One of the cancers that may be most easily prevented with diet and lifestyle changes is colorectal cancer-cancer of the large intestine and rectum.
This is the fifth most common type of cancer and the third leading cause of death in the United States.
When you consider the number of people who are constipated, and the Frankenstein foods that people eat, this may not be so surprising.
Cancer is a systemic disease, which means that the whole system is over-burdened and toxic to the point that rogue cells take hold and develop their own “entity” within the body. Your food and your blood are hijacked to feed the new entity or tumor. Of course, the host eventually dies, and so does the new colony. It is one of the oddities of Nature, considering that survival is the usual operating modality.
Unburdening your toxic load is one of your best defenses against this, and any other type, of cancer. Studies indicate that eliminating highly processed meats, refined sugars and commercial grains such as wheat, corn, rice, and soy may lower risk. Maintaining a healthy weight is a factor, and eliminating refined starches and sugars would help with weight control.
In recent years red meat has been considered a risk factor, but a review of the history of human health and nutrition did not correlate, since humans have eaten higher meat diets in the past, with little historical evidence of cancer. Studies show that it is the preparation of meat that is a factor. Meat that is heavily browned on the surface and over-cooked increases risk. When meat is over-cooked the proteins and amino acids are broken down and can no longer be utilized in the body for repair and nutrition.
High protein intake over-all was not associated with risk, but even seemed protective in some studies.[i] Consumption of fish and poultry as alternatives to red meat showed some protection. Fish Oil supplementation seemed to decrease risk in women, but also decreased inflammation in both sexes, and therefore may be generally helpful.
Intake of fiber from fresh vegetables and whole fruits appear to be protective of other gastrointestinal issues such as constipation and diverticulitis. However, the high fiber supplementation theory for cancer protection has not borne out. However, diets high in fruits and vegetables were associated with slightly lowered risk of colorectal cancer. Since certain vegetables, such as cabbage, broccoli, kale and Brussels sprouts have sulfur compounds, which are necessary for PhaseII Liver detoxification, these vegetables may have potential in cancer prevention for all types of cancer. Phase II liver detoxification is the stage when toxins are fully broken down by enzymes so that waste products can be eliminated rather than stored in the body. Stored toxins cause cellular damage and clog the matrix between the cells, trapping waste and preventing nutrients from reaching the individual cells. Since organic food lowers the exposure to pesticide contamination, buying organic may contribute to lowered cancer risk.
Inflammation appears to be an issue in cancer and intake of B vitamins that decrease inflammation such as folate are associated with lower risk. Naturally occurring folate is not the same as synthetic folic acid, and folate is what was found to lower cancer risk. Organic eggs are a good source, as well as dark green veggies such as kale, spinach and broccoli. Look for unfortified Brewer’s Yeast, too. Brewers Yeast is also a good source of selenium, which was associated with a 50% reduction in colon cancer in one study.
Note that red meat contains natural B vitamins, particularly the organ meat of the animal. Liver is very nutrient dense. The fact that we no longer consume the most nutritious parts of the animal may be one reason we see more colon cancer now than we did in past times when people did not avoid any eatable part of the animal. Organ meat was often preferred for its nutrient value.
Alcohol is a risk, but the amount is not determined. High consumption is definitely a factor, and alcohol metabolism will burn folate and other B vitamins. Whether two or less drinks per day are a risk is undetermined.
Evidence suggests that a high level of physical activity lowers risk, even when weight is not managed in normal ranges.
So, we can conclude that lifestyle and dietary changes can lower the risk of developing colon and rectal cancer, and may lower it significantly. Basic and common sense changes towards organic whole foods bring about generally improved health and vitality. The same smart choices are the key to colon health.
If your colon is not functioning well, see your health practitioner. A colonoscopy may check for risks, but it will not prevent problems that could develop into cancer. We blame our intestine for bloat and indigestion. But any problems are just a reflection of what we are eating and our degree of toxic exposures. Colon cancer may be almost completely preventable. It was virtually unknown in cultures where people ate all natural diets of unprocessed foods. Next time I will tell your more about how to undo the damage already done. It takes guts to have a long and healthy life.
Warmly;
Anne
Is Your Health "Muscle" Flabby or Firm?
