Supporting the Body’s Healing Process During Cancer
The Importance of a Protective Diet
When cancer is already present, one of the most effective approaches is to support the body’s natural healing process. This includes boosting the immune system and restoring health through dietary changes. Here’s how to create a diet that can help fight cancer.
A Rainbow of Protective Foods
Organic Foods: Choose organic foods whenever possible. These are free from synthetic pesticides, chemicals, preservatives, hormones, antibiotics, and other toxins. This reduces the body’s exposure to harmful substances, promoting overall health. Locally sourced is best.
Raw Foods: Focus on raw vegetables, fruits, nuts, grains, and legumes. Include onions, cabbage-family vegetables, ginger, garlic, carrots, apricots, sweet potatoes, seaweed, kelp, and sprouted seeds in your diet. Some cooked foods like buckwheat, dried beans, and rice are also beneficial.
Good Fats: Omega-3 fatty acids can inhibit inflammation that might promote cancer growth. Cold water fish (free of heavy metals) and cold-pressed oils like sunflower, flaxseed, and walnut oils provide quality fats. Avoid heating these oils to preserve their beneficial properties. Include naturally fermented foods like sauerkraut, pickles, and fermented grains to fight cancer growth.
High-Fiber Foods: High-fiber foods like fresh fruits, berries, leafy greens, sprouts, tomatoes, and nuts (except peanuts) help detoxify the body. Broccoli sprouts, in particular, assist in removing carcinogens and reducing cancer risk.
Juice Fasting: Juice fasting can cleanse the body and strengthen weakened organs. Use vegetables like red beets, carrots, leafy greens, grapes, and lemons for juicing. Limit fasting to 2-6 days, based on how your body responds.
Medicinal Mushrooms: Mushrooms like Shiitake, Maitake, Turkey Tails, and Reishi boost immunity and may enhance cancer treatment. In Asia, they are used to reduce the side effects of chemotherapy and radiation therapy.
Plenty of Clean Filtered Water: Staying hydrated helps flush toxins from the body, supports digestion, and hydrates cells. Aim for 8-10 glasses of filtered water daily.
What to Avoid
Processed or Factory-Farmed Animal Fats: These contain carcinogens and saturated fats, promoting tumor growth and weakening the immune system. Avoid processed meats, factory-farmed poultry, and farm-raised fish.
Refined Carbohydrates: Reduce intake of sugary and acidic foods. Soft drinks, both regular and diet, create an acidic environment that can help cancer cells thrive. Alcohol and refined sugar also feed cancer cells and weaken the immune system.
Dairy: Avoid dairy products, especially those with antibiotics, growth hormones, and steroids. Dairy can be inflammatory and mucous-forming, contributing to allergic reactions.
Rancid or Stale Foods: Avoid rancid foods, as they often contain carcinogens. Be cautious with “cold-processed” oils, ensuring they are fresh.
Moderation and Balance
Cancer patients can consume caffeine, alcohol, condiments, sweetened juices, eggs, wheat gluten, sulfites, and artificial coloring in moderation. Even seemingly healthy foods can cause harm if consumed in excess.
Protein in Diets
Protein is essential, but vegetable proteins (soybeans, almonds, buckwheat, grains, and green vegetables) are incomplete and not easily digested. Unfortunately, most animal-based proteins in the United States raised commercially are fattened using questionable practices, leading to overweight, unhealthy animals. To avoid these risks, choose local pastured meat, milk, and eggs or free-range poultry.
Cancer’s Sweet and Acidic Nature
Cancer cells feed on glucose (simple sugar) and thrive in an acidic environment. Controlling glucose levels and creating a more alkaline dietary environment can improve cancer outcomes.
Dr. Otto Warburg’s Discovery
In 1931, Dr. Otto Warburg found that cancer cells use a different energy metabolism than healthy cells. Cancer cells rely on glucose and produce lactic acid, creating an acidic environment that further promotes cancer growth. By reducing sugar intake and eating a more alkaline diet, patients can help inhibit cancer cell proliferation.
Tips for an Alkaline Diet
To make your diet more alkaline, increase your intake of organic green foods, fruits, legumes, nuts, and lots of spring water. Eliminate acidic foods like soda, alcohol, sugar, refined carbs, fast foods, ice cream, and caffeine.
The Glycemic Index
Not all carbohydrates are equal. The Glycemic Index (GI) measures how quickly foods raise blood sugar levels. High-GI foods cause spikes in insulin, leading to weight gain and an increased risk of diabetes. Eating low-GI foods helps regulate blood sugar levels and reduces the body’s need to produce insulin.
High-GI Foods: Table sugar, soft drinks, bagels, white bread, potatoes, sugary cereals, cakes, and pretzels.
Low-GI Foods: Peaches, pears, plums, beans, peanuts, apples, barley, cherries, grapefruit, carrots, peas, and lentils.
