Cancer Fighting Foods

GOINDIS NATUROPATHY TRUST(INDIA)
Charity Registration No.845/4 dated 03.09.2003

Preventing and Curing
Cancer with
Naturo-Food Therapy
and
Healthy Lifestyle Changes

SANTOKH SINGH PARMAR

FOUNDER TRUSTEES:
Satyendra Singh Goindi, MSc, LLB, ND
Gurkirpal Kaur Goindi, BA, BEd, DPE, ND
Santokh Singh Parmar, B Arch, Dip TP, Dip LA, MRTPI, AITP, AIIA
Devinder Singh Saroya, PCS
Gurmukh Singh Girn, MSc, MCRP, AITP

Preventing and Curing Cancer with nature-food therapy
and Lifestyle changes

Contents

3	PREFACE	26	LIMITATIONS OF SCIENTIFIC MEDICINES
6	WHAT IS CANCER?	28	SYNERGY OF HEALTHY LIFESTYLE CHANGES FOR COMBATING CANCER
	Cancer – the Giant Killer		Body’s Natural Forces
	Cancer’s Birth		Body’s Immune System and Natural Killer Cells
	Cancer’s Progress		Immune Cells and Will to Live
	Cancer Seed		Body’s Brains and Balance between Organs
	Cancer Cell Warriors		Positive Attitude of Awareness
			Diffusing Fear
8	CANCER SYMPTOMS		What is Death?
			Managing Stress through Yoga and Meditation
10	MAJOR CANCER CAUSING FACTORS		Benefits of Yogic Breathing
	Environmental Factors		Relaxation with Mindful Meditation
	Poor Diet		Benefits of Physical Exercise
	Imbalance between Omega-3 and Omega-6		Healing through Body Massage
	Transfats	38	JOHN HOPKINS’ PRESCRIPTION FOR STARVING CANCER CELLS
	Transfats and Processed/Refined Foods
	Stress
	A Cancer-Prone Personality	39	PREVENTING AND CURING CANCER WITH NATURO-FOOD THERAPY
	Tobacco		You are What You Eat
	Obesity		Anti-Cancer Super-Foods
	Exposure to Chemicals		Phyto-chemicals in Fruits and Vegetables
	Physical Inactivity (Sedentary Lifestyle)		Berries
	Sunburn		Citrus Fruits
	Infections		Pomegranate Juice
	Graveyard (Night) Shifts		Red Wine
			Green Tea
17	SOME COMMON CANCERS		Cruciferous Vegetables (Brassicas)
	Benign and Malignant Tumours		Green Leafy Vegetables
	Breast Cancer in Women		Mushrooms
	Breast Cancer in Men		Watercress
	Cervical Cancer		Seaweed
	Colon Cancer		Soya Foods
	Lung Cancer		Pumpkin Flour
	Stomach (Gastric) Cancer		Omega-3 Essential Fatty Acid
	Bladder Cancer		Flaxseed
	Ovarian Cancer		Allium Family Herbs
	Oral Cancer		Garlic
	Prostate Cancer		Onion
	Cancer of the Pancreas		Ginger
	Gall Bladder Cancer		Turmeric
	Skin Cancer (Malignant Melanomas)		Labiate Family Herbs
	Leukaemia (Blood Cancer)		Probiotics
	Childhood Cancers		Dietary Fibre
			Fibre and Fat

PREFACE

(i)      Cancer, a lifestyle disorder on a global scale, is a complex and serious health problem and unless it is understood well, its management and control may not always lead to success. There are over 200 types of cancer. The emphasis here is on Naturo-Food Therapy in preventing and curing the dreaded disease.

(ii)      More than 3,000 years ago, the founder of modern medicine Hippocrates of Greece had very appropriately said; Let Food be Thy Medicine. To this day doctors all over the world take Hippocratic Oath after qualifying. However, this golden doctrine has been hijacked by the commercial interests of pharmaceutical and drug companies whose medicines are liberally promoted and prescribed by the conventional doctors.

(iii)     Wrong and irregular ways of eating, faulty selection of eatables and drinks, wrong cooking and frying, excessive use of oil/fat, salt, sugar and refined foods, a very rich diet, overeating, lack of activity/exercise and rest/sleep, stressful and sedentary lifestyle, environmental pollution and most importantly ignorance of Nature, are some of the potent causes of cancer and many other diseases. Also medicines many a time interfere with the natural process of removal of accumulated waste materials from the body and fill the internal system with toxins, which often cause harmful side effects — acknowledged by the medical profession and the drug companies alike.

(iv)     The eminent husband and wife team of Naturo-Food Therapists Satyendra Singh Goindi and Gurkirpal Kaur Goindi have successfully revived the Hippocratic doctrine. It is an established fact that good natural food makes good blood and bad junk food laden with chemical additives makes bad blood which is the root cause of a multiplicity of diseases suffered by ever increasing number of human beings worldwide.

(v)     The most simple and the basic principle of Goindis Naturo-Food Therapy is to replace gradually the bad diseased blood with new healthy blood by consuming natural, health-giving and nutritious plant-based vegetarian diets of regional and seasonal fruits and raw/steamed vegetables (organic if possible), sprouted wholegrains/seeds, herbs and a handful of nuts. The nutrient/antioxidant/fibre-rich natural diets mop-up harmful free radicals and strengthen the body’s immune system which: (a)     boosts the body’s ability to overcome virtually all kinds of diseases; (b)     increases the body’s resistance to infections and (c)     slows down and even reverses the ageing process.

(vi)     We are generally quite hale and hearty during our childhood. As we age, our unhealthy eating habits and lack of exercise become the prime causes of obesity and other illnesses including cancer. Those who think they have no time for healthy eating and active lifestyle will sooner or later have to find time for illness. (vii)    Naturo-Food Therapy has been steadily gaining popularity throughout the world in recent times. Most people of course, turn to it as a last resort having tried unsuccessfully other methods of treatment. This is especially true of patients suffering from acute and chronic diseases. Naturo-Food Therapy should be a way of life in both health and disease – a way of simple, natural living as ordained by the founder father of modern medicine, Hippocrates. Unlike modern medical practice, Naturo-Food Therapy concerns itself more with the removal of causes rather than with fighting the symptoms of the disease. It concentrates on giving Nature full scope for removal of impurities from the body, preventing further accummulation of them, and establishing a balance between the various physiological processes. Naturo-Food Therapy stems from the unique gift of Nature – that the body can cure itself provided we allow Nature to take its own course without hindering it by unhealthy eating and by the unwise use of drugs and medicines.

(viii)   I am an architect/planner (DOB 27 March 1934) and have worked and lived in England for 40 years (1965-2005). I have personally benefitted immensely by adopting the Goindis Naturo-Food Therapy as a way of life since 2003. I was suffering from high levels of cholesterol, severe osteoarthritis in the left knee joint and was moderately overweight also. I had also started losing body pigment due to vitiligo in 1986/87 and lost all body and hair pigment by 2003 and I went bald in the middle of my head. Orthopaedic Consultants in England said in 1994 that “at the end of the day, I will need a new knee joint or have athroscopy and washout.” I did not opt for either and decided to live with pain and to keep massaging/exercising. I have not taken any allopathic medicines including pain killers since 1973.

(ix)     In July 2003, on my visit to India from England, I met Naturo-Food Therapists Goindis couple and started to follow their Therapy. After six weeks, I returned to England and my cholesterol level and weight came back to normal and there was some relief for arthritic knee also. To my surprise, my skin pigment started coming back after one year. And after 2 ½ years my hairs started to turn black gradually and after 4 years new hair growth started in the bald patch on my head. My nails on the right foot had fungus for many years and they too are healing rather slowly.

(x)     I was very much impressed with the results achieved through Naturo-Food Therapy. Some of my friends and relatives in England also benefitted from this Therapy. Since I had retired from my professional life, I along with like minded co-trustees established a charitable Goindis Naturopathy Trust in September, 2003. Now I live in India and my whole spare time is spent on promoting the concept of Naturo-Food Therapy. Our Trust’s Mission is to carry forward the Naturo-Food Therapy concept of healing all kinds of human ailments holistically with natural foods.

(xi)     This easy to read and follow book has been written as part of this promotion process after considerable research by reading Nature Cure books, health articles in newspapers and magazines combined with my own knowledge and experience. This book is likely to benefit all those who care and aspire to maintain disease-free health. It is packed with lot of basic information that can be used as a reference and ready reckoner for all interested in therapeutic nutrition. This book will also benefit students and health professionals.

(xii)    I have also published books/leaflets with emphasis on Naturo-Food Therapy. Subjects covered include: Diabetes, Asthma, Thyroid Disorders, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Obesity, High Blood Pressure, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Osteoarthritis, Anaemia, Sprouts, Wheatgrass Juice, Diet and Lifestyle Guidelines, Human Body Functions, Kidney Stones, Acne, Sinusitus, Constipation, Gout and Uric Acid, Osteoporosis, Sleep, Memory, Skin Care, Digestive System, Acidic/Alkaline Foods.

PREVENTING AND CURING CANCER WITH NATURO-FOOD THERAPY AND HEALTHY LIFESTYLE CHANGS 

WHAT IS CANCER? 

Cancer —  the Giant Killer

          Cancer has become the third most common non-communicable disease after heart attack and diabetes and it is the second giant killer after heart ailments.  WHO figures reveal that more than 11 million people are diagnosed with cancers worldwide every year.  It is estimated that there will be 16 million new cancer cases every year by 2020.  In India, one million new patients are diagnosed with cancers every year.  Combine it with the surviving patients and the numbers become mind boggling.  The five most common types of cancers in India are colorectal, lung, stomach, breast and cervix.

Cancer’s Birth

          Cancer is uncontrolled growth of tissue, triggered by the multiplication of abnormal cells in the human body.  Instead of dying, these cells continue to multiply and outlive normal cells by forming new abnormal cells. Each normal cell in the body is programmed to go through a certain amount of doubling, and then die (e.g. skin cells live for 28 days, the cells lining the intestines live for 48 hours, and red blood cells live for about 120 days).  Cancer means that old cells do not die but continue growing until they invade and destroy other natural tissues.  A number of substances including chemicals, ultraviolet rays, viruses, tobacco smoke, wrong diet can damage the genetic material that tells a cell to die. 

Cancer’s Progress

During cancer’s progress, cells can become aggressive (grow and divide without normal limits), invasive (invade and destroy adjacent tissues) and/or metastatic (spread to other locations in the body).  Rather than a single disease, cancer is a group of ailments with one thing in common: it causes body cells to shuck off their constraints and live too long, snatching up resources (such as nutrients and oxygen), and squeezing out healthy cells and tissues as the cancerous tumour grows.  Cancer can arise almost anywhere in the body, from the brain to the blood to the bowels.  It may be aggressive or slow growing, content to remain in one place or eager to spread far and wide.  Cancer can be difficult to detect early, with its cells lying in wait in the body for months or years, slowly gathering strength until they have grown powerful enough to make their presence known.  By then they are pressing on neighbouring organs and tissues, destroying crucial white blood cells or otherwise impeding one’s health. Cancer is a malignant disease that progressively harms the body.  There are two principal features in the development of cancer: the spread and invasion of surrounding tissues known as local spread; and the invasion of the blood and lymphatic system that carries the cancerous cells to form new tumours in other parts of the body.

Cancer Seed

          Precancerous and cancer cells are so common that nearly every one by middle age is riddled with them.  Nearly all cancers are caused by abnormalities in the genetic material of the transformed cells.  It usually takes anywhere from 1 to 40 years for the “seed” of cancer in the form of cellular abnormality to become a detectable and dangerous cancerous tumour in humans.  For example, it is estimated that in breast cancer, it takes an average of seven years from the first cancer cell to awareness of lump.  This seed is more commonly born in a healthy cell due to poor diet; exposure to radiation, chemicals, toxins and infectious agents or other carcinogens such as benzo (a)-pyrene from cigarette smoke. Other less common cancer-promoting genetic abnormalities may be randomly acquired through errors in DNA replication or are inherited and, thus, present in all cells from birth. The factors contributing to cancer are so numerous and varied that no one should ever blame themselves or feel guilty for developing this disease.  In most cases, cancer is what doctors call “multifactorial”: that is, several factors add up over time to trigger it.  No psychological factor by itself has ever been identified as being capable of creating that cancer seed.  However, certain reactions to psychological stress can profoundly influence the soil (environment) in which the seed develops.  Usually the stress stems from an ordeal that creates a terrible feeling of helplessness.  Many of us have been confronted with a chronic conflict that seems insoluble or with overwhelming obligations that give a feeling of suffocation.  These situations don’t spark off cancer but they can give it an opportunity to grow faster. 

Cancer Cell Warriors

In cancer’s grip, the whole body is at war.  Cancer cells really do act like armed bandits, roving outside the law.  They are unhindered by any of the restraints a healthy body respects.  With their abnormal genes, they escape the mechanisms controlling normal, healthy tissues.  For example, they lose the obligation to die after a certain number of divisions.  They become “immortal”.  They ignore signals from surrounding tissues that tell them to stop multiplying.  Still worse, they poison these surrounding healthy tissues with the particular substances they secrete. These poisons create a local inflammation that stimulates the cancerous expansion even more, at the expense of neighbouring territories. Finally, like an army on the march seeking fresh supplies, they requisition nearby blood vessels. They force them to proliferate and furnish the oxygen and nutrients needed for the growth of what will soon become a tumour.

CANCER SYMPTOMS

          Cancer is believed to be the second most common cause of death after heart disease.  Its symptoms can be similar to those of other common diseases.  Typically, people ignore the early cancer symptoms, confusing them with other common conditions.  The following symptoms do not per se prove the diagnosis of cancer as they occur quite commonly in non-cancerous conditions too.  It is important to be aware of these symptoms and get them investigated and treated.

(i)      Unexpected Loss of Weight  —  Substances released by cancer cells can result in weight loss.  This is non-specific and can also be the result of a prolonged infection.  Still unexplained and unintended weight loss over a six month period needs to be investigated.

(ii)      Fatigue  —  Patients with cancer experience ongoing tiredness.  This could be caused by anaemia or due to an underlying disease like colon cancer, etc.  Fatigue increases as cancer progresses.

(iii)     Pain  —  Continuous pain that does not go away in a few months and keeps on getting worse may result from cancer.  Bony pain may be the sign of a cancer of the bone or a cancer that has started from a place like the prostate and has travelled to the bone.

(iv)     A Persistent Cough or Blood in the Saliva  —  This is epecially relevant for long term smokers, and is a common sign of lung cancer. Infectious diseases like tuberculosis can also present this way. Cough which lingers on for a long time inspite of adequate treatment should be thoroughly looked into to rule out cancer. Similarly hoarseness of voice lasting for more than two weeks should be looked into carefully.

(v)     Change in Bowel Habits or Blood in the Stool  —  Diarrhoea that does not go away, longterm constipation or change in the size of the stool (e.g pencil-thin stools) can signify colon cancer.  Blood in the stools could be due to hemorrhoids, but even this needs to be investigated.

(vi)     Blood in the Urine  —  Similarly, a change in the habit of urination in the form of thinning of the urine stream, retention of urine, and bleeding along with urination may be an early sign of cancer of the urinary system.  Blood in the urine can typically be due to kidney stones or a urinary infection.  However, blood in the urine not accompanied by pain can be a sign of bladder cancer.

(vii)    Lump in any part of the Body  —  Unusual lumps especially in the breasts, armpits, around the collarbone and neck and in the groin or testes may be non-cancerous, but still need to be evaluated thoroughly. Discharges from breasts are common, but if the discharge is bloody or only from one nipple and there is change in the shape of the nipple, further evaluation is needed.  Testicular cancer presents as a painless lump on the testicles.  Many other cancers like those of the lymph nodes can present this way.  Lumps most frequently are harmless and lymph nodes could be swollen due to an infection.  A lump should be reported to your doctor if it is for more than a month or a previous lump that is rapidly growing in size.

(viii)   Change in a Mole or a Wart  —  Each one of us have a wart or a mole somewhere on our body.  But if any of these shows an apparent change from its earlier shape, colour or size in the manner that it becomes rough with irregular edges, starts growing in size or starts bleeding, then consult a specialist to rule out the possibility of cancerous change.

(ix)     Sores that do not Heal  —  Sores normally heal quickly.  If a sore fails to heal, it should be evaluated.  Non-healing mouth sores and persistent white or red patches in the mouth could be a sign of cancer especially in patients who smoke or chew tobacco.

(x)     Indigestion or Difficulty in Swallowing  —  Indigestion, pain or uneasiness in the upper part of the abdomen, loss of appetite, nausea or vomiting without any known reason or difficulty in swallowing are the early signals that may show the possible presence of cancer and need to be investigated carefully.

(xi)     Other Symptoms — Depression and sleeping problems, anaemia, post-menopausal bleeding, abnormal prostate test, abnormal heart palpitations, shortness of breath and breath sounds are sometimes manifest in cancerous conditions. NOTE: Though all the above symptoms are non-specific, if they meet the “2P” criterion (that is, if they are persistent and progressive), you should seek medical  advice.  It should be clearly understood that none of the above-mentioned warning signs in itself confirms the diagnosis of cancer in any part of the body.  It merely warns the person concerned that if the  signal persists for more than two weeks inspite of proper treatment for other causes, then he or she should consult a specialist for clearing the doubt of possible cancer.

MAJOR CANCER CAUSING FACTORS

Cancer is principally caused by environmental factors of which the most important are poor diet and factors related to diet including obesity and physical inactivity; tobacco; exposure to chemicals and radiation; and infections. 

Environmental Factors

Three major factors have drastically disrupted our environment leading to widespread cancer growth and other disease over the last 50-60 years;

(i)      The addition of large quantities of highly refined sugar and starch and energy-dense and fat-laden processed junk foods.  It is no wonder that upto 60% of our energy requirement (calories) today comes from refined sugar, refined flour (starch) and vegetable oils/transfats that were non-existent when our genes were developing.  For example, our genes developed in an environment where one person consumed at most 2 kg of honey a year. But sugar consumption had risen to a shocking 70 kg by the end of the 20^th century.

(ii)      Changes in the methods of farming with harmful insecticides and pesticides and consumption of meat and other products derived from animals raised by use of hormones and other chemical substances; and

(iii)     exposure to large numbers of chemical products in food, beverages and the environment. It so happens that these three factors contain none of the healthy carbohydrates and proteins, vitamins, minerals and Omega-3 essential fatty acid needed to keep our bodies functioning in a healthy way. On the other hand these three factors directly fuel the growth of cancer. 

