Flaxseed - Johanna Budwig protocol and ER/PR -

trigeek

Flaxseed - Johanna Budwig protocol and ER/PR -

trigeek

Hey Gals !

I am inquiring  for one of my friends.,

What is the scoop with ER/PR - gals and flaxseed ?

Would the Johanna Budwig regimen still be good for them ?

Thoughts ?

HollyHopes

What's the Johanna Budwig regimen?

trigeek

Johanna Budwig (30 September 1908-19 May 2003) was a German chemist, pharmacologist and physicist. She developed and promoted the Budwig diet, which centers around the regular consumption of foods rich in linolenic and linoleic acids.

Flaxseed oil (cold-pressed, unprocessed) and low fat cottage cheese are the mainstay of Budwig's cancer diet (also used for heart disease).

The two unsaturated fatty acids have 3 high-energy double bonds (pi-electrons) in their outer electron shells. These fatty acids affect the membranes of cells and are believed to affect oxygen transport and assimilation. Budwig's concept was that the omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids act to repair damaged cell walls and affect chemical communication of cancer cells to the point where they normalize.

In addition to the above components, the Budwig diet advocates the consumption of organic vegetable juices (most prominently carrot juice) and polyphenols such as reservatol(found in red wine). The diet bans consumption of animal and hydrogenated fats, foods high in preservatives, meats, and especially sugar. She advocated the consumption of whole foods which contain antioxidants in their natural form.

Budwig claimed this diet would cure or prevent many forms of cancers, particularly breast and prostate cancer, and a long list of other degenerative disease including cardiovascular diseases and skin diseases.

trigeek

I have been eating 2.5 Tbsp freshly ground flaxseed with 1/4 cup lowfat cottage cheese. But her oncologist did not want her to eat flaxseed even though she is ER/PR -, we are trying to figure out why.

Shirlann

Oh wow, I was told NO FLAXSEED because it mimics estrogen!  Go figure. 

Hugs, Shirlann

FloridaLady

Trigeek,  Ask her to talk to a natural doctor.  It is who she is asking is the issue

Flalady

TenderIsOurMight

Well, it would be hard to ask Johanna unless we do a conference call to higher places. LOL.



This diet seems to be not bad to me.



Omega3 fatty acids get incorporated into our red blood cells, which carry the oxygen, trying I guess in cancer to get to the parts of tumor growth which is deplete of oxygen (the more central, inner part of tumor). That is where harmful anaerobic oxidation occurs (oxygen-less), switching on protein productions which feed cancer, as well as limiting chemotherapy apoptosis (cell death).



A higher Omega 3 to Omega 6 ratio in one's blood stream has been studied and seems beneficial to good health (omega 6 being found in meats, fats).



As to Flaxseed, well many papers suggest it, unlike Soy, raises estrogen receptor beta which is touted to balance the common estrogen receptor alpha (currently the one measured in our tumors). Flaxseed has other benefits too, like lowering insulin-like growth factor and epidermal growth factor in animal studies. Maybe someone else will chime in.



It's a shame this Flaxseed issue (lenoleic acid) can't be decided in ER+ state one way or the other. I checked the MSKCC CAM site (http://www.mskcc.org/mskcc/html/69220.cf) and here is their quote:



"Warnings

Since flaxseed has phytoestrogenic effects, patients with estrogen receptor positive (ER+) type of breast cancer should use flaxseed with caution."



It is because of this last bit, the lack of proven benefit and not harm, that as Shirley's doc said (and I take it Shirley applies) I gave up flaxseed (ground, 1 or 2 tsp on my bran giving it a nutty taste that i liked) years ago.



Someday I might read differently, and enjoy the Johanna Budwig's protocol.



Tender

trigeek

There were a couple of studies that I read that convinced me to the benefits of flaxseed even though I am er+.

"Flaxseed alone or in combination with tamoxifen inhibits MCF-7 breast tumor growth in ovariectomized athymic mice with high circulating levels of estrogen."

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17720953?ordinalpos=2&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum

Dietary flaxseed interaction with tamoxifen induced tumor regression in athymic mice with MCF-7 xenografts by downregulating the expression of estrogen related gene products and signal transduction pathways. 

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17640162?ordinalpos=1&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_RVAbstractPlusDrugs1

From another thread on this board:

HI LADIES, FOUND THE E-MAIL DR. HORNER SENT TO ME. MY DR. DIDN'T RECOMMENT IT, AND THE FOLLOWING LETTER WAS DR. HORNER'S RESPONSE..

<font>Your doctor is not familiar with the medical literature on flax seeds and breast cancer. Flaxseeds are considered the most powerful anti-breast cancer food you can eat. Lilian Thompson is the world's most premier researcher on flaxseeds and have found that they inhibit the growth of and shrink tumors. Brevail is made of the lignans found in flax seeds and they have over a dozen ways that they deter the growth of breast cancer.</font>

<font>There have been no studies with Brevail and Arimidex. Arimidex works by blocking an enzyme that makes estrogen. Brevail also blocks this enzyme. In addition,  Brevail helps to lower the risk of breast cancer in 10 other ways: it lowers the overall production of estrogen in our bodies, blocks environmental estrogens from attaching to breast tissue, creates more of a "good" protective type of estrogen, protects our breast tissue from the damaging effects of environmental toxins, decreases 3 different growth factors associated with the growth of breast cancer, and lengthens the menstrual cycle. Women who take Brevail also report that their perimenopausal symptoms including hot flashes and mood swings improve. The company has a money-back guarantee on their product, so if for any reason you are not satisfied, you can contact them and get your money back.</font>

<font> </font><font>If you must take Tamoxifen you'll be interested in knowing that a study last year showed that the lignans found in flax (what Brevail is made from) enhances the effectiveness of Tamoxifen. </font>

<font> </font><font>You should also be doing everything research shows will help stop breast cancer growth. I just completed years of studying the medical literature to discover ways woman can help protect themselves from and fight breast cancer. I found about 40 different "natural" approaches with good solid research showing substantial effects. I have a book that was recently released called Waking the Warrior Goddess: Dr. Christine Horner's Program to Protect Against and Fight Breast Cancer that describes all of these approaches. Here are a few suggestions:

1) Favor a plant based diet high in fresh organically grown fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.
2) Eat 3 tablespoons of ground organic flaxseeds everyday (or take Brevail) along with 1 TBS of fresh organic flax oil (Barlean's is an excellent brand)
3) Drink green tea 6-8 cups per day or take a green tea supplement
4) Take a good multivitamin every day. I recommend New Chapter's "Every Woman."
5) Cook  with the spices Turmeric, garlic, and rosemary or take them as a supplement
6) Avoid red meat -- especially grilled or well done meat
7) Avoid sugar, alcohol, smoking, saturated animal fats, and transfats
8) The following supplements have been found to lower your risk: Brevail, CoQ10, Maitake mushrooms, CLA, Wakame seaweed (don't take until you are through with the radioactive iodine treatments because it is high in iodine) , Zyflamend by New Chapter herbs
9) Regular aerobic exercise can reduce your risk of breast cancer by 30- 50%
10) Go to bed by 10 PM in a perfectly dark room.</font><font> </font>

<font>11) For convenience, cost effectiveness and quality assurance, I worked with Enzymatic Therapy to make a supplement called Protective Breast Formula. It has 7 supplements in 1 capsule. You can order it on http://www.drchristinehorner.com/ or call 866-795-3517.


I hope this has been helpful,</font>

<font> </font>

<font> Christine Horner, MD
Order my book, Waking the Warrior Goddess: Dr. Christine Horner's Program to Protect Against and Fight Breast Cancer, Winner of the Independent Publisher Book Award "Best Book of the Year in Health, Medicine, and Nutrition 2006" on http://www.amazon.com/or http://www.amazon.com/ or  http://www.barnesandnoble.com / or ask your local bookstore to order it in</font>

<font> </font>

So even though I am er/pr+ all these made sense to me. But what I do not understand is the implications for er/pr- gals. After all they should be getting all the benefits without the risks right ?

FL Lady she is not living in the US and I am trying to hook her up with an alternative doctor there..in the meantime she is trying to parallel her alternative treatment with mine.

TenderIsOurMight

Interesting, Trigeek. Thanks for posting this. I will read more.



Is Johanna still alive then? I misunderstood from the post above.



Tender

carolynf

I am not sure if Dr. Budwig is alive (I think she is) but my brother has been into reading books on cancer (yes, due to me) and passing information on.  He gave me a book called "Flax Oil as a True Aid Against Arthritis, Heart Infarction, Cancer and other diseases" by Dr. Budwig.  She has been brought to court in Europe because of her findings of flax oil and diseases and she has never lost.  She also has a cookbook "Oil Protien Diet" which I have not seen but am interested in.  I have been doing flaxseed oil since i started chemo.  My onc is fine w/it.  I also met a woman whose daughter was diagnosed w/cancer at 2 months.  She brought her to Beth Israel Hosp. in Boston and they believe in standard treatment w/alternative (this is 12 yrs ago).  Flaxseed oil was one of the items along w/Noni juice and Essiac tea.  I personnally do not like the taste of the Essiac tea but i do drink noni juice daily.  Her daughter has been cancer free for 10yrs.  I believe in talking to my onc before taking anything but so far he has agreed w/my alternative ways along w/his standard treatment.  BTW, the book is short..59 pages from her lecture on this.

Carolyn

jdash

i was told no flaxseed oil too   it mimics estrogen  i also was told no soy product like tofu edename beans soy beans etc   - all promotes estrogen

all of this is sooooo confusing  wish everyone would agree

LUVmy2girlZ

jdash ~  Now I am confused....your ER/PR - so it isn't estrogen receptive to begin with why would you be told no flaxseed ?

Interesting article...I always thought food in itself is a chemical...it can respond from person to person...I myself am not a "big meat eater" nor drink...only social occasions, nor smoke....HOWEVER, chocolate/sugar is my downfall and lack of exercise.  Since BC does not run in my family it does make one wonder what foods based for that individual.

okay, I'm getting my juicer back out !

Much LUV

jdash

i was surprised to since i am estrogen negative  have to go back in my notes  why would i be told no soy products-  i know for sure i was and i did say i was trip neg several times

Dejaboo

bumping this to see if anyone has new thoughts or Ideas to add.   I was planning on adding flaxseed to my diet before DX.

Now I do not know what to do about it.  I feel it has other good health benefits.

I am ER+ only 18% though & PR-...

Pam

Shirlann

Hi I was told that soy mimics estrogen.  That is why we are supposed to limit this product.  Also, I was told no flaxseed, other than that which is natural, no supplements.

Who know for sure?

Hugs, Shirlann 

jason222

Hi,

Since the budwig protocol recommends cottage cheese, and some has mention that dairy product is not good for BC survivor, what do you think of this?

Should cottage cheese be taken as well?

FloridaLady

Jason222,

The is a small amount of cottage cheese.  This is not about dairy... it is about the sulfer in the cottage cheese that is part of the procotol. 

Flalady