RSSBOOK REVIEW : FOODS THAT FIGHT CANCER – ONE BOOK EVERYONE MUST READ
November 17, 2007
Run screaming from the miracle drugs
Finding food advice that is reliable and founded on great research and common sense is as hard to find as makeup advice with the same attributes. Research has not discovered everything there is to know, not even close, but it’s not as far behind as people think.
Yes, it’s great to think that there are hidden magical treasure ingredients out there, hand-picked from the edges of volcanoes that will change your life, but you need to be very careful with that. Safety studies, ideal dosages, and truth in labeling of the bottles are barely regulated.
There is so much goofy information and so many dangerous products out there that some reference to solid research is extremely important. Do not assume that there is a government agency dedicated to evaluating the safety or risk of that pill you put under your tongue that shoots energy into your bloodstream. If it sounds too good to be true, be nervous about putting it in your mouth. Who knows what is really being shot into your bloodstream?
Vital information about food and health
Foods That Fight Cancer
An excellent book entitled Foods That Fight Cancer, Preventing Cancer Through Diet, was given to me recently. Written by two scientists from the University of Quebec in Montreal, it describes in a story-telling form what cancer is and how certain foods can help block tumors from growing. Not only is it a terrific story, it is written in totally non-sciency way.
Following a simple and beautiful dedication, Drs. Beliveau and Gingras begin with a cancer map of the world. Did you know that only a very tiny proportion of cancers are caused by pollution or pesticides? And that a only a small minority are caused by genetics? The history of what has been learned by migration of people to new cultures with new dietary practices is a fascinating read.
The conclusion? That way, way-way, over half of cancer is self-inflicted. With every cigarette you light, with every day you just sat on the couch instead of going for that walk, for every bit of crap food you ate, you chose to play the odds. Know that the odds are against you.
Wow, that’s harsh. I know it’s harsh. Hey, I do not want you, friend of mine, to tell me you have colon cancer 10 years from now. I want you to live till you’re 90 and rejoice in every day that you’re still here.
The timeless search for a fountain of youth
Especially fascinating to me was the section that reflects on how human beings came to eat certain foods in the first place. Over millions of years, by trial and error, with careful documentation and many poisoning events, ancient cultures learned first, which foods were safe, and secondly which foods had benefits beyond just nourishment.
We are hardly the first society to seek longevity. Ancient cultures have sought freedom from disease and eternal life long before we came along. They carefully observed the medicinal and age-defying properties of foods for the centuries of human existence when food was the only means of achieving these desires. In fact, many of today’s cancer-blocking medications mimic the way the food works, but with many more side-effects.
Anti-oxidant is not anti-cancer
I was also very interested in the distinction between ‘anti-oxidant’ and ‘anti-cancer’. Some weak anti-oxidants are powerful cancer fighters, and vice versa. Anti-oxidants may have anti-aging effects. They may indeed fight cancer by a means other than their ability to neutralize free radicals.
There will no doubt be controversy on this topic for some time to come. This article on the anti-oxidant link, though 3 years old now, tells us that there is still much to be learned about the connection between anti-oxidant power and cancer
Eat the food, not the supplement
Among the final chapters is a thoughtful discussion on why natural foods are so much more effective than supplement. It is the combination of molecules in foods that have their incredible effects, not just one isolated compound. Once the single compound is chemically removed from its plant cell home, it is of questionable use. In fact, it might be harmful to take the product in this way. There are no easy shortcuts in little bottles. Get yourself to the grocery store
11 Great foods you should be eating
The book then goes on to discuss 11 specific foods, or food families, and how they work to slow or prevent tumor growth. Since each works by a different mechanism, it is essential to get to know (and eat) them all.
I loved the chapter on Green Tea since I’m trying to get more of it into my life, as you can read from the article Matcha Tea. There is information on which is the best green tea from a cancer-fighting perspective, how long to brew the tea (it’s not 5 minutes), and which black tea still retains significant tumor-blocking effect (I’m buying some of that today).
I also enjoyed the chapter on red wine. It was interesting to learn about the unbelievable complexity of the stuff and the information about which red wines contain more of the magic – but it’s not magic at all; the reason why these wines are better is explained, and it is very cool. Since I’ve discontinued supplements, red wine is where some of my health dollars will be going. It won’t be much because the quantity recommended for women to achieve the balance between benefit and risk is 1 to 2 glasses a day. Perfect.
Will this become mainstream medicine?
I wonder how many of the people afflicted with this most horrible disease know about this book. I wonder also how the medical community regards it. It seems to me that anytime you have a diet-responsive disease, you must exploit that to the fullest. Here is why : there are no side effects. The most you have to lose by trying it is nothing. That is extremely significant to my mind.
It may be that doctors feel that they are more familiar with the effects of drugs, or that parents expect more than to be told to go home and feed their child raspberries. Controlled studies of large groups of people exist, so it’s not clear to me why every medical doctor is not recommending this diet to all their patients. Sure, the knowledge will evolve and change but it seems irrefutable that there is truth in the notion that food affects the growth of tumor cells.
Make your life the best that it can be
My approach to life, and yours too, I hope, is about learning to make the voyage outstanding. Every day, with its headaches and its annoyances, should still be exactly where you want to be. There are a thousand ways to get there and you’ll find the one that’s right for you once you start looking. Every single one of those ways requires you to take some control and responsibility.
Respect for a healthy body is so important because it allows us to enjoy and celebrate an inspired mind. It’s not easy to find the fantastic stuff, so let me find it for you. This book is not something you should just let pass you by
Comments
8 Responses to “BOOK REVIEW : FOODS THAT FIGHT CANCER – ONE BOOK EVERYONE MUST READ”
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A Greener Tea
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Wow, great article and I totally agree. I think diseases like cancer can also be caused by long term emotional stuff though.
I’ve just given up refined sugar (sucrose) because I read a book called Sugar Blues and it talks about how many diseases are linked to sucrose. It was scary enough for me to kick my sugar habit. It’s been 8 days now and I’m already feeling the difference
I love what you said about supplements too. It’s so true, if you eat enough organic fruit and veg, nuts, legumes and seeds then there should be no need for supplements!
Great Review Christine. Some real food for thought (no pun intended). Think I’ll Digg this one.
Thanks for the comments.
Fran – do you find you notice how very sugary many foods taste after you’ve done without sugar for awhile? even ‘non-dessert’ food like cereal or bread.
PS – check out the very end of my article called ‘Movement Is Not About Weight Loss’.
You can thank me later. : ))
Carol from the Federal Trade Commission shared this important information:
The Federal Trade Commission has important information about products advertised on the internet that claim to treat or cure cancer. Many of them are scams — and frankly, when the diagnosis is cancer, a scam is the last thing you need. You can find the information at http://www.ftc.gov/curious. Download or embed a 90-second video that shows the signs of a cancer treatment scam, or grab the web buttons and free content for your site, blog, newsletter, or magazine. By sharing these resources with the readers of A Greener Tea, you can help us get this important information to many more people.
Thanks so much for your help in getting this important health message to folks.
Carol Kando-Pineda
Federal Trade Commission
ckando@ftc.gov