Poor Diet

It is estimated that in  U.K. major causes of cancer are dietary factors (35%) and tabacco (30%).  Sunlight accounts for 10% of cancers, viruses 7%, occupational factors 4%, alocohol 3% and radiation 1%.  Genetic mutations and other factors account for the remaining 10% of cancers. Highly energy-dense, fat-laden, refined and processed junk foods with harmful chemical additives can depress the immune system and provide conducive inflammatory environment for the birth and growth of all types of cancers in any part of the human body.  Consumption of red meat and animal fat products possibly promote cancer at several sites like cancer of the colon and rectum, pancreas, breast, prostate and kidneys, lungs and endometrium (womb lining). A study has found that a common chemical called ‘acrylamide’ caused by frying, roasting or grilling a food substance can double the risk of cancer.  It revealed that this chemical is also found in foods such as bread, breakfast cereals, coffee and also in meat, fish and potatoes which had been fried, baked roasted, grilled or barbecued and possibly increases the risk of cancers of the stomach, colon and rectum, ovaries and womb. Soft drinks sold world over have up to eight times the level of a cancer-risk chemical benzene than is allowed in drinking water.  Benzene is a byproduct of a reaction between two other ingredients commonly used to make soft drinks.  Although there is a legal limit of one part per billion in drinking water in the U.K., there is no upper limit on the amount of benzene allowed in soft drinks.  Benzene has been linked to leukemia and other cancers of the blood.  Benzene is used to make glues, paints and detergents. Experiments have shown that cancer cells die within hours when kept in an alkaline medium and seem to thrive in an acidic one.  Rich, fried and spicy food, white flour (starch), white sugar, excessive consumption of caffeine and alcohol, too much sour food, drugs, chemical additives and pollutants create an acidic body.  Irritated by the acids, the body’s cells react violently and proliferate, causing both benign and malignant tumours.  Stress adds to the woes as it leads to excessive acid secretion within the body. Stress also causes the brain’s judgement to become erratic, so the brain then fails to regulate cell reproduction correctly.  High-salt diets have been linked to stomach cancer. A study in Japan found that salt doubled the risk of contracting  stomach cancer, the second most common cause of cancer deaths. 

Imbalance between Omega-3 and Omega-6

          Omega-3s and Omega-6s (called Essential Fatty Acids because the human body can’t make them and must be obtained from food) control our body functions.  Omega-6s help stock fats and promote rigidity in cells as well as coagulation and inflammation in response to outside aggression.  They stimulate the production of fatty cells from birth onwards.  Omega-3s to the contrary, are involved in developing the nervous system, making cell membranes more flexible and reducing inflammation.  They also limit the production of adipose (fat) cells.  Our physiological balance depends very much on the balance between Omega-3s and Omega-6s (a balance close to 1:1) in our body and therefore on our diet. Grass, especially in the spring, is a very rich source of Omega-3 fatty acids; these fatty acids are therefore concentrated in the products (like milk, meat) from the grass-fed cattle and eggs from free-range chickens.  The battery-farming cattle fed on soya, corn, wheat etc. contain practically no Omega-3s and Omega-6s.  As a result, the quantity of Omega-3 and Omega-6 essential fatty acids stems directly from the contents of the food we eat.  The food from grass fed cattle is perfectly balanced in Omega-3s and Omega-6s (a balance close to 1:1).  But if the cattle and chickens eat corn, soya, wheat etc, the resulting imbalances in our bodies are as much as 1:15 to even 1:40. Cattle are also treated with hormones to fatten them and to produce more milk.  It is known that these hormones promote Insulin like Growth Factor (IGF) in cows which finds its way into the milk and meat.  This IGF in milk is not even destroyed by pasteurisation. We know that IGF is a major factor in the stimulation of growth of fatty cells. It also accelerates growth in malignant tumours. Finally, the switch of cattle feed from grass to soya, corn, wheat combinations has another harmful side effect.  One of the very rare components of our diets from an animal source that has anti-cancer benefits is a fatty acid called conjugated linoleic acid (CLA).  CLA is essentially found primarily in cheese, but only if the cheese comes from grass-fed animals.  Thus by disrupting the diets of cows, goats and sheep, we have eliminated the only anti-cancer benefit they might have provided. We have, therefore, an explanation for the simultaneous epidemics of obesity, cancer and other lifestyle diseases since the 60’s.  The main culprit is a dietary imbalance in the ratio of essential fatty acids leading to the incredible over consumption of Omega-6 fatty acids and less of Omega-3. 

Transfats

Another major factor that has changed our diets for the worse since the 60s is the emergence of margarine and ‘hydrogenated’ or ‘partially hydrogenated’ transfats.  Margarines are commonly made from hydrogenated oils like sunflower oil (which has 70 times more Omega-6 than Omega-3), soya oil (with 7 times more and canola oil (the least unbalanced with only 3 times more Omega-6 than Omega-3).  While this change (margarine replacing saturated fats) helped lower cholesterol levels, it provoked a sudden rise in inflammatory disorders including cancer and even, in some countries heart attacks. In Israel, for example, religious proscriptions forbid consumption of meat and milk products in the same meal.  Thus butter is virtually excluded and cooking techniques rely heavily on vegetable margarines loaded with Omega-6s and sunflower oils which are much cheaper than olive oil rich in Omega-3s.  Thus, an ‘Israeli paradox’ – distinct from the ‘American paradox’ – has emerged: Israel is marked by one of the lowest cholesterol levels in Western countries, combined with one of the highest rates of cardiac refraction (heart attack) and obesity.

Transfats and Processed/Refined Foods

We have been won over not just by margarine but also to a large extent by processed and refined foods such as cookies, crackers, tarts, quiches, cakes, pastries, samosas, pakoras, biscuits, noodles, potatoe chips and crisps containing transfats.  These foods mostly use Omega-6 rich natural oils, altered by hydrogenation to become solid at room temperature.  This change makes them less digestible and even more inflammatory than Omega-6s in their natural state.  But these transfats have practical advantages for the food industry: they do not go stale, are easy to handle in the solid form, enhance the taste and above all increase the shelf life of the products.  That is why they are used extensively in almost all the processed foods destined to spend weeks, months or even years on supermarket shelves.  Thus it is for purely industrial and commercial motives that these harmful transfats have taken over.  Their production has exploded since the 1940s.  These unnatural fats are among the worst for our health as these are foreign to the body, promote obesity, inflammatory syndrome and many diseases including cancer. In recognition of this danger, as of summer of 2007, transfats have been banned in New York and Philadelphia restaurants to start with; and throughout the food industry in Denmark.  Let us hope that other countries also follow and ban these deadly transfats totally.

Stress

Just as a lesion on the skin activates repair mechanism, a psychological wound sets off mechanisms of the stress response: release of cortisol and adrenalin hormones and inflammatory factors, as well as a slow down in the immune system.  At the same time stress slows down all the body functions that can be “put on hold” such as digestion, tissue repair.  These physiological stress mechanisms particularly in stressed and depressed persons, can contribute to the growth and spread of diseases including cancer. The system linking psychology, neurology and immunology is known as “psycho-neuro-immunology”.  In this system, the psychological aspect refers to the stress felt in response to difficult life experiences (such as an abortion, a child’s illness, a divorce or losing a job) or emotional pain.  When people have the feeling that their life is no longer manageable, or that it leads to more suffering than joy (the psychological part), the neurological response to this stress is the release of stress hormones.  These hormones in turn activate the nervous system, accelerating heart rate, raising blood pressure and tensing muscles, so they will be prepared to make an effort or stave off attack (this is the neurological part, commonly known as the “fight or flight” response).  These same chemical hormones that activate the neurological response and organ-related reflexes of stress also adversely act on immune cells. Generally, post-traumatic stress is associated with a deterioration of the immune system and a decline in the activity of white blood  cells and natural killer (NK) cells.  The receptors on the surface of white blood cells detect the presence of stress hormones and react according to fluctuations in the levels of these hormones in the blood stream.  Some of the white blood cells respond by releasing inflammatory cytokines and chemokines.  Natural killer cells are blocked by noradrenalin and cortisol, remaining passively glued to the walls of the blood vessels rather than attacking viruses or abnormal precursor cancer cells. 

A Cancer-Prone Personality

People exhibiting cancer-prone personality are often people, who, rightly or wrongly, never felt fully welcome in their childhood.  Their parents may have been violent or irascible or simply cold, distant and demanding.  Often these children received little encouragement and developed a feeling of vulnerability and weakness.  Later, to be sure of being loved, they decide to conform to the best of their ability to what was expected of them rather than follow their own desires.  Rarely angry (sometimes never) they become “really nice” people as adults —  always ready to help others  —  saints.  They avoid conflict and put their needs and aspirations on the back burner, sometimes for the rest of their lives. In order to safeguard the emotional security that they so value, they may over-invest in a single aspect of their lives: their profession, their marriage or their children.  When this investment is suddenly threatened or lost  — by a professional setback or retirement, divorce or simply when children leave the nest  —  the childhood grief returns.  Often it is more devastating because it elicits the feeling that whatever one does, emotional suffering is inescapable.  This second trauma arouses feelings of helplessness, despair and abandonment.  And these feelings  —  particularly helplessness  — can weigh heavily on psychological and biological balance.  Thus it is not stress itself that promotes cancer development, but it is the perception of control or helplessness the individual has that affects their body’s reaction to the disease

Tobacco

The link between tobacco smoke and cancer is established beyond doubt. Tobacco smoke contains over 4,000 chemicals, 60 of which including arsenic, methanol, nicotine, DDT, tar, carbon monoxide, benzene, formaldehyde and hydrogen cyanide are carcinogens that affect not only the smoker but passive smokers as well.  Aside from lung cancer, many other types of cancer  —  including cancers of the mouth, gullet (oesophagus), cervic and bladder  —  are also linked to smoking.  Statistics (2008) reveal that a full 33% of the 700,000 newly registered cases of cancer in India are tobacco related.  Smoking is a slow poison and it is said that every cigarette smoked takes away 11-20 minutes of smoker’s life and 3-7 minutes of passive smokers. Apart from cancers, smokers are at much higher risk of asthma, tuberculosis, stroke, blockage of arteries, heart disease, peripheral vascular disease (PVD) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD). Chemicals like nicotene (responsible for tobacco addiction) act as stimulants on the central nervous system, increase metabolic rate, raise blood pressure, change muscle tension, affect certain brain chemicals and hormones, reduce oxygen availability to cells/muscles, make heart beat 30% faster, reduce immunity, cause inflammation, lower quality of semen and sperm count in men, increase risk of miscarriage by 25%, reduce birth weight by 200-250 gms of smoker’s babies and make them prone to illnesses later in life, damage the DNA. 

Obesity

After tobacco, obesity is the second highest risk factor for cancer.  Being overweight accounts for 14% of cancer deaths in men and 20% in women as they produce more hormones which help cancers thrive.  The evidence that obesity increases the risk of cancer of the endometrium is convincing.  Obesity also probably increases the risk of cancer of the breast in post-menopausal women and cancer of the kidney.  It possibly increases the risk of cancer of the colon, uterus and oesophagus. People with lots of abdominal fat — wrapped in and around the internal organs — appear to be at higher risk of heart disease, diabetes, cancer and other illnesses. Obese women who carry most of their extra weight around the stomach are 70% more likely to develop pancreatic cancer.  Some doctors refer to excess belly fat as “toxic waste site”. 

Exposure to Chemicals

Numerous scientific studies show compelling evidence linking cancer with specific exposures to various chemicals.  Breast cancer may be caused by exposure to DDT before puberty, prostate cancer by pesticides and metal working fluids, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma by pesticides and solvents, leukemia by exposure to 1.3 butadiene, and lung cancer by exposure to air pollution, and so on. We know with considerable certainty that tobacco is a major contributor to cancer.  There are considerable risks of cancer through exposure to ionising radiation like cosmic rays, radon and X-rays and occupational exposure to toxic substances like arsenic, asbestos and benzidine. There are more than 80,000 chemicals used in the production of consumer goods but no one knows for certain the threshold for humans. Phthalates (industrial chemicals) are found in shower curtains, garden hoses, table cloths, vinyl flooring, swimming pools, plastic clothing, children’s toys, automobile upholstery, carpets, capsules, soap, shampoo, hair spray, nail polish, deodorants and fragrances.  They are associated with lower sperm counts, the feminization of male genitalia in male foetuses, childhood asthma, reduced lung capacity. Similarly, BPA (Bisphenol A) chemicals are found in some water bottles, baby bottles, food storage and heating containers, the lining of metal food cans, dental sealants and toys. BPA has been known to simulate oestrogen and is associated with cancer and diabetes. Polybrominated diphenyl ether is another class of chemicals found in furniture foam, textiles, kitchen appliances, electronics like TVs and computer monitors and in the fat of some food animals.  These are associated with birth defects, cancer; neonatal exposure affects learning and memory. 

Physical Inactivity (Sedentary Lifestyle)

Physical inactivity is pretty clearly related to cancers of the colon, breast, prostate, colorectal, lung, ovarian and endometrial. 

Sunburn

Exposure to excessive amounts of ultraviolet A and B radiation (UVA and UVB) from sunlight significantly increases the risk of skin cancers including the most dangerous type malignant melanoma. Sunburn and tanned skin indicate overexposure to UVA and UVB radiation.

Infections

Certain viral infections may increase the risk of cancer.  Human pappiloma virus (HPV) is linked to cancer of the cervix.  Hepatitis B increases the risk of liver cancer. HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) increases the risk of tumours, especially Kaposi’s sarcoma and lymphoma, possibly due to a secondary viral infection.  Tropical disease schistosomiasis can cause bladder cancer.  The bacterium H. Pylori is an important risk factor in stomach cancer.  A study carried out by the university of California has found that a minor cut on the skin may rouse dormant cancer cells into forming a tumour. 

Graveyard (Night) Shifts

Recent research has found higher risks of breast and prostate cancer among women and men whose workday starts after dark.  World Health Organisation has accepted overnight shift work as a probable carcinogen.  Scientists suspect that overnight work is dangerous because it disrupts the circadian rhythm, the body’s biological clock. The hormone melatonin (sleep inducer), which can suppress tumour development is normally produced at night in the darkness.  Light shuts down melatonin production, so people working in artificial light at night may have lower melatonin levels. Sleep deprivation may be another factor in cancer risk.  Not getting enough sleep makes your immune system vulnerable to attack, and less able to fight off potentially cancerous cells.  Confusing your body’s natural rhythm can also lead to a breakdown of other essential body tasks. Certain processes like cell division and DNA repair happen at regular times. Even worse than working an overnight permanent shift is flipping between daytime and overnight work. The problem is resetting your body’s clock. The balance between light and dark is very important for your body — just get a dark night’s quality sleep.

SOME COMMON CANCERS 

There are over 200 types of cancer, and while they may share some features, each is very different in cause, symptoms, treatment and prognosis — essentially they are individual diseases.  Each type of cancer has its own particular pattern of disease in terms of how fast it grows, how it spreads and how well it responds to treatment.  The initial cancer is called a “primary tumour”.  A cancer that spreads from the primary site is called a “secondary tumour” — also known as “metastase”. Widespread secondary cancers are known as “carcinomatosis”. 

Benigh and Malignant Tumours

Cancers come in all shapes and forms, but generally speaking benign tumours (non-cancerous growths) tend to be smooth, regular lumps and have a clearly defined border or capsule, with a normal blood supply.  Malignant tumours, on the other hand, are usually irregular in shape and there may be abnormalities of blood supply causing the formation of many tiny, fragile blood vessels.  The abnormal cells from these malignant tumours penetrate the surrounding tissue.  The following are some of the more common cancers. 

Breast Cancer in Women

 Breast cancer, the most common cancer, is the leading cause of cancer deaths in women.  According to the WHO (2007) more than 1.2 million people are diagnosed with breast cancer each year worldwide and over 500,000 will die from the disease.  The incidence of breast cancer is rising in every country of the world especially in developing countries such as India.  One in seven women will suffer from breast cancer in their lifetime and the condition is targeting younger and younger women  —  the number of under-30s has doubled in the last decade. Symptoms of Breast Cancer  —  The symptoms of breast cancer include: a lump or thickening in the breast or under the arm; tenderness in the breast; bloodstained discharge from the nipple; scaliness, dimpling or puckering of the skin around the nipple; inversion of nipple and change in the general contour of the breast. Note: Not every breast lump is cancerous; 80% are benign. Causes of Breast Cancer  —  The risk factors for developing breast cancer include: a history of breast cancer on either side of your family – three or more direct relations in two generations ups the risk by 50%; vitamin D deficiency and poor diet especially eating red meat and high-fat foods ups the risk by 33%; early menstruation before age 12; late menopause after 55; postponing childbirth until after 30 is a major risk factor; being childless or having fewer children; stress; hormonal imbalances; consuming more than 2-3 alcoholic drinks a day raises oestrogen levels and may double the risk; smoking; not breast feeding at all or inadequately; and leading sedentary lifestyle; lack of exercise; being overweight; and loss of an emotional relationship like break up and divorce raises the risk of breast cancer manifold. Precautions against Breast Cancer — The best protection against the disease is awareness.  Get to know your breasts at 20.  Examine them sequentially every month from the periphery inwards with your palm – timely detection helps towards early diagnosis and treatment.  Get clinical examination done once every three years after the age of 20.  Have a mammography regularly after age 50. Exercise regularly and eat healthy to maintain healthy weight and lower oestrogen levels. If married, have your children before you hit 30 and breast feed for at least six to twelve months or as long as possible.

Breast Cancer in Men

Men have the same type of tissue in their breast that women have.  Only the amount is less but the disease might be more aggressive and spreading faster in men than in women.  In America breast cancer in men constitutes only 0.2% of all malignancies while it is 26% in women.  In India approximately similar number of men suffer from it annually.  The symptoms, causes and protection against breast cancer for men are similar to women so far as they are applicable to men. 

