Good morning friends. We regularly discover foods (like the ginger post) that are seemingly beneficial to suppress tumor growth. I have never really known how our foods effect our health but now that I have mets, I am thoroughly researching the subject. It is mind boggling how we poison the basic foods God has given us. I therefore switched to a whole food plant based way of eating.
And look at this link to a clinical trial on that subject. I have article after article with evidence based science how food creates our health.
I actually follow Dr. Greger's daily dozen. His plan has no salt, no oil and no sugar in ant form. Kris allows for some.
Here's another link. I'm with Kaiser Permanente and when I discussed my new way of eating with my oncologist, she fully agreed and was very familiar with the book "How Not To Die", by Dr Greger.
Thanks for sharing this post. I eat a mainly vegetarian (sometimes vegan) diet with very little added sugar and I try to avoid soya. I do occasionally eat meat and dairy, so I can't call myself a real vegetarian or vegan! I also like to juice and try to stay as healthy as possible. I had some cake on Friday when I had some friends over for lunch and yesterday when I went to a party, but that is so rare for me!
I remember my oncologist once mentioning that the occasional Chinese takeaway and piece of chocolate would do no harm, but she seemed to be almost encouraging me to eat unhealthy food. The same goes for the oncology dietitian I saw recently. I have a sneaking suspicion that once we are diagnosed with metastatic disease they are actively encouraging us to eat whatever we like, as they view us as beyond help in some respects, a bit like inmates on death row. I know that diet and exercise can make a difference to our mental, physical and emotional health, so I am not buying into the "eat whatever you like" philosophy. I want to continue to see an improvement in my health.
Sophie x
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I agree with you Sophie! I fully understand my way of eating is not going to cure my cancer. But I do believe it can slow progression of tumor growth.
By the way...medical students receive 12 hours of nutrition education. They don't know anything about nutrition.
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That could explain why my oncologist has never offered me any counsel on my diet, so I have gone elsewhere for advice. I remember her once saying it's a good idea to eat a balanced diet (in the same way that you would remind your children to brush their teeth) but other than that she doesn't seem to think that diet plays any role.
Sophie ❤
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They just don't know! I don't blame them really. I truly like my oncologist and thankfully she acknowledged she doesn't know anything about foods and cancer. The last article I posted was printed in very prestigious Medical journals and I am the one informing my physicians about it?!?
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No, they don't. That's why I don't place all my trust in my oncologist.
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Me neither! But I say that with full respect for my oncologist. I still need to be my own best advocate. Knowledge is power. Plus, in this case, I have absolutely nothing to lose and everything to gain, lol.
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I know what you mean. I respect my oncologist too. But she does not have all the answers to my questions, so that's why I have absolutely no qualms about going elsewhere for advice and help. Some people feel guilty or somehow disloyal. But someone made a good point recently that if she dies her oncologist is not going to be there for her husband and children. That's why we must be our own advocates.
Sadly, medical schools also lack in their education of drugs and we suffer from it! Ideally, we will use healthy food over drugs anyway. My doctors have told me that sugar doesn't affect cancer, which isn't true.
Good for you! I've always eaten a healthy diet too, but I have stepped it up since my diagnosis.
I have had compliments about my appearance too. It is nice to be told I look good, but like you I wish people could see beneath the surface and not judge by outward appearance. People are deceived into thinking cancer is a visible disease that is clearly seen in all patients.
I was talking to a friend about this very subject yesterday. She has stage 3 non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, but is currently in remission. Her oncologist told her that her cancer will return, so she is expecting it to come back at some point. She said people see me getting on with things, so don't think I need help, but that I should reach out for support when I need it. I need to take that advice. I've only ever had two friends accompany me to two appointments since last year when this all began. Other than that, I have either gone on my own or with my husband.
I go on my own to appointments unless it’s one I’m particularly worried about then hubby comes but I suspect he hates it and dare I say it..gets annoying and I’d rather just read my book
I have also chaged my diet for a plant -based one since diagnosis a year ago and I feel good. All my friends have mentioned my 'glowing' skin and my onc always comments on how healthy I look! I follow Kris Carr and Chris Wark and I have read 'How not to die' too. I am currently reading Ocean Robins 'The Food Revolution' . Xx
I have been eating a "clean" diet, with no sugar, gluten free, organic, grass feed beef (when I eat meat) and lots of local, seasonal vegys. I want to support my body to do what comes naturally including fighting cancer. Dr. Mark Hyman has had a few podcasts with many notable authorities on how food is medicine. I think it's shameful that the medical community doesn't teach their students the importance of food and how what we eat, and what we eat eats has such an impact on our health. When I discussed this with my onc, she said just eat plenty of fruits and vegys. While this is a start, I think it falls short of the discussion we should be having on the importance of "clean" eating and what food can help our bodies heal.
I’m afraid the problem with medicine now is that everyone ‘specialises’ in their own particular field...nobody talks to each other so oncologists don’t talk to nutritionists...the idea of a general specialist is considered old fashioned...not surprising really as medicine/treatments etc has become extremely complex
The real problem with the oncologists is that they are so busy with cancer patients, they refer you to nutritionists for that info! I try to eat healthy but do enjoy my wine! That’s probably a problem, but sometimes I just think of the quality of the life I have right now! I have continued to do well on Ibrance, Xgeva, and The injections to block estrogen ( name escapes me!). I am very grateful that I do well and have made it to 76 years old! God is good!
I also follow a whole food plant based diet, no dairy, no meat, low salt, no oil no sugar diet since my diagnosis. I think it has helped resolve tumors and lead to my current stable status. See nutritionfacts .org for support and education.
Thanks for recommending the web site, Mary. I have just had a look at it. I then reserved "How not to die" and "Forks over knives" from the library. I just have to wait for them to come from other libraries in my county, as they are not available in mine. This site is so handy and you ladies are always so kind and helpful!
You are welcome Sophie. I am so lucky because I live with my daughter who does all the cooking! Don't be afraid to use your skills with the recipes, my daughter will tweak them and make them even better maybe with a different spice or more spice . . . Happy and healthy cooking to you!
Thank you, Mary. Your daughter sounds like a great cook. I like to experiment. I made a lentil and mushroom Bolognese recently and when I juice I sometimes use the pulp to make a vegetable soup. It tastes really good!
Have you read "Cancer Free with Food," by Liana Werner-Gray? It's a must-read for those of us with cancer. "After just three months . . . eating whole-foods, plant-based diet, over 500 genes that regulate cancer were beneficially affected, either turning off the cancer-causing genes or turning on the cancer-protective genes. No medication can do that."
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