Happy New Year! I hope you had a wonderful, magical, relaxing, fun-filled Christmas and New Year Holiday. Isn’t that what we most of us want from our holidays? That they are lots of fun, and yet relaxing at the same time?
If you indulged greatly, you may be wishing that you had spent more time at the gym instead of sipping eggnog, but who has time during this season? And studies show that the amount of calories available to us between Thanksgiving and Christmas can’t be offset by workouts. You still have to choose wisely what you put on your plate.[i]
Like 75% of Americans, I gained a few pounds over Christmas. But this blog isn’t about weight-it is about health. Just like your butt and biceps get flabby when you don’t work out, your health gets “flabby” when you don’t exercise it.
You know how you feel when you have neglected your health. Over-fed, bloated, tired, crabby, stiff, wooden, depressed, foggy, with difficulty sleeping, mood-swings, and a range symptoms of allergies or illness.
You don’t have to have a buff body to flex your health muscle. And, just like with exercise, you can’t get strong over-night. It takes consistency and dedication to build any kind of muscle. Building health will take some sacrifice. Everything worth pursuing takes sacrifice. Achieving goals always means traveling along a narrow channel and avoiding the distractions on either side.
So, here is my “prescription” for 2015. Embrace health. There has never been more to gain, or more to lose. We now know that mental and emotional health is very influenced by our physical health. You can be sharper, happier, less stressed as well as symptom-free.
It is true that many people from the Baby Boomers and Generation X are going to be living into their 90’s. One of my friends just lost his 94-year old mother. She passed at home, in her sleep. She was on no medication and raised her son on healthy food and supplements.
Television is full of commercials about saving for your retirement years, because the money may run out before your heart gives out. But all the money in the world won’t buy back your health, if your body can’t function. And there are no medications that repair the body at a cellular level. Only organic living food, healthy life-style choices, and personal spirituality can give you a body tough enough to make middle and old age bearable, or even enjoyable.
Life is an Olympic event. Embrace health. Don’t make it a negative- make it a positive. Being your best and feeling your best means demanding for yourself.
Pick just one or two changes at a time, if you have a long road back to health. Drink more water, cook organic food at home more, walk and stretch more, smile more, hug more, breathe more, eat greens more, detox more, eat more healthy fat, sleep more. Health is life. All around us people are selling little bits of non-life in the form of chemicals, toxins and adulterated products that tease the senses, but make them dull over time. And those bits of tasty chemicals will erode our health, leaving us starved of the vitality that keeps a body strong and energetic.
Fresh, real, and alive food is the best medicine you can give yourself, and leads to the best quality of life. Choose a way to flex your health muscle every day. And let 2015 be the year that, despite being a year older, you became healthier and happier. That is my fondest wish for you.
[i] http://greatist.com/health/holiday-weight-gain-study-120513
Six Reasons Your Hair is Thinning
You won’t have thicker hair by Christmas, but you can stop thinning hair soon. It will take some time to start to see new growth, but thinning hair can be corrected. Understanding why your hair is failing to grow or falling out is the first step.
So many patients come to my office on hair supplements, but I cannot remember a single case that was helped. There are some Chinese herbs that might be effective, but most commercial vitamins, including Biotin, are not. It takes a special understanding of hair and body chemistry to correct the deficiencies that may contribute to hair loss.
First consider your general health picture. Is your skin dry? Are you overweight? Do you live a sedentary lifestyle, sitting all day and rarely exercising? Are you eating junk or processed food or too much sugar? Do you have digestive upset or bloating?
So, Reason Number One for thinning hair is unhealthy lifestyle. Think of hair (and skin) as an end product of what goes on inside your body. You would not expect prize-winning roses to grow in a garbage dump. So don’t expect thick luscious hair if you treat your body like a dump. Doing a cleanse and changing your diet to include plenty of nutrients from whole foods may be the first step. Exercise to get blood circulating and get plenty of sleep.
Reason Number Two is hypo (low or underactive) thyroid. If you went to your doctor and had blood work and were told that your thyroid is “fine,” understand what that means. The interpretation of blood work is geared towards disease that can be medicated or demands surgery. Your thyroid hormones may not be in balance or sufficient, but if you don’t show a thyroid disease state your hypothyroid condition may be not recognized. Difficulty losing weight, fatigue, mental fog, high cholesterol, constipation and dry skin are all signs of a thyroid that is not functioning well enough. Coarse and falling hair is also a symptom of thyroid issues.