Cervical Cancer

Cancer of the uterine cervix is the second most common cause of cancer-related disease and death among women worldwide.  Every year cervical cancer is diagnosed in more than 500,000, women globally and is responsible for more than 280,000 deaths annually.  80% of the new cervical cancer cases occur in developing countries like India which reports about one fourth of the world’s cases of cervical cancer each year.  In 98% cases the condition is caused by the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) which is transmitted during sexual intercourse and live in the secretion under the male foreskin of penus (so it is very rare in nuns and partners of circumcised men).  In India it is fast replacing breast cancer as the most common from of female cancer.  Although 33 to 55 age group is the most vulnerable, younger and younger women are being targeted. Symptoms of Cervical Cancer  —  The most common symptoms include: unusual heavy blood-stained vaginal discharge; intermittent prolonged bleeding  between periods; bleeding or pain during/after sex; foul-smelling white or yellow vaginal discharge; pelvic pain; pain in the lower abdomen or lower back; bladder pain during urination (dysuria); bleeding in post-menopausal women; and swelling of the legs. Note: These symptoms do not conclude that someone has cancer. Other conditions may cause these symptoms, but a check-up is necessary to determine the cause.  Pap Smear Test — In the early stages of cervical cancer, there are rarely any noticeable symptoms.  So a Pap smear and pelvic examination (colposcopy) are important parts of a woman’s routine and regular healthcare because they can detect abnormalities that may lead to invasive cancer of the cervix.  The Pap smear test checks for abnormal cell changes that may arise from cervical cancer or before cancer develops in the pre-cancerous stage (cervical dysplasia).  But cell changes in the pre-cancerous stage do not mean cancer.  It just means that there are some abnormal cells, and indicate that cancer may develop 8-10 years down the road.  Note :  Most women should get a Pap smear test at least every year, especially if they are sexually active.  A more costly HPV test is also available. Causes of Cervical Cancer  —  The risk factors for cervical cancer include: viral infection such as Human Papilloma Virus (HPV); Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) or Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV); poor diet and weakened immune system; smoking; being sexually active (intercourse) very early; multiple sexual partners or sexual partners who have had multiple partners; partner having genital warts or herpes simplex; poor genital hygiene; succession of childbirths which wear ‘n’ tear the cervical tissue; and previous cancer of the lower genital tract. Precautions against Cervical Cancer — Regular screening, no smoking, good hygiene and nutritious diet can go a long way in preventing cervical cancer.  It is fully curable if it is diagnosed at an early stage.  Since the disease is asymptomatic in the early pre-cancer stage, only repeated screening can make it possible to detect the likelihood of cancer at an early stage.  Have a first Pap smear test soon after you become sexually active, and then every three year, or every year if you have risk factors, until 70 even if you have had a hysterectomy.  Stay fit with regular exercise and healthy diet.  Maintain scrupulous genital hygiene, and insist that your partner keeps clean too — the penis should be washed before and after intercourse.  A condom is the most effective protector.  Note:  There are vaccinations available that can prevent cervical cancer.  

Colon Cancer

More men than women succumb to colon cancer and the risk rises at 40 and peaks after 55. Symptoms of Colon Cancer  —  The common symptoms include any prolonged changes in your normal bowel habit such as: diarrhoea or constipation which lasts for more than 2 weeks; blood or heavy mucus in the stool; a feeling of fullness that does not ease even after passing a stool; painful bowel movements; and colicky pains.  These symptoms may be combined with anaemia and weight loss.  Note:  These symptoms could be from other reasons and need to be investigated and evaluated. Causes of Colon Cancer  —  You are at a higher risk of colon cancer if you: eat a high-fat, low-fibre diet; have a previous history of inflammatory bowel disease like Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis; and have a history of polyps in the colon or have colorectal (bowel, rectum, colon) cancer in the family.  A study published in the International Journal of Cancer found that kilo for kilo processed meats (such as sausages, salamis) as well as meat cooked at very high temperatures (i.e. chargrilled and barbecued meat) had significantly more cancer-causing potential in the colon. Precautions against Colon Cancer — Have colon screening regularly every year especially after age 50.  Eat more wholegrains and their sprouts, leafy greens, citrus fruit.  WHO recommends a minimum daily intake of half a kilo of fruits and vegetables.  The fibre in these foods may offer protection by helping to move possible carcinogenic toxins out of your system speedily before causing any damage.  Antioxidant vitamins A, C and E in foods also team with fibre to bind the carcinogens and whisk them away.

Lung Cancer

Famous international victims of this cancer include actor Paul Newman, Christopher Reeve’s wife, who never smoked but lived in radon gas territory, J. Krishnamurti and Yul Brynner. Symptoms of Lung Cancer — The most common symptoms of lung cancer are: a persistent cough; coughing up blood; shortness of breath; difficulty in swallowing; and weight loss. Note: These symptoms can also be caused by conditions other than cancer.  A simple chest X-Ray can detect most lung cancers. Causes of Lung Cancer — You are in the danger zone if you: smoke — the more cigarettes smoked and the younger the age at which you started, the greater the risk – half of heavy smokers normally will never touch 70 —  even light smokers have only 60% chance of surviving to 70; are a passive smoker  —  that is you don’t smoke, but live with a heavy and inconsiderate smoker who puffs indiscriminately into your space and face; work with occupational hazards, such as asbestos, coal/coke, radiation; arsenic; live in an area where radon, a colourless and odourless gas is prevalent (mostly in places where granite rocks abound)  —  radon gas accounts for about 1% of lung cancers. Precautions against Lung Cancer — Set a date and stop smoking; drink lots of water to flush out your system; get regular exercise — it will help you relax; buy treats with your cigarettes money; if you feel awful, think positively — your body is recovering; eat fruit, raw vegetables, chew sugar-free gum — it will keep your mouth occupied and you won’t pile on weight. The good news is that if you stop smoking, your risk of lung cancer will drop dramatically within 5 years and most of you will return to normal health within 10 years.  And if you eat more fruits and vegetables with deep dark colours and cut back on fat and red meat, you have a fighting chance to avoid this disease. Scientists have reported in Newzealand that dairy farmers were five times less prone to contract lung cancer than the general population.  Dairy farmers typically breathed in dust consisting largely of dried manure, and all the bacteria that grew in it.  As strange as it sounds, epidemiologists are starting to uncover unexpected links between our exposure to dirt and germs, and our risk of cancer later in life. 

Stomach (Gastric) Cancer

Symptoms of Stomach Cancer  —  The symptoms of stomach cancer arrive very late and include: nausea and indigestion after meals; feeling full even after a small meal; paleness of skin; loss of appetite; fatigue; light headedness; vomiting; pain in abdomen; and weight loss. Note: Some of these symptoms can be from other conditions. Confirmation of cancer may be established by endoscopy i.e. viewing the stomach with a flexible tube. Causes of Stomach Cancer — You carry a high risk of stomach cancer: if your diet is rich in carbohydrates and you do not eat enough of fruits, vegetables and greens; you are fond of smoked and preserved foods with harmful chemical additives; and you suffer from chronic peptic ulcers. Precautions against Stomach Cancer — Get more fibre from plant foods i.e. fruits, vegetables, wholegrains and their sprouts and less of fats/oils and refined, fried and processed foods with chemical additives and preservatives.  Drink plenty of water. 

Bladder Cancer

Symptoms of Bladder Cancer — Blood in the urine (hematuria) but little or no pain in early stages, change in bladder habits or irritative symptoms such as dysuria (burning during urination) and urgency.  These symptoms could be due to other factors and need to be investigated. Causes of Bladder Cancer — The greatest risk factor is smoking.  Chemicals called aromatic amines such as benzidine and beta-naphthylamine (used in the dye industry) can cause bladder cancer.  The workers in rubber, leather, textiles, paint products and printing factories are affected the most.  Other workers such as painters, hairdressers, machinists and truck drivers are also at risk of developing this cancer.  The risk of men getting bladder cancer is four times greater than women. Precautions against Bladder Cancer  —  Nutritious healthy diet, no smoking and avoiding exposure to chemicals. 

Ovarian Cancer

Ovarian cancer constitutes 15-20% of cancers arising from the female genital tract and the leading cause of death from gynaecological malignancy.  Usually it hits women between 50 and 70. Symptoms of Ovarian Cancer  —  The early symptoms (which all show up very late) include: bloating sensation and vague abdominal discomfort; abdominal pain or pain lower down in the pelvis; difficulty in eating or feeling full quickly; urination urgency or frequency; discomfort with sexual intercourse; abnormal menstruation; fatigue; indigestion; and constipation.  Symptoms which may appear in the later stages include: rapid abdominal swelling; dull pain in abdomen; sudden loss of weight; and difficulty in breathing.  Note :  The above symptoms may not necessarily be due to ovarian cancer. Complications of Ovarian cancer may include: spreading to other parts of the body; progressive function loss of various organs of the body; ascites (fluid in the abdomen) and intestinal obstruction (blockage of the intestines). Causes of Ovarian Cancer  — The ovarian cancer is caused by non-cancerous fluid filled sacs or enlarged ovaries, embryonic caught up tissues in ovaries at foetal stage, or tumours due to hormonal bombardment of ovaries.  The risk of developing ovarian cancer appears to be affected by several factors although the exact cause is unknown.  The risk factors include: being unable to become pregnant; bearing first child after 30; menstruation before 12 and menopause after 55; having a family history of uterine, breast or colon cancer; and the practice of puffing underwear and the pelvic region with talcum powder. Precautions against Ovarian Cancer  —  It appears that more children a woman has, the lower is her risk of ovarian cancer and especially if she has a first child before age 30. Women should maintain a schedule of routine pelvic (internal) examination for two reasons.  First, the benign and malignant ovarian tumours often have no symptoms at all and are caught as an incidental finding in a routine check-up.  Second, even the benign tumours can possibly undergo malignant transformation, and catching this in time could make the difference whether a woman loses her fertility or even her life. 

Oral Cancer

Oral cancers are the commonest cancers primarily in men in the Indian sub-continent.  Inspite of the fact that oral cancers are completely preventable, the incidence is rising at an alarming speed.  Oral cancers account for 40% of the cancers in men and include cancers of: oral cavity, i.e. tongue, gums, buccal mucosa (inner side of cheek) and palate; and pharynx (area behind the tonsils). Symptoms of Oral Cancers  —  The common symptoms of oral cancers include: painful nerve endings from oral erosion that worsen when eating because saliva stimulates secretion of saline; rough hard lumps; swelling in the mouth; white ridged bump on inside of cheeks where tobacco is chewed; discoloured areas on the gums, tongue, lining of the mouth; brown, flat freckle-like area at the insulted site; a sore throat which does not heal; tingling, burning or numbness in tongue or lip; painful, sensitive or loose teeth; difficulty in swallowing or talking; oral irritation from sharp edges of teeth, fillings, dentures, pipe stem. Causes of Oral Cancer  —  Eighty five percent of oral cancers are linked to tobacco use.  People who use tobacco and alcohol (a lethal combination) are even at a greater risk for developing these cancers.  The other risk factors are poor oral hygiene and Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) infection.  Tobacco use includes smoking cigarettes, cigars and pipes; chewing tobacco or gutka (pan masala); and inhaling snuff. Gutka is a powdery mix of arecanut (supari ), lime and tobacco.  Arecanut triggers the synthesis of collagen, a tough, fibrous protein that stiffens the muscles of the mouth.  Mouth size shrinks and in extreme cases a button size opening is left.  Studies have shown that arecanut contains a substance which can transform ordinary human cells into uncontrolled cancer. Gutka users do not realise that they may be developing a serious disease called “submucous fibrosis”.  It is an incurable, irreversible disease and is often a precursor for oral cancer, a disease that literally eats away your face and ends invariably in a slow, lingering death. Precautions against Oral Cancers  —  Avoid tobacco and its products and alcohol; maintain good oral hygiene; see your dentist regularly to smoothen rough edges of teeth and fillings; get antioxidant vitamins A, C and E from fruits and vegetables to improve immunity.

Prostate Cancer

It is the most common male cancer. Rudy Guiliani, former mayor of New York and actor Roger Moore and Aditya Vikram Birla are its most famous victims.  It mainly affects men over 65 in which case it can be controlled.  In younger men the cancer is much more aggressive. Symptoms of Prostate Cancer  —  The most common symptoms of prostate cancer include: poor urine flow; frequent trips to the toilet at night; a persistent feeling of not quite emptying your bladder, often associated with dribbling after passing urine; and traces of blood in the urine or sperm. Causes of Prostate Cancer  —  The diet composed of processed meats, red meats, organ meats, refined grains, vegetable oils, soft drinks and packaged juices is associated with a more than double the risk of prostate cancer.  Other causes include: heavy drinking and smoking; obesity and lack of exercise; high levels of testosterones; and a close member of your family has/had this cancer. Precautions against Prostate Cancer — Eat a Far-Eastern diet containing fruits, vegetables and fish.  Men from Japan and China have the lowest rates of prostate cancer in the world.  The protection vanishes if the men move to a different location and change their diet.  Get at least half a kilo of fruits and vegetables a day for antioxidant vitamins A, C and E to mop up cancer causing free radicals.  Eat zinc-rich foods like sesame seeds, nuts, oysters, wholegrains and legumes.  Limit animal fat intake, lose excess weight, stop drinking alcohol and smoking. 

Cancer of the Pancreas

Symptoms of Pancreatic Cancer  —  The common symptoms include: jaundice or yellow skin, when the tumour blocks the passage of bile and pancreatic juices.  These only manifest themselves when the cancer is well advanced and can be mistaken for hepatitis; itchy skin resulting from deposit of bile salts and crystals under the skin; nausea and vomiting; upper abdominal pain which peretrates the back; and weight loss. Causes of Pancreatic Cancer  —  You are at risk if you smoke like a chimney and consume poor diet. The cancer is 2-3 times more common in smokers. Precautions against Pancreatic Cancer  —  Eat nutritious food, do regular exercise and kick the butt. 

Gall Bladder Cancer

The most common disease of the gall bladder is the formation of stones within its lumen, resulting in an acute and/or chronic infection of the gall bladder known as “cholecystis”.  Less commonly, the gall bladder develops a cancer.  Cancer of the gall bladder is a dreaded disease that is less commonly seen in the Western world but is much more frequent in countries like India and China. Symptoms of Gall Bladder Cancer  —  The symptoms are more or less the same as that of gall bladder stones: pain in the right upper abdomen associated with indigestion particularly with fatty foods and with radiation to back and right shoulder; often fever with or without jaundice (yellow colouration of eyes and passage of dark coloured urine).  Because of this confusion of symptoms with stones disease, gall bladder cancer is often not diagnosed in time in more than 50-60% of the cases, and it becomes far too advanced till it is detected.  However, if there is a lump or swelling in the right upper abdomen, lack of appetite, loss of desire to eat, weight loss in any person known to be suffering from the symptoms of gall stones or otherwise, then gall bladder cancer must be ruled out. Precautions against gall Bladder Cancer  —  Keep digestive system in top order by eating nutritious foods, do regular exercise and lead active lifestyle. 

Skin Cancer (Malignant Melanomas)

Malignant Melanomas are cancers of the cells that produce melanin.  More than 90% cancers of the skin are caused by excessive exposure to the sun.  These arise in pigment containing tissue, usually the skin on the eyes, from a mole or pigmented skin lesion. It is important to watch for changes in size, shape or colour of moles. Malignant melanomas tend to have an irregular border, an irregular colour (often a mixture of brown, black or even blue) and they can itch, bleed or ooze. Melanomas can appear anywhere on the body, not just at sites of sun exposure.

Excessive exposure to the utlraviolet (UV) rays from the sun is widely considered to be the most important environmental factor in developing skin cancer. UVA rays penetrate the subcutaneous layer of the skin, causing wrinkles. They can trigger deadly melanoma and less deadly basal and squamous-cell carcinomas. UVB rays, which reach just your dermis (the second skin layer under epidermis), cause sunburns and many cases of melanoma.  UV radiation causes mutations in the body’s DNA, which can lead to tumour formation and suppress the immune system, making the skin susceptible to cancer.  UV radiation also causes indirect damage through the formation of harmful free radicals.

Although skin cancer is more common in fairer people, brown and even black skinned people can get the condition.  However in dark skinned people melanoma develops on difficult-to-diagnose spots such as feet, toenails, the mucous membranes of the mouth, nasal passages, and genitals, unlike whiter skins, where lesions appear on areas of the skin that are commonly hit by the sun’s rays.  Note: Be on the lookout that fits the ABCDE criteria that is: melanoma is Asymmetrical; has an irregular jagged Border; contains two or more different Colours; has a Diameter larger than a pencil eraser; and/or has Evolved (changed shape) from the last time you checked on it. 

Leukaemia (Blood Cancer)

It is the condition in which malignant cells in the blood multiply such that there is a growth  of cancerous cells in the body, which makes us susceptible to infections.  Exact causes of blood cancer are not known.  But some factors such as high exposure to radiation and some cancer-fighting drugs increase the risk.  Depending on the white blood cells affected, the cancer can arise in lymphoid (pertaining to lymphatic system) or in myeloid (pertaining to bone-marrow) cells.  Leukaemia is either chronic (gets worse slowly) or acute (gets worse quickly).  So the types of leukaemia are: chronic lymphocytic, chronic myeloid, acute lymphocytic and acute myeloid.  In India over 2 persons per 1,00,000 suffer from this disease.

Childhood Cancers

Although cancer is mostly a disease of ageing, children also are affected.  The most common childhood cancers include leukaemia (30%), brain tumours (25%) and neuroblastomas (10%).  The less common childhood cancers include Hodgkin’s and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, Wilms tumours, tumours of the kidneys, retinoblastoma, germ cell tumour (mostly in the testes and ovaries, but may also develop in the chest, abdomen, spine or brain), osteosarcomas, bone cancer (usually affecting the long bones of the legs or arms).

LIMITATIONS OF SCIENTIFIC MEDICINES

Chemotherapy involves poisoning the rapidly growing cancer cells which also destroys rapidly growing healthy cells in the bone marrow, gastro-intestinal tract etc, and can cause organ damage, like liver, kidneys, heart, lungs etc. Side effects of chemotherapy can include nausea, diarrhoea, fatigue and loss of hair.  Radiation while destroying cancer cells also burns, scars and damages healthy cells, tissues and organs. Side effects of radiation include redness and irritation of the skin in the area being treated, diarrhoea, shortness of breath, tiredness and cough.

Initial treatment with chemotherapy and radiation will often reduce tumour size.  However, prolonged use of chemotherapy and radiation may not result in more tumour destruction.  When the body has too much toxic burden from chemotherapy and radiation, the immune system is either compromised or destroyed, hence the person can succumb to various kinds of infections and complications.  Chemotherapy and radiation can cause cancer cells to mutate and become resistant and difficult to destroy.  Surgery can also cause cancer cells to spread to other sites.

Western medicine treating symptoms of a specific disease by a specific drug or an intervention is marvellously effective in a crisis.  But it  rapidly reveals its limits when dealing with a chronic illness and its root causes.  Chemotherapy kills cancer cells but it also kills intestinal and immune cells as well as hair follicles.  It can also lead to sterility.  Cancer chemotherapy may in some people severely damage the brain, killing crucial brain cells and causing key parts of the brain to shrink according to recent studies.  The studies also suggest that the phenomenon of chemobrain  —  the mental fuzziness, memory loss and cognitive impairment often reported by cancer patients but often dismissed by oncologists —  is a serious problem.

Cancer is a quintessential disease.  Many doctors now believe that it is unlikely that we can stamp it out by focusing all our efforts on new techniques of screening and simply targeting tumours.  In order to prevent or overcome the disease over the longterm, the “terrain” (environment) must be changed: diet corrected, mental attitude altered and the body strengthened by exercise.

