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Nutrition—A Cancer Battle Plan
by Wellness Directory of Minnesota
Updated and revised 04/14/09 Page 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 Grains Twenty percent of your diet should be whole grains. Avoid all refined, polished grains and flours and products made from them. Brown rice, kashi, millet, rye, buckwheat, barley, oats and oat brans, corn (on the cob or corn grits), and quinoa are recommended. Whole grain pasta can be used with limitations. For grain recipes, pick up of copy of Candia Cole’s Gourmet Grains. One important note on grains: unprocessed, whole grains, as well as seeds and nuts, contain volatile oils that can go bad quickly. It is best to keep them refrigerated or in your freezer once you’ve opened them. Top Fats and Oils Most fats/oils should be kept to a minimum especially if they are human made or over processed (corn oil is deadly, margarine even more so), though you will want to get your allotment of Omega-3s. Dr Johanna Budwig has demonstrated that for proper utilization of oxygen by our cells, adequate amounts of unsaturated fatty acids must be present in our diets. (See the section on her in "Alternative Cancer Therapies.") Monounsaturates (olive and sesame seed) are highly recommended, but they must be unrefined (cold or expeller pressed) and they must be kept capped and refrigerated. Avoid heating oils; heat causes oxidation and the release of free radicals. Mayonnaise and margarine are out. Avoid trans fatty (partially hydrogenated) oils as if they were the cause of your cancer (for we are slowly discovering, they just might be the cause). In 1989, the USDA found that fish oils reduce the production of the prostaglandin E2 which has a tendency to cause appetite loss. It is this appetite loss that brings on cachexia, the wasting syndrome that causes eventual death in cancer patients. Top Seeds and Nuts Five percent of your diet should be seeds and nuts. They must be consumed raw, though some say the best way to eat them is sprouted (alfalfa, radish, sunflower) though keep in mind what we've said earlier about sprouts. Seeds and nuts can be made into milk substitutes. Get a copy of Candia Cole’s Not Milk—Nut Milks. Nuts should (unless blended into drinks) be used in small amounts, with almonds, hazel nuts, and pecans being the best. No peanuts! Peanuts are not nuts, but legumes; they are considered indigestible by some, and can contain carcinogens from a very common mold often found on them. Top Legumes Ten percent of your diet should be legumes and should be cooked well. Aduki, mung, kidney, navy, black, turtle, red, garbanzo, and pinto beans, as well as peas, black-eyed peas, and lentils are excellent. Fermented soy products (miso is one) are a must on a cancer diet (unless your breast cancer is estrogen receptive). Remember to combine your legumes with grains for more complete proteins. Top Soups Soups are an excellent means of breaking down the fibers in veggies and getting more of their nutrients and should include a variety of veggies, seaweeds, and legumes. Miso, tamari, or bean broth can serve as a base (check with your doctor/nutritionist if your breast cancer is estrogen receptive). Get a book on making home-made vegetable soups. Top Condiments Salt should be kept to a minimum; seaweeds are sold as salt substitutes. If you must use a salt, make sure it is naturally processed sea salt, tamari, or something high in potassium. Garlic is a must; Dr Schulze recommends 5-7 cloves a day, though this could upset your stomach if taken all at once. Use your judgement. Try some of the herbal seasonings at your local health food store; it won’t take long to develop a liking to them. And keep in mind that herbs from the mint family, like oregano, are great on salads and contain a goodly amount of antioxidants, as well as many other nutrients. Top Next...Where Do We Go from Here?
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: International Wellness Directory Home Page Copyright © 1995, 1998, 1999, 2000 International Wellness Directory Contact us You may copy, print, reprint, and/or transfer this entire article, if and only if it is unmodified and in its complete state with this copyright notice attached and all the links work properly This article was added: May 27, 2009 | |||
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Because seeds and nuts can put a strain on your digestive system, when your immune system is down, you will probably want to pulverize them in a grinder and sprinkle them over soups and salads. If you do not want to strain your digestive system, avoid nuts until your immune system is responding better.
