This is an article I have avoided writing because it is such a complex controversial topic.
In my health discussions with my customers and clients over the past many years, many of them have shared their cancer survival stories and what they did to support recovery. Some of the stories really blew my mind and I applaud their courage.
If I got cancer, I am still not sure of what method of treatment I would choose, whether it be conventional chemo and radiation, or radical dietary changes or homeopathy, naturopathy, herbology, or maybe a combination of all.
One thing I am sure of, and I suggest this to everyone I know who is dealing with cancer, I would want on my team the following people: in addition to my GP and oncologist I would enlist the support of a naturopath, nutritional coach, homeopath and make sure they all talked to each other. Many medical professionals insist on only one protocol (as it is much easier to manage and verify which treatments are working) but I hope the day comes when an approach that includes many different disciplines is mainstream, with an open mind to the role nutrition plays in cancer prevention and management.
The word cancer can initiate intense fear in people, mainly because cancer used to be a death sentence. But with modern treatments and a positive open attitude, the odds are excellent to beat many cancers, especially if they are caught early.
If something doesn’t feel right or you are having strange symptoms, please see your doctor and insist on some further tests. According to the National Cancer Institute, some symptoms to be wary of include (but are not limited to) the following:
- Changes in breasts such as lumps or firmness under the arm, changes in colour or shape nipple discharge or, itchy red scaly, puckered skin
- Unexplained bruising
- Lumps or swelling in the neck, groin, stomach or underarm
- Feelings of being feverish or night sweats
- Blood in urine, pain or trouble urinating
- Blood in stools or changes in bowel habits
- A hoarse cough that doesn’t go away
- Trouble swallowing, consistent stomach pain after eating (indigestion or heartburn), nausea, vomiting, and changes in appetite
- Bleeding in the mouth, painful or numb lips, a red or white patch in the mouth
- Severe and lasting fatigue, headaches, seizures, face droop, changes in vision or hearing
- New moles or changes in existing moles, sores that don’t heal, jaundice, a lump that bleeds
- Unexplained rapid weight loss or weight gain
As far as dietary changes go, it is very beneficial to cut sugar out of one’s diet, as cancer thrives on sugar. This practice is called "starving the cancer" with ketosis and is covered in Dr. Annette Bosworth’s book where she talks of the benefit of eliminating carbohydrates as part of the cancer protocol.
There are many foods that are known to be anti-carcinogens and have been used for centuries before modern medicine. They include many anti-oxidant-rich foods, including berries, turmeric, garlic, broccoli, walnuts (and other nuts), grapes, tomatoes, cruciferous and other vegetables that contain phytochemicals, folate-rich foods, olives, legumes, green and rooibos teas, mushrooms and many other foods.
Cancer has been linked with the typical American diet of overly processed and fast foods. The current food industry uses more and more pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, genetic modification, preservatives, and a plethora of other chemicals to make food addictive and have a long shelf life.
We are literally poisoning ourselves with the food we eat so it is no wonder that all cancers are on the rise.
We used to be so much healthier and it is time to go back to the kind of eating we did 60 years ago — whole, fresh and healthy eating.
When we grow or raise our own food without the use of chemicals, we are feeding our bodies the way they need us to in order to optimize health.
I know I sound like a broken nutrition record but I need to encourage one person to take their dietary health more seriously… to your intention to be healthier next year.
Claire Nielsen is a health coach, author, public speaker and founder of . The information provided in the above article is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional health and medical advice. Please consult a doctor, health-care provider or mental health practitioner if you're seeking medical advice, diagnoses and/or treatment.
