Foods that fight Breast Cancer and recurrences

Jinglynn

Food to fight breast cancer

Verna Noel Jones
Published September 19, 2004

What you eat can have a decided effect on whether you get breast cancer or a recurrence, believes registered dietitian Roberta Anding. After her own diagnosis of breast cancer, she researched medical studies on the best cancer-fighting foods to help her stay cancer free after her remission.

In the October issue of Redbook, Anding, a nutritionist at the Texas Children's Hospital at Houston, offers her eating guidelines:

- A tablespoon of ground flaxseed daily, sprinkled on cereal.

- One or more servings daily of low-fat or fat-free dairy, such as skim milk or yogurt.

- Four to six servings daily of high-fiber foods. Look for whole-grain cereals, breads, crackers and pasta, as well as beans.

- Nine or more daily servings of fruits and vegetables. Include cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower and Brussels sprouts; red- or pink-fleshed fruits such as tomatoes, watermelon and pink grapefruit; strawberries, raspberries, blueberries and blackberries; apples and onions.

- Two or three cups of green tea weekly.

- Cold-water fish, such as salmon, mackerel, tuna, halibut, cod and sardines, three or four times a week.

- Monounsaturated fats such as canola, nut and olive oils.

Rosemary44

There is a flaxseed cereal that's sold in the health depts of food stores. Try to find one with less thiamin. It's better then eating the fish because of mercury poisoning that's supposedly ruining fresh water fish.



Thiamin, it's being said, helps promote the multiplying of cancer cells. And red raspberry seeds are supposedly the best of all the fruits in arresting cancer cell growth and so are red grapes. I think I read there is a study on-going now to prove if any of these claims are true, but I can't find the study. What the heck, we have to eat something true or not.



http://www.prostatecanceralternatives.com/Grapes%20Contain%20a%20Substance%20Called%20Ellagic%20Acid.htm

Rosemary44

Tamoxifin users,eat your veggies: Indole-3-Carbinol, or I3C is a phytochemical that is found in cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, green cabbage, cauliflower, Brussel sprouts, turnips, kale, watercress, and mustard seed.



The current options for treating breast cancer are limited to excision surgery, general chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and, in breast cancers that rely on estrogen for their growth, antiestrogen therapy. The naturally occurring chemical indole-3-carbinol (I3C), found in vegetables of the Brassica genus, is a promising anticancer agent that we have shown previously to induce a G1 cell cycle arrest of human breast cancer cell lines, independent of estrogen receptor signaling. Combinations of I3C and the antiestrogen tamoxifen cooperate to inhibit the growth of the estrogen-dependent human MCF-7 breast cancer cell line more effectively than either agent alone.

Rosemary44

Olive Oil



http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=st...cer_breast_dc_1



Scientists have discovered why eating a Mediterranean diet rich in fruits, vegetables and particularly olive oil can help to protect women from developing breast cancer.





The key is oleic acid, the main component of olive oil.





Dr Javier Menendez, of Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago, said oleic acid blocks the action of a cancer-causing oncogene called HER-2/neu which is found in about 30 percent of breast cancer patients.



"We have something now that is able to explain why the Mediterranean diet is so healthy," Menendez told Reuters.



Doctors and researchers had been aware that eating a Mediterranean diet reduced the risk of breast cancer and other illnesses such as heart disease. But until now they did not know how.



Types of Olive Oil by amount of oleic acid:



Extra virgin olive oil: virgin olive oil which has a free acidity, expressed as oleic acid, of not more than 0.8 grams per 100 grams, and the other characteristics of which correspond to those fixed for this category in this standard



Virgin olive oil: virgin olive oil which has a free acidity, expressed as oleic acid, of not more than 2 grams per 100 grams and the other characteristics of which correspond to those fixed for this category in this standard.



Ordinary virgin olive oil: virgin olive oil which has a free acidity, expressed as oleic acid, of not more than 3.3 grams per 100 grams and the other characteristics of which correspond to those fixed for this category in this standard.

Rosemary44

For those like me who dislike olive oil, I have found info an another type of oil that seem high in oleic acid, but I don't know if the amount compares with oleic acid found in olive oil.

http://www.macnutoil.com/professional.htm#aomparisons

Rosemary44

DARK CHOCOLATE – rich in antioxidants and phenethylamines to make us happy



There are many benefits to chocolate that are not well known by the general public. For instance, chocolate contains polyphenols, which are antioxidants that can prevent cancer , prevent heart disease, enhance our immune system, and give us a feeling of well-being. Polyphenols help the body's cells resist damage from free radicals, which damage cell structure and are formed in our normal body processes. Polyphenols also help inhibit platelet aggregation and activation, meaning they help prevent platelets from clumping together, therefore reducing the risk of arteriosclerosis. Fruit, vegetables, wine, and tea have polyphenolic flavonoids as well, but amazingly polyphenols are found in much higher abundance in chocolate and cocoa. It is important to note that dark chocolate contains more than twice the amount of antioxidants that milk chocolate does and has fewer calories. White chocolate, though, contains no cocoa, and therefore holds no real potential for nutritional benefits. Other health benefits of chocolate include theobromine, a chemical in chocolate that has been shown to be effective in preventing cough. Chocolate also contains healthful nutrients, such as the minerals calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, iron, zinc, potassium, B vitamins, and copper, which are essential for normal biological functions, growth, metabolism, and oxygen transport.



Chocolate can affect mood in several ways. It contains phenethylamine (PEA), which stimulates the nervous system, triggering the release of endorphins, opiate-like compounds that dull pain and give a sense of well-being. There are also chemicals in chocolate that increase the activity of dopamine, a neurotransmitter directly associated with feelings of sexual arousal and pleasure . Additionally, chocolate can also boost brain levels of serotonin, the happy neurotransmitter, especially in women who tend to be more sensitive to chocolate than men. And yet another way chocolate can make us feel good is by inhibiting the natural breakdown of anandamide, a neurotransmitter normally found small amounts in the brain, which can produce a feeling of euphoria.



Although chocolate is high in calories, it is not high in cholesterol. In fact, a recent study done by the Mayo clinic showed that flavanoids, such as those found in chocolate's antioxidants, help cut back on "bad" cholesterol while raising the levels of "good" cholesterol.

Rosemary44

Things I didn't know about eating flaxseed:



http://www.forktender.com/Cancer_Breast.pdf#search='V.%20Klein%20Breast%20Cancer'



And it's a natural blood thinner and it might interfere with absorption of vitamins and medications:



http://www.mdanderson.org/departments/ci...10100508B603A14



"Flaxseed and flaxseed oil may increase the risk of bleeding, based on early studies that show decreased clotting of blood. In human studies, people taking alpha-linolenic acid, a substance present in flaxseed, have bled longer in laboratory tests, but dangerous bleeding problems have not been reported in the available scientific literature. Caution is advised in patients with bleeding disorders, in people taking drugs that increase the risk of bleeding, and in people planning to undergo medical, surgical or dental procedures. Dosing of blood-thinning medications may need to be adjusted. In animal studies, flaxseed has increased the number of red blood cells."



and



Interactions with Drugs

Taking flaxseed (not flaxseed oil) by mouth may reduce the absorption of other medications. Drugs used by mouth should be taken one hour before or two hours after flaxseed to prevent decreased absorption.

Rosemary44

Thu Jun 9, 4:19 PM ET

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Turmeric, a yellow spice used widely in Indian cooking, may help stop the spread of cancer, U.S. researchers reported on Thursday.

Tests in mice showed that curcumin, an active compound found in turmeric, helped stop the spread of breast cancer tumor cells to the lungs.

Tests have already started in people, too, said Bharat Aggarwal of the Department of Experimental Therapeutics at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, who led the study.

"Here you don't need to worry about safety. The only thing we have to worry about is efficacy," Aggarwal said in a telephone interview.

"Curcumin, as you know, is very much an essential part of the Indian diet," he added.

"What's exciting about this agent is that it seems to have both chemopreventive and therapeutic properties. If we can demonstrate that it is efficacious in humans, it could be of tremendous value, but we're a long way from being able to make any recommendations yet," Aggarwal said.

Earlier research showed that curcumin, which acts as an antioxidant, can help prevent tumors from forming in the laboratory.

For their study, Aggarwal and colleagues injected mice with human breast cancer cells -- a batch of cells grown from a patient whose cancer had spread to the lungs.

The resulting tumors were allowed to grow, and then surgically removed, to simulate a mastectomy, Aggarwal said. Then the mice either got no additional treatment; curcumin alone; the cancer drug paclitaxel, which is sold under the brand name Taxol; or curcumin plus Taxol.

Half the mice in the curcumin-only group and 22 percent of those in the curcumin plus Taxol group had evidence of breast cancer that had spread to the lungs, Aggarwal said in a study to be presented to a breast cancer research meeting in Philadelphia.

But 75 percent of animals that got Taxol alone and 95 percent of those that got no treatment developed lung tumors.

Aggarwal said earlier studies suggest that people who eat diets rich in turmeric have lower rates of breast cancer, prostate cancer, lung cancer and colon cancer.

His team would like to try giving curcumin to women who know they have a high risk of breast cancer -- such as those who have a mother or sister with the disease.

No drug company is likely to develop a natural product that cannot be patented, he said. "There are no companies behind it so our only source of funding is either the National Institutes of Health or the Department of Defense," he said

Rosemary44

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - The combination of eating too much and exercising too little appears to significantly increase the risk of breast cancer, particularly in postmenopausal women, according to new study findings.

