Eating to being cancer free

Kirsten Whittaker
Daily Health Bulletin Editor
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Topping the list of the best cancer fighting eating plans is one we all have heard so much about - the Mediterranean style diet - a lifelong commitment to eating well that also happens to suppress cancer and fight heart disease. This plan calls for eating plenty of fruits, veggies and other plant based foods, using herbs/spices for flavor (not salt), limiting how much red meat and alcohol you consume on a regular basis, using healthy fats (olive and canola oil) instead of butter and eating fish/poultry at least two times a week.

Another winner on the cancer-fighting diet front is the whole body diet, a plan that calls for eating 6 to 7 small meals per day, rather than the 3 large ones we're all used to. In terms of cancer prevention, this way of eating calls for fruits, veggies and whole grains in at least half of your meals for the day, limiting foods that are high in fat, eating lean protein and being active every single day.

When it comes to the plans that aren't so effective... Gluten free diets have grown in popularity, but experts' caution that you shouldn't adopt this eating style unless you've been diagnosed with gluten intolerance. Those who follow this plan stay away from foods with whole grains that are also high in fiber, vitamins and minerals. It's the fiber and other essential nutrients that while bad for the celiac patient, help to protect body cells from the type of damage that can precede cancer.


Also on the no-no list are carb free diets. If you totally cut our carbs you deprive your body of its basic source of energy. You'll also be withholding some important cancer-fighting foods, fruits, vegetables, whole grains and beans. Instead of cutting the carbs altogether, choose them ore carefully. Go for whole grains instead of refined ones... limit the cakes and cookies.

When it comes to keeping yourself at a healthy weight, and thus reducing your risk of many forms of cancer, moderation is the most important thing to keep in mind. You're making a lifelong commitment according to Amin, and the best chance for long-term success comes from doing things in moderation.

Remember too, preventing cancer is the most effective treatment available at the moment for what can be a deadly disease.
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A new view of cancer - proteomics and genomics

Genomics is the study of structure of your cells, organs, body. And the study of Genomics can sort of predict if you will likely have cancer or not. Basically, all you need to do is to look at your parents, siblings and your immediate relatives. Genomics says you if you look and analyse enough based on your likely relations inclination, you can sort of predict if you can get cancer or not (or any other ailments).

Here is my own story. Based on my blood type and also my human physiology, I had determined that I follow more my mother than my father (by the way, my other siblings followed my dad). My mum's brothers and sisters were cancer victims too. My mum was a cancer victim. So it was not surprising that I too was a cancer victim.

Well Genomics allows you to understand this which is very useful. Proteomic - study of interactions of proteins is more for new way of treatment for cancer. Conventional cancer treatment is like treating an  infectious disease, which Cancer is NOT. Conventional treatment treats the symptoms (I am not saying you should not treat the symptoms and in my case, it worked for me). Cancer is a failure of your own body system. All of us have cancer cells being developed in our own body, but our body's functions clears them effectively. Only when our own body functions malfunctions, cancer exhibits in tumours. Proteomics basically is the study of protein interactions and there is a effort to use Proteomics to map out model with specifics on cancer. Proteomics will map out what is wrong in your body specifically and then design the 'correct' treatment just for you. Basically, the treatment will be to support your own body to 'fight' off the cancer cells. So this approach will be less invasive, less destructive to the body and more effective treatment.

I really hope they are successful. Here is a video on Proteomics if you are interested in watching to it.
By the way, I am not a expert so listen to the experts explain this and I can assure you that it is very interesting.

One Day - a handheld device to check if you have cancer -.....

Imagine, there is a handheld device the size of a standard torchlight and it is waved over your skin and immediately alerts the doctor that there is a presences of cancer. Sounds something like a Star Trek movie. No more biopsy, just move the device over the skin and it can detect if it is cancerous.

Well, we are not there yet but today there is a microscope that can detect cancer cells. The microscope basically is able to slice through very very thin layers and then puts each layer together to form a picture.  Well, it is an imaging microscope and it's uses is not just for cancer detection.

The handheld torchlight cancer detection device is not here yet but the microscope has been invented already. However, it will take a few more years before it becomes production.

Read the full article here

Your Colon could signal things that are wrong in your body.

I know this is not the best of topics but since this blog is about being 'Cancer FREE' and all, I found this 'fairly unpleasant' article to be a trove of information.

