Everything good for you is bad for you??? I can't keep up!

umakemehappy

So I hate avocados but they are soooooo good for you, so I've been adding them to my morning smoothies for years now.

Then, I see this posted:

Avocados are not recommended for breast cancer

(https://foodforbreastcancer.com/foods/avocados)

I also loaded up my smoothies with ground flaxseeds. I then read that those are bad for +++ breast cancer, so I quickly cut those out. In looking for that study, all I can find is this, which seems to think flaxseed is actually GOOD now?

Flaxseeds and Breast Cancer

(https://www.oncologynutrition.org/erfc/healthy-nutrition-now/foods/flaxseeds-and-breast-cancer)

Going back another step, my blood work during chemo showed that one of my levels was a little low, and googling told me that B12 would help. So for my last 4 taxols, I started taking B12. Then I find out:

B12 Use During Chemo May Increase Risk for Breast Cancer Recurrence

(https://www.cancernetwork.com/breast-cancer/antioxidant-supplement-use-during-chemo-may-increase-risk-breast-cancer-recurrence)

We can't win, can we????????

ajminn3

So true! I can’t keep up with all the “do/don’t” eat or drink stuff. This post gave me a good laugh. We truly can’t win!!

umakemehappy

Right!??? And don't get me started on sesame seeds! I looooove my sesame bagels, and love sesame seeds sooooo much. Now this????!!!

Sesame seeds and sesame oil have different effects on breast cancer for different women

(https://foodforbreastcancer.com/foods/sesame-seeds-and-sesame-oil)

So can I eat them? Or no? LOLOLOLOL Laughing so I don't cry!

ajminn3

haha, def can’t eat them. Guess it’s only water for us...OH WAIT:

https://www.verywellhealth.com/does-drinking-cold-water-cause-cancer-513631

If I don’t find some humor in this whole situation I may spend my days crying! Also, disclaimer- this link it just posted as a joke, I absolutely no vetting of it as an actual resource...There’s just so much out there pulling back and forth between “good and bad” for you! It’s truly ridiculous and overwhelming

umakemehappy

LOLOLOLOLOL!!!!! WATER!!!!!!! hahahahaha!!!!!!

Spookiesmom

Breathing can cause cancer!!

Everything in moderation. If I want it, I’ll eat it.

DogMomRunner

I’m not sure I can breathe in moderation.

I just try to eat as much plant based as I can and as Spookiesmom said in moderation. But if an occasional avocado is going to kill me, then so be it.

gb2115

Hi there---I went and looked through this information. When I look at what they wrote about avocados, nothing in there makes me think that eating avocados is bad for us. First, the study on avocado oil was a rat study. It's not necessarily the same thing as what would happen in our bodies, nor is eating avocados the same as ingesting what probably amounts to large amounts of avocado oil. Did the rats have the equivalent of a teaspoon of oil a day, or 5 cups? Second, even if avocados do increase the circulating estrogen level, that's something that the tamoxifen takes care of, by blocking estrogen receptors. My oncologist has never once told me to stop things that could "raise estrogen." She tells me to take my tamoxifen and told me to eat a balanced diet. Third, you probably aren't eating avocado leaves? I didn't even know that's a thing.

The flaxseed article discusses possible problems from taking it in supplement form--which ground flaxseed achieves in certain amounts. Same with B12. They do tell you to avoid supplementation during chemo and sometimes radiation because tumor cells can feed off of certain nutrients. I think they are sometimes ok with you taking a mild multivitamin, but to avoid single nutrient supplements which tend to be megadoses (unless you are found deficient via lab testing--and then the oncologist would advise yay or nay).

Something else to consider is this: none of us know what caused our breast cancer, so it's hard to pin down certain things and label them as good or bad when it comes to BC. I really think eating in moderation is the way to go--think normal eating, normal amounts of food and avoiding excessive amounts of foods that you think are good, and not avoiding things you love when there's no solid proof of harm. Avoiding things you love is only going to drive you nuts, especially if you aren't eating them to excess.

Another thing to consider is the lack of credentials behind the person running the website you were looking at. Not to say that everything she says on there is incorrect, but when you see a lack of credentials on a website telling you what to do to take care of your cancer, you have to look at everything with a grain of salt, and really dig in to see if the science is actually there. I haven't looked at this website until now, so it's just a caution. Based on what I saw at quick glance, I would be cautious.

AliceBastable

You can't look at it with a grain of salt! Don't you know salt is also bad for you? 😁

Maryjv

🤣🤣🤣 oh I needed this!! All with a grain of salt-have ensentially been trying to avoid a lot of red meat and sugar but today after port removal surgery a milk bobatea just hit the spot!!! Everything in moderation❤️

gb2115

AliceBastable, lol!!!!!!

Yogatyme

I’m with you Soookiesmom. I think there could be a correlation between diet & cancer, but there are too many factors that play into cancer developing and who knows what combinations contribute to this. I ultimately move forward with reason, but in many ways it’s a crap shoot. People in Flint, Michigan thought making their kids drink water was a good thing.....we all know how that turned out.