Investigators in the U.S. and China found that women who had an unhealthy energy balance -- meaning they weren't working off the calories they consumed -- were more than twice as likely as lean and active women to develop breast cancer. After menopause, both unhealthy habits appeared to up the risk of the cancer by nearly five-fold.

In contrast, simply overeating appeared to do little to increase breast cancer risk, the authors report in the journal Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention. [3]

"It's both (eating poorly and not exercising) together that really magnifies the risk, and makes it worse," Dr. Alecia S. Malin of Meharry Medical College in Nashville, Tennessee, told Reuters Health.

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_25321.html

Rosemary44

Another good site for foods to eat and not eat:

http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=disease&dbid=16

There's been more recent findings on Vit. E (alpha-tocopherols type) then what he writes. Alpha reduces the Gamma and Delta which supposedly are cancer fighters.

And at the bottom soy is explained as to why it may not be healthy for us to consume because of the way it's processed.

sheila52

Rosemary.
I just came across the web site you mentioned, the World's Healthiest Foods, and was going to recommend it. I liked doing the food advisor questionnaire and getting specific advise on how I could improve my diet. Of course, the Eating Right for Your Disease section is helpful too.

I liked that they aren't selling anything except a healthier diet. Also, I found the information on organic foods, which kinds of cookware are better, etc. really good. Then, references are included to back up what is recommended. I had heard about curcumin and found ways to incorporate it into my diet.

I decided to get more serious about what I'm putting into my body after the recent studies showing that diet can make a difference in recurrence. I have switched to olive oil entirely, reduced consumption of meat and increased fish, and am limiting dairy and sugar among other strategies. Basically a Mediterranean diet.
To good health,
Sheila

steve02a

Has anyone ever heard of and/or used Pau d'Arco and/or echinacea? My gf takes them (in pill and tea) to help boost her white blood cell count - since chemo just destroys the count. It doesn't help her energy wise, but keeps her #'s up.

Agie

That was really interesting reading and exactly what I'm looking for - thanks. I also found The Cancer Project has some good information, although they think fish should be taken out of the equation. I'm no expert but still think omega oils in fish are supposed to be good for us.

Rosemary44

Omega oils are good for us in fish oil pill form. So far the pills are testing safe because they use small fish which haven't picked up the pollutants yet. What a world.

Constantlyhope-2005Aug10

Thank you so much, Rosemary, for collecting all this information. I'm willing to try anything and I found the website for the world's healthiest food very interesting. Unfortunatley, I already do so much of it,but still there's room for improvement. Thanks for accumulating everything.

myra

Rosemary -- Just wanted to add my thanks for providing all this info. Like ConstanceDiane I also do most of this already, but the info about eating more eggs was new to me. (Let us know if you find any more about why eggs are good for us BC survivors).

Rosemary44

Thank you Myra and Constance,

About the eggs, I can say pretty accurately that I ate a lot of eggs as a teenager and here I am anyway. It was basically the only thing I knew how to cook.

http://www.drweil.com/u/QA/QA239776/

auntmooshka

Don't forget broccoli and broccoli sprouts!

Rosemary44

Ok, I'll see your broccoli and raise you one chinese cabbage:

http://dwp.bigplanet.com/tonyhere/cabbage/

Cancer Fighters
Like other cruciferous vegetables, cabbage contains indoles, phytonutrients that seem to deactivate powerful estrogens that stimulate the growth of tumors, particularly in the breast. Another compound in bok choy, called brassinin, has also been linked to preventing breast tumors.

NancyF

Hi I'm NancyF. New to discussion/chatrooms. Never participated in one before. Always glad to see good foods as a method of combatting this disease. Have always been a big fruit and vegatable eater. Just read 2 magazine articles on the benefits of seaweed extract and maitake mushrooms in fighting breast cancer tumors. Hope someone finds this helpful.

Rosemary44

Extra fiber in our diets aides in escorting estrogen out of our body instead of storing it which seems to do more harm then good for some of us.

http://www.healthcastle.com/fiber-solubleinsoluble.shtml

Rosemary44

Balance of Essential Fats May Prevent Bone Loss After Menopause
WEST LAFAYETTE, IN -- July 13, 2005 -- Maintenance of a proper balance of dietary fats may ward off much of the bone loss associated with post-menopausal osteoporosis, according to a recent study by scientists at Purdue University and the Indiana University School of Medicine.

The researchers found that diets with a low ratio of omega-6 fatty acids to omega-3 fatty acids minimized the bone loss typically brought on by estrogen deficiency, which is common in post-menopausal females. Omega-6 fatty acids are typically found in foods such as grains and beef, while omega-3 fatty acids are found in foods such as walnuts and salmon.

http://www.docguide.com/news/content.nsf...er&count=10

Anonymous

Rosemary,
After finishing chemo 7/11 I have been taking a good amount of supplements, enjoying a technicolor diet most of the time, and feel very good.
My question is, when do you think the best time to take supplements is? My health food store friend told me to take them with a good meal that has a little oil in it.
I take them in the morning with my steel cut oats that has a bit of olive oil, walnuts, dried cranberries, candied ginger, blueberries and ground flax seed...(all very yummy)
After reading your posts, I am thinking the supplements might not be optimally absorbed due to flax seed in my oatmeal?
When do you think taking supplements is best for optimum absorption?
Thank you and thank you for all your info, not only is it helpful, it is inspiring!

Laura

Rosemary44

Laura,



Sorry for the late reply, I didn't see your post till now.



I've read that vitamin C should be taken after breakfast with water.



Co Q 10 should be taken with an oil based food if there isn't any oil in the pill.



Calcium & Magnesium supplements should be taken after some food, no matter what kind they are, i.e., carbonate or citrate. If you can take a calcium dose close to bedtime, that's when all the bone blasting goes on when we're sleeping.



We later found out that you'd have to be eating loads of wheat bran for it to interfere with cal/mag absorption.



When in doubt about getting the full absorption, like when you're having flax, we should wait 2 hours after a meal to take the supplement, then we're safe. Or take the supplement 1 hour before a meal.



I also read that those of us who are on a fosamax or actonel type pill should really wait one hour to have any food and 4 hours before taking any other meds or supplements for that type pill to be fully absorbed.



And no grapefruit or its juice if on tamoxifen or a statin drug. I hope this helps.



Rosemary

Rosemary44

An informative list of foods and their medicinal use:



http://www.naturalways.com/medValFd.htm

inspiewriter

Quote:

---

Things I didn't know about eating flaxseed:

http://www.forktender.com/Cancer_Breast.pdf#search='V.%20Klein%20Breast%20Cancer'

---

I read that too, but in the chat transcripts on this board from last week, the guest doctor said flax acted as an estrogen and made me nervous enough to stop using it.

What do you guys think?

inspiewriter

Quote:

---

Has anyone ever heard of and/or used Pau d'Arco and/or echinacea?

---

Not echinacea, but I have found sucking on zinc lozenges really does eliminate/shorten the common cold!!

inspiewriter

http://www.aacr.org/default.aspx?p=1066&d=536


Foods That Fight Cancer

Rosemary44

Mediterranean diet has anti-inflammatory effects:

Mar 09 (Reuters Health) - Sticking to a Mediterranean diet, high in fruits and vegetables and low in saturated fats, lowers levels of inflammation in the elderly, as reflected by lower levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), research shows. This effect should, in turn, lead to a lower risk of cardiovascular disease that has been associated with this type of diet.
CRP is a marker of inflammation that has been tied to the risk of heart disease, heart attack, and stroke.

Researchers from the Stanford School of Medicine in California studied the effect of diet on CRP levels in blood in 911 healthy individuals -- 326 women and 585 men -- whose average age was 66 years. Subjects were followed from January 2002 through December 2003.

Researchers assessed adherence to a Mediterranean diet with a food frequency questionnaire, from which they formulated the Mediterranean Diet Score, based on intake of fruits, vegetables, legumes, nuts, seeds and grains, meat and meat products, dairy products, fish, alcohol and the mono-unsaturated-to-saturated fat ratio. Total scores ranged from 0 to 9 for adherence to the diet. Plasma CRP levels were measured periodically.

At the American Heart Association's 46th Annual Conference on Cardiovascular Disease Epidemiology, held this past weekend in Phoenix, Dr. Joan M. Fair reported that Mediterranean Diet Score correlated negatively with CRP level.

Each one-point increase in Mediterranean Diet Score was associated with a decrease in CRP of 0.14 mg/L in women and a decrease in CRP of 0.10 mg/L in men.

"The (positive) effects of the Mediterranean diet might be the anti-oxidant components of fruits and vegetables," Fair told Reuters Health, "and the anti-inflammatory effects of the diet may be one explanation for its protective effect against cardiovascular disease."

"There are other markers of inflammation that we haven't assessed yet in terms of diet, such as high coronary artery content, which we found in 200 patients. We have the blood available, we just haven't run the tests yet," Fair said.

Rosemary44

Ginger Causes Ovarian Cancer Cells To Die, U-M Researchers Find



http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/medicalnews.php?newsid=41021&nfid=rssfeeds

HeyJude

More about Ginger..
It also really helps settle your stomach, naturally. I buy bags of crytalized ginger and chew it when I'm nervous (before doctor visits!) and in the car to help with nausea. It's sweet and then very strong, but does the trick. Ginger snaps and green tea are getting me through chemo, too! Look for the low fat ones in Trader Joes.

- Jude