Nurition & the Cancer Patient JoAnn Guest

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Nurition & the Cancer Patient

JoAnn Guest

Dec 18, 2003 10:52 PST

 

 

 

Nutrition is the foundation of good health. When illness strikes,

nutrition is the first line of defense.

 

Cancer is a complex disease that entails interaction between the

body and external factors such as chemical carcinogens or viruses.

 

Cellular DNA can be altered by mutagens which can cause the

alteration of a healthy cell into a malignant cell.

 

The human diet contains a large number of macro and micro nutrients,

vitamins and chemical compounds.

 

We need to consume carbohydrates, essential fatty acids, healthy

proteins, and vitamins and minerals for growth and maintenance.

Dietary factors may be initiators or promoters of disease.

 

Fiber is a generic term describing dietary components that are not

degraded during the digestive process.

 

In the context of diet, a high fiber regimen is most often low in

fat and calories.

 

Fiber functions in many ways that help to reduce cancer risk.

It " dilutes " contents in the colon, thus " limiting contact " between

any carcinogens that may be present and the colon's mucosa.

 

It reduces the concentration of carcinogens.

 

It lowers fecal pH and reduces the levels of fecal mutagens.

 

Carbohydrates may be simple or complex.

Both may be included in a healthy diet as long as they are not

refined processed foods. And the intake may vary between 55% to 65%

of total calories.

 

At Oasis Hospital, we pay special attention to the diet and the

preparation of the food we offer to our patients.

Our diet is an organic vegetarian diet with plenty of raw fruits,

vegetables and fresh juice. The food is quite delicious and the food

preparation staff adds a

touch of love to all of their dishes.

This wonderful diet provides all of the wonderful enzymes, vitamins,

minerals, carbohydrates and calories needed for a nutrition plan to

overcome illness.

 

Healthy Tips-

 

* It is important to maintain a desirable body weight.

If possible, exercise.

 

* For people who are obese, weight reduction is a good way to lower

cancer risk. Weight maintenance can be accomplished by reducing

intake of total calories and by maintaining a physically active

lifestyle.

 

* Eat a varied diet. Eat more vegetables and green leafy foods than

anything else.

 

* Fruits are important too.

 

* Eat more higher fiber foods, such as whole grain cereals (brown

rice, pearl barley, oats, oat bran, millet, amaranth, quinoa, spelt,

kashi, multi-grains).

 

* Legumes provide complex carbohydrates and protein (family of

beans: pinto, black, navy, lima, garbanzo, dry pea, lentil).

 

* Cut down on total fat intake.The easiest way to do this is to cut

out meat and dairy products.

 

* Avoid consumption of salt-cured, smoked and nitrite-preserved

food. Conventionally smoked foods, such as hams, some varieties of

sausage,fish and so forth, absorb some of the tars that arise from

incomplete combustion in the smoking process.

 

These tars contain numerous carcinogens.

 

There is chemical evidence that nitrates and nitrites can enhance

nitrosamine formation, both in foods and in our digestive tracts.

 

* Drink liquids at least 30 minutes before a meal and not with the

meal. This includes water, teas, and fruit/vegetable juices.

 

Luz María Zorrilla is the nutritionist at the Oasis of Hope

Hospital.

 

http://www.oasisofhope.com/resources/health/nutrition.htm

 

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Post subject: High-fat Diets Increase your Cancer Risks

 

 

High-fat Diets Increase Risks for Obesity and Cancer.

By Sandy Keefe, RN, MSN

 

http://health.discovery.com/diseasesandcond/encyclopedia/1935.html

 

Diets high in fat, especially saturated fat, are linked to high

blood cholesterol levels and heart disease.

 

High-fat diets can also increase the risk for obesity and cancer.

The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute has guidelines for

Americans to address these risks. The guidelines recommend choosing

a diet low in fat, saturated fat, and cholesterol.

 

Saturated fat is found primarily in animal foods. Small amounts of

saturated fat are not harmful, but too much can increase blood

cholesterol levels in some people. High blood cholesterol levels

increase the risk of heart disease.

---

 

Most saturated fat is in foods from animal sources. These include

whole-milk dairy products, meat, lard, and poultry.

 

Some vegetable foods are also high in saturated fat. These include

coconut oil, cocoa butter, palm oil, and tropical oil. Saturated

fats are usually solid at room temperature.

