Major progress in the decline of cancer deaths has been due to prevention and management thus far, not treatment. Let’s look at one example that has moved the needle on cancer deaths: The anti-smoking campaign in the 90s focused on behavior change that led to a significant decline in smoking-linked cancers. The root of the campaign was not medical treatment, but a lifestyle change. Other chronic illnesses like diabetes, heart disease and dementia have also shown improved outcomes when lifestyle factors are fully incorporated into treatment plans. 

So, what’s the next lifestyle campaign that’s going to decrease cancer risk, incidence and mortality? Integrative Nutrition.

The trending consensus in the medical industry is that cancer is a genetic disease caused by DNA mutations. However, this is actually an effect of cancer, not the cause. Therapies based on this misunderstanding are ineffective for the majority of people as evidenced by survivability statistics. We spend hundreds of millions on clinical research that focuses on finding the cause and treatments for cancer, showing improvements of only 2-3 percent per year. Imagine how many more lives we could save if we invested that money more efficiently into prevention and overall management, especially since we already know what causes cancer.

The primary cause of cancer is explained by glucose metabolism. Otto Warburg showed that cancer cells fuel their growth by swallowing up enormous amounts of glucose, which happens in 80 percent of cancers. Here are the fast facts:

• In many cases, the more glucose a tumor consumes, the worse a patient’s prognosis.
• Healthy cells need a sufficient amount of oxygen for energy. 
• Cancer develops when these cells start using fermentation (fed by sugar) instead of oxygen as an alternative energy source. 
• Once this fermentation happens, cells have lost all of their useful body functions and only know how to grow and replicate as cancer cells. 

So, wouldn’t it make sense to focus our prevention and treatment strategies on cutting off this unhealthy alternative energy source and replacing it with healthy fuels? 

There are a lot of different views out there regarding nutrition and cancer. We recommend caution when reading or listening to any source that presents an extreme view. Although certain diets, like ketogenic or vegan, have their proven benefits for various illnesses and levels of inflammation, it is more effective to individualize nutrition to what you specifically need based on labs and how you feel. This article supports a research-based approach to reducing inflammation by filling our plates with a variety of whole food-based, colorful foods and omega-3 fatty acids. Also, test yourself for food sensitivities, like gluten or lectin, which may be causing inflammation from even healthy foods you’re eating. 

A growing body of clinical evidence shows improved outcomes when using nutritional therapies along with standard of care treatments. One example of this targeted treatment strategy is Dr. Thomas Seyfried’s studies on brain cancer. Glioblastoma is an aggressive brain tumor that has been resistant to medical treatments and interventions for decades. Dr. Seyfried used a non-toxic, diet-drug therapeutic strategy to kill tumor cells while reversing disease symptoms, and improving overall survival in mice subjects. The therapy combination also reduced edema, hemorrhage, and inflammation. 

Each healthy choice you make leaves one less cancer cell surviving in your body! Reach out to learn more.