Wednesday, August 15, 2012

Countering Cancer's Effects on Nutrition with Nutrient-dense Foods

A healthy diet is one of the most effective tools for preventing cancer. An unhealthy diet, on the other hand, is known to promote certain types of cancer directly. Poor food choices may also indirectly contribute to the risk of many other cancers. Broad recommendations from the USDA use advice from the leading nutrition authorities to form a solid basis for food selection. However, individuals have specific needs that are not addressed by broad recommendations. Micronutrient deficiency, for instance, is now common amongst people who grew up eating poorly regardless of their current diet.

An effect of many cancer treatments and some forms of cancer is to radically alter eating habits and digestive capacity. This presents special problems. A diagnosis of cancer is likewise sufficient to change habits due to the added emotional stress. Since nutrition plays a vital role in quality of life, treatment efficacy, and long-term survival rates, every person diagnosed with cancer should take precautionary measures immediately upon diagnosis as protection against malnutrition.

Cancer's Effects on Nutrition
Stress plays a strong role in both appetite and digestive capacity. The emotional stress of diagnosis produces common symptoms, such as depression and anxiety. Both of these lead to a combination of fatigue and loss of appetite. They also depress the populations of beneficial bacteria in the gut. Reduced absorption of food leads to rapid depletion of water-soluble micronutrients as well as the body's famine response. Excess fat is stored, which places a heavier burden on the detoxifying organs. The result is excess fat with less fat-soluble vitamins and more toxins.

Certain treatments for cancer are similar to spectrum herbicides. They are targeted to kill the cancer cells specifically, but they also kill healthy cells. Unlike a cornfield genetically engineered to resist the effects of the pesticide, the healthy cells in a human body are not capable of resisting damage caused by chemotherapy, radiation, immunotherapy, hormone therapy and surgery. This results in physical stress.  Some of the common symptoms of this physical stress are:

* Gingivitis
* Sore throat and mouth
* Nausea and vomiting
* Constipation or diarrhea
* Dry mouth
* Loss of appetite
* Sudden distaste for particular foods and beverages

Most of these side effects are managed by a combination of pharmaceuticals, all of which introduce further risks of damaging the digestive system. Some complimentary therapies are proven to manage side effects without the risks. Choice of both healthy and nutrient-dense foods is essential for those with the greatest risk of malnutrition. Most symptoms can be managed in the same way according to research.

Role of Fats in the Cancer Diet
When considering nutrient-dense foods, most people think first of fats. The evidence on fat's role in causing cancer is mixed but a cause for concern. Saturated fats, such as those found in red meat, are not essential, and they may increase the risk of some cancers. Other types, like the monounsaturated fat in peanut butter and omega-3 fats in seeds and oily fish, are much better choices for the cancer diet.

When denser foods are used to counteract a symptom-restricted diet, and optimally combined with physical activity to the degree possible, there is little risk of resulting obesity. The primary concern of too many calories is that obesity is a known risk factor for increased treatment symptoms and cancer recurrence. Seeds, nuts, and legumes should be combined with grains and natural sweeteners, such as honey and molasses, for nutrient density.

Strengthening Intestinal Flora
The benefits of traditional diets rest heavily on their extensive use of lacto-fermentation. The process enhances digestion by making the nutrients readily available to the body. The bacteria in lacto-fermented products also boost intestinal populations directly. Sauerkraut, kombucha, sour pickles, and ginger ale are only a few products one can make at home easily. Many books have been devoted to this topic.

The Benefits of Eating for Health
Guest Post  Jillian McKee