Cancer Fighting Foods
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Studies on immune cell activity (including NK cells) show that they are at their best when our diets are healthy, our environment is “clean” and our physical activity involves the entire body (not just our brains and hands). Immune cells are also sensitive to our emotions. They react positively to emotional states where joy and feelings of connection with those around us predominate. It is as if our immune cells mobilise all the better when they are in the service of a life that is objectively worth living.
Immune cell activity is reduced by sedentary lifestyle, polluted environment, stress, anger, depression, social isolation, denial of one’s true identity and unhealthy junk foods. On the other hand, immune cell activity is enhanced by regular physical activity, clean environment, serenity, joy, laughter, light-heartedness, support from family and friends, acceptance of self with one’s own values and past history and nutritious healthy foods.
Immune Cells and Will to Live
It has been demonstrated that women with breast cancer who are better able to face the disease psychologically had many more active NK immune cells than those who sank into depression and helplessness. Also those felt loved and supported by their family and friends and who kept up their morale/positive attitude had more combative NK cells than those who felt alone, abandoned and emotionally distraught.
It is considered that the white blood cells of the immune system — NK cells and T and B lymphocytes — are particularly sensitive to feelings of helplessness (a conviction that nothing can be done to overcome the disease) and the ensuing loss of will to live. It is as if the emotional state observed from the outside in the individual’s behaviour is reflected identically in the internal behaviour of immune cells. When a person gives up, feeling that life is no longer worth living, the immune system lays down its arms as well.
In contrast, rediscovering in oneself the will to live often accompanies a decisive turning point in the course of the disease. Since times immemorial the art of guiding the sick back to health has been practiced by exceptional individuals. At the heart of this practice one invariable principle is found: the patient’s treatment is focused on rekindling his or her life-force. Each such practice uses particular methods destined to free the patient of the “demons” threatening his or her will to live.