Finding a holistic doctor or nutritionist, who can help balance your thyroid and make sure that your other glands are also working well, is the best solution. The thyroid is the conductor to your hormonal orchestra, and glands never operate without communicating with other glands.
Reason Number Three happens when thyroid medication does not fully address the problem of hypothyroid. Synthroid is prescribed based on a pituitary hormone called TSH-Thyroid Stimulating Hormone. Synthroid can cause thinning hair because the thyroid hormones are not well-balanced. Ask your doctor if you can switch to Armour Thyroid or another natural thyroid medicine. Synthroid can be helped to work correctly, with the addition of correct natural medicine or minerals, and that can stop your hair from falling out. Ask your hair stylist about Synthroid and many will tell you that it is one of the major reasons their clients are losing hair.
Reason Number Four is gall bladder/liver congestion. Gall bladder is the organ that performs fat metabolism and the liver is one of the main filters in the body. Find out about doing a liver/gall bladder cleanse and get a dietary evaluation to restore liver health. A healthy liver is vital for healthy hair and skin.
Reason Number Five is insufficient protein, or poorly digested protein. Hair is made up of protein called Keratin. If you are eating a vegan or vegetarian or bread-atarian diet, you may not be getting the protein your body needs to make new hair. Also, if you cannot digest the protein you are eating, you may not get the benefit. If you feel heavy after a protein meal, or have stinky gas, start taking digestive enzymes. You should also consider doing a cleanse to get rid of any build-up of undigested protein. A cleanse is always a good boost to hair and skin.
Reason Number Six is high sugar, carb, or alcohol diet, which depletes vital minerals. Some minerals, like iron, may be lost during the menstrual cycle. Other minerals may be missing from the diet, if whole foods are not eaten. This is another argument for eating organic food whenever possible. Organic produce may have more minerals than commercial produce, and will certainly have less pesticide contamination for the liver to detox.
Drugs of any kind will deplete the body’s supply of nutrients quickly. Coffee and tea may contain anti-oxidants but they also are diuretics, which may pull minerals out of the body.
So, if your hair is thinning, it is a sign that there are some deficiencies or imbalances and it is time for some correction. Not only will you look better, but your over-all health will be improved. You probably have other symptoms that you don’t realize are connected.
Stop counting the number of hairs you see in your brush or on your pillow.
At Well Body Clinic we help identify the causes for hair loss and get them corrected by treating the underlying cause. Call us at 818-562-1400 to book a free 15-minute consultation on hair loss.
Free Wellness Check To Get You Through the Holidays
Looks like the flu season has arrived, along with Christmas. In LA it seems the traffic has tripled, adding to the stress of trying to get everything done.
To help you keep healthy so that you can enjoy your Holiday, we are offering a free wellness check. If you feel that you are coming down with something, book a complimentary 10 minute check. Then get the exact supplements you need so that you avoid getting sick, or at least minimize the damage and recover as quickly as possible.
Can’t make it to the office? If someone can pick up supplements for you, give us a call and we can talk on the phone. We can even mail to you, although that may take some time with the Holiday rush.
If you have little ones who can’t take supplements easily, ask about our new Echinacea transdermal cream. We mix the strongest Echinacea on the planet into an organic Aloe Vera based cream. You can rub it on your child’s skin to deliver a good dose of immune-enhancing Echinacea. This works for adult-sized kids, too. Echinacea has been proven to enhance longevity, also, so this cream has the advantage of being anti-aging.
One of the worse things about recent winter illnesses has been a lingering cough. We can use Golden Seal, Herbal Throat Spray or the amazing Pneumotrophin to stop your cough before it takes hold and moves in for the winter.
Don’t worry about coming in when you are sick. We take immune enhancers daily this time of year, another thing you might consider. If you know that you normally entertain a good winter cold or other virus in the winter.
Our Flu and Cold clinic is officially open between now and New Year’s for a free wellness check. Our gift to you to keep your Holiday as healthy as can be.