WINS protocol??

HollyHopes

I'm triple negative and very interested in following the WINS diet protocol including the seemingly important element of working closely with a dietician or nutritionist.  The research demonstrates that following the low-fat diet alone does not reduce risk of recurrence.  The combination of following the diet along with regular consultations with the nutritionist is the key.

Does anyone know of resources in Los Angeles that I could contact re: WINS??

watergirl

I don't have an answer to your question, but wanted to better understand your comment.  It must be that the diet is what counts and that most people can't properly follow it without consulations with a nutritionist,  because I don't think cancer can 'know' whether we are consulting with a nutritionist.  Isn't the goal to stay eat than 20 grams of fat a day (not easy!!)?

HollyHopes

Hi Watergirl....no, the cancer doesn't 'know', but the study results are dramatically clear.  The participants who did NOT consult with the nutritionist did worse than those who did...not in terms of complying with the diet itself...that was controlled for in the study...but in terms of the actual outcome...so, I'm looking for a nutritionist who is knowledgable about WINS and who will work with me so I can try to duplicate the study.

watergirl

HollyHopes, from what I have read the WINS control arm group was on a standard diet with limited input from a dietician (once every 3 months) and at these only discussed nututional adequacy and not encouraged to change their diet.  The other other group decreased fat intact to 20 percent of total calories (or ~30 grams of fat per day rather than ~50).  They visited a nutrionist to help them make that change in diet.  It wasn't the fact that the control arm did not consulte with a nutritionist, but that the control arm did not change their diet (the control arm consumed about ~50 grams a day while the research group consumed about 30grams).  The study did not show "that following the low-fat diet alone does not reduce risk of recurrence." The visits with the nutrionist were to educate them on how to change their diet.  I don't think you need a nutritionist that is knowledgable about WINS (not an easy task since the study is ongoing), but one that can guide you in decreasing your fat to 20 percent of total calories.  

I adopted a similar diet last winter before I knew of WINS because my fiance wanted to use it to lose weight.  Its goal was also to decrease fat intake to less than 20% of consumed calories, increase fiber to ~40 grams a day, and eleminate transfats.  The course was half trying to convince us to change our diet and the other half on how to change it.  We met 3 hours an evening, twice a week, for 8 weeks.  To get daily fat intake to less than 20% you pretty much have to eleminate just about all meat and dairy products, and become an expert on food labels.  If I hadn't had such an indepth course which included cooking classes and lots of recipies I never would of been able to do it.  I'm not a complete vegetarian (we have meat about 4 times a week instead of 2 to 3 times a day) like they suggested, but my fat intake is greatly reduced and I'm careful about what I eat. 

I encourage you to visit any nutrionist (or local program) that will educate you on how to decrease daily fat intake to 20% of consumed calories and not wait for one that knows of WINS. 

pinklemonade

What does WINS stand for? I am trip neg and have not heard of this...

maxgirl

WINS stands for Women's Intervention Nutrition Study.  Here's a link to a National Institutes of Health article about it.

http://www.nih.gov/news/pr/dec2006/nci-19.htm

Sorry, it won't hotlink.  You'll have to copy and paste. 

jeanne46

Just heard a presentation about the WINS study. Bottom line is that exercise (defined as strenuous - causing sweat- 5 days a week and a BMI of 25 or less) and being at one's ideal weight are the real keys in lowering BC risk. Unfortunately it only seemed to apply to ER/PR negative. However, eating a low-fat diet with lots of fruits and vegetables just makes common sense for staying healthy and trying to lower other risks like heart disease and diabetes.

I believe the WINS study ran out of funding and is no longer on-going.

HollyHopes

Thanks Jeanne,

Too bad that I have a BMI of 33, hate exercise and low fat foods....