Tag Archives: Healthy Eating

Living with Cancer, Stress Management

Tips on What to Eat While in Cancer Treatment

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Start Your Day and Body Off Right with a Healthy Diet!
Start Your Day and Body Off Right with a Healthy Diet!

Cancer does not exist in a vacuum. Immunotherapy for cancer takes a patient’s lifestyle, environment, and genetic tendencies into consideration in developing personalized protocols. It’s not surprising that nutrition can play an important part in successful cancer treatment.

Here are some tips from WebMD regarding healthy eating habits and dietary choices to follow during your treatment for cancer:

Healthy Eating Habits

  • Instead of waiting until you’re hungry, eat smaller meals at scheduled times of the day.
  • Eat dense, nutrient-rich foods such as avocados, nuts and beans that pack a lot of power into a small amount.
  • Make a point of plating your food using garnishes and other decorative touches to make it visually appealing.
  • During treatment, you may be more susceptible to germs. Use proper treatment methods such as washing and rinsing produce and cooking meat thoroughly.

Healthy Dietary Choices

  • At least 50 percent of each meal should come from fruits and/or vegetables, and aim for meatless meals two to three times a week.
  • Choose whole grain breads and cereals instead of so-called “white foods” made with processed and refined flour.
  • Avoid high-sugar foods that provide empty calories with no nutrition.
  • Keep items like carrot sticks, apples and berries on hand for convenient snacking.
  • Get nutrition from natural sources rather than supplements. In any case, consult your doctor before using dietary supplements, as they can interfere with treatment.

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Immunotherapy for cancer is designed to boost your own immune system’s ability to identify and fight tumors. Contact us to learn more about our non-toxic treatments such as cancer vaccines and activated NK cells.

Alternative Cancer Treatment, Cancer Care Tips, Cancer Research, Immuno-Oncology

Flavonoids Found in Fruits and Vegetables May Cut Breast Cancer Risk in Older Women

Eat Fruit To Reduce Breast Cancer?
Eat Fruit To Reduce Breast Cancer?

Here’s another reason to start eating right: a new group of scientists are looking more closely into specific molecules within fruits and vegetables called flavonoids, which show promise in reducing the risk of breast cancer. Flavonoids are molecules within fruits and vegetables found to have health and antioxidant benefits. One type of flavonoid in particular, called luteolin, is being studied for its significant benefit during hormone replacement therapy in women.

Luteolin is a plant compound that has many biological benefits such as anti-inflammation, anti-allergy and anticancer. It’s used in Chinese traditional medicine for treating multiple illnesses such as hypertension, inflammatory disorders, as well as cancer. Luteolin acts by suppressing cancer cell survival pathways, and inducing other pathways that promote cancer cell suppression.

The researchers sought to uncover luteolin’s effect on breast cancer cells and animal test subjects. They observed a reduction in tumor growth and regression in the cancer cells as luteolin blocked the cells from progressing, similar to another flavonoid called apigenin. According to the researchers, luteolin is more effective, because it has a low probability of metabolizing into a toxic compound.

The researchers stated that luteolin can be effective if it’s injected directly into the blood stream, and may one day in the future be able to be used as an IV compound.

There is still much to be learned about the many valuable components that can be derived from fruits and vegetables, such as flavonoids, which could one day lead to the discovery of new medicines. That’s a future worth looking forward to. For more information on cancer care and non-toxic treatment, contact Issels®, your Integrative Immuno-Oncology experts.