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 CANCER
PREVENTION STRATEGIES
The
best defense is a good offense.
What
can you do to prevent cancer from occurring or recurring?
There
are several widely accepted non-medically related
strategies, which have been shown to decrease the
risk of cancer formation and cancer recurrence: dietary
modification, exercise, and targeted nutritional
supplements. It may seem easier to be given a pill
to do the job, but a health body requires some intensive
work.
Common
sense changes
Eliminate
habits that promote the production of free radicals
such as smoking and excessive drinking.
Dietary
modification
Increase the amount of vegetables consumed. Decrease
the saturated fat, including meat and dairy
products, as well as trans fatty acids found
in processed foods. Chose health fats found
in cold-water fish (salmon, tuna, mackerel)
and add flaxseed to your diet. Add fiber
rich foods, such as vegetables, legumes, whole
grains and fruits, to your diet.
Several
foods in particular have known anti cancer properties
and should be come a part of your regular diet.
- Cruciferous
vegetables (broccoli, cauliflower)
- Leafy
green vegetables
- Yellow-orange
vegetables
- Berries
- Citrus
fruits
- Garlic
- Green
tea
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EXERCISE
Exercise not only improves your cardiovascular
status, it reduces your risk or breast cancer by
18% if you exercise one hour per day. (By 10% if
you exercise
30 minutes per day.) Weight training three days per week will also improve
your bone density and decreases your body fat. This combination works to decrease
your body’s levels of circulating estrogen and therefore translates into
good breast health. Before beginning any exercise program discuss your
goals and limitations with your personal physician!
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NUTRITIONAL SUPPLEMENTS
A diet that provides all of the antioxidants and vitamins we need is ideal.
Lets face it; we all need a little help with our diets. And it is impossible
to eat some amounts of the foods necessary to provide the levels required for
the optimum effects. The following supplements are recommended for their proven
efficacy in cancer prevention.
Vitamin
A acts
as a potent antioxidant by destroying free radicals
in the body. It works to fortify mucous membranes
and acts as a barrier for bacteria and carcinogens.
It is essential for protein synthesis and normal
cellular growth.
A
deficiency of this vitamin has been linked to the
development of cancer. It is a fat-soluble food factor
and can be toxic if over dosed. Sources of this vitamin
are dairy products.
Recommended
daily dosage-5000 IU VitA
Vitamin
E acts as a potent antioxidant and
is thought to be responsible for correcting abnormal
levels of progesterone to estradiol, which improvement
in this ratio can decrease the risk of mammary
(breast tissue) dysplasia. (The early changes
we see in breast cancer development). Excellent
sources of this vitamin are wheat germ, whole
grains, lettuce and liver.
Recommended
daily dosage-800 IU VitE
Vitamin
C acts as a potent antioxidant as
free radical destroyer thought to inhibit the
formation and growth of cancers. Vit C inhibits
the production of the enzyme thought to be responsible
for cancer cells ability to break up normal cells
and therefore infiltrate normal tissues. It is
also required for tissue growth and repair. Excellent
sources of Vit C are lemons, oranges and green
peppers.
Recommended
daily dosage-500mg-1000mg VitC
Selenium inhibits
the action of chemical substances and viruses that
cause cancer. It facilitates the quick repair of
free radical damage to DNA. In addition to it’s
own antioxidant properties, it is essential for the
production of glutathione another important antioxidant.
It requires adequate levels Vit E to be effective
and can be toxic if over administered.
Recommended
daily dosage-150mcg-200mcg Selenium
CoQ10 plays
a crucial role in cellular energy metabolism. It
is a powerful anti-oxidant and cancer fighter. It
ignites ATP, the body’s basic unit of energy
that runs our entire body.
Recommended
daily dosage-100mg-200mg CoQ10 (It should be taken
with meals for best absorption)
Flaxseed is
an Omega 3 essential fatty acid and has proven anti
cancer properties. It is also an excellent source
of fiber. Flaxseed in the ground husk form has the
greatest benefit.
Recommended
daily dosage-1Tbsp-2Tbsp Flaxseed Husks
These
are recommendations for prevention of the formation
of cancer. If you are currently undergoing treatment
with chemotherapy or radiation therapy, PLEASE do
not take these supplements unless cleared specifically
with your treating physician as they may interfere
with the effects of the chemotherapy and radiation
therapy.
Creating
a balance in our daily lives is crucial for healthy
living. It often requires hard work. Good Luck!
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