Tulsa World: Natural ways to reduce cancers include anti-oxidants, supplements

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Natural ways to reduce cancers include anti-oxidants, supplements

By SUZY COHEN Dear Pharmacist
Published: 2/21/2009 2:26 AM
Last Modified: 2/21/2009 2:59 AM

Dear Pharmacist: I am very afraid of getting cancer because it runs in my family. The stress makes me vigilant about eating right, I'm a vegan and I take medicinal mushrooms and vitamin C every day. Am I on the right track? — V.D., Salt Lake City, Utah

Answer: An estimated 1.5 million people heard the word "cancer" as a diagnosis in 2008. With cancer, you have to be mindful of the "free radicals" in your body. You want as few as possible. Free radicals are molecules that damage innocent cells. They are normally neutralized in a healthy body.

But if you smoke, expose yourself to pesticides, sun damage or pollution, maintain a poor diet, or eat artificial sweeteners and preservatives, you severely reduce your body's defenses against those free radicals which cause "oxidative" damage.

Neutralizing it is the "anti" oxidant, such as vitamins A, C, E, D, selenium and ubiquinol.

Free radicals trigger the release of bad chemicals in your body such as IGF-1, IL6, C-reactive protein, homocysteine, and TNF-a.

These chemicals increase pain, inflammation and the growth of cancer. Foods that increase inflammatory chemicals include processed meats (like hot dogs), red meat and eggs which are high in arachidonic acid, dairy protein (casein) and wheat protein (gluten).

If you cut down on foods that trigger immune reactions and eat more organic fruits and vegetables, you can improve immune function.

There are also natural supplements and foods that increase vitality, energy and immune function. These include rosemary, broccoli, olives, ground flaxseed, probiotics, cat's claw, curcumin, omega 3 fatty acids, ginger, N-acetylcysteine, spirulina and finally, clinically tested brands of modified citrus pectin (MCP). Anecdotal evidence suggests some ingredients in Essiac supplements can strengthen the immune system too.

By SUZY COHEN Dear Pharmacist

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