it tastes good. I admit when I started drinking this it tasted terrible, but it made me feel so good that I decided to continue to drink it and made modifications with adding xylitol and fruit.

Snacks: All fruits in abundance. I particularly like apples. Sometimes I munch on carrots and cucumbers. Food of Life, sprouted grain raisin toast, using virgin coconut oil instead of butter. When I do use butter it is only organic. www.bulkfoods.com sells healthy snacks and candy that is sweetened with xylitol. We try to use xylitol as a sweetener because sugar can lead to fungal problems. See the Xylitol page on this site for more information.

Dinner: Brown rice is the only type of rice used in our house because of its high nutrition value. Our meat servings are much smaller with more vegetables and salads. We also regularly eat stir-fry. Most of our salads incorporate some sort of beans.

There are so many variables with food. If you stay away from boxed food and include lots of vegetables in your meals, you will have improved your diet greatly. Stews and soups are also very good.

Eating in this way also saves quite a bit of money. It is far more expensive to purchase boxed or frozen dinners than to eat fresh food. I always try to set up the menu so that it can be eaten on the next day as well. This way I do not have to cook every single night.

One diet that is highly recommended is the Mediterranean diet. Here is a quote.

“CONCLUSIONS: Adherence to the traditional Mediterranean diet was associated with a reduction of the concentrations of inflammatory markers in MI (myocardial infarction, destruction of heart tissue) survivors. This may, in part, explain the beneficial effects of this diet on various chronic diseases such as atherosclerosis and cancer, and expands its role to secondary prevention level.” [15]

Here is a great website to learn more about the Mediterranean diet. http://www.mediterraneanbook.com/the-mediterranean-diet/

Healthy Transition Tips

 If you are addicted to soda the easiest way to quit is to take it slow. Or try to find an alternative product that does not contain aspartame. Soda is objectionable if chemicals are used instead of sugar. (See Aspartame page on this website for more information.) Cut down by ½ a cup a day. In several days do another ½ a cup. Replace soda with something that you like, which also has nutritional content like Emergen-C packets. These really help.

 Start snacking on fresh fruit every day. Instead of candy or donuts eat an apple or some other tasty fruit.

 Buy yourself a water container that you can bring with you to work. Make yourself drink a good amount of water every day. By the end of the first week your natural thirst will come back and you will crave water.

 If you do not own a cookbook pick up a good one that has easy directions. Start cooking your meals.

 Force yourself to go for a five-minute walk a day. In one week or two, increase the five minutes by another five minutes. Make it firm personal policy to never skip more than three days of exercise. If you keep this up for several months you will get to the point where you cannot live without exercise.

 Make salads. Some experimentation may be involved to find what you like. Keep trying and the answers will be found. Salads are excellent easy meals that can include meats, eggs, beans, vegetables, fruit and nuts. The combinations are endless.

 Never go to work empty handed. As a matter of fact, I never leave my home without food that I put into a lunch box. This way food is available and I am not stuck without and then forced to go to some fast food place.

 A good nights rest is essential. Work out your schedule so that you can wind down before going to bed.

Nutrition is made up of many parts to complete the whole picture. It includes exercise, good rest, purified water, vitamin supplementation and an excellent diet. There is no EASY fix. No magic pill to protect you. This requires a change of view as well as a change in actions that are sustained through out life. I do not know about you, but I am willing to do just about anything to keep my daughter healthy while she undergoes cancer treatment and we will continue this for the rest of our lives.

If you do have some bad habits making exercise and healthy eating a part of your life will help your body to maintain health anyway.

Yes, it takes some effort at first, but I promise, as time goes by these things get easier and easier.

~

References

1. National Institutes of Health MedLine Plus Internet June 2009 http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/antioxidants.html

2. International Food Information Council FUNCTIONAL FOODS FACT SHEET March 2006

3. http://www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/alpha-lipoic-000285.htm University of Maryland Medical Center (UMMC). UMMC is a member of the University of Maryland Medical System, 22 S. Greene Street, Baltimore, MD 21201. TDD: 401.328.9600 or 1.800.492.5538

4. http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/antioxidantsprevention National Cancer InstituteU.S, National Institutes of Health www.cancer.gov June 2009 InterNet.

5. http://www.algatech.com/astax.htm AlgaTech 2004

6. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/natural/patient-betacarotene National Institutes of Health National Library of Medicine MedLine Plus

7. Antioxidants, Over Time, Support Aging Minds By Rosalie Marion Bliss August 6, 2007 http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/pr/2007/070806.htm

8. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/natural/patient-turmeric.html Turmeric (Curcuma longa Linn.) and Curcumin National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health MedLine Plus March 01, 2008. InterNet June 2009

9. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/natural/patient-ginger.html Ginger (Zingiber officinale Roscoe) National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health MedLine Plus March 01, 2008 Internet June 2009

10. http://www.naturalhealthtechniques.com/Diet_Nutrition/antioxidant_list_&_foods.htm Natural Health Techniques by Dr. Denice Moffat

11. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/natural/patient-garlic.html National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health MedLine Plus

12. http://www.naturalhealthtechniques.com/Diet_Nutrition/antioxidant_list_&_foods.htm Natural Health Techniques by Dr. Denice Moffat

13. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/minerals.html National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health MedLine Plus

14. http://teaching.ucdavis.edu/nut111av/handouts/Complete_Text_Mineral.pdf University California Davis teaching manual MINERALS

15. Int J Epidemiol. 2009 Jun;38(3):856-66. Epub 2009 Feb 24. Mediterranean diet and inflammatory response in myocardial infarction survivors. Panagiotakos DB, Dimakopoulou K, Katsouyanni K, Bellander T, Grau M, Koenig W, Lanki T, Pistelli R, Schneider A, Peters A; AIRGENE Study Group. Department of Hygiene and Epidemiology, and Medical Statistics, University of Athens Medical School, Athens, Greece.

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