Battling Cancer

In praise of the tomato.

You already know it’s high in lycopene which helps the fight against, stomach, colon and prostate cancer.

But how else do tomatoes affect your cancer battle?

Per the American Dietetic Association: “Antioxidants are dietary substances including some nutrients such as beta carotene, vitamins C and E and selenium, that can prevent damage to your body cells or repair damage that has been done.”

Basically an antioxidant is capable of counteracting the normal damaging effects of oxidation by neutralizing free radicals in the body. The balance of antioxidants to oxidants is disturbed by poor diet, smoking, disease, normal aging, x-rays and many other things. When an antioxidant neutralizes a free radical, the antioxidant becomes oxidized and the body needs to be resupplied with antioxidants.

From the U.S. Department of Agriculture: “Antioxidants such as vitamins A, C and E, help protect healthy cells from damage by free radicals. Normal body functions such as breathing or physical activity, and other lifestyle habits, such as smoking, produce substances called free radicals that weaken healