Cancer Fighting Diets/foods/supplements That Alleviates The Side
Including the right foods and supplements as part of the anti-cancer diets may also help in reducing the side effects of the ongoing treatments such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy. This will help in improving the quality of life and general well-being of the cancer patient during their efforts to fight and kill cancer.
Different clinical studies and evidence which support the benefits of a specific food/supplement in alleviating a specific chemotherapy side-effect in a particular cancer type are summarized below.
Vitamin And Mineral Supplements During Cancer Treatment
A question we are often asked is: Should I take vitamins during cancer treatment? It is an extremely important question considering a few statistics. In 2008, it was noted in the Journal of Clinical Oncology that between 64 and 81 percent of cancer patients were using a vitamin or mineral supplement and that between 14 and 32 percent of these people started taking supplements aftertheir diagnosis of cancer. This is even more concerning now that studies in 2019 found that antioxidant supplements are associated with lower breast cancer survival and may hasten the spread of lung cancer.
The simple answer is: “The only one who can answer that question is your oncologist.”
A better answer is: “Ask your oncologist before you take any type of supplements, but check out some of the considerations belowthe reasons for and againstso you can better understand your healthcare providers answer and decide together.
Never take a vitamin, mineral, or antioxidant supplement without first consulting your healthcare provider, as this can be dangerous for some people with cancer.
A list of vitamins and minerals needed for health, as well as a list of common dietary antioxidants, can be found at the end of this article.
Key Points To Remember When Considering Supplements For Cancer
- No matter how harmless you think a vitamin or supplement might be, check with your doctor about potential interactions with your other treatments.
If your doctor does give you the go ahead to use certain vitamins and supplements for cancer, make sure you purchase brands of supplements that have been analyzed by ConsumerLab.com, or that bear a USP or NF seal on the label. The USP and NF seals indicate the supplements have undergone quality control testing.
Remember, the use of vitamins and supplements for cancer is largely based on short-term studies, done mostly in the lab. More studies are needed and fortunately more research is on its way.
Only recently are government agencies providing grants to do research on dietary supplements and complementary and alternative therapies, says pharmacist and licensed acupuncturist K. Simon Yeung, the clinical coordinator of the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center About Herbs database.
In the near future, we will see more reports from these government-funded studies, which hopefully will guide us to use these dietary supplements more appropriately, Yeung says.
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Cancer Fighting Vegetables You Should Be Eating
These days it seems that so many friends and loved ones are being diagnosed with cancer. Friends of all ages, of all health statuses, with all different kinds of cancer at all different stages. It is important to live a healthy life with a balanced diet and active lifestyle to maintain optimal health. When it comes to diet, we all know we should be eating a lot of vegetables, but there are certain kinds of vegetables that are actually known to fight cancer, in addition to providing numerous other health benefits. Add these five cancer fighting vegetables to a healthy diet and feel great while fighting off illness and disease
1. Tomatoes
- Tomatoes are not only delicious but nutritious! They offer a number of health benefits and should be a staple of anyones diet. Better Homes and Gardens describes the cancer fighting benefits of tomatoes, This fruit/vegetable is the epitome of a cancer-fighting superfood. Not only do tomatoes contain lycopene, the antioxidant phytochemical that also helps prevent heart disease, but theyre a good source of vitamins A, C, and E all enemies of cancer-friendly free radicals. Pile tomatoes, spinach, and peppers on top of ready-made pizza dough and top with tomato sauce and part-skim mozzarella. Pop some cherry tomatoes into your romaine lettuce salad. Stuff your sandwiches with sliced tomatoes, lettuce, and alfalfa sprouts or shredded broccoli. However you do it, find a way to add tomatoes to your daily diet.
2. Broccoli
3. Kale
4. Carrots
To Decrease Toxicity Of Treatments
Studies have been mixed with regard to antioxidants increasing or reducing the toxicity of chemotherapy, but some research suggests they may improve quality of life for some people during cancer treatment. In one study, an antioxidant mixture containing vitamin C, vitamin E, melatonin and green tea extract was found to decrease fatigue in people with pancreatic cancer.
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Dietary Sources Vs Supplements
We don’t have as many studies looking at the use of antioxidants during cancer treatment, but the use of these supplements with the goal of cancer prevention has revealed some interesting findings. For example, seeing how a high dietary intake of beta-carotene was associated with a lower risk of developing lung cancer, a large study looking at the use of a beta-carotene supplement found that the risk of lung cancer was actually increased. Similar were findings with prostate cancer, in which dietary vitamin E is associated with a lower risk, but a study evaluating vitamin E supplements found an increased risk.
In general, the rule for getting vitamins and minerals during cancer treatment is “food first.”
Theories have been proposed to explain this. Perhaps there are phytochemicals in food aside from beta-carotene that are responsible for the cancer prevention properties. Another theory that’s been proposed is that receiving one antioxidant as a supplement may result in the body absorbing less or using less, of another important antioxidant.
Sometimes taking a supplement for one concern may raise another concern. An example is a study in which people with melanoma were treated with selenium. Researchers found that the supplement was associated with a lower risk of developing a second cancer in the lungs, colon, or prostate, but was also associated with an elevated risk of diabetes.
Can Vitamins Really Help Prevent Cancer: New Evidence Is Compelling
As physicians many people ask us What vitamins can I take in order to help prevent cancer? This is a tough question and we often shy away from suggesting that taking vitamins is magic bullet to prevent this terrible disease. However, there is more and more evidence to suggest that vitamins and specifically preventing certain key individual vitamin deficiencies can play a role in cancer prevention. As doctors we would be remiss in not telling you that there are many other things one should do to help prevent cancer such as a healthful diet, safe alcohol consumption, regular exercise and of course, recommended screening tests such as mammograms, colonoscopy and prostate screening.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer in men and women and the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States. More globally, CRC is responsible for 1.8 million cases and ~860,000 deaths each year across the world. The National Cancer Institute reports that the rate of early onset CRC has nearly doubled since the 1990s. If Vitamin D supplementation can benefit diagnosis and outcomes related to CRC, it has significant implications for population health.
The statements made in this article have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. The products offered by Vous Vitamin® are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
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Coenzyme Q10 Supplements May Protect The Heart During Chemotherapy
What is Coenzyme Q10?
Touted as a wonder supplement, Coenzyme Q10 is reputed to enhance stamina, increase weight loss, combat cancer and AIDS, and even stave off aging. While hard to believe, this nutrient does show promise for treating a number of health conditions.
Coenzyme Q10 belongs to a family of compounds called quinones. In the past decade, Coenzyme Q10 has become one of the worlds most popular dietary supplements. Proponents of the nutrient use it to maintain general good health, as well as to treat heart disease and several other conditions.
What does Coenzyme Q10 do?
The primary function of Coenzyme Q10 is as a catalyst for metabolism. In conjunction with enzymes, the compound speeds up the vital metabolic process, providing the energy that the cells need to digest food, heal wounds, maintain healthy muscles and perform countless other bodily functions.
Coenzyme Q10 may play a role in preventing cancer, heart attacks and other diseases linked to free radical damage. Research suggests that it may also help protect against chemotherapy-induced damage to the heart muscle.
How to take Coenzyme Q10
- A typical dose is 100 to 150 milligrams a day. Look for formulations that contain Coenzyme Q10 in an oil base .
- Take this supplement in the morning and evening, preferably with fatty food to enhance absorption. Coenzyme Q10 should be continued long term-it may require eight weeks or longer to notice results. Concurrent vitamin B6 supplements may also help.
Next Group 2 Support For The Body
Liver support is especially important when cancer is in the liver, or if chemotherapy is being given. When used, it will greatly help reduce chemo side effects by enabling the liver to better process and eliminate chemo toxins.
1 – 2 UltraLiver12 â UltraLiver12 works to protect the liver from free radical damage. It increases the levels of other fundamental antioxidants and even interferes with virus proliferation. It has nutrients that support the immune system and enhance detoxification. It brings together therapeutic levels of three much researched liver protective nutrients, alpha lipoic acid, silymarin and selenium in their most effective and absorbable forms — and adds on five other liver protective antioxidants including a patented CoQ10 from Germany. In addition to antioxidants, UltraLiver12 provides cell membrane stabilizing agents, bile secretion enhancing compounds and nutrients that prevent depletion of endogenous antioxidants such as glutathione. This is a powerful liver support formula.
1 – 2 Liver Balance Plus â This herbal formula works in conjunction with UltraLiver12 to support the liver. Best to use equal amounts of each for optimal support. This is a balanced herbal combination that is useful with helping to direct the body to move and utilize the nutrients where they are most needed. Thus its strong synergy with UltraLiver12.
If you are in poor shape, the following are valuable…
If radiation is being used, to reduce damage, add in…
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Benefits Of Good Nutrition During Cancer Treatment
When youre healthy, eating enough food to get the nutrients and calories you need is not usually a problem. Most nutrition guidelines stress eating lots of vegetables, fruits, and whole-grain products limiting the amount of red meat you eat, especially meats that are processed or high in fat cutting back on fat, sugar, alcohol, and salt and staying at a healthy weight. But when youre being treated for cancer, these things can be hard to do, especially if you have side effects or just dont feel well.
Good nutrition is especially important if you have cancer because both the illness and its treatments can change the way you eat. They can also affect the way your body tolerates certain foods and uses nutrients.
During cancer treatment you might need to change your diet to help build up your strength and withstand the effects of the cancer and its treatment. This may mean eating things that arent normally recommended when you are in good health. For instance, you might need high-fat, high-calorie foods to keep up your weight, or thick, cool foods like ice cream or milk shakes because sores in your mouth and throat are making it hard to eat anything. The type of cancer, your treatment, and any side effects you have must be considered when trying to figure out the best ways to get the nutrition your body needs.
- Feel better.
- Lower your risk of infection.
- Heal and recover faster.
Supplements For Cancer: Green Tea
Green tea contains substances called polyphenols that are believed to have powerful anti-cancer abilities.
Cancerous tumors rely on fast-growing networks of blood vessels to sustain their rapid growth rate. Green tea compounds may possess the ability to help slow or prevent this rapid growth. Green tea seems to inhibit the development of new blood vessels in tumors, and provides one more approach that can be used to strangle tumors, Birdsall tells WebMD.
Because it would take the equivalent of drinking 10 to 12 cups of green tea each day to obtain the cancer-fighting levels of green tea compounds, Birdsall recommends that his patients take green tea in extract form. Be aware, there are some concerns about green tea extracts and liver toxicity. Also, a recommendation of 10 to 12 cups of green tea per day would be for cancer treatment, not cancer prevention.
Drinking green tea may increase the survival rates of some cancer patients. One study of women with ovarian cancer found that women who drank green tea were more likely to survive three years after ovarian cancer diagnosis than women who did not drink green tea. The survival rates increased with higher consumption levels of green tea.
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Vitamins And Diet Supplements
We need nutrients such as vitamins, minerals, essential fats and amino acids for our bodies to work properly.
Summary
- Try to eat a balanced diet with plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables.
- Low levels of nutrients can make you feel ill.
- Any supplements should be used under the supervision of a dietitian or your medical team.
Why Are Cancer Researchers Studying A Possible Connection Between Vitamin D And Cancer Risk
Early epidemiologic research showed that incidence and death rates for certain cancers were lower among individuals living in southern latitudes, where levels of sunlight exposure are relatively high, than among those living at northern latitudes. Because exposure to ultraviolet light from sunlight leads to the production of vitamin D, researchers hypothesized that variation in vitamin D levels might account for this association. However, additional research based on stronger study designs is required to determine whether higher vitamin D levels are related to lower cancer incidence or death rates.
Experimental evidence has also suggested a possible association between vitamin D and cancer risk. In studies of cancer cells and of tumors in mice, vitamin D has been found to have several activities that might slow or prevent the development of cancer, including promoting cellular differentiation, decreasing cancer cell growth, stimulating cell death , and reducing tumor blood vessel formation .
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Cancer Fighting Diets/foods/supplements That Improves Efficacy Of Ongoing Treatments
There are many foods/diets that are associated with improving the treatment outcomes in cancer patients. Many experimental studies and meta-analysis of multiple prospective studies also show evidence of foods and supplements that can improve the outcomes of specific therapies in specific cancers. Some of the studies showing beneficial effects of different cancer fighting foods on specific chemo and cancer types are summarized below:
Questions To Ask Your Doctor
Once you let your doctor know about all the medications you takeincluding over-the-counter drugs, vitamins and other supplementsyou may still have more questions, especially when it comes to your cancer treatment.
Below are some questions to consider asking:
- Can I take my other medications before and during chemotherapy?
- What are the potential side effects of this cancer treatment?
- What can I do besides take supplements to help manage treatment side effects?
- Are there any natural supplements that safely help relieve side effects from treatment?
- What are the side effects of any supplements that are safe to take?
- Are there any warning signs I should be aware of when taking supplements that are considered safe?
- When is it safe again to take the supplements I usually take?
Expert
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Do Vitamins Help Prevent Cancer
Do vitamins help prevent cancer? Vitamin A , vitamin C, vitamin E , and beta-carotene contain antioxidants once thought to help prevent cancer. However, more recent studies show that high levels of these, in supplement form, may increase cases of gastrointestinal cancers, such as stomach, colon, and esophageal, in some populations.
How can I naturally get rid of eye floaters? Vitamin C also promotes healthy bones, skin and blood vessels, including the delicate capillaries in the retina. Studies suggest long-term consumption of vitamin C also may reduce the risk of forming a cataract and vision loss from macular degeneration.
Is Vitamin C good for eye sight? Options may include: Surgery to remove the vitreous. An ophthalmologist removes the vitreous through a small incision and replaces it with a solution to help your eye maintain its shape. Surgery may not remove all the floaters, and new floaters can develop after surgery.
Can anything get rid of eye floaters? There are no oral or eyedrop medications of value for the reduction of the common type of eye floaters. Abnormal eye floaters due to bleeding in the vitreous from diabetic retinopathy or a retinal tear will decrease as the blood is absorbed.
Vitamins And Minerals That Help Those With Cancer
People fighting cancer often have a hard time getting the nutrients they need to allow their body to cope with sickness. Cancer and cancer treatments wreak havoc on the body, with patients often losing their appetites, and thus limiting their nutrient intake. This malnutrition can exacerbate their symptoms and the side effects of their treatment, causing fatigue, nausea, despondency, and depression. If your loved one is struggling to get all the vitamins and minerals they need to stay strong, consider adding these foods and nutrients to their diet.
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