Nuts and Cancer

Nuts may be considered a cancer superfood because they contain additive and/or synergistic properties that contribute to reduced cancer risk.

Nuts are a rich source of monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids, tocopherols, antioxidant polyphenols, fiber, prebiotics, vegetable protein, minerals, and vitamins. The fiber and prebiotics can promote the growth of beneficial bacteria gut microbiome.[i] 

Nuts can decrease glucose, insulin, and inflammation levels.[ii] [iii] All of which can increase the risk or even stimulate cancer if elevated.

A human genetic study of women with breast cancer found consuming 2 oz (60 grams) of walnuts a day for 2 weeks improved 456 cancer prevention and cancer growth genetic pathways. Analysis of the data showed activation of pathways that promote apoptosis (normal cancer cell death), helped keep cancer cells in place and inhibited the pathways that promote activation of pathways that promote proliferation and migration. In summa...

Honey for Cancer Prevention?

Honey is a natural sweetener that has been used for thousands of years for its medicinal properties. More recently, there has been growing interest in the potential of honey to prevent cancer.

Honey contains several active compounds that have been shown to have anti-cancer properties. These include:

Methylglyoxal (MG): MG is a natural compound that has been shown to kill cancer cells in vitro and in animal studies.

Polyphenols: Honey is a rich source of polyphenols, which are plant compounds that have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.

Flavonoids: Flavonoids are another type of polyphenol that has been shown to have anti-cancer properties.

Other compounds: Honey also contains other compounds with potential anti-cancer properties, such as propolis, royal jelly, and bee pollen.

Several studies have investigated the potential of honey to prevent cancer. One study, published in the journal "Cancer Prevention Research" in 2010, found that honey...

Cooking Oil Smoke Point and Cancer

A cooking oil's smoke point is the temperature at which it begins to smoke visibly when heated. When an oil starts smoking it is oxidizing and could damage your body. 

A smoke point is the maximum safe cooking temperature. You should avoid heating the oil past this temperature. If you do heat past the smoke point you increase the risk of the oil turning brown, forming oxidized chemicals that can harm your body and increase your risk of cancer. People who work in kitchens and restaurants with cooking oils and poor ventilation have an increased lung cancer, colorectal cancer, and breast cancer risk.

Each oil manufacturer has a different chemical composition because of processing methods and each batch of fruit, vegetable and seed will vary. These factors will affect the smoke point. 

How many of you love avocadoes?

My wife and I do! With our family cancer history of hormone cancers, we will still enjoy but limit our avocado or guacamole to less than once a week.

Previous laboratory cancer cell studies have shown purified nutrients and plant chemicals in avocadoes suggests this fruit has anticancer activities. But actual human intake and cancer risk have not been evaluated until recently.

In April 2023 a research study of data from 45,289 men in the Health Professionals Follow-Up Study (HPFS) and 67,039 women in the Nurses’ Health Study (NHS) evaluated avocado consumption and the risk of cancer.

In the HPFS, consuming more than 1 avocado a week was associated with a decreased risk of only colorectal cancer, lung cancer, and bladder cancer in men. Other cancer rates were not affected. In the NHS, avocado consumption was associated with increased risk of breast cancer in older postmenopausal women. Neither group noticed a decreased or increased overall cancer risk...

Tomatoes and Cancer Prevention

Tomatoes are a delicious and nutritious fruit that has been linked to a number of health benefits, including a reduced risk of cancer. The key compound in tomatoes that appears to be responsible for their cancer-fighting properties is lycopene. Lycopene is a carotenoid, which is a type of antioxidant that can protect cells from damage.

A number of studies have shown that people who eat more tomatoes or tomato products have a lower risk of developing certain types of cancer. For example, a study published in the journal Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention found that men who ate the most tomatoes had a 33% lower risk of developing prostate cancer than men who ate the least tomatoes. Another study, published in the journal Cancer Causes & Control, found that women who ate the most tomato sauce had a 20% lower risk of developing ovarian cancer than women who ate the least tomato sauce.

In addition to prostate and ovarian cancer, tomatoes have also...

Maca root (Lepidium meyenii) extract is a worldwide consumed food supplement for sexual dysfunctions, increasing sperm production and its motility, and alleviating menopausal symptoms. Various bioactivities of maca include enhanced reproductive health, antifatigue, antioxidation, neuroprotection, antimicrobial activity, anticancer, hepatoprotection, immunomodulation, and improving skin health and digestive system's function.

