Food and Diet

LycopeneRecent disappointing results in studies of the antioxidant, lycopene, for prostate cancer prevention have made many men question whether it’s still worth loading up on the ketchup and tomato sauce. Although the jury is still out on whether lycopene can protect against prostate cancer, one recent study finds evidence that it might be useful in prostate cancer treatment, potentially slowing down the progression of the disease. 

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food diet and cancerResearch is revealing that diet can help prevent cancer and may help treat it too. When will we see the clinical trials?  Today, most people know that lifestyle choices can affect the risk of getting cancer. While many authorities are quick to argue that lifestyle choices are wholly responsible, this is not true. We cannot control the pesticides, herbicides, fungicides and other carcinogens that we are exposed to on a daily basis from the food we eat, the water we drink, and the air we breathe. Yes, smoking can lead to lung cancer, but what about the diesel fumes we breath as we drive behind an 18-wheeler?

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Immune SystemIn past issues of CancerWire we have explored the divide that exists between holistic approaches and conventional cytoxic (cell-killing) therapies when it comes to the treatment of cancer. In general, orthodox medicine believes that a cancer must be poisoned or cut out because the body is incapable of managing or eliminating the disease without outside intervention. In contrast, holistic approaches believe that the body is the best defense against cancer and steps should be taken to strengthen the body’s own innate abilities to control this disease. The orthodox world of providing external interventions and the holistic world of facilitating internal defenses share common ground on the subject of immune therapy.

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Genes and epigenetics and cancerThe cause or causes of cancer have been debated for hundreds of years. Now, because there is technology to look at the gene, the focus has become the gene. Many markers, genetic amplifications, point mutations, etc. have been found that supposedly delineate hard-coded genotypic changes that lead to cancer for specific organs and tissues. And the list continues to grow. However, many of these so-called mutations may be found in healthy cells. The question then becomes whether genetic changes are the real molecular cause of cancer? Research over the past few years suggests that they are not.

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omega oils, diet and cancerFatty acids are essential to human health, but they’re not all created equal. While research is finding that omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) can reduce cancer risk, omega-6 fatty acids appear to have the opposite effect, increasing the risk for disease, according to a review of research published in the May 12 issue of Cancer Letters.

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omega oils, diet and cancerEating a high-fiber, fruit- and vegetable-heavy diet might dramatically reduce your risk of developing cervical cancer, according to a recent study in the journal, Nutrition and Cancer. Cervical cancer is most often linked to risk factors such as infection with human papillomavirus (HPV), smoking, use of oral contraceptives, and having multiple sexual partners. Now researchers are finding that diet might also play an important role. 

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vegan diet and cancerThere’s yet another reason to pass on the meat and potatoes and instead fill your plate with fruit, vegetables, and whole grains. New research from the Preventive Medicine Research Institute in Sausalito, California, finds that a very-low-fat vegan diet is packed with protective nutrients that may help ward off prostate cancer, as well as other diseases.

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cranberries and cancerCranberries aren’t only good for preventing urinary tract infections (UTIs). A recent study in Molecular Nutrition and Food Research finds that these bright red fruits may also have potent anticancer properties. Just like blueberries and apples, cranberries are high in natural plant compounds called flavonoids and phenolic acids. These antioxidants protect cells against inflammation, and help prevent damage caused by harmful molecules known as free radicals, which can trigger cells to turn cancerous.

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