 

Vegetable oils contain various amounts of saturated fat. Oils that

are lower in saturated fat include cold pressed extra virgin

olive oil, walnut oil,macademia nut oil and sesame oil.

 

How does the nutrient affect the body?

 

An excessive amount of saturated fat in the diet can raise both

total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, known as

LDL.

 

Since cholesterol is not soluble in blood, it is carried around in a

" protein-coated " package called a lipoprotein.

 

LDL is known as the 'bad package' for cholesterol.

High total and LDL cholesterol levels are major risk factors for

heart disease.

---

FYI:

 

The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute recommends that

saturated fat intake not exceed 7% of total calories per day. For

example, if one eats a 2,000-calorie diet, no more than 140 calories

should come from saturated fat.

 

Fat contains 9 calories per gram, so 140 calories would be about 16

grams of saturated fat.

 

Here are some practical tips on how to lower saturated and total fat

in the diet. Many of them are based on recommendations from the

American Heart Association.

 

· After cooking soups and stews, chill them

and then skim the fat off the top.

 

Read ingredient lists on food labels.

 

Some foods are low in saturated fat but become more saturated during

processing.

 

Key words to look for on a label are hydrogenated or partially

hydrogenated.

 

The hydrogenation process turns liquid oil into a solid form, making

it more saturated. Eliminate margarines, including the so-called

heart healthy new spreads, Benecol and Take Control. According to

the label they contain large portions of hydrogenated fats as well.

 

· Eat more fish. Each week, include two servings of fish in meals.

Good choices include albacore tuna, alaskan

salmon, lake trout, mackerel, herring, and sardines in water.

 

· Eat smaller portions of lean organic meat. These portions

should add up to no more than 2 ounces a day.

Also, trim any visible fat from meats before cooking.

 

All fat should be drained off after browning meat. ·

 

Eat more fruits and vegetables, legumes, non-gmo soy foods, and

organic whole grains.

Legumes include beans and peas. Use the food guide pyramid

to help determine the right number of servings and serving sizes.

·

Limit liver, brains, chitterlings, kidney, heart, sweetbreads, and

other organ meats. Multiple toxicants are dispersed in these organs

so use sparingly and purchase only organic and free range brands.

 

· Prepare low-fat meatless meals at least once a week. Try using

legumes or non-gmo soy products as the main ingredient in the meal.

· Prepare

mixed dishes that use organic pasta, rice, beans, or

vegetables mixed with small amounts of organic lean meat.

These can include stir-fries, chilis, spaghetti sauce, soups, stews

and casseroles. ·

www.edenfoods.com

 

Read the Nutrition Facts section of food labels for fat content. The

amount of saturated fat must be listed on the Nutrition Facts panel.

 

Use the 3-gram rule for fat in general. If a product has 3 grams of

fat or less per 100-calorie serving, it is considered a low-fat

choice.

 

· Reduce the total amount of fat eaten daily. This will

likely reduce the amount of saturated fat daily.

 

To start, try limiting added fats to no more than 3 teaspoons

daily.

 

This would include fats and oils added during cooking and baking. It

also includes those that go on top of foods such as salad dressings

and spreads.

 

Mayonnaise and other Salad dressing contains an abundance of

unhealthy transfata.

 

 

Food Transfat

====================================================

Margarine 19.4

Butter 1.8

Canola oil 22.2

Mayonnaise 37.1

Safflower oil 77

Soybean oil 51.1

Extra-Virgin Olive Oil None

Flaxseed oil 12.7

 

Burgers-16 grams fat(6.4 g. saturated)

 

 

· Serve low-fat desserts such as organic fresh fruits and

organic frozen yogurts.

· Substitute organic fat-free or low-fat milk and organic plain

yogurt for higher fat sweetened versions. Try to choose products

that contain 1% or less fat.

 

· Use stevia, organic juices, homemade apple butter, wine,

Herbamare, imported cinnamon. cloves and other spices to add flavor

to food without the fat.

 

Decrease the amount of cream and butter sauces used. · Use low-fat

cooking methods instead of frying.

These include baking, boiling, broiling,poaching, roasting, or

steaming.

 

 

Incorporating these small changes makes a huge difference.

 

 

JoAnn Guest

mrsjo-

http://www.geocities.com/mrsjoguest/Fats.html