YOUR COLON 

Kids are proud to show off their poop—but most adults rarely glance inside the toilet bowl. But the truth is...Examining your poop is one of the best ways to find out what's really going on in your body.  So take this quick quiz to get the inside scoop on your poop!

• Question #1: How long does it take you to have a bowel movement?

[ ]Less than 60 seconds  [ ]More than two minutes

Answer: Healthy bowel movements happen within 60 seconds of sitting on the toilet. The stool should easily come out without straining, grunting or any discomfort. It should have the consistency of toothpaste. If you have time to read a newspaper while sitting on the toilet—you probably have a problem with constipation or poor bowel health.

• Question #2: What is the shape of your stool?

[ ]Long like a banana [ ]round, hard pellets [ ]thin, pencil-shaped

Answer: Healthy stool averages about four to six inches long and are shaped like a banana or a torpedo.  Very narrow, pencil-shaped stool is a sign your colon walls are impacted or you have polyps or growths on the inside of your colon or rectum. This causes the stool to squeeze to get through. Stress can also create narrow stool.

Hard, round or pellet-shaped stool is a possible sign of poor liver function, lack of exercise, dehydration or constipation.

• Question #3: Is your stool accompanied by foul odor?

[ ]Yes [ ]No

Answer: Gas or odor is a sign of a bacterial imbalance in your intestinal flora. The "bad" bacteria release foul-smelling gases and toxins that can cramp your colon and create embarrassing odors.  You can eliminate this odor by removing debris and encrusted feces from the walls of your intestines and restoring the balance in your intestinal flora.

• Question #4: What color is your stool?

[ ]Yellow [ ]Green  [ ]Brown   [ ]Gray [ ]Black [ ]Bright red

According to Mayo Clinic research, all shades of brown and even green are considered normal stool colors. And the foods you eat can affect the color of your stool. For example, beets, tomato juice, blueberries, popsicles and green leafy vegetables can affect your stool color. However, a distinct change in stool color can be a warning sign for health problems.

Yellow-colored stool indicates your food is moving too quickly through your digestive tract—as in the case of diarrhea. If stool is greasy or foul-smelling, it may indicate excess fat caused by malabsorption of nutrients.
Green-colored stool means your food isn't properly being processed through your intestines. As a result, bile isn't broken down—and gives your stool that green color. Green stool can also mean you're eating too much sugar, fruits and vegetables and not enough grains or salt.

Gray or ashy colored stool indicates undigested fats or heavy use of prescription or over-the-counter drugs that contain aluminum hydroxide. It can also indicate a lack of bile in the stool that may be caused by a bile duct obstruction.

Black stool is a serious warning sign for bleeding in the upper gastrointestinal tract—possibly the stomach.

Bright red stool may indicate bleeding in the lower intestinal tract—possibly the large intestine or rectum. Hemorrhoids may also be the source of the bleeding.

• Question #5: Do you pass gas while you're having a bowel movement or have you noticed air or bubbles in your stool?

[ ]Yes [ ]No

Answer: Air or bubbles in stool can indicate an intestinal imbalance. Gas producing bacteria may be overgrowing and competing with the healthier flora in your gut.

Please know this: A normal bowel movement happens within 60 seconds of sitting on the toilet.
There should be no straining, pain, bleeding or foul odor accompanied with your bowel movements. And wiping afterwards should be easy and simple—using just one or two pieces of toilet paper!

If that's not your experience in the bathroom—then you need to give your intestines a thorough internal cleaning!

When your colon is in danger—it will do anything and everything to send out an S.O.S. for health! If you notice strong body odor—especially under your arm pits......Or if your friends shy away and frequently offer you breath mints—LISTEN to your colon—it's screaming for help!

And INTESTINAL parasites can also trigger:

• Painful gas and bloating
• Irritable bowels
• Runny stool or diarrhea
• Allergies
• Skin outbreaks
• Insomnia
• Poor immune system
• Muscle pain and joint soreness
• And much more!
  
  
  

Training your white blood cells to kill off cancer cells?

Don't want to get your hopes up, it is not here yet but researches are exploring this method where they are able to 'train' your white blood cells to recognize cancer cells and whack the *^&# out of the cancer cells.

If this method works, it is like using our own body mechanism to fight off cancer. I hope the day where fighting cancer can just be as simple as an injection (something like a flu shot) and our white blood cells once given the 'blueprint' of the cancer cells will go after them and kill them.