Avoiding Cancer Risks:

John Hopkins has recently given updates with regards to cancer prevention. It is quite reasonable to suggest that many cancers are highly preventable based on our destructive eating habits and resultant exposure to dietary carcinogens. The following represents some recommendations that, if implemented, may enhance one’s health and diminish the risk of developing invasive cancer. 1) Cancer cells enjoy an acidic environment. Red meat is a huge contributor to this therefore a diet based on fish or chicken is preferable to one based on pork or beef. Meat may also contain growth hormones, antibiotics or parasites which may be harmful and potentially carcinogenic. 2) Cancer feeds on sugar. Sugar substitutes like Equal or NutraSweet contain aspartame that may be even worse. Suggested more natural sweeteners include molasses or Manuba honey. It is also known that table salt has a chemical additive to make it white. An alternative in this case is Bragg’s aminos or sea salt. 3) As mentioned earlier, cancer thrives on an acidic environment. A diet consisting of 80% fresh vegetables, fruits, nuts and whole grains allow more alkalinity. Twenty percent of the diet can be from cooked foods. Fresh vegetable juices provides enzymes that enhance the growth of healthy cells and can be obtained by drinking fresh vegetable juice and eating 2-3 servings of raw vegetable per day. These enzymes are destroyed at temperatures greater than 104 (i.e. cooked). 4) Caffeinated beverages like tea, soda and coffee should be avoided. Green tea is an acceptable alternative given its cancer fighting properties. Dark chocolate may provide inherent cardiac benefits. Water is excellent and low calorie (of course!) but should be purified or filtered to avoid exposure to possible heavy metals or carcinogens. 5) Meat is difficult to digest and requires large amounts of enzymes. Cancer cells have a tough protein covering that can be destroyed by these same enzymes. It is thought that eating less meat may free up enzymes so they may help degrade unwanted cancerous cells. 6) Some supplements may help boost the immune system and in turn will help enable the body’s own "killer cell" to destroy cancerous ones. We have previously discussed the use of vitamin D as a supplement – it has much research behind it suggesting a decrease in several cancers including breast, and a decrease in all-cause mortality. I think that much of what has been discussed is generally valid. Common sense dictates that eating "closer to the garden" ensures longevity. As a Western civilization, we eat poorly. This has led the United States to be a leader in obesity with nearly 1/3 of our population being classified as such. Our eating habits are unnatural – much of it is processed and refined. Though tasty, a burger and fries certainly may not pave the road to longevity. A balance is required as it is nearly impossible to adhere to all the theoretical dietary restrictions. However, keeping these factors in mind may give us a few more years to enjoy what life has to offer.

Do you have any medical questions or concerns that you would like addressed? You can contact Dr. Spence by email at scripna@hotmail.com or by mailing your question to Daily Dose, P.O BOX 6107, Marianna, FL 32446.