Author: Kelly Amen

Thirty years of research reveals 10 of the best food phytonutrients to ingest to protect against and even treat the root cause of most cancers.

A new medical model is fast emerging in line with ancient wisdom: one that aims to strike to the root cause of disease and resolve it permanently, and which some call “functional medicine.” In cancer treatment, this highly rational approach involves targeting the cancer stem cells (CSCs) at the root of cancer malignancy. Because we now know that CSCs are resistant to chemotherapy and radiation treatment, and may even increase in number and invasveness when exposed to these outdated therapies, it is no longer ethical to continue with the conventional oncologist’s “standard of care.” Clearly, unless a cancer treatment is capable of selectively killing and/or inducing suicide programs (apoptosis) within cancer cells without harming non-cancerous cells, it is not going to produce a cure.

In light of this, we are excited to report on a new review published in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences titled, “Phytochemicals as Innovative Therapeutic Tools against Cancer Stem Cells,” which evaluated the evidence for what natural compounds within various foods and spices make for the most compelling treatments for targeting CSCs.

According to the review of 30 years worth of literature on the topic, the following 10 natural substances have been demonstrated to be the most effective chemopreventive dietary agents against CSCs:

Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG): A green tea extract

Curcumin: The primary polyphenol in turmeric root

Resveratrol: A phytochemical found in grapes, peanuts, Japanese knotweed

Lycopene: A red carotenoid found in watermelon, pink grapefruit, and tomatoes

Pomegranate extracts

Luteolin: A flavonoid found in peppers and various green vegetables

Genistein: A phytochemical found in soy, red clover, and coffee

Piperine: A phytochemicals found in black pepper

β-carotene: An orange carotenoid found in various vegetables

Sulforaphane: A sulfurous phytochemical found in Cruciferous vegetables

The researchers described the discovery that phytochemicals can selectively target CSCs as “a milestone in the improvement of cancer treatment because the synthetic anticancer drugs that are currently used are often highly toxic for healthy organs and weakens the patient’s immune system.”

They also pointed out that the phytochemicals or extracts identified above, due to their “low levels of toxicity for normal cells,” can be used in combination with other phytochemicals, “yielding powerful synergistic effects.”

They identified several key areas of focus for the future:

Finding a way to combine these compounds into “very active cocktails of phytochemicals” to address the multiple areas of treatment resistance often found in CSCs.

Compare the effects of natural phytochemicals with synthetic drugs, the latter of which they anticipate will be found to be less efficient.

Further research should be performed on CSCs to better understand the signaling pathways that govern their self-renewal and survival.

The authors concluded, “[T]he use of phytochemicals may be a true therapeutic strategy for eradicating cancer through the elimination of CSCs.”

A couple of follow-up resources rom Ocean Robbins, Food Revolution Network CEO

1) The Truth About Cancer has produced a 9-part 60-Minutes-style docu-series in which Ty Bollinger interviews more than 100 doctors, scientists, leaders and survivors in a global quest to understand the truth about cancer prevention and treatment. Click here to join in and watch it now.

2) Many of our members have been asking how much curcumin to take, how to take it in a bioavailable form, and where to get curcumin from a source they can trust. The challenge with taking full advantage of the curcumin in turmeric is low bioavailability. But now Quantum Wellness Botanical Institute has developed a curcumin supplement that includes a potent delivery enhancer (made using organic lecithin and organic turmeric oil) which they say has been found to increase bioavailability by 500%. Their supplement is 100% vegetarian, organic, soy-free and non-GMO. Click here if you’d like to find out more.

Excerpted from The Food Revolution Network article by Sayer Ji, founder of Greenmedinfo.com

There is a new study which shows that ginger contains a compound that could be 10,000 times more effective in targeting cancer stem cells which are at the root of cancer malignancy.
A new study published in PLoS reveals a pungent compound in ginger known as 6-shogaol, which is superior to conventional chemotherapy in targeting the root cause of breast cancer malignancy, the breast cancer stem cells.
Cancer stem cells are at the root of a wide range of cancers, not just breast cancer, and are sometimes referred to as “mother cells”, because they are responsible for producing all the “daughter” cell types that make up the tumor colony. Cancer stem cells constitute 1% or less the number of cells within any tumor, they have the ability to self renew, are capable of continuous differentiation, are resistant to conventional chemotherapy, and are tumorigenic, that is capable of splitting off to create new tumor colonies. Cancer stem cells within a tumor must be destroyed if the cancer treatment is to have a lasting cure.
The new study identified powerful anti-cancer stem cell activity in 6-shaogaol, a constituent of ginger produced when the root is dried or cooked. The cancer destroying effects occurred at concentrations that were non-toxic to non-cancerous cells, a crucial difference from conventional cancer treatments, that do not exhibit this kind of selective cytotoxicity and therefore can do great harm to the patient.
Ultimately, this new study adds to a growing body of research indicating that cancer stem cell targeting approaches using natural substances present in the human diet for thousands of years are far superior to chemotherapy and radiation, both of which actually increases the relative populations of cancer stem cells versus non-tumorigenic ones. There is a ginger research database for further reading on ginger’s anti-cancer properties.You can also use the cancer research health guide for thousands of studies and articles about natural healing approaches for cancer

Inflammation is the body’s own defensive way of healing itself. When you have an injury or illness with an infection your body sends fresh blood to the infected area. The area usually swells, is warm, and may be red. This is a signal to us that we have an infection and should watch and safeguard the area. Sometimes, and especially if the body is in a weakened state of immunity, this inflammatory process can become chronic which can lead to permanent changes such as arthritis. Auto-immune diseases and their treatments can also increase your risk for developing cancers since auto-immune diseases are characterized by chronic inflammation.

Inflammation is something that cancer cells love having around; all that extra blood and oxygen are two things that cancer cells thrive and grow on. Chronic inflammation can also affect your immune system taking away your ability to fight inflammation.

Armed with this knowledge there are things we can do as individuals to help reduce chronic inflammation. Eating a diet rich in colorful fruits and vegetables, containing phytonutrients, leafy greens, fatty fish containing Omega 3 fatty acids, healthy fats from nuts and seeds and spices like turmeric, and ginger.

Keeping ourselves calm and getting adequate sleep can also help.

Arm yourself whenever you visit the grocers and select foods that are your body can use to help fight chronic inflammation. Be aware of all the foods that can cause inflammation such as wheat products and dairy and additives in processed foods.

This is a little off the subject of cancer but I felt compelled to share this with you…

I live in New Orleans and have attended the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival for many years. Everyone goes to the festival for the music of course, but they also go for the food. I can remember years ago how I too loved the food at Jazz Fest. Most of the dishes are loaded with flavor and spice, the standards that have made New Orleans cuisine loved by so many. Over the years though, and especially when the weather is hot I have had a difficult time eating festival food. I think the reason is, oddly enough, the same reason it tastes so good…it’s fried, or breaded, is saucy and spicy. That food no longer sits well in my stomach, specially when the weather is hot, and its hard to find healthy options at the festival.

In my style of eating I practice the 80/20 rule. I eat 80% really healthy food and 20% thoughtfully chosen but a bit more indulgent foods. I decided to employ that rule at the festival and over the course of the weekend, thinking that I could keep things balanced. Ha, who was I kidding? To be fair I also attended a couple of parties that weekend and there was lots around to eat and drink. By the time the weekend was over I had gained 5 pounds.

Lucky for me, I did not see this as a disaster. I have learned through studying nutrition how to dial things back and I don’t see a 5 pound gain as something I can’t easily overcome anymore. If I get the right nutrients into my body, change can literally happen in a couple of days. Plus, I know that a lot of what is going on is probably fluid related, due to the high salt content in the food, so I’ll also be sure to drink lots of water in the next few days to help flush the toxins out.

That said, I’d like to encourage you to also adopt the 80/20 rule for eating. It will make a huge difference in how you look and more importantly, how you feel.

Fast-forward to 1 week later.
So…my plan was to drink fresh juices and smoothies to flush my body of any toxins that may be present. Eat small but nutrient dense foods and drink about 2 quarts of water each day.

I’m back down to where I was before Jazz Fest and I feel great.

Colorectal cancer is one of the most common cancers contracted in the United States. 90-95% of all colorectal cancers are adenocarcinomas. This cancer begins in cells that make and secrete mucus. These cells are contained in glandular tissue. Hence the root name, adeno which means gland and the word, carcinoma, refers to a malignant tumor. Most of these cancers begin in small skin-like protrusions known as polyps. Usually, these are not cancerous however the more they are ignored and allowed to grow they can become overgrown and become cancerous. 25% of people over the age of 50 have polyps.
As your body’s cells die off they are supposed to be replaced by fresh new cells. Sometimes when old cells die off they don’t leave the body but remain and form a tissue mass or tumor of malformed cells. If these masses begin to grow they can cause obstructions and or get into the blood stream and lymphatic system and spread.
Once a diagnosis of Colorectal Cancer is made it is important to know what stage or degree of severity it is.
Stage 1 is an early stage. Cancerous cells are found in the muscular layer of the colon wall but has not spread beyond that.

Stage 2 means that the cancer has spread through the entire colon wall and can be found on the outer wall of the colon.

Stage 3 means that the cancer has spread to some of the nearby lymph nodes but can’t be found in other parts of the body

Stage 4 means that the cancer has spread beyond the colon to other parts of the body, most often the liver and lungs. This is an advanced stage.

Depending on the stage of colorectal cancer the most common surgery is a colon resection. A resection means to remove the damaged portion of colon and then either reconnect the remaining ends. If the damaged portion of your colon is too extensive the surgeon may choose to bring the colon to the surface of the abdomen to empty into a bag and that is called a colostomy.
If you have a colon resection or a colostomy it is important to rest your gut and give your colon time to heal before beginning a regular diet. It is extremely important to introduce foods beginning with clear liquids like clear broth and jello and progressing to full liquids, which would include soups, pudding, milk shakes, and thinned hot cereals. It is also a very good idea to keep a food diary to track how your body reacts to certain foods and how well you tolerate them. You many want to avoid dairy products at first as they can cause bloating and gas.
Avoid high fiber foods such as raw vegetables and juices with pulp. Avoid nuts and seeds, chunky peanut butter, tough meat and fried foods, beans and peas, raisins and desserts that contain nuts or seeds.

Remember to introduce foods slowly, one at a time and wait one to two hours to see how you feel and how your body digests the food.
Try to establish a regular eating schedule and eat 4-6 small meals per day, or about every 3 hours.
Drink plenty to liquid, preferably water to stay hydrated.
After the gut heals from a colon resection you can begin a more regular diet. It is still important to follow the guidelines for a normal diet but it is still important to eat small frequent meals and to track how your body reacts to foods.

If you have a colostomy it’s important to eat a soft diet and your health care professional can assist you with guidelines on what to eat

It is not uncommon to be nervous about eating after a colon resection or colostomy placement. Not knowing how your body will react can be unsettling but staying hydrated and introducing foods slowly and in the right order will help insure an easier transition to helping keep your body nourished and on the road to healing.

Prostate cancer is the second most common cancer in American men. In simple terms, cancer is a disease characterized by abnormal cells growing and invading normal cells in the body. Prostate cancer is an overgrowth of abnormal cells in the prostate gland. It usually grows at a slow pace but in some cases can grow rapidly. In early stages, men usually have no symptoms. One in seven men or about 14% of men will develop prostate cancer in their lifetime. Thankfully new treatments have been developed to fight this disease therefore only 1 in 38 will die from this cancer.
Nutrition can play an important role in both preventing and fighting prostate cancer. Research has been done and there are foods that are rich in vitamins and minerals that are said to reduce your risk of developing prostate cancer.

Tomatoes are high in Lycopene which could have a protective effect against developing prostate cancer. Many studies have shown that high levels of Lycopene in the blood are linked with a lower risk of prostate cancer. Lycopene is most effective when consumed in it’s natural form, meaning in food rather than supplements. It is especially potent in cooked tomatoes. Eating a diet rich in tomatoes may give you a good chance at preventing prostate cancer.

Plant-based diets have been shown to protect our cells. Fruits that contain rich levels of Lycopene include papaya, watermelon and guava to name a few. Also pectin, a substance found in some fruits, such as apples, citrus and stone fruits and that are used as thickeners were found to reduce the number of cancer cells by 40%.

A high-fiber diet of fruits and vegetables may also aid in preventing prostate cancer. Asian men have a very low incidence of prostate cancer and it is thought that it is due to eating this type of diet.
Foods that contain Omega-3 fatty acids may help reduce the risk of developing prostate cancer. Try eating fatty fish like salmon and adding nuts especially ground flax to your diet several times a week.

On the reverse side, foods that increase your risk of developing prostate cancer should be discussed as they are foods that are consumed on a regular basis and are frequently eaten in the United States.
Barbecued and grilled meats in studies were linked to aggressive forms of prostate cancer, especially the charred parts. Other meats and especially processed meats, containing many additives and nitrites are known to increase the risk of prostate cancer. Get your protein from small amounts of lean meat, and beans or legumes.

I’ve highlighted briefly how nutrition can play a role in preventing and fighting prostate cancer. Be aware of what you are putting into your body and always think in terms of fresh food, lean protein, and lots of fresh water.