Cancer Prevention is Possible :: Health and Disease

Cancer Prevention is Possible
by author Julian Whitaker, MD

"Simple Lifestyle steps...go a long way toward helping prevent this dreaded disease."

Current approaches to cancer have not made a significant difference in long-term cancer survival rates. But you are not powerless against this disease.If you are willing to be proactive about your health, your odds of avoiding cancer are actually very good.

Healthy Habits Go a Long Way

Start by doing everything within your power to avoid carcinogens. Stay away from tobacco smoke, make sure your home and workplace are properly ventilated, and consider using an air filtration system. Steer clear of pesticides, herbicides, and radiation. Avoid excessive sun exposure outside the 10 to 15 minutes of direct sunlight your body needs every day to produce vitamin D, which also protects against cancer. Stay active. A study of more than 25,000 women concluded that breast cancer risk was lowest in women who exercised at least four hours per week. A long-term Swedish study involving more than one million men found similar protective benefits against colon cancer.

Diet Matters

Regular consumption of high-fibre, nutrient-rich plant foods has been shown to reduce cancer risk. Ensure your diet includes lots of organic vegetables, fruits, legumes, and whole grains, including soy, garlic, cruciferous vegetables, citrus fruits, berries, and colourful, carotenoid-rich leafy greens, yellow-orange vegetables, and tomatoes. Drink lots of purified water and cancer-fighting green tea, as well. If you drink alcohol, do so in moderation. Avoid saturated fat in meat and trans fats in fried and processed foods, and get plenty of omega-3 fatty acids from cold-water fish and flax seed.

Arm Yourself With Antioxidants

Taking a potent, antioxidant-rich multivitamin and mineral supplement is one of the best things you can do to reduce your risk of cancer. Vitamin C, vitamin A, beta-carotene, vitamin E, and selenium all reduce the incidence of cancer. A clinical trial published in the Journal of the American Medical Association suggests that just 200 mcg of supplemental selenium daily could reduce the death rate from cancer by as much as one-half. Blood levels of another valuable antioxidant, coenzyme Q₁₀, are consistently lower in cancer patients than in healthy people, so taking 60 to 100 mg of CoQ10 a day may offer added protection.

Further Fortification Against Cancer

If you’re at particular risk for cancer, consider more intensive protection. Soy isoflavone supplements containing genistein inhibit the growth of blood vessels that feed tumours, slow cancer cell growth, and protect hormone-sensitive tissues in the breast, endometrium, and prostate. In addition, indole-3-carbinol (I3C) supplements help block tumour growth in the breast, ovary, and prostate and increase your body’s production of detoxifying enzymes.

Several species of fungi are highly regarded for their immune-boosting properties. Shiitake, reishi, cordyceps, maitaki, and Coriolus versicolor mushrooms are an excellent addition to a cancer prevention program as complex sugar molecules called polysaccharides in the fungi stimulate the immune system to fend off abnormal cell growth.

These are by no means the only natural substances that protect against cancer. A growing body of research supports the benefits of curcumin (the active component of the curry spice turmeric), high-dose intravenous vitamin C, and kelp. But taking the simple lifestyle steps outlined above will go a long way toward helping prevent this dreaded disease.

Julian Whitaker, MD, is founder of the Whitaker Wellness Institute Medical Clinic in Newport Beach, California. For more information, visit drwhitaker.com or call 1-800-539-8219. We welcome your feedback at editorial@alive.com.

Source: alive #253, November 2003

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