As emphasized by the 2007 report of the World Cancer Research Fund, approaches reinforcing the body’s defence mechanisms  —  such as nutrition and exercise – are at the same time truly preventive and essential contributions to treatment.  Because they rely on natural processes, they dissolve the frontiers between prevention and treatment.  On one hand they prevent the micro tumours we all carry in us from developing (prevention).  On the other hand they enhance the benefits of surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy in the prevention of relapse (treatment.)

Renē Dubos of RockfellerUniversity in New York is considered one of the great twentieth-century thinkers in biology.  He had “always felt that the only trouble with scientific medicines is that these are not scientific enough.  Modern medicine will become really scientific only when physicians and their patients have learned to manage the forces of the body and the mind that operate via “medicatrix naturae” (the healing power of nature).

From this point of view, we are paradoxically, unwitting victims of Western medicine.  Surgery, antiobiotics, radiotherapy are extraordinary steps forward.  But they have led us to overlook the body’s own healing power.  However, it is possible to enjoy the benefits of medical progress and the body’s natural defences at the same time.

SYNERGY OF HEALTHY LIFESTYLE CHANGES

FOR COMBATING CANCER 

Body’s Natural Forces

Fortunately, we can protect ourselves against the biological mechanisms of cancer. The body is a huge system in equilibrium, where each function interacts with all the others.  After just one of these functions, the whole body is inevitably affected.  Thus each one of us choose where we want to start: with diet, physical exercise or psychological work, or any other approach that brings more meaning and awareness to our lives.  Every situation, every person, is unique; everyone’s way forward will be different too.  What matters above all is nourishing the desire to live.  Some will do it by participating in a choir, or by watching funny comedies, others by writing poetry, or keeping a diary or by getting more involved in social work or in the lives of their children or grand children.

We discover that increasing awareness in one domain almost automatically leads to progress in others.  The practice of meditation or yoga links awareness to the body.  Little by little we lose the taste for an unbalanced diet – whose ‘heaviness’ on the stomach and overall impact begins to weigh on the body.  We lose the taste for tobacco – whose effect on breathing and on an accelerating heartbeat becomes more tangible, as is its odour on hair and fingers. We also lose our attraction to alcohol, whose influence on clear-thinking and fluid movement is more easily detected. Health is a whole and every step taken toward greater equilibrium makes the next ones easier.

All the scientific evidence shows that we can have a substantial impact on our body’s capacity to diffuse the mechanisms of cancer.  This is exactly what the resounding report of the World Cancer Research Fund emphasised when it stated that “in principle, most cancer is preventable”. Everyone of us can decode for him or herself what fits their situation. 

Body’s Immune System and Natural Killer Cells

The body’s resources and its potential for dealing with cancer and other chronic diseases is still too often underestimated by modern medical science. By strengthening the immune system of the body with change in lifestyle, adopting a nutritious diet, increasing physical activity and by practicing relaxation techniques many people recover completely from their cancers while others can expect a good quality of life for many years.

Several studies show that, like soldiers, human immune cells fight all the harder when: (i) they are treated with respect (i.e. they are well fed with natural foods and protected from toxins) and (ii) their commanding officer keeps a cool head (i.e. deals with his emotions and acts calmly with poise).

Natural killer (NK) cells are very special agents of the immune system.  Like all white blood cells, they patrol the body organism continually in search of harmful bacteria, viruses or new cancer cells.  But while other cells of the immune system need previous exposure to disease agents in order to recognise and combat them, NK cells don’t need prior introduction to an antigen in order to mobilise.  As soon as they detect an enemy, they gather around the intruders, seeking membrane to membrane contact and aim their internal equipment at their target turret.  This equipment carries vesicles (blisters) filled with poisons.  On contact with the cancer cell’s surface, the contents of the vesicles are released and the chemical weapons of the NK cells  —  perforin and granzymes  —  penetrate through the membrane.  The molecules of perforin take the shape of rings.  They are assembled in the form of a tube, forming a passage through the cancer cell’s membrane for the granzymes.  At the core of the cancer cell the granzymes then activate the mechanisms of programmed self-destruction of cancer cell.  It is as if they give the cancer cell an order to commit suicide, an order it has no choice but to obey. In response to this order, its nucleus crumbles, leading to the cancer cell’s collapse. The deflated remains of the cancer cell are then ready to be digested by microphages, which are the garbage collectors of the immune system and are always found in the wake of NK cells.  Human NK cells are capable of killing different types of cancer cells, in particular sarcoma cells such as those found in breast, prostate, lung or colon cancer. 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. Although they do not believe in demons, psychologists working with cancer patients today have also understood the importance of nurturing the patient’s will to live.  The first step in this psychotherapy involves locating and treating past traumas that, in some way, are still “alive” in the patient’s psyche and poison his or her outlook on life.  The second step is teaching the patient to embrace and maintain state of peace and inner calm, thus removing psychological stress and promoting the healing process.  Just as a small cut will quickly be repaired by the body and will leave no scar, the brain also possesses natural mechanism for healing emotional wounds through maturation and personal growth.  There are many ways to cultivate this state of psychological well-being, including meditation and yoga.

Also by engaging oneself in useful pursuits and having a focused goal can empower a person to let go of the illusion of helplessness and recover desire to live.  For example, useful pursuits can be writing a  book, planning a long-wished for trip, building a dream house or simply being more involved in the lives of family and friends.  The key is for the activity to be rich in meaning for the individual and capable of bringing them into closer contact with their own life-force.  It is essential to find peace and strength inside oneself and rediscover the vital energy through meditation, yoga and other relaxation techniques so as to maximise the chances of recovery. 

Body’s Brains and Balance between Organs

The heart is supplied with nerves by about 40,000 neurones, constituting a sort of small semi-autonomous brain.  Through these neurones, heart maintains close relations with the Brain. The intestines posses several million neurones, constituting yet another brain.  Thus any conscious event vibrates in all the body’s organs, not simply in the Brain.  A permanent conversation goes within the body.  Information is constantly exchanged through the nerve fibres of what is known as the “autonomous nervous system”.  Outside of the conscious will, without the need for conscious direction by the Brain, this system regulates heart beat rate, breathing, blood pressure, perspiration etc.  Beyond the autonomous nervous system, organs also exchange information via hormones, forming a parallel network of communication.

As a result, an individual’s impulses, desires, decisions are simply the outward manifestations of the humming of all these molecules that in their own way, try to sustain life.  And they, in turn, influence these pulsations.  Health does not depend on any one organ or function in particular but on relations between organs.  Health itself is the result of the balance among all these exchanges. A “soul” whose seat is not located in any one organ in particular, but is the emerging property of all the interactions.  If the relations between the organs are disorganised, the “soul”, “homeostatis”, “health” – or any other name by which it may be called  —  vanishes and all kinds of diseases including cancer can result. All of us can learn how to foster the balance between the organs that promote good health and avoid diseases. This can be achieved simply by concentrating the mind and focusing on the breath through yoga, meditation etc. It is one of the best ways (in association with healthy diet and exercise) to reduce the impact of stress and to re-establish harmony in a person’s physiology and as a result, stimulate the body’s natural defences against diseases including cancer.

The first step in any process of mastering physiology consists of learning to focus one’s attention and turn it inward. Everything in our usual way of life turns away from our inner being. Many of us have become strangers to our inner world, gone astray in everything that seems more urgent and more important — e-mails, television programmes, computer, telephonic calls etc. etc.

We need to begin by making contact with ourselves. Positive attention is a force that does good to anything it touches. Children and dogs/cats often know more about it than we do. They come to us for no particular purpose but just for a hug and a scratch under the chin. We know how important this is to them and offer it willingly. But when do we show this benevolent attention to ourselves!

Positive Attitude of Awareness

While cancer can be triggered by any number of factors, it can only develop and spread if the terrain (environment) within the body is favourable to it. There is no way to prevent cancer or slowdown its growth (once it has already taken root), without changing this terrain in depth. Our guiding principle should be to bring more awareness into our lives in order to change our attitude, and that of our cells.

Through relaxation, visualisation, meditation and yoga, you can find strength to become yourself and you can draw as close as possible to your deepest values. People who have conquered cancer are perfectly calm and have asked the fundamental questions; who am I really? and “where do I want to go?” Rather than going through life passive and submissive, little by little they have learned to appropriate their freedom, their authenticity and their autonomy. This change is also visible in the way these patients approach their treatments, including their way of stimulating their natural defences.

This attitude of awareness and freedom of choice applies to natural methods too such as diet, or yoga or psychological support. These approaches are not equally valid for everyone or at all times. On one day the most beneficial method will be meditation; on another, keeping a diary; the day after massage or exercise. What is recognisable in these exceptional survivors is their clear-eyed capacity to say, “This is what I need now” and, firm but flexible, to move forward in their lives.

This change often amounts to more than learning to say “no” and asserting personal choices. Patients who have managed to survive for a substantial length of time have a strength buttressed by another attitude that is also often new to them — “gratitude”. They have become capable of perceiving another dimension to life that had escaped them earlier. In the end, the best protection against cancer is a change in attitude arising from the process of growth valued by all the great psychological and spiritual traditions. To describe the very foundation of the life-force, Aristotle speaks about “entelechy” (the need for self-fulfillment that starts with the seed and comes to full fruition in the tree). Jung describes a “process of individualisation” transforming the person into a different human being from all others, capable of fully expressing his or her unique potential.

Diffusing Fear

Pronounce the word ‘cancer’ and it is enough to send chills down our spine as we think about its devastating effect and to arouse the fear of death. Fear paralyses. The level of NK cells drops rapidly. That is its nature. Cancer is often associated with dark, pessimistic thoughts which demean the self and even others. These ideas take on such an automatic character that it is difficult to determine to what extent they express the disease rather than an objective truth. Just repeating these pessimistic thoughts feeds depression. (Conversely, the act of voluntarily ceasing to say or think negative statements sets patient on the path to better psychological balance). When we find out that our lives are seriously endangered, we often experience this strange paralysis. But the disease won’t pass us by. Fear blocks our life-force at the time when we need it most. Learning to fight cancer and, indeed any disease consists of learning to nourish the life in us. But it is not necessarily a fight against death. To carry through this apprenticeship is to touch the essence of life, to find a completeness and peace that make it more beautiful. Death may be part of that success. Some people live their life without appreciating its true value. Others live their death with such richness, such dignity, that it seems like an exceptional accomplishment and gives meaning to everything they have experienced. And in preparing for death in this way, we sometimes release the energy needed to live.

Like birth, death is part of life. Yours too! So why should one be afraid? Fear of death is not just one fear but many fears. It should be realised that a person suffering from cancer or any other disease or even a seemingly healthy person is not the only one who has to die but remember that it is not the end of the world.

What is Death?

Doctors have found that death is not painful in itself. In the final days, the dying person no longer feels like eating or drinking. The body dehydrates progressively. No more secretions, no more urine or stools, less phlegm in the lungs. Thus less pain in the abdomen, less nausea. There is no more vomiting, no more coughing. The whole body slows down. The mouth is often dry, but it is easy to relieve the dryness by sucking on small ice cubes or damp cloth. Fatigue sets in and the mind goes more distant, usually with a feeling of well-being, sometimes even mild euphoria. The dying are less interested in talking but in simply holding someone’s hand or looking through the window at the sunlight or listening to a birdsong or particularly beautiful music. In the final hours one sometimes hears a different kind of breathing called the “death rattle”. And then there are usually several final incomplete breaths (the last breath) and involuntary contractions of the body and face, which seem to be resisting the loss of life-force. These do not betray suffering, but are simply a sign of the lack of oxygen in the tissues. Then the muscles let go and everything is over. Today the word ‘cancer’ is no longer synonymous with death. But it suggests its shadow. This shadow should be an occasion to think about our life, about what we want to do with it. It is the occasion to begin living in such a way that the day we die we can look back with dignity, with integrity. Doctors firmly believe in the importance of humour and optimism to stimulate the body’s natural defences. There is every reason to believe that the solitude, the seriously ill impose on themselves when they don’t talk about their fear of dying, contributes to making their condition worse. In fact, the studies show that the connection between social isolation and the risk of death is as great as the link between cholesterol or tobacco and the risk of death. Anything that prevents us from having a genuine connection to others is in itself a step towards death. It is thus the realists’ credo (statement of belief); “What is important is to always hope for the best but be prepared for the worst”.

Managing Stress through Yoga and Meditation

Stressful reactions to everyday challenges (ups and downs) induce changes in physiology. These changes, in turn can lower the defences against cancer and other diseases. Avoiding stress at any cost would be impossible. But what can be done is to relieve tensions regularly through yoga, meditation, deep breathing exercise and other relaxation techniques. The great Shamanic traditions and ancestral systems of medicine have always targetted the mind’s ability and capacity to revive the deep latent healing powers of the body.

The oldest discipline of inner awareness is yoga. In Sanskrit the term “yoga” denotes a set of practices aiming at the merging of body and mind for the sake of unity and inner peace — a path to each person’s innate “superior being”. This tradition sets out the principle that there is not one single pathway. On the contrary, every culture and every individual must find the path that suits them best. The central point common to these practices is the temporary diversion of attention from the outside world and the refocusing of that attention on the chosen subject of meditation such as healing.

The subject of meditation varies, depending on the different schools. It may involve the body and its sensations, as in ‘hatha yoga’, which works on postures and breathing. Hypnosis, which concentrates the attention in a particularly powerful way, also mobilizes the profound forces of the body. It is possible also to concentrate on the flame of a candle, a sacred image, a word (like “love”, “peace”, “Om”, “Wahguru”, “Shalom”), a prayer or a landscape (like the picture of a lake, mountain or a beautiful tree). What matters most is neither one particular technique nor one particular application. There is no secret or magic password that can cure cancer. What seems essential to the mobilisation of the body’s natural forces is to renew contact every day — with sincerity, benevolence and calm — with the life-force that vibrates constantly within our bodies. And to bow to it. Healing will follow.

Benefits of Yogic Breathing

Spending time every day alone with oneself is a “radical act of love”. This reflective “solitude” is the essential pre-condition to harmonising the inner healing forces of the body through meditation or yoga in which the gateway to innerself is the technique of yogic breathing. Through yogic breathing one discovers an immense sense of simple well-being, which has been absent in one’s everyday life. Later, people who meditate, learn that at any point in time they can access the mellowness and calm they find during meditation. With a little practice they will seek the calm while queuing at the supermarket, stuck in a traffic jam, or facing abuse from the boss in office. All they need to reconnect with this source of peace during yogic breathing is to focus their attention on the longer exhalation and the pause that follows.

Breathing is the visceral function that is totally autonomous with regard to the conscious mind (like digestion or heartbeat, breathing goes on even if we are not thinking about it) and yet easily regulated by will. The control centre for breathing, located at the base of the brain, is sensitive to all molecules (the neuropeptides) that are constantly exchanged between the emotional brain and the organs of the body, including the immune system. Attention to breathing brings people closer to the pulasations of vital body processes and connects them to conscious thought. Yogic breathing techniques (like pranayam) ensure that pure oxygenated blood goes to the cells, resulting in better circulation and no production of lactic acid.

Studies have shown that this balance in the states of resonance or coherence is associated with a number of health benefits. In particular : (i) better functioning of the immune system; (ii) reduction of inflammation; and (iii) better regulation of blood sugar levels. These are precisely, three of the principal factors that act against the development of cancer and many other diseases.

Relaxation with Mindful Meditation

Every one can learn through mindful meditation to influence the balance of autonomous systems, which are central to states of health. Some will do it by reciting a mantra or a prayer. For most people it can be done simply by directing attention within while sitting quietly alone. During meditation let your eyes gently close, turn your attention inward and remember that these are the moments devoted to the powers of healing. During these moments you should have the right to cut yourself off from the world, to not think about either the past or the future. The past is gone and will never come back, and the future is unknowable. Enjoy and savour the present. Meditation sessions should be your most important periods of the day, a slot you give to yourself to feel who you really are, without distraction, worry or thought.

During meditation, cerebral rhythms register a larger amplitude of oscillations than in non-meditative state. In addition, activity within the different brain regions begins to oscillate in harmony. The regions are said to have “synchronised”. Regions of the brain associated with positive mood and optimism (the left frontal regions) become more active. It is a phenomenon comparable to establishing coherence in the body’s biological processes. It has been discovered that this synchronisation lasts even beyond meditation sessions. People doing regular meditation sleep better, feel distinctly less stressed (cortisol levels go down) and sense that their lives become richer. Meditation benefits the immune system too to fight cancer and other diseases. In a nutshell meditation gives mastery over your own mind and body, you never had before.

Benefits of Physical Exercise

There are many different ways to tell our body it matters, that it is loved and respected, and to get it to sense its own desire to live. The best way is to let it practice what it was designed for: movement and physical activity. Several studies have demonstrated that the regulation and defence mechanisms that contribute to fighting cancer and other diseases can be directly stimulated by exercise. Cancer cells can’t thrive in an oxygenated environment. Exercising daily and deep breathing help to get more oxygen down to the cellular level.

There are numerous bodily mechanisms by which exercise improves overall physiology. First, it reduces the quantity of adipose tissue, the peripheral storage site for carcinogenic toxins in humans, as well as in polar bears. Some doctors refer to excess fat as “toxic waste site” of human body. Thus any form of physical activity capable of reducing fat, taking with it its stockpile of contaminants, is a prime method for detoxifying the body.

Moreover, physical exercise modifies our hormonal balance. It reduces the oestrogens and testosterones that stimulate the growth of cancers (in particular, cancers of the breast, prostate, uterus, ovary and testicles) and other diseases. Exercise also reduces blood sugar levels, and, as a result the secretion of insulin and IGF (insulin like growth factor) which contribute so dramatically to tissue inflammation and to the growth and spread of tumours. Physical exercise even acts directly on the cytokines responsible for inflammation, by lowering their level in the blood.

Physical activity, like meditation, has a direct effect on the immune system, seemingly protecting it against the stress of bad news. There is also every reason to believe that regular physical exercise substantially reduces the risk of relapse and eliminates the toxicity of drugs.

Fatigue from cancer, combined with exhaustion from treatments, is one of the most discouraging aspects of the disease. It affects 90% of patients and it may sometimes go on for years after the treatments are over. Rest has no effect, nor does sleep. The whole body feels sheathed in lead. We now know that physical exercise is one of the most proven methods to relieve fatigue resulting from cancer or from its treatment.

One of the benefits of prolonged physical effort is that it helps eliminate unceasing flow of ruminations (ponderings), at least temporarily. Pessimistic thoughts rarely surface spontaneously in the course of exercising. If they do, they are chased away in the flow of physical movement, simply by focusing attention on breathing, or contact of the feet with the ground or on the sensation of standing up straight. Joggers attest, for example, that after 20 or 30 minutes of sustained effort, they enter a state where spontaneously positive, even creative thoughts spring forth. Less aware of themselves, they get caught up in the rhythm of the effort that sustains and carries them forward. That is what is commonly called “the runner’s high”. It may be reached after several weeks of perseverance. Even if this is subtle, this state may become addictive. According to a number of studies, the “runners high” is an example of the mood enhancing effect of physical exercise. This effect is so striking that physical activity is now recommended by the National Health Service in the U.K. on a par with antidepressants as a first intervention for depression.

Exercises like Yoga or Tai Chi, which stimulate the body lightly, can be practiced by almost all cancer patients, whatever their condition. These maintain attentive contact with the body and its energies. They are also precious help in deepening and harmonising breathing, and thus cardiac coherence. They also improve morale.

It is essential to choose a kind of exercise you enjoy. The more entertaining the exercise, the easier it is to keep up. Those who exercise in groups are more mindful of the need for regular attendance, which is so crucial to success. Studies show that physical exercise helps the body to fight and avoid cancer. But the required dose is not the same for all cancers. For breast cancer, there seems to be a measurable effect after 3-5 hours a week of walking at normal speed. For cancer of the colon and rectum, twice as much is needed to have a comparable effect. This means walking either twice as long or twice as fast or finding activities requiring more effort to replace walking (for example, bicycling at a speed that requires twice the effort as walking). To have an effect on prostate cancer 3 hours of jogging spread over a week are required (this can be done in six sessions a week of 30 minutes).

Exercise is one of the most important things we can do to help ourselves. In the end it comes down to deciding whether to give in to disease or to sustain the energy of life. Oxygenated environment within the body through physical exercise i.e. oxygen therapy is another means to destroy cancer cells.

Caution: (i) Some cancers may affect parts of the body that make certain exercises dangerous. So consult your Naturo-Food Therapist before starting to exercise. (ii) For someone just starting to run, this inevitably means for a short distance and with small strides. Later, it may mean running faster and longer to reach and maintain “flow” but this progression may take time. (iii) When jogging, it is usually recommended not to go beyond a speed at which you can still talk but no longer sing (iv) Make sure you feel less tired after exercising than before, not the contrary.

Healing through Body Massage

Usually body massage is part of the treatment of cancer patients. Touching is a very old way of healing. Touch as a mother would touch a child, because what a mother is saying through her touch is “live”. Something in touching strengthens the “will to live” in us. Touching is evoking the “will to live” in another person. It comes about not by doing something but by letting another person know that their pain and their suffering and their fear matters. Attentive physical contact — such as massage practiced with benevolent intention — very probably stimulates the life-force in human adults, not just on an emotional level, but on a biological level inside their very cells. Touch also fosters acceptance of one’s body, bruised as it may be. The body responds in its own way to the implicit physical message, the feeling that “it matters” is accepted and still has its place among humans. Experiments have shown that three weekly 30 minutes sessions of massage slowed down the production of stress hormones and increased the rate of Natural Killer cells in women with breast cancer. These women were also more serene and felt less physical pain after just the first session — a well known effect of massage. Hydrotherapy, specially a hipbath, does wonders to the digestive and excretory systems of a cancer patient.

JOHNS HOPKINS’ PRESCRIPTION FOR STARVING CANCER CELLS

Every person has cancer cells in the body. These cancer cells do not show up in the standard tests until they have multiplied to a few billion. When doctors tell cancer patients that there are no more cancer cells in their bodies after treatment, it just means that the tests are unable to detect the cancer cells because they are below the detectable size.

Cancer cells occur between 6 to more than 10 times in a person’s lifetime. When the person’s immune system is strong the cancer cells will be destroyed and prevented from multiplying and forming tumours. When a person has cancer it indicates the person has multiple nutritional deficiencies. These could be due to genetic and environmental factors. Most of the cases of cancer are linked to environmental causes and can be prevented. The environmental includes both lifestyle factors such as diet, tobacco and alcohol; radiation, infectious agents and substances in the air, water and soil.

An effective way to battle cancer is to starve the cancer cells by not feeding them with the foods they need to multiply. What cancer cells feed on:

Sugar — It is a cancer feeder. Sugar substitutes like “nutrasweet”, “equal spoonful” are made with “aspartame” which is harmful. A better natural substitute would be honey or molasses but only in very small amounts.

Milk — It causes the body to produce mucus, especially in the gastro-intestinal tract. Cancer feeds on mucus. By cutting off milk and substituting with unsweetened soya milk, cancer cells can be starved.

Acidic Food — Cancer cells thrive in an acidic environment. A meat-based diet is acidic and difficult to digest as it requires a lot of digestive enzymes. Undigested meat remaining in the intestines becomes putrified and leads to toxic buildup. Cancer cell walls have a tough protein covering. By refraining from or eating less meat it frees more enzymes to attack the protein walls of cancer cells and to destroy them. It is best to eat fish and a little chicken rather than beef or pork. Meat also contains livestock antibiotics, growth hormones, pesticides and parasites, which are all harmful, especially to people with cancer. A diet made of 80% fresh vegetables and their juices, wholegrains, nuts and seeds, and a little fruit help put the body in its natural alkaline environment. About 20% can be from cooked food including beans. Fresh raw vegetables and their juices 2-3 times a day provide live enzymes that are easily absorbed and reach down to cellular levels within 15 minutes to nourish and enhance growth of healthy cells. Remember that enzymes are destroyed at 40 degrees centigrade.

Coffee, Black Tea and Chocolate — Avoid these as they have high caffeine levels. Green tea is a better alternative and has cancer-fighting properties.

Distilled Water — Avoid distilled water as it is acidic. Best to drink purified or filtered water to avoid known toxins and heavy metals in tap water.

Anger, Bitterness and Unforgiveness — Cancer is a disease of the mind, body and spirit. Anger, unforgiveness and bitterness put the body into a stressful and acidic environment. A proactive and positive spirit will help the cancer warrior be a survivor. Learn to have a loving and forgiving spirit. Learn to relax and enjoy life.

PREVENTING AND CURING CANCER WITH NATURO-FOOD THERAPY- You are What You Eat

The dreaded disease of cancer owes its existence to what we eat. Healthy life is directly proportional to the quality of food you put into your system and quality of your lifestyle. For example in USA over 60% of all cancers in women and over 40% in men are said to be due to faulty dietary and malnutrition factors. By upsetting the balance in our diets, we have created optimum conditions in our bodies for the development of cancer. Cancer growth is stimulated to a large extent by toxins from the wrong foods and the polluted environment. And in order to begin to combat cancer, we have to begin by detoxifying what we eat. Detoxification is a fundamental concept in most ancient medical traditions from Hippocrates (father of modern medicine) to Ayurveda and is absolutely necessary today to fight cancer and other lifestyle diseases. To cure cancer, existing acidic environment in the body needs to be alkalised by avoiding all acid forming foods and consuming alkaline foods such as vegetables and fruits (see Annex 3).

There is a saying in medical circles which goes: “As is your unhealthy lifestyle, so is your cancer”. In other words what you eat, drink and inhale, where you live, what you do, who you are, what is your sex life, how active or sedentary you are, how positive or negative thinker you are, are you stressed or relaxed most of the time, all have an adverse or beneficial impact on cancer.

There are certain circumstances under which the savage bands of cancerous cells are disrupted and lose their virulence:

(i) when the strong immune system mobilises against them;

(ii) when the healthy body refuses to create the inflammation without which they can neither grow nor invade new territories; and

(iii) when healthy blood vessels refuse to reproduce and provide the supplies they need to grow.

These are the mechanisms that can be reinforced with Naturo-Food Therapy to prevent the disease from taking hold. But once the tumour is installed, these natural defences can be exploited on their own or alongside conventional treatments (chemotherapy or radiotherapy), to fully mobilise the body’s resistance to combat cancer.

Naturo-Food Therapy stems from the unique gift of Nature — that the human body can cure itself provided we allow Nature to take its own course without hindering it by unhealthy eating and by the unwise use of drugs and medicines which invariably have harmful side effects. The most simple and basic tenet of Naturo-Food Therapy is to replace gradually the diseased blood with new healthy blood by consuming health-giving and nutritious plant-based vegetarian diets of seasonal fruits and raw/steamed vegetables (organic if possible) sprouted wholegrains/seeds, herbs and nuts. The nutrient/antioxidant/ fibre-rich natural diets mop up harmful free radicals and strengthen the body’s immune system, which: (i) boosts the body’s ability to overcome virtually all kinds of diseases;

(ii) increases the body’s resistance to infections; and

(iii) slows down or even reverses the ageing process.

If the tumour’s environment is deprived of the inflammatory factors needed for its growth, it will not succeed in spreading. The fact is that these inflammatory factors, these fertilizers for cancer, are provided directly by our diet. Major dietary fertilizers are: refined sugars and starches which drive up pro-inflammatory insulin and IGF, insufficient amounts of Omega-3s and the corresponding excess of Omega-6s which change into inflammatory molecules, and growth hormones present in meat and non-organic dairy products, which also stimulate IGF. Conversely, diet may also furnish ‘anti-promoters,’ such as all the phyto-chemical components of some vegetables or particular fruits, which directly counterbalance inflammatory mechanisms.

If certain foods in our diet can act as fertilizers for tumours, others on the contrary harbour precious anti-cancer molecules. As recent discoveries show, these go far beyond the usual vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. In Nature, when confronted with aggression, fruits and vegetables can neither fight nor flee. To survive, they must be armed with powerful molecules capable of defending them against bacteria, viruses, insects and bad weather. These molecules are phyto-chemical compounds with anti-microbial, anti-fungal and insecticidal properties, that act on the biological mechanisms of potential aggressors. They also have antioxidant properties that protect the plant’s cells from dampness and the sun’s rays (by preventing cellular ‘rust’ from forming when the cell’s fragile mechanisms are exposed to the corrosive effects of oxygen.) The phyto-chemical compounds that protect the plants may help protect against cancer when broken down in the human digestive system.

Anti-cancer foods (see Annex 1) are able to detoxify our bodies by eliminating many carcinogens. Even if certain anti-cancer foods are contaminated by pesticides etc, the positive impact of anti-cancer molecules wins out over the negative effect of carcinogens. Anti-cancer diet is primarily that which is:

(i) high in organic fruits, vegetables (including green leafy) and sprouted wholegrains and legumes, nuts and seeds, and oily fish accompanied by olive, canola (Canadian mustard variety) or flaxseed oils, garlic, onions, turmeric carminative herbs and spices; and

(ii) low on red meat, dairy produce, salt, sugar, starch and totally devoid of transfats and junk foods.

Cancer lies dormant in all of us. Like all living organisms our bodies are making defective cells all the time. That is how tumours are born. But like fruits and vegetables, our bodies are also designed and equipped by NATURE with a number of mechanisms that fight the process of tumour growth development and a host of other diseases. These mechanisms need to be kept in top gear by keeping immunity levels boosted up by consuming health-giving and disease-fighting Natural Foods. Mother Nature has tucked a medicine chest full of disease-fighting antioxidants into plant-based foods. These beneficial compounds fight damage to cells from rogue molecules called “free radicals”. Certain natural foods have shown beneficial effects in preventing or curing cancer and other diseases: those containing ‘isothiocyanates’ like broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, mustard greens and turnips; ‘polyphenol’ containing foods like apples, onions, green tea; lycopene found in tomatoes; ‘folic acid-rich’ foods like avocado, bananas, oranges, asparagus, green leafy vegetables, dried peas and beans; ‘vitamin C-rich’ foods like citrus fruits, strawberries, green leafy vegetables and cabbage, Indian gooseberry (amla), guava; ‘selenium-rich’ foods (selenium stimulates immune cells and particularly NK cells and boosts the effects of antioxidant mechanisms on the body) like organically grown cereals and vegetables as well as fish and shell fish; ‘vitamin A-rich’ foods like all bright coloured fruits and vegetables, eggs; foods rich in ‘magnesium’ like nuts, hazelenuts, almonds, wholegrain cereals, spinach; ‘vitamin E-rich’ foods like nuts, seeds, legumes, wholegrains, green leafy vegetables, oatmeal, brown rice, apples; ‘vitamin B2-rich’ foods like nuts/seeds, green leafy vegetables, wholegrains, dried beans, milk, yoghurt cheese, eggs, legumes citrus fruits, tomatoes, broccoli, spinach, avocado, asparagus; ‘vitamin B6-rich’ foods like green leafy vegetables, whole pulses and cereals, bananas, nuts/seeds, brown rice, potatoes, oats; ‘zinc-rich’ foods like nuts/seeds, wholegrains, beans, seafood, poultry, eggs; ‘vitamin D-rich’ foods (It has recently been shown that a significant supply of vitamin D reduces considerably the risk of several different cancers by preventing cancer cells from growing and spreading) like cod liver oil, salmon, mackerel, sardines, milk enriched with vitamin D and of course sunlight exposure which is responsible for upto 90% vitamin D requirement. Vitamin D seems to decrease the risk of several solid cancers, especially of stomach, colorectal, liver, gall bladder, pancreas, lung, female breast, prostate and kidney cancers. Surya Namaskar for a few minutes every morning will provide instant vitamin D.

Anti-Cancer Super-Foods

There is conclusive evidence that supports an inverse relationship between cancer risk and dietary intake of vegetables; fruits; wholegrains; nuts and seeds; certain types of fat (Omega-3 fats, CLAs — conjugated linoleic acid); antioxidant micronutrients like vitamin A, beta-carotene, vitamin C, vitamin E, vitamin B2, vitamin B6, folate, selenium, zinc, magnesium, dietary fibre; and positive dietary and lifestyle changes to manage weight. Here are attributes of some natural health-giving anti-cancer super-foods or food groups that prevent and arrest the spread of cancer.

Phyto-chemicals in Fruits and Vegetables

— All bright coloured (orange, red, yellow) fruits and vegetables such as carrots, sweet potatoes, squash, pumpkin, tomatoes, beetroot, water melon, apricots contain carotenoids (pro-vitamin A which gets converted to vitamin A in the human body) and lycopene which have proven capacity to inhibit the growth of cells of several cancers, some of which are particularly aggressive (such as brain gliomas). Lutein, phytoene, canthaxanthine and lycopene in fruits and vegetables stimulate the growth of immune cells and increase their capacity to attack tumour cells. They make natural killer (NK) cells more aggressive. Also anthocyanins in jamun, grapes, mulberry (shahtoot), raspberries, blueberries and currants have anti-cancer, cholesterol-lowering and anti-clotting properties. Quercetin and other sulphur compounds in garlic, onions and leeks; flavanons in citrus fruits like oranges, grapefruit, guava, lemons and lime help prevent cancer and have anti-clotting properties. Indoles in broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, Brussel sprouts also have anti-cancer properties. Green leafy vegetables such as spinach, kale, collard greens chulai, bathu, turnip, beet and radish leaves containing a variety of vitamins and minerals and other bioactive substances like lutein, flavonoids, folic acid and fibre help decrease the cancer risk. Dark chocolate (more than 70% cocoa) contains a number of antioxidants, proanthocyanidines, and many polyphenols. These molecules slow the growth of cancer cells and limit angiogenesis. Notes: (i) Tomatoes need to be cooked in order to release all of their lycopene. (ii) Mixing dairy products with chocolate cancels the beneficial effects of the molecules of cocoa, so avoid milk chocolate.

Berries

– Berries like blackberries, blackcurrants, blueberries, strawberries, cranberries, raspberries, cherries contain ellagic acid and a large number of polyphenols. They stimulate the mechanisms of elimination of carcinogenic substances and inhibit angiogenesis. Ellagic acid found in strawberries and raspberries (it is also found in walnuts and hazelnuts) is known to slow tumour growth significantly in mice exposed to aggressive carcinogens. Ellagic acid also detoxifies cells: it blocks the transformation of environmental carcinogens into toxic substances. These toxins are dangerous because they interact with DNA and provoke life-threatening mutations. Hence ellagic acid is a kind of super-molecule that is capable of acting on several fronts. Another natural anti-cancer food is cherries, which contain glucaric acid, a substance that can detoxify the body by facilitating elimination of xenoestrogens that come from environmental chemicals. Blueberries contain anthocyanidins and proanthocyanidins molecules which are capable of forcing cancer cells to commit suicide (apoptosis). These molecules act on several cancer lines and are particularly effective against colon cancer. Other rich sources of proanthocyanidins are cranberries, cinnamon and dark chocolate. Note : Freezing does not damage the anti-cancer molecules in the berries, so in winter frozen berries can replace fresh ones.

Citrus Fruits

— Fruits like oranges, grapefruits, lemons, sweet limes (mausamies), pineapple contain anti-inflammatory and anti-clotting flavonoids. They also stimulate the detoxification of carcinogens by the liver. It has been shown that flavonoids in the skin of organic tangerines — tangeritin and nobiletin — penetrate brain cancer cells, facilitate their death by apoptosis and lower their potential for invading neighbouring tissues.

Pomegranate Juice

— Pomegranate juice has been used in Persian medicine for thousands of years. Its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties have already been confirmed, as well as its capacity to substantially reduce the development of prostate cancer (among others), even in its most aggressive form. In humans, daily consumption of pomegranate juice slows the spread of an established prostate cancer by 67%. Recommendation for use: one glass (225 ml) a day of pomegranate juice with breakfast.

Red Wine

— Red wine contains many polyphenols, including the celebrated resveratrol. These polyphenols are enhanced by fermentation; hence their concentration is much greater in wine than in red grape juice. Resveratrol acts on genes (called sirtuins) that are known to protect cells against ageing. It can also slow the three stages of cancer development — initiation, promotion and progression — by blocking the action of NF-Kappa B. These benefits derive from consumption of only one glass of red wine. Note: More than one glass (160ml) of red wine may lead to an increase in cancer. Wine from Burgundy with its damp climate is particularly rich in resveratrol.

Green Tea

— Green tea (also white tea) is rich in polyphenols including catechins (and particularly epigallocatechin gallate-3 or EGCG) which greatly reduces the growth of new blood vessels needed for malignant tumour growth and metastasis (secondary tumours which develop at a distance from the primary site of the cancer). Green tea is also a powerful antioxidant and detoxifier (activating enzymes in the liver that eliminate toxins from the body) and it facilitates the death of cancer cells by apoptosis.

After 2 or 3 cups of green tea, EGCG is plentiful in the blood. These polyphenols surround and feed every cell and blocks the switch (the receptors), the function of which is to set off the signal that allows the penetration of neighbouring tissues by foreign cells such as cancer cells. Once the receptors are blocked by EGCG molecules, they no longer respond to the orders that cancer cells send through inflammation factors to invade tissue and to make the new vessels for tumour growth.

It has been shown that EGCG substantially protects against and slows the growth of leukaemia, breast, lung, prostate, kidney, skin, stomach, colon, oesophageal, gastrointestinal, liver, pancreatic and mouth cancers. Notes: (i) The combination of soya and green tea taken together enhances the protective effects, especially for breast cancer. (ii) Green tea must be steeped in boiled water for at least 5-8 minutes (ideally 10 minutes) to release its catechins and drank hot or cold within an hour. (iii) The fermentation process used for making black tea destroys a large proportion of its polyphenols. (iv) Decaffeinated green tea still contains all its polyphenols.

Cruciferous Vegetables (Brassicas)

— This star group of vegetables (brocolli, Brussel sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, kale, watercress, mustard greens, turnips, collard greens, kohlrabi (gath gobhi), radishes) contain powerful phytonutrients like isothiocyanates, sulphoraphan, and indole 3-carbinols (IC3- which lowers breast cancer promoting form of oestrogen) which are powerful anti-cancer molecules capable of detoxifying certain carcinogenic substances. They prevent precancerous cells from developing into malignant tumours. They also promote suicide (apoptosis) of cancer cells and block angiogenesis (development of blood vessels in the embryo). Overcooking or boiling destroys the beneficial anti-cancer compounds of cruciferous and other vegetables. They are best eaten raw or lightly steamed or stir-fried with a little olive oil.

Green Leafy Vegetables

— The dark green, leafy vegetables (organic if possible) like spinach, fenugreek (methi), amarnath (chulai), bathu, turnip, beet and raddish leaves, romaine lettuce, watercress, kale and parsley are abundant in vitamins, minerals and carotenes (pro-vitamin A). Of particular interest are folic acid, vitamin K, calcium, iron and potassium and antioxidants lutein and zeaxanthin and chlorophyll, the great detoxifier and haemoglobin booster. The green pigment chlorophyll in plants binds to cancer causing chemicals in the intestines and prevents their absorption in the body.

Mushrooms

— Shitake, maitake, enoki, crimini, portabello, oyster mushroom and thistle oyster mushrooms and trametes, all contain polysaccharides and letinian, which stimulate the reproduction and the activity of immune cells directly and slow tumour growth.

Watercress

— According to research at the University of Southampton salad leaves increase the number of cancer fighting molecules in the blood stream within hours of eating and could help prevent the condition from developing and also prevent the recurrence of the disease in recovering breast cancer sufferers. Phenylethylisothisocyanate (PEITC) compound which gives the salad leaf a peppery taste has the ability to block the function of a harmful protein Hypoxia Inducible Factor (HIF) which induces new blood vessels for supply of oxygen and nutrients for cancer cell growth in the tumour. Nutritionally, watercress a member of the cruciferous family, contains calcium, iron, betacarotene (pro-vitamin A), vitamin C, folate. Due to its antioxidant properties it is a traditional treatment for eczema, anaemia and infections.

Seaweed

— Several varieties of seaweed (nori, kombu, walkame, arame and dulse) commonly eaten in Asia contain molecules that slow cancer growth, especially of breast, prostate, skin and colon cancers. Fucoidan, found in Kombu and walkame seaweed, helps provoke cell death by apoptosis and stimulates immune cells, including NK cells. Facoxanthin is the ingredient in certain varieties of seaweed that makes them brown. It is a cartenoid (from the same family as lycopene in tomatoes), even more effective than its cousin lycopene in its capacity to inhibit cell growth in prostate cancer. Brown seaweed lengthens the menstrual cycle due to its anti-oestrogen effect. Nori is one of the extremely rare vegetable species that contain long-chain Omega-3 fatty acids — the most effective against inflammation and indispensable to the proper function of neurones.

Soya Foods

— Soya foods contain isoflavones or plant oestrogens (including genistein, diadzein and glycitein) which block the stimulation of cancer (especially of breast) cells by sex hormones (such as oestrogen and testosterone). They also intervene by blocking angiogenesis. In women, they act along the same lines as tamoxifen — a drug commonly used to prevent breast cancer relapses. The same protective mechanism is likewise at work for men to block the growth of prostate cancer. Different forms of soya (tofu, tempeh, miso, moong beans, bean sprouts etc) are therefore likely to be a useful part of an anti-cancer diet. A diet rich in cruciferous vegetables like broccoli, according to a new research, may prevent and even treat bowel cancer. Studies have shown that soya foods, in addition to reducing the risk of cancers, can lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels and help ward off osteoporosis. Note: Isoflavone supplements (in pill form) have been associated with an aggravation of certain breast cancers, but not in soya taken as food.

Pumpkin Flour

— University Sains Malaysia (USM) discovered in 2007 that pumpkin flour can control activation of cancer cells. The flesh of the pumpkin is dried, powdered and then mixed with whole wheat flour. Pumpkin flour contains resistance starch to produce propionic acid. The acid causes the starch to remain indigestible, thus fermenting the bacteria and weakening the cancer cells. Pumpkin has high fibre content and contains antioxidant vitamin A and minerals.

Omega-3 Essential Fatty Acid

— Long-chain Omega-3’s are involved in developing the nervous system, making cell membranes more flexible and in reducing inflammation. In cell cultures, they reduce cancer cell growth in a large number of cancers like lung, breast, colon, prostate, kidney. They also act to reduce the spread of tumours in the form of metastasis. The best sources of long-chain Omega-3s are small fish, like whole anchovies, tuna, mackerel, salmon and sardines (including canned sardines, provided they are preserved in olive oil and not in sunflower oil, which is too rich in inflammation causing Omega-6). Notes: (i) The bigger the fish (e.g. tuna), the more contaminated it is by mercury, PCB’s and dioxins, all of which pollute the ocean floor. (ii) Frozen fish progressively loses its Omega-3 content. Flaxseed is very rich in short-chain vegetable Omega-3s and also in lignans. These phytoestrogens allay the harmful effects of hormones that promote cancer growth. In a recent study at Duke University, daily intake of 30 gms of ground flaxseeds slowed the growth of existing prostate tumours by 30 to 40%. Flaxseed, a plant cultivated since ancient times, was an ingredient in the “Greek Bread” which the Romans ate. It just so happens that flaxseed is the only seed in the entire plant kingdom that contains more beneficial Omega-3s than harmful Omega-6s — three times more infact. Note: When animals eat flaxseeds (after appropriate cooking), it can greatly increase the Omega-3 content in meat, butter, cheese and eggs, even if it represents as little as 5% of their feed. Normal dose for humans is upto 2 teaspoons a day.

Allium Family Herbs

— Garlic, Onions, Leeks, Shallots, Chives — The sulphur compounds of this family reduce the carcinogenic effects of compounds which are created in over-grilled meat and during tobacco combustion. They also promote apoptosis (cell death) in colon, breast, lung and prostate cancers, as well as in leukaemia. Studies suggest a reduction in kidney and prostate cancers in people who consume the most garlic. Moreover all the herbs in this family help to regulate blood sugar levels. This in turn reduces insulin secretions and IGF which inhibit the growth of cancer cells.

Garlic

— The believers of garlic’s medicinal cult say that 2 or 3 cloves of fresh raw garlic a day will cure everything from common cold to high blood pressure to impotence to plague! Garlic, containing more than 100 biologically useful chemicals, has been used for medicinal purposes in all ancient cultures since 3,000 B.C. The garlic’s sulphur containing compounds, like allicin, allin, cyeroalin, and diallyldisulphide which are responsible for its strong odour, are the source of its medicinal strength and anti-carcinogenic character.

Ayurveda describes garlic as a digestive, carminative, cardiac stimulant, expectorant, diuretic, analgesic, anti-arthritic, anti-ageing anti-clotting anti-flatulent, liver protective, antiseptic (defeats bacterial, fungal and viral infections), antioxidant and an aphrodisiac (libido enhancing) agent.

Garlic is beneficial in treating anaemia, rheumatic diseases, diabetes, hypoglycaemia, asthma, whooping cough, pneumonia, insomnia, allergies, intestinal worms, parasite diarrhoea, acne/pimples (rub them with raw garlic), boils, rashes, eczema. Garlic is considered to be more effective than penicillin and other antibiotics in combating the bacteria that causes diphtheria and tuberculosis. Garlic purifies the blood, helps to break up and lower cholesterol in the blood vessels, prevents heart attacks and counters bad effects of breathing exhaust fumes of vehicles and atmospheric pollution. Garlic regulates blood sugar levels, improves memory and brain function and aids in weight loss. Nutritionally garlic contains amino-acids, minerals like sulphur, phosphorus, selenium, calcium, potassium, germaneum, zinc and manganese and vitamins like A, B1, B2, C and niacin. Antioxidant property of garlic helps boost the immune system by increasing NK (natural killer) cells. Allysulphides in garlic increase the production of detoxification enzymes that help breakdown cancer-causing compounds and toxins, and enhance their removal from the body. Garlic blocks the growth of cancer cells and kills them outright. Garlic is effective in all types of cancers especially in case of stomach, breast, prostate, lung, colon, skin, oesophagus cancers. Notes: (i) To maximise garlic’s medicinal power, chop or crush cloves of garlic and leave for 10-15 minutes before taking or using it in cooking. This allows active molecules like allicin and its potent derivatives to be fully activated and are much more easily assimilated if they are also dissolved in a little oil like olive or canola oil. (ii) Though acute toxicity of garlic is rare, its reported adverse effects include heartburn, abdominal pain, dermatitis, urticaria, skin blisters, fever and headache, most of these side effects gradually disappear on their own once the use of garlic is stopped.

Onion

— Grown for more than 5,000 years, onion is a great garnishing ingredient to spice up dishes. But did you know that it also has medicinal values and health benefits. Onion, like garlic, is a member of the allium family and both are rich in sulphur-containing compounds that are responsible for their pungent odour and for many of the health-promoting aspects. Onions contain allyprophyldisulphide that can induce the enzymes to detoxify cancer causing agents. Onions are very rich source of fructo-oligosaccharides. These oligomers stimulate the growth of healthy bifidobacteria and suppress the growth of potentially harmful bacteria in the colon. They can reduce the risk of tumours developing in the colon. Onions help reduce the risk of breast, ovarian, bowel cancers also.

It has been found that some parts of the world, where onion consumption is high, have even shown much lower cancer rates. For example in Georgia, the US, where the small sweet Vedelia onion is grown, the number of stomach cancer diagnoses are a half the average for the rest of the country. In China, where people eat more onions and garlic than anywhere else in the world, the risk of stomach cancer is 40% lower than average.

Chemically onions have carbohydrates, proteins, vitamins such as A, B group, C and folic acid, minerals viz. iron, calcium, potassium and trace mineral chromium. They also contain numerous flavonoids, notably a potent antioxidant quercitin. Onions are carminative, digestive expectorant, diuretic, aphrodisiac, anti-ageing, anti-inflammatory, anti-allergic, anti-arthritic, anti-bacterial and anti-fungal, anti-clotting (blood thinner), anti-flatulent. Onions are good for liver disorders and blood detoxification, and good appetisers, lower blood sugar and cholesterol levels and promote heart health, help lower high blood pressure, cure gastrointestinal disorders, help ease asthma and breathing (respiratory) problems, strengthen bones. Onion juice is helpful in subsiding pain, inflammation and oedema. Note: The therapeutic dose of onion juice is 10 to 30ml whereas raw onions should not be consumed more than 100 gms a day. Excessive consumption of onions can cause symptoms like acidity, belching, nausea and headache. Taking pomegranate juice works as an antidote in such cases.

Ginger

— The documented evidence of health benefits of ginger go back 2,500 years and are almost as prolific as its culinary uses. Pungent oleoresins compounds (phenylalkylketones) known as gingerols, turpines, shogoals and zingerone have medicinal values and have been found to inhibit the formation of abnormal cells in the body. Ginger acts against certain cancer cells and helps reduce the creation of new blood vessels for cancer to grow. Ginger intake counters nausea that occurs due to chemotherapy. It also acts as a powerful anti-inflammatory and antioxidant (more effective than vitamin E, for example). Additionally ginger is anti-bacterial, lowers cholesterol, is anti-clotting as it reduces the stickiness of blood platelets and promotes circulation, is a natural anti-histamine and decongestant, is appetiser, digestive and carminative, is helpful in coughs and colds. Ginger is known to contain chemicals that work even better than non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) like ibuprofen and aspirin. Note: Those taking anti-clotting medicines should consult their Naturo-Food Therapist if they are taking more than 6 gms of ginger daily.

Turmeric

— Turmeric, also referred to as a “Spice of Life”, is one of the most common natural household spice with not only culinary property but also with medicinal property which has since ages been used in Ayurveda medicine by our ancestors in India. The anecdotal evidence on the virtues and medicinal worth of turmeric is a legion. The Latin name of turmeric is Curcuma Longa.

The principal molecule responsible for its curative properties is curcumin, a phenolic compound, which is 10% by weight of turmeric and gives its characteristic yellow colour. Curcumin helps to quell the action of carcinogens and blocks free radicals, thereby reducing the risk of body’s cells turning cancerous. It inhibits the growth and spread of existing tumours in a large number of cancers: prostate, colon, liver, stomach, breast, ovary and leukaemia, for example. The low incidence of prostate cancer in India can be attributed to the consumption of turmeric. Turmeric also inhibits angiogenesis (development of new blood vessels in the embryo on which cancer cells feed) and forces cancer cells to self-destruct and die (through a process of cell suicide known as apoptosis). In addition to anti-cancer property, turmeric has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-clogging, anti-arthritic, anti-microbeal, antiseptic, anti-fungal, anti-viral, wormicidal, anti-allergic and anti-flatulent properties. Turmeric also stimulates the immune system cells and suppresses autoimmune ailments, protects the liver, promotes digestion, purifies blood, lowers cholesterol, triglycerides and blood sugar levels, heals wounds and skin problems and relieves pain. Anti-inflammatory properties of turmeric make it effective against asthma, multiple sclerosis and Alzheimer’s diseases. Nutritionally benefits of turmeric include calcium, iron, folic acid, beta-carotene and vitamin C. Thus curry lovers everywhere may take comfort from the fact that the “wonder” herb really does seem to be the “Spice of Life”! Note: To be assimilated in the body, turmeric must be mixed with black pepper. When turmeric is not mixed with pepper — as it always had been done in Indian curry — it does not pass the intestinal barrier. Pepper greatly multiplies the body’s absorption of turmeric. Indian wisdom has thus been far ahead of modern science in the discovery of natural affinities between foods. Ideally, it must also be mixed with olive or canola or preferably flaxseed oil. Mix a quarter of a teaspoon of freshly ground turmeric powder with half a teaspoon of one of the above mentioned oils and a generous pinch of freshly ground black pepper. Add to vegetables, soups and salad dressings.

Labiate Family Herbs

— These cookery herbs consisting of mint, basil, thyme, marjoran, oregano and rosemary are rich in essential oils (fatty acids) of the “terpene” family to which they owe their fragrance. Terpenes have been shown to act on a variety of tumours by reducing the spread of cancer cells or by provoking their death by blocking the enzymes they need to invade neighbouring tissues. Carnosol in rosemary is also a powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory. Pasley and celery contain apigenin, an anti-inflammatory compound, that promotes apoptosis and blocks angiogenesis using a mechanism similar to the drug Gleevec’s used in chemotherapy.

Probiotics — Probiotics, a Greek word which means “for life”, are live microorganisms which have been used for centuries as natural components of foods to promote overall health and well-being. Our bodies have more than 100 trillion bacteria (called gut flora) comprising over 400 species and weighing more than a kilogram, both beneficial (that aid digestion, help in the absorption of nutrients and production of minerals and vitamins) and harmful ones (which cause illnesses). For healthy body it is essential that beneficial bacteria are much more than harmful ones. Probiotics help good bacteria in the gut to grow and inhibit the growth of bad bacteria that can cause digestive and other problems. Among the most common of these beneficial bacteria are lactobacillus acidophilus and lactobacillus bifidus.

Probiotics are found in various foods such as yoghurt, fermented milk, cheese, butter milk, whey, kefir. Any foods where fermentation is part of the cooking procedure are rich sources of these beneficial bacteria such as idli, dhokla, khameeri roti (chappati made from fermented dough), vadas, uttpam, tofu. Soya yoghurts are usually enriched with probiotics. These precious bacteria are also found in sauekraut and kimchee.

Probiotics are resistant to gastric, bile and pancreatic juices. Certain foods are prebiotic, which means they contain polymers of fructose, which stimulate the growth of probiotic bacteria. Examples are: garlic, onions, honey, maple sugar, unrefined (whole) wheat and barley, oats, rye, beans, chickpeas, flaxseeds, fenugreek seeds, sunflower seeds, isabogol, green leafy vegetables, leeks, chicory, asparagus, tomatoes, bananas, berries and citrus fruits. Note: Excessive intake of refined, fried, sugary processed foods suppresses the growth of good bacteria and allows unfriendly ones to grow. Probiotics increase secretion of immunoglobulin, a disease-fighting immune enzyme found in the intestines which boosts and stabilises the role of the immune system. Friendly bacteria in probiotics have been associated with anti-carcinogenic effects. It has been demonstrated that probiotics inhibit the growth of colon cancer cells. Their effect on the digestion and facilitation of bowel movements also lowers the risk of colon cancer by reducing the time the intestines are exposed to carcinogenic substances in food. Chapaties made with fermented whole wheat dough contain a compound called MPG which may slow or even stop the growth of cancer.

In addition to anti-carcinogenic effects of probiotics, they have been known to protect from intestinal tract infections like candida and helicobacter pylori (the bacteria which is linked to peptic ulcers) and other gastrointestinal problems like colitis, inflammatory bowel disease. Probiotics help in cardio-vascular health by lowering triglycerides, LDL (bad) cholesterol and reducing inflammation. They give protection from autoimmune diseases, allergies, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis and are good for skin and hair.

Probiotics improve digestion, reduce bloating and flatulence, help maintain alkaline/acidic balance, reduce lactose intolerance, improve, resistance to infection, accelerate recovery from acute diarrhoea, reduce symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and regulate side effects of antibiotic therapy.

Dietary Fibre

— Dietary fibre, also called roughage, is known to be good for health: it helps your bowels and intestines stay healthy, lowers blood cholesterol levels, displaces fat in the diet, helps in weight loss, keeps blood sugar levels even and reduces the risk of many cancers. A great deal of evidence taken from large population studies suggests that fibre guards against breast, uterus, prostate, rectum and colorectal cancers and possibly other forms of the disease as well. Fibre shields you from cancers of the colon and rectum. Fibre serves as a diluting agent to “water down” the concentration of dangerous substances that can initiate or activate cancer cells. In fact, simply by bulking up the stool and helping push it through the intestinal tract more quickly, insoluble fibre reduces the amount of time during which potential cancer-causing substances are in contact with the body. Fibre may also protect against cancer of the breast by influencing the metabolism of oestrogen, the female sex hormone. Breast cancer is most likely oestrogen-dependent, which means that it needs a plentiful supply of oestrogen in order to flourish. A high-fibre diet helps the body excrete excess oestrogen through the faeces, which may be why such a diet is linked to a reduced risk of breast cancer. Together, the high-fibre, low-fat diet packs a powerful punch against breast cancer.

Fibre and Fat

— Eating more fibre and less fat are two of the best medicines available for preventing cancer and all lifestyle diseases. For example, the incidence of prostate cancer is low in Japan, where the traditional diet contains relatively little fat and more fibre; but high in America where people eat a high-fat and low-fibre diet.

ANNEXES

The following Annexes will be helpful as ready references for anti-cancer foods, diet and lifestyle guidelines and acidic/alkaline foods: ANNEX 1 – Beneficial Anti-Cancer Foods. ANNEX 2 – Diet and Lifestyle Guidelines for a Healthy & Disease-Free Life. ANNEX 3 – Acidic and Alkaline Foods.

BENEFICIAL ANTI-CANCER FOODS

Cruciferous Vegetables (Brassicas) – Including organic broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, Brussel sprouts, kale, mustard greens, collard greens, watercress, turnips, radishes, kohlrabi (gath gobhi).

Dark Green Leafy Vegetables – Including organic spinach, fenugreek (methi), amarnath (chulai), bathu, turnip/beet/radish leaves, romaine lettuce, watercress, kale, parsley.

Other Vegetables – Including organic carrots, tomatoes (cooked to get more lycopene), beetroot, squash, cucumber, asparagus, potatoes and sweet potatoes with skin, pumpkins, certain mushrooms like shitake, maitake, enoki, crimini, portabello, oyster mushrooms, thistle oyster mushrooms and trametes (coriolus). Barley and wheatgrass juice. Brightly coloured vegetables, seaweeds.

Carminative and Digestive Herbs and Spices – Including turmeric, cinnamon, black pepper, garlic, ginger, onions, shallots, lemons/limes, Indian gooseberry (amla), triphla powder, olives, aloevera, fennel (saunf), green chillies in moderation, mint, basil (tulsi), karhi patta, liquorice (mulathi), leeks, chives, parsley, celery, rosemary, oregano, marjoran, thyme, alfalfa, honey. Notes: (i) To be assimilated in the body, turmeric must be mixed with freshly ground black pepper. Ideally it must also be dissolved in olive or canola oil. (ii) Peeled, chopped or crushed garlic should be left for 10 minutes before eating to release the healthy compounds.

Berries – Blueberries, blackberries, blackcurrents, strawberries, cranberries, raspberries, cherries. Note : Berries can be frozen as they retain the nutrients.

Citrus Fruits – Including oranges, grapefruits, tangerines, lemons, sweet limes (mausamies), pineapples.

Other Fruits – Including apples, apricots, pears, avocados, guava, plums, kiwi, figs, grapes especially red, fresh dates, peaches, jamun, mulberry (shahtoot), papaya, watermelon, bananas, pomegranate.

Nuts and Seeds – Including almonds, walnuts, hazelnuts, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, sesame seeds, flaxseeds, (alsi), fenugreek seeds (methi), mustard seeds.

Wholegrain Sprouts – Wheat, corn, millets, pulses especially moong, beans especially soya, peas, oats, barley, brown rice. Make chapaties with sourdough (fermented) whole wheat flour.

Oil/Fats – Saturated animal fats such as purified butter (ghee); monounsaturated fats such as olive and canola oils; and polyunsaturated fats such as rice bran and groundnut oils should be consumed in moderation only in the ratio of 1:1:1. Olive oil and canola oil containing more of beneficial Omega-3 essentially fattty acids (EFAs) should be preferred over polyunsaturated oils (like sunflower and corn oils) which have more of inflammation promoting Omega-6 EFAs. Probiotics – Yoghurt, cheese, whey, butter milk, soya yoghurt and other fermented foods like idli, dhokla, chapaties made from fermented dough, vadas and uttpam.

Seafood – Oily, preferably, fresh water fish, salmon, shellfish, mackerels, sardines including tinned sardines in olive oil, cod liver oil.

Animal Food – Lean meat, skimmed milk and whey from animals fed on organic grass, free-range eggs and poultry. All in moderation only.

Water – Consume 2-2½ litres of water (more if you are overweight, do exercise and in hot weather) inbetween (not with) meals.

Fibre/Bran – Consume fruits, vegetables and wholegrains with skin as far as possible as minerals and vitamins are attached to the bran (skin).

Raw Food – Consume more of raw vegetables and salads as enzymes are destroyed with overcooking. Vegetables may be lightly sauted, steamed or stir-fried if desirable. Use only home-made dressing made with crushed garlic, fruit vinegar (not synthetic), fresh lemon juice, olive oil and a bit of sea salt.

Other Foods – Green tea with antioxidant properties in moderation, red wine in moderation, dark chocolate containing more than 70% cocoa in moderation.

HARMFUL JUNK FOODS TO AVOID

Fat/oil-rich, fried, refined and processed junk foods; foods made with hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated oils (transfats); margarine which is made from harmful Omega-6-rich oils like sunflower; sugar, salt and starch (maida) – the so called “Three White Poisons”; polished rice; alcohol; coffee; smoking; all tinned and ready packed foods, beverages and fruit juices with harmful chemical additives. Avoid meat and other products from animals which are reared on inorganic farms using insecticides, pesticides and fed hormones and other chemical substances. Notes : (i) Avoid frying, roasting, grilling, microwaving and barbequing; (ii) Meat cooked at high temperatures produces chemicals called heterocyclic amines (HCA) that induce carcinogens. Remember to trim the burnt parts of meat and other foods and avoid smoked fish; (iii) Avoid using deodorants, antiperspirants, cosmetics, shampoos, hair dyes, nail polish, sunscreens, perfumes; household chemical cleaners; (iv) Air out dry cleaned clothes in fresh air for several hours before wearing; (v) Don’t use plastic containers for grain and food storage, use glass or ceramic ware; (vi) Don’t use teflon coated pans, instead use stainless steel or cast iron pans for cooking. Cast iron pans will greatly enhance absorption of iron from food.

DIET AND LIFESTYLE GUIDELINES FOR A HEALTHY & DISEASE-FREE LIFE

There is no “best” or “ideal” diet and no “good or “bad” foods so long as you stick to natural sources and adopt an active and healthy lifestyle. Moderation, variety and balance are the keys to healthy eating. Also, food is more than the nutrition it provides – it is also a part of the way we enjoy and celebrate life. The following Guidelines have been prepared accordingly:-

DIET GUIDELINES

(i) Cultivate Healthy Eating with Natural Foods – Discard unhealthy eating habits. Fortify your immune system by consuming Natural Foods and by doing regular physical exercise.

(ii) You are What You Eat – Don’t live to eat but eat to live a disease-free life as ordained by NATURE. Let food be thy medicine as ordained 3000 years ago by Hippocrates, father of modern medicine.

(iii) Look after Your Digestive System – Eat less in moderation and more often i.e. have 7-8 small nutritious meals and snacks (say every 2-2½ hours) instead of 2-3 large heavy meals a day. Don’t ever overeat and chew the food to a creamy state with digestive saliva containing enzymes before swallowing.

(iv) Eat More Fruits and Vegetables – Include a liberal quantity of fresh seasonal and regional fruits, raw or steamed vegetables and salads in your daily diet to fulfill 50-60% of your daily energy requirements.

(v) Eat More Sprouts and Fibre – Eat wholegrain cereals and pulses, preferably sprouted, for optimum fibre and nutrition as minerals and vitamins are attached to the bran and they increase manifold on sprouting.

(vi) Eat Nuts and Seeds – Consume a handful of nuts like almonds, wallnuts and seeds like pumpkin, flax and sesame regularly 5-6 times a week.

(vii) Eat Carminative and Digestive Herbs and Spices – Include ginger, garlic, onions, green chillies, cumin seeds (jeera), fennel (saunf), aesphotida (hing), black pepper, caraway seeds (ajwain), turmeric (haldi), cardamom (elaichi), basil (tulsi), mint (pudina), curry leaves (curhi patta) in your diet and cooking.

(viii) Cook Vegetables Conservatively – Do not cook vegetables in lots of oil. Freshly cut and prepared vegetables should be steamed, lightly sauted or slowly stewed or stir-fried or baked but not deep-fried and overcooked at all to preserve minerals, vitamins and enzymes. Vegetables should be washed before cutting into pieces. Washing cut vegetables will leach most of the water-soluble vitamins (B group and C) into water. (ix) Never skip Breakfast – Eat a fruit instead of tea or coffee within 15-20 minutes of waking followed by a nutritious breakfast and green tea (preferably without milk and sugar) later.

(x) Eat Light Dinner – Have your light meal or snack 2-2½ hours before hitting the bed.

(xi) Don’t get dehydrated – Drink at least 2-2½ litres (more if you exercise, are overweight and in hot weather) of water at regular intervals. If just too boring, add lemon wedges or mint leaves for flavour in the jug of water.

(xii) Avoid Drinking Water with Meals – Drink water about an hour before or after meals to avoid diluting the digestive juices.

(xiii) Don’t follow Fad Diets – These diets don’t include all the food groups and nutrients and these never work in the longterm. Mantra is to simply eat healthy.

(xiv) Avoid the Three White Poisons – Excessive intake of Sugar, Salt and Starch (Maida) and their products should be avoided as far as possible.

(xv) Totally eliminate Junk Food from Your Diet – Avoid fat-rich, refined, processed and fried junk foods like burgers, noodles, pizzas and beverages like colas and fizzy drinks laden with harmful chemical additives and preservatives.

(xvi) Detox Yourself – Go on a detoxification diet only of fruits and vegetables and their juices to get rid of toxins after every two weeks.

LIFESTYLE GUIDELINES

(xvii) Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity – WHO.

(xviii)Every human being is the Author of his own health or disease – Gautam Buddha.

(xix)To ensure Good Health; eat light, breathe deeply, live moderately, cultivate cheerfulness and maintain an interest in life – William Londen.

(xx)Modify Your Lifestyle – If you are not willing to sit down and change the way you live each day to include exercise, healthy eating and time to enjoy and nurture yourself with some fun, laughter, relaxation and adequate sleep, then it is very difficult to stay healthy and fight lifestyle diseases like cancer, diabetes, high blood pressure and raised cholesterol levels.

(xxi)Maintain Healthy Weight – To combat lifestyle diseases, it is absolutely essential to maintain healthy weight through healthy diet, regular physical exercise and rest/relaxation.

(xxii)Say Goodbye to Sedentary Lifestyle – Lead an active life, keep fidgeting, do regular exercise and participate in social work to help others.

(xxiii)Have Regular Health Checkups – Maintain normal cholesterol, blood sugar and blood pressure levels through Naturo-Food Therapy and not by medication.

(xxiv)Look after Your Digestive System – According to Ayurveda, mere nutrition without proper digestion is meaningless.

(xxv)Reduce Stress – Though occasionally stress is not bad for health but excessive stress over long periods needs to be kept manageable through regular physical, yogic and deep breathing exercises and other relaxation techniques like meditation.

(xxvi)Get Quality Sleep – Sleep is prescribed by Nature. Good sleep improves your defence mechanism. Make sure adults get 7-8 hours of good quality sleep to rejuvenate the body in totally dark room. Melatonin, the hormone that stimulates sleep and suppresses abnormal cancer cell development is secreted by the pineal gland in the darkness at night.

(xxvii)Quit Smoking – Tobacco smoke is a very potent toxin (poison) responsible for lung and other cancers and many other diseases and disorders.

(xxviii)Love Yourself – You are the only one of your kind in the world. You must feel good about yourself. Love, adore, cherrish and celebrate your own body. Good health begins with loving yourself.

(xxix)Banish Negative Emotions – Learn to let go of negative emotions such as anger, guilt, anxiety, fear, unforgiveness, hostility, bitterness and insecurity connected with longstanding issues that can’t be resolved.

(xxx)Bury the Past – Realise your dreams, goals, loves and being. Be the person you always wanted to be with happy memories devoid of resentment and sadness for past events hurting the most.

(xxxi)Live the Present – You can’t change the Past (it has gone and will never come back), but you can ruin a perfect Present by unnecessarily worrying about the Future which is unknowable. So enjoy and savour the Present.

(xxxii)Don’t despair and don’t feel Hopeless – A bout of depression can wreak havoc with the immune system. By remaining cheerful you can boost it. Despair and hopelessness raise the risk of heart attacks and cancer, thereby shortening life. Joy and fulfillment keep us healthy and extend life.

(xxxiii)Be Positive and Optimistic – Above all, patients and even healthy persons should make every effort to develop a positive, optimistic and cheerful attitude in their thinking and have faith in themselves that they can achieve a healthy body and mind.

SKINCARE

(xxxiv) Good health and physical fitness are imperative for radiant skin – In addition to the effects of the ageing process, you have a cocktail of other causative factors for premature ageing of the facial and body skin. These include excessive exposure to sunlight, unhealthy wrong diet, lack of physical exercise, harmful effects of beauty products, dehydration, sedentary lifestyle and inadequate relaxation and sleep.

(xxxv) Avoid Excessive Sun Exposure – The harmful ultraviolet rays (UVA & UVB) which cause wrinkling are strongest between 1000 and 1600 hours. Use an umbrella but avoid sun creams.

(xxxvi) Avoid Cosmetic Creams, Lotions, Peels and Anti-Wrinkle Jabs – There is no concrete scientific evidence to suggest that the expensive cosmetics work but they sometimes can cause irreversible damage to the skin.l

(xxxvii) Avoid Hot Baths and Showers – Instead have warm bath or shower followed by thorough rinsing by cold water to tighten the facial and body muscles.

(xxxviii) Exfoliate the Skin – Rub your skin with a long soft brush to remove dead cells and grime before bath or shower to open up the pores for the skin to breathe.

Annex 3

ACIDIC AND ALKALINE FOODS

The acid/alkaline balance of food is extremely important for our well-being. Human blood of a healthy person is basically alkaline with PH value of about 7.5 or put simply, the blood is about 80% alkaline and about 20% acidic.  So to remain healthy and free of all kinds of ailments, we should aim to consume 80% alkaline foods and no more than 20% of acidic foods.

Alkaline Foods  —  Almost all fresh fruits (even sour fruits like oranges, lemons, pineapples become alkaline during digestion); almost all fresh and raw or streamed vegetables (including green leafy vegetables and salads); pulpy smoothies of fruits and vegetables; soaked dry fruits, raisins and wholegrain sprouts are extremely beneficial for disease-free life.  Unboiled milk, cottage cheese, soured dairy  products, buckwheat; corn; chestnuts; fresh lima beans; millets; Brazil nuts; almonds; maple syrup; molasses and honey are also alkaline in nature.

Acidic Foods  —  All fat/oil-rich, refined, fried and processed junk foods like pastas, burgers, pizzas, samosas, pakoras; savoury snacks like namkeens and potato chips/crisps; all tinned and ready packed foods, beverages and fruit juices with harmful chemical additives, preservatives, colourings and flavour enhancers; transfat-rich foods such as ready meals, noodles, biscuits; fizzy drinks and colas; sweets and confectionery made from milk and starch such as Indian mithai, cakes, pasteries and icecreams animal derived foods such as non-vegetarian food, eggs, seafood, butter, ghee, cheese, paneer, lard and boiled milk; caffeinated drinks like coffee, cocoa, tea, chocolate; unsprouted grains such as wheat, rice, barley, beans, pulses; oats, nuts (except almonds) asparagus; Brussel sprouts; mustard; olives; peppers; dried coconuts; canned and unsoaked dried fruits; bread; breakfast cereals; sugar; refined flour (maida); nicotine; medicines aspirin and drugs; vinegar, alcohol. Note: Raw fruits and all foods with added sugar are acidic.

Glossary

Adrenal Glands: A pair of important glands covering the superior face of the kidneys, and which secrete various hormones such as adrenaline (epinephrine) and noradrenaline, and corticosteroids.

Adrenaline: A hormone secreted in stressful conditions by the adrenal gland, affecting circulation and muscular action and causing excitement and stimulation.

Aerobic: Aerobic means air but specifically means using oxygen in the air.

Allergy: Sensitivity of an individual to certain substances (allergens) which are harmless to most other people. An abnormal immune system response produces characteristic inflammation. Any body tissue can be affected.

Amino Acid: A chemical compound mainly occurring naturally in plant and animal tissues and forming the basic constituent of protein. Body can make some; some others are essential and provided by the diet.

Anaerobic: Means without air or oxygen.

Angiogenesis: Development of blood vessels in the embryo.

Appetite: Appetite is the natural desire for food, a pleasant sensation, aroused by the thoughts and the pleasure you get from eating certain foods with appealing taste, texture or aroma. It is not the same as hunger.

Antibody: Any of a class of blood proteins (immunoglobins) produced in the body in response to and countering antigens.

Antibiotic: Literallly “against life”. A substance that destroys bacteria and or fungi (not viruses).

Antigen: A foreign substance (e.g. a toxin) which induces an immune response in the body, especially the production of antibodies.

Antioxidants: These are biological substances (e.g. vitamins A, C or E) that slow oxidation and protect against cell damage caused by oxygen free radicals.

Apoptosis: An intrinsic programme of cell death.

Ascorbic Acid: Another name of vitamin C.

Asymptomatic: Producing or showing no symptoms.

Autoimmune Disease: A condition in which the immune system becomes confused and becomes active against the body, creating antibodies that act against certain components or products of its own tissues.

Autonomic Nervous System: Part of the nervous system that governs those bodily functions not under the control of the conscious mind, such as the regular beating of the heart, intestinal movements and sweating. It is subdivided into the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems.

Balanced Diet: A diet that contains all six essential food groups i.e. carbohydrates, proteins, fats, minerals, vitamins and water in proper proportions and in quantity that is adequate for current needs of the body as well as for the needs in future. It provides requisite energy, maintains health and vitality and provides fibre (roughage).

Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR): It is essentially a measure of the minimum amount of energy (calories) the body burns when you are awake but sitting still or lying down doing nothing just being alive to maintain basic bodily functions, such as breathing, heart beat, digestion. Thyroid activity, gender, age can affect BMR.

Betacarotene/Carotene: A yellow or red carotenoid (yellow or red pigment) found in vegetables and fruits. It is a provitamin which is converted to vitamin A in the liver.

Bile: A greenish brown fluid secreted by the Liver which aids in the emulsification of fats.

Bioflavonoids: Sometime referred to as vitamin P. Strong antioxidant phyto-chemicals found next to the peel in many fruits, are essential for the stability and absorption of ascorbic acid (vitamin C).

Blood Pressure: The pressure exerted by the flow of blood as it is pumped by the heart through the main arteries. This is often measured for diagnosis since it is closely related to the force and rate of the heart beat and the diameter and the elasticity of the arterial walls. Body Mass Index (BMI): An index that measures the relationship between height and weight. This is calculated by dividing the body weight in kilograms by the square of the height in meters.

Calorie: A calorie or Kilocalorie is the unit of energy supplied by food. One unit (calorie) is the measure of the exact amount of heat required to increase the temperature of 1,000 grams of water by 1⁰C.

Capillaries: The tiniest of the fluid carrying vessels of the vascular and lymphatic systems. They allow exchange of fluids between these systems and body tissues.

Carbohydrate: Any of a large group of organic compounds containing carbon, oxygen and hydrogen, e.g. starch, glucose and other sugars. This is the main fuel and source of energy for the body.

Carcinogen: Any substance or agent that produces cancer or increases the risk of development of cancer.

Cardiovascular Disease: Pertaining to the heart and blood vessels.

Carminative: A pleasant tasting agent, like fennel (saunf), which prevents gas formation in the gastrointestinal tract.

Chemotherapy: Treatment of a disease, especially cancer, by chemical agents/drugs most of which are toxic to cells undergoing division and to induce disintegration of tumour cells.

Cholesterol: A fat like crystalline steroid found in all body tissues including the blood. Most is synthesised in the liver but some is absorbed from dietary sources like food rich in animal fat. It circulates in the plasma complexed to proteins of various densities. It is a constituent of cell membranes. It facilitates the transport and absorption of fatty acids in the body. Its high concentrations deposits can narrow the arteries.

Collagen: The main structural protein substance of white fibres of connective tissue, cartilage or bone.

Complex Carbohydrates: These, like wholegrains, are digested slowly and raise blood sugar level also slowly. Also called low glycemic index foods.

Cortisol: A steroid hormone (hydrocortisone) produced by the adrenal cortex (outer part of the gland). Its levels are highest in the morning on waking and lowest in the middle of the night. The level increases during stress and illness.

Detoxification: Removal of toxic excess of any agent from the body by various means especially by metabolic interference e.g. Naturo-Food Therapy.

DNA: Deoxyribonucleic acid – carrier of genetic information. Genes are segments of DNA that code for the production of specific proteins.

Electrolyte: A chemical substance (an iodised salt like sodium, potassium, chlorine in the blood, tissue fluids and cells) with an available electron in its structure that enables it to transmit electrical impulses when dissolved in fluids.

Endocrine Gland: A gland that manufactures one or more hormones which are secreted directly into the blood stream. Includes the pituitary, adrenal, thyroid, ovaries, testes and part of the pancreas.

Endocrine System: A group of ductless glands and tissues that secrete hormones directly into the blood stream to regulate the function of specific tissues or organs or of the entire body.

Endorphin: A brain-derived compound that helps in controlling response to pain (similar to morphine) and stress and improves mood.

Essential: Refers to substances required by the body which it cannot itself manufacture. Often refers to certain vitamins, minerals, amino acids and fatty acids.

Essential Fatty Acids (EFA): Unsaturated fatty acids like Omega-3 and Omega-6 that cannot be synthesised in the body and therefore must be supplied in the diet. These are absolutely necessary (essential) to maintain health.

Enzymes: Proteins that initiate biochemical reactions in the body. They remain intact in raw foods (fruits and vegetables) and help in the digestion process. They are easily destroyed by heat (cooking, pasteurisation). Enzyme names usually end in “ase” like lipase which breaks down fat. Enzymes are also present in the saliva which help pre-digest the food.

Expectorant: An agent promoting the coughing up and elimination of secretions like phlegm.

Fatty Acid: The building blocks of fats, oils, cholesterols and hormones. Fibre: Dietary fibre, also called roughage is made up of indigestible parts of whole plant foods which pass almost unchanged through the stomach and intestines. Soluble fibre helps get rid of extra cholesterol and insoluble fibre relieves constipation and diarrhoea.

Flavonoids: See Bioflavonoids.

Free Radicals: Highly reactive family of molecules which cause random damage to structural proteins, enzymes, macromolecules and DNA. These play major role in inflammation (even cancer) and hyper-oxidation. They often form when the fats and oils are heated, or when exposed to environmental radiation and chemical pollution.

Gene: A basic functional unit of heredity normally comprised of a stretch of DNA or RNA that determines a particular characteristic of an individual.

Glucagon: A hormone produced by the pancreas that stimulates the breakdown of glycogen (main carbohydrate reserve in the liver and muscles) to glucose and its release into the blood stream.

Glucose: The form of sugar which the body uses to make energy; is manufactured by the body from carbohydrates and can be stored as glycogen in the liver and muscles.

Gluten: The insoluble sticky protein found in grains like wheat.

Glycemic Index (GI): This ranks foods based on the effect they have on blood sugar level. Foods, such as complex carbohydrates (wholegrains etc.), that raise the blood sugar level slowly have low GI value while those, such as simple carbohydrates (starch, sugars etc.) have high GI value and raise blood sugar levels quickly.

Glycogen: Main carbohydrate reserve stored in the liver and muscles of the body which is easily converted into glucose for energy when needed.

Haemoglobin: An iron containing pigment in the red blood cells which carries oxygen from the lungs to the body tissues.

High Density Lipoprotein (HDL): Also referred to as “good cholesterol” which removes cholesterol from the circulation in the blood by returning the extra cholesterol that is not needed by the body back to the liver.

HIV: Human Immunodeficiency Virus.

Homeostatis: The tendency towards a relatively stable equilibrium between independent elements of the internal environment of the body, especially physiological processes.

Hormone: A chemical substance that is produced in the body by an organ or cells of an organ and released directly into the blood stream. It has a specific regulatory action on the activity of a certain organ, cells or tissues.

HPV: Human Papilloma Virus.

Hunger: Hunger is the body’s physical response to the need for food for energy. Hunger is a feeling you are born with.

Hydrogenation: It is a process by which liquid vegetable oil with the aid of hydrogen is turned into harmful solid fat like margarine – called Trans Fat and Trans Fatty Acid (TFA).

Hydrotherapy: The use of water to treat muscle and joint disorders.

IGF: Insulin like Growth Factor.

Immune System: A collection of body cell substances and structures (specific antibodies or sensitised white blood cells) that work to protect the body from disease causing organisms and from the development of cancer.

Immunity: A state of resistance to diseases through the defence activities of the immune system.

Infection: The invasion of the body by microorganisms that reproduce and multiply causing harm and disease.

Inflammation: A bodily immune response to injury, infection or destruction characterised by heat, redness, pain, swelling and disturbed function.

Insulin: The hormone produced by the pancreas to help transport glucose from the blood stream to sites of utilisation in the body and to control blood sugar levels and the lack of which causes diabetes.

Insulin Resistance: A condition exhibiting suboptimal response to physiological levels of insulin. It may be due to increased circulating glucagon or a relative insulin receptor deficiency where plasma insulin is high relative to glucose. Lecithin: One of a group of phospholipids found naturally in animals, egg yolk and some higher plants. These are important parts of cell membranes, and help the liver in the metabolism of fats.

Lipids: Any of a group of organic fatty substances (with fat and oil like qualities) insoluble in water including good and bad cholesterol (HDL and LDL) and triglycerides present in the blood. These are soluble in organic solvents, including fatty acids, oils, waxes and steroids. Examples include lecithin, Omega-3 and Omega-6 essential fatty acids. These are stored in the body and used for energy.

Lipoproteins: A family of lipid-carrying water soluble proteins that are responsible for the transport of cholesterol and triglycerides through the blood circulation.

Low Density Lipoprotein (LDL): Also referred to as “bad cholesterol” which carries cholesterol and other fats from the digestive system through the blood/liver to the body’s cells for cell processes.

Lymph: Clear and slightly yellowish fluid (containing white blood cells) derived from blood plasma, which bathes the interstitial areas (in between the cells of tissues). It is collected by the lymphatic system and returned to the blood stream via the subclavian veins. It collects wastes, and delivers nutrients to cells including cartilage. It plays an important role in the immune system and in the absorption of fats from the intestine.

Malignant: A condition resisting treatment especially of cancerous growth. Malignant literally means “evil”, opposite of benign.

Melanin: A dark brown or black pigment that is responsible for tanning of the skin when exposed to sunlight. It gives skin, hair and iris of the eye their colour.

Melanoma: A tumor arising from the deeper pigment cells (melanocytes) of the skin. Often characterized as a coffee stain on the skin surface, and can become malignant.

Melatonin: A sleep-inducing hormone produced by the pineal gland in response to darkness.

Metabolism: It is the process of transforming food stuffs into tissue elements and into energy for use in the growth, repair and general function of the body and the deployment of wastes and pollutants.

Metastatis: Transfer of a disease etc from one part of the body to another, especially the development of secondary tumours at distance from a primary site of cancer.

Mineral: A metallic inorganic substance found in nature. Many minerals are essential for human and animal nutrition.

Monounsaturated Fat: This, also called Monounsaturated Fatty Acid (MUFA) is largely found in certain vegetable oils like olive, mustard and nuts like almonds.

Morbid Obesity: This is a disease where the weight of the body is higher by more than 20% as compared to the ideal or desirable weight. Also a body mass index (BMI) of over 40 indicates morbid obesity.

Mutation: An alteration (change) in the chemical structure of DNA which when transmitted to offspring, gives rise to heritable variations. Mutations can be silent i.e. the change might not affect any function of the organism or can result in a change in the function or structure of an organism.

Nervous System: The extensive intricate network of structures that activates, coordinates and controls the functions of the body. It consists of central nervous system comprising the brain, spinal chord and the peripheral nervous system.

Neurone: Nerve Cell, the basic unit of the nervous system, which transmits nerve impulses. N.K. Cells: Natural Killer Cells.

Noradrenalin: A hormone secreted in stressful situations by the adrenal medulla and by sympathetic nerve endings as a neurotransmitter.

NSAID: Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug.

Nutrients: Any food material used by the body that provides essential nourishment to sustain life and health e.g. carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins, minerals, water.

Obesity: An excessive accumulation of fat in the body resulting in an increase in body weight of more than 10% over the maximum desirable weight for one’s height.

Oestrogen: Any of various steroid hormones developing and maintaining  female characteristics of the body.

Omega-3 Fatty Acid: This, also called Essential Fatty Acid (EFA), is a particular protective type of polyunsaturated fat which prevents blood clotting and helps reduce harmful triglyceride levels. Omega-6 Fatty Acid: This, also called Essential Fatty Acid (EFA), is a type of polyunsaturated fat which, if taken in excess, converts into a substance that promote rigidity in cells, constricts arteries and causes inflammation.

Oxidation: A chemical reaction that occurs when oxygen reacts with another substance occasioning deterioration of some type.

PCB: Poly-Chlorinated Biphenyle.

Phyto-chemicals: Neither vitamins nor minerals, these are naturally occuring substances in plant-based foods like fruits, vegetables and wholegrains that trigger beneficial chemical reactions within the body (“Phyto” means “plant”). There are thousands of phyto-chemicals including bioflavonoids, resveratrol.

Polyunsaturated Fat: This, (a liquid at room temperature) also called Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid (PUFA) is largely found in certain vegetable oils like corn, sunflower, and oily fish. This is generally known to lower bad as well as good cholesterol.

Prebiotic: This family of carbohydrates, mainly found in plant foods feed the probiotics (beneficial microorganisms present in the intestines).

Probiotic: This is a Greek word meaning “for life”. Probiotics are beneficial microorganisms (bacteria) present in the intestines.

Protein: A complex compound formed from nitrogen and found in all animal and vegetable food tissues. Proteins contain amino acids and serve as enzymes, hormones and are needed for the growth and repair of body tissues.

Radiation: Sending forth of energy in the form of X-rays, radiowaves, visible light, ultraviolet light and gamma rays.

Radiotherapy: The treatment of cancer and other diseases by X-rays or other forms of radiation.

Red Blood Cell: An erythrocyte, which contains the pigment haemoglobin and transports oxygen and carbon dioxide to and from the tissues.

Resveratrol: This phyto-chemical helps to ward off heart attacks and strokes with its blood-thinning property. It is found in grapes, especially in red, grape juice and wine.

RNA: Ribonucleic Acid, a chemical that performs several functions in the cells of the body, including acting as an “intermediate” message for a gene to become a protein. Certain viruses also use RNA, not DNA, to maintain their genes.

Saturated Fat: This, also called Saturated Fatty Acid (SFA) is largely found in animal products (also in coconut and plam oils) such as milk, butter, meat. This is known to increase bad cholesterol.

Sedentary: Mode of living with minimal activity and exercise.

Serotonin: A compound widely distributed in tissues, especially in blood platelets, intestinal wall, and central nervous system. Plays a role similar to histamine in inflammation; also constricts the blood vessels, and acts as a neurotransmitter, essential for relaxation, sleep and mental concentration.

Simple Carbohydrates: These, like refined starches and sugar are digested quickly resulting in sharp rise of blood sugar levels. Also called high glycemic index foods.

Sorbitol: A sweet-tasting crystalline alcohol found in some fruits and used in the industry as a food additive such as in sugar substitute for diabetes.

Spasm: A sudden involuntary contraction of the muscles occuring in an exaggerated form.

Sprouts: These are essential young living plants germinated from wholegrains and seeds. They rank as the freshest and most nutritious of all vegetables. Sprouted food acquires vastly improved digestibility and nutritional qualities when compared to non-sprouted embryo from which it derives.

Steroid: One of a group of fat-soluble organic compounds including many hormones, alkaloids and vitamins.

Syndrome: A combination of several signs and/or symptoms occuring together that form a distinct clinical picture of a particular disorder or disease.

Syndrome X: Also linked to Insulin Resistance, it is a term to describe a cluster of symptoms, including high blood pressure, high triglycerides, high cholesterol and obesity which appear together in some individuals and indicates a pre-disposition to diabetes and heart disease. The main indicator of Syndrom X is a large potbelly.

Synergy: Literally “working together”, the interaction or cooperation of two or more agents, drugs, organisations etc. to produce a new or enhanced effect compared to their separate effects.

Testosterone: A steroid hormone that stimulates development of male secondary sexual characteristics and bone and muscle growth. It is produced mainly in the testes and in small amounts by the ovaries.

Thermogenesis: This is food-induced heat production by burning calories in the process of eating, digesting, absorbing and assimilating food in the body.

Toxins: Any of a group of poisonous substances produced by living organisms, or plants or animal origin, especially those formed in the body and stimulating the production of antibodies.

Trans Fat/Trans Fatty Acid (TFA): Hydrogenation of liquid vegetable oils like sunflower oil turns them into solid, more dangerous fats called trans fats or transfatty acids. Heating oils to high temperatures like deep frying also changes them to trans fats. TFA’s raise levels of bad cholesterol (LDL), reduces good cholesterol (HDL).

Triglycerides: A compound consisting of glycerol and a fatty acid. These are fat storage molecules and are the major lipid component of the diet.

Tumour: A swelling, one of the cardinal signs of inflammation, especially from an abnormal and uncontrolled growth of cells/tissue, whether benign or malignant.

Unsaturated Fat: A dietary fat that is liquid at room temperature. Generally from plant sources, and containing essential fatty acids.

Vascular: Pertaining to the blood vessels and circulatory system.

Virus: Minute particles of any group of infectious agents that reproduce only in living cells of a host and capable of infecting all animals, humans and plants. These are not living organisms and are not affected by antibiotics. Viruses come in diverse forms, including DNA viruses and RNA viruses. Viruses possess a core of either DNA or RNA, coated with proteins and can be bound by an outer membrane made of lipids and proteins.

Vitamin: Any of a group of organic compounds (present in foods)essential in small amounts for many living organisms to maintain normal health and development. They cannot be synthesised by the body. These are divided into two groups: i.e. Vitamins A, D, E and K which are fat-soluble and vitamins B-complex and C, which are water soluble.

White Blood Cell: A colourless amoeboid cell (lucocyte) of blood, lymph etc. containing a nucleus and important in fighting disease.

WHO: World Health Organisation.

REFERENCES

Nature Cure Books

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• 6. The Healing Foods, The Ultimate Authority on the Curative Power of Nutrition; Patricia Hausman & Judith Ben Hurley; 1989.

• 7. The New Holistic Herbal; David Hoffman; 1990.
• 8. Eat & Heal; Publishers of F.C. & A. Medical Publishing; 2004.
• 9. The Food Connection, The Right Food at the Right Time; San Graci; 2001.
• 10. Healing through Natural Foods; Dr. H.K. Bakhru; 2003.
• 11. You – the Owner’s Manual; An Insiders Guide to the Body That Will Make You Healthier and Younger; Michael F. Roizen, M.D. & Mehmet C. Oz, M.D. with Lisa Oz & Ted SpikerHealth Disease & Hope, a support for the common man; B.L. Manocha; 2004
• 12. Secrets of Ayurveda; Gopi Warrier, Dr. Harish Verma & Karen Sullivan; 2001
• 13. Pranayama, Its Philosophy and Practice; Swami RamdevSimple Ayurvedic Remedies; Dr. H.S. Puri; 2002
• 14. Herbal Healers; Dr. Sonica Krishan; 2005
• 15. Holt Health; Jerold Greenberg Ed. D & Robert Gold, PhD; 1999Family Medical Advisor; Reader’s Digest; 2003.
• 16. Stop Drinking 4 Life Easily; Jason Vale; 1999.
• 17. The Secrets of Natural Health; Shyam Singha; 1997.
• 18.The True You Diet; Dr. John Briffa; 2007.
• 19. You are What You Eat; Dr. Gillian McKeith; 2004.
• 20. Aushadh Darshan, A Repertoir of Proven Miraculous Ayurvedic Remedies; Swami Ramdev; 2005
• 21. Eat to Live; Joel Fuhrman, M.D.; 2003.
• 22. Letter from Johns Hopkins, USA; 2008.
• 23. The Emperor of All Maladies: A Biography of Cancer; Siddhartha Mukherjee; 2010. 

Magazines

Health and Nutrition, Cosmopolitan, Readers Digest, Good Health, Yog Sandesh, Glamour, Life Positive, Prevention.

Newspapers

The Tribune, Hindustan Times, Times of India, Indian Express, The Times (UK), The Guardian (UK), The Independent (UK), Times and Citizen (UK), Washington Post (USA).

Santokh Singh Parmar

Naturo-Food Therapist & Lifestyle Consultant

Mobile: +91(0) 9815922330

Websites: www.naturofoodtherapy.org & www.foodtherapy.org

April  2011

Note: The above information and advice and indicative remedies are not a substitute for the advice, your doctor or naturo-food therapist may give you based on his/her knowledge of yourself.