MinusTwo

This made my day. My motto is moderation. Yes, more fruit & more fiber - but literally anything else I want in moderation.

WC3

No, we can't win!

Of course the problem with using diet and lifestyle to prevent health issues is, you never get to find out what you have prevented. You only know what you didn't prevent.

Spookiesmom

I like the way cats seem to do it.

If I fits, I sits. So, if I want, I get.

I’m not going to eat the whole thing. A normal size portion will do. You would have to snarf a whole lot of something every day and even then it may, or may not cause cancer. I can’t make myself crazier by trying to keep track of what is, or isn’t carcinogenic. Some enjoy the research. I don’t. I enjoy what I do. Which is eating what I want.

I have other dietary restrictions due to meds and illnesses besides cancer. Fortunately chocolate isn’t on that list.

Candilea

I was just going through a fit of this the other day! I came across something talking about the estrogenic qualities of various fruit, including strawberries. Strawberries!! It really was making me crazy.

MelissaDallas

And asparagus! (asparagine is a carcinogen I’m just not going to worry about it.

T-Dahl

Thank you ladies for finding the humor in this because it’s been making me a little crazy. I’ve just started down my BC journey. I see everything from a different perspective especially food choices. (Which honestly I’ve always felt like I made healthy ones). I just told my husband last night.... my food choices have kept me going for 48 years without any health issues until now. So here’s hoping for another 48 years!! Cheers! 🥑🥦🍉🍓🍏🥬🥒

Lucy55

Oh no ! My favourite breakfast is smashed avocado on toast with a soft poached egg on top...in fact I think I'm addicted to it ..No..I'm sure I can't give it up ! Probably the egg is bad too 🥴

WC3

T-Dahl:

If there is a magic diet cure for cancer, I don't think it would be a one size fits all deal.

I've avoided soy for years and I have cut back on cheese but I don't think either was responsible for the cancer.

YesIamaDragon

When I was a kid Joe Jackson had a song, "Everything Causes Cancer" and for the past week it has been stuck in my head as an earworm.

You know, I am a vegetarian teetotaler who has always exercised and meditated regularly, always had a "healthy weight" and I still got cancer. Random mutations are random.

Ironically, after consulting a nutritionist about healthiest cooking oils I just bought some avocado oil! And I am not going to worry about it.

Well, I am going to try not to worry about it -- no promises for the dark alleys my mind wanders into at 2 am!

FNPMom

I had elevated liver enzymes on kadcyla - research showed (in rats 😂) that vit c, alpha lipoic acid and milk thistle helps - with milk thistle having impact on estrogen - I did vit c and alpha lipoic acid - my onc who ok’d my plan, was amazed at how quickly my liver enzymes bounced back and is stable - now this, recurrence on those taking vit c - I don’t like that - I cut down the vit c this past week and I developed a cold - maybe just eat cuties and watch my liver enzymes

morrigan_2575

This is the perfect thread, I can't keep up. Everything is good/bad depending on study.

The cold water killed me because that's all I drink now.

Ingerp

This has been a fun thread. My only comment is that while I keep up with BC-related research (eggs!?!?!—who knew?), the dietary changes I’ve made over the last several years have been more about eating healthier rather than specific changes to reduce recurrence risk. Mostly.

Valentine214

Just my 2 cents.......I was told to incorporate more calcium into my diet due to osteoporosis risk factors so made sure to eat more calcium rich veg and a glass of milk with a Siggi's (Icelandic yougart) daily. Just read a study linking milk and milk products with a high increase in breast cancer diagnosis. WTAF??!!!!!

umakemehappy

Valentine214: You didn't include the link to the study you are referring to, so I may be way off, but I *think* the concern with dairy is just for dairy that contains growth hormones? I only buy dairy that is rBGH (rBST)-free, and so I *think* that's ok?

As far as YOUR yogurt, their site says: "siggi's is not certified organic, however we work with farms that do not use any kind of growth hormones such as rBST. All of siggi's products are all natural, made with non-GMO ingredients, and without artificial sweeteners or colorings. We keep our ingredient list simple and ensure that our products are made with the best, non-GMO-verified ingredients."

Valentine214

https://news.llu.edu/research/new-study-associates...

I only use organic dairy products except for the yogurt because they unfortunately don't make one. I really love coffee with 1/2 & 1/2. It was actually one if the only things that I could consume during chemo that didn't taste awful. I have always said that life without coffee isn't worth living. (yes, I have tried alternative creamers, drinking it black, etc. YUCK!!) Cancer just sucks!!

Sunshine99

DogMom, I thought you wrote "paint based diet". I misread the "plant based diet". Probably "plant based" is better than "paint based". You never know, though, right?

We gotta laugh. Now, what to eat today??? Fasting, maybe? Is that good or bad?

DogMomRunner

I don't know Sunshine, paint based would certainly be a more colorful diet.