MACA has not been well studied for its impact on cancer. Over all Brassica vegetables, such as mustard, broccoli, and MACA, is associated with decreased risk of developing cancer.
There is a laboratory cancer cell study showing ingredients in MACA decrease liver cancer and colon cancer cell growth.

But another laboratory cell study shows that high dose maca encourages triple negative breast cancer cells to metastasize.

In summary, at the time of publication MACA has not been studied in humans. Based on its known impact on hormones and laboratory cell studies we r...

Prebiotics provide nutrients that help your good bacteria (flora/microbiome) to grow in your gut. The good microbiome supports your immune system and helps your body fight cancer and infections.

Your gut microbiome supports hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, chemotherapy, immunomodulating therapy and cancer immunotherapy.

You get a lot of prebiotics from the following 11 foods.

1. Chicory root
2. Dandelion greens
3. Jerusalem artichoke
4. Garlic, Onions & Leeks
5. Asparagus
6. Bananas
7. Barley
8. Oats
9. Apples
10. Flaxseeds
11. Seaweed

A couple of servings a day support the good bacteria in your gut. It would take a lot of supplement prebiotic capsules to get the same effect as a serving or two of food. 

Reference Sources Include
Wu H, Zheng X, Pan T, et al. Dynamic microbiome and metabolome analyses reveal the interaction between gut microbiota and anti-PD-1 based immunotherapy in hepatocellular carcinoma. Int J Cancer. 2022 May 17. doi: 10.1002/ijc.34118. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 35579980. ...

Learn How Sugar May Affect your Cancer Risk and Treatment

Sugar is a very common ingredient in many foods and beverages. While it tastes good and provides energy, excess can have negative effects on our health. In this blog post, I’m exploring how sugar may affect your cancer risk and treatment. I’ll also provide some tips on how to reduce your sugar intake and improve your health.

Sugar and Cancer Risks

I can’t say sugar itself causes cancer. But it may be indirectly involved with its impact on obesity, insulin resistance, insulin growth factor, inflammation, and hormones. The American Cancer Society states obesity is a risk factor for 13 types of cancer including breast, colorectal, kidney, liver, ovarian, pancreatic, prostate, and uterine cancers. Obesity is linked to increased insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes, risks for cancer.

Obesity may increase cancer risk because excess body fat produces estrogen, which can fuel breast, endometrial and prostate cancers. Excess body f...

Dairy Milk and Cancer

Dairy milk has long been a staple in many people's diets, but recent research has raised concerns about its potential link to cancer. In this blog post, we are looking at what the research says about dairy milk and cancer.

It is important to note that these associations are observational, meaning that they cannot prove that dairy milk causes cancer. However, they do suggest that there may be a link between dairy milk consumption and an increased risk of certain cancers.

Dairy Milk Specific Cancer Risks

Prostate cancer: A meta-analysis of 13 studies found that men who consumed the most dairy milk had a 10% increased risk of prostate cancer compared to men who consumed the least dairy milk.[1]

Breast cancer: A meta-analysis of 17 studies found that women who consumed the most dairy milk had a 17% increased risk of breast cancer compared to women who consumed the least dairy milk.[2]

A study published in the International Journal of Epidemiology found that even...

Coffee appears to have some significant cancer fighting benefits.👏👏👏 According to 📚medical research, coffee is associated with a reduced risk of cancers. There’s even a study that found higher coffee consumption is associated with reduced mortality from colorectal cancer.

Several compounds found in coffee possess antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and insulin-sensitizing effects, which may contribute to anticancer activity.

In most studies 3 ☕️☕️☕️ or more cups daily provide better protection than 1 cup daily. If you are sensitive to caffeine you may have to limit your consumption, ilute the coffee, drink early in the day, or switch to naturally decaffeinated.

Coffee consumption is associated with a lower risk of many cancers including endometrial cancer, liver cancer, head and neck cancer, colorectal cancer, breast cancer, prostate cancer, pharyngeal cancer, melanoma, skin cancer, kidney cancer, gastric cancer, leukemia, brain cancer, and thyroid cancer.

My preference is black coffee...