They say we make cancer cells in our body on a regular basis, so the important thing is whether our body can rid itself of these cancerous cells daily. Sometimes it seems like everything causes cancer, but there really is no one magic pill to protecting yourself against this condition. Diet, emotions, supplements, exercise and the chemicals we use, all play a part. There are some simple things you can do to increase your protection against cancer.
Diet can promote health or destroy it; we really are what we eat. In order to eat a cancer protection diet, we need to include more fruits, vegetables and fiber. The bright colours of fruits and vegetables contain “Phytochemicals”. Lycopene, from tomatoes is one of these; it is especially good for prostate cancer. You will find a higher concentration of Lycopene in ketchups and tomatoes sauces (more in Organic ones) and when combined with Olive Oil, it is even more potent. The Brassica vegetables, Broccoli, cabbage, kale, cauliflower and brussel sprouts, are known for their cancer protecting phytochemicals. Miso soup is another great cancer protecting food. Studies have shown fiber protects against colon cancer; fiber also slows the release of sugars into the bloodstream. Sugars and white flour should be reduced if you choose to eat a cancer protection diet. You should also reduce the amount of preservatives and chemicals that are contained in your diet, so read the labels.
Emotions are more important than we think; I have heard nurses and Herbologists say that cancer is almost always emotionally caused. So be aware of your emotions and work to heal them. Go to counseling, meditation, Yoga, group therapy, EFT, Acupuncture or any other therapy that can help you heal your emotions.
Supplements like antioxidants can help protect your body against cancer and even help reduce the effects of Chemotherapy. Zinc, Selenium, CoQ10, Milk Thistle, Vitamin C, Vitamin D, Vitamin E, Alpha Lipoic Acid and Beta Carotene are all powerful antioxidants. The further away from the equator, the less Vitamin D we have and the higher the incidence of cancers, so supplement with D every day; it is especially good for breast, pancreas, colon and prostate cancers. Dr. Andrew Weil says we require 1000 IU of Vitamin D daily. The good fats, EFA’s are also good for healing and they make up the cell wall of every cell in your body; take fish oil and eat walnuts to get your Omega 3’s.
Exercise has been shown to reduce the risk of cancer, especially breast cancer; the earlier the exercise routine was started the better, but any exercise is better than none. The movement of exercise helps to rid the body of its garbage through the Lymph system; when the garbage is out, the nutrients can get in and heal and build the body. Even 30 minutes three times a week of brisk walking has shown benefits.
Chemicals are all around us, they are in the cleaners we use, the hair care we use, the products we put on our skin, the food we eat, what we put on our lawn and what we spray into the air. We need to be aware of these chemicals and start the switch to natural ones. Deodorants, especially ant-per spirants have been linked with breast cancer. The chemicals in plastics, from water bottles and microwaving in plastic, are also found in cancerous tissue. Shampoos and body lotions contain an amazing amount of chemicals and they all soak into your body. Read the labels on the foods before you buy them to really know how many chemicals they contain. Be aware of the cleaners, perfumes and room sprays you use and work on switching to natural ones.
There is no one magic pill to protect against cancer, but you can start by choosing one of these ideas to change today, then another next week and so on. If you improve your diet, exercise more, have more balanced emotions, take a few good quality supplements and use natural cleaners and body care, you will be on the road to better health. So take it one step at a time and you will have not only more protection against cancers, but also a better quality of life.
Anne is a CNC, Certified Nutritional Consultant and the Author of the book “Real Solutions to Children’s Health”. She writes “Healthy Living Tips” for her website healthbrights.com. You will find her book on www.amazon.com & childhealthebook.com. She also teaches workshops on Children’s Health, Breast Cancer Prevention and more. Feel free to contact Anne if you have any questions for her at: healthbrights@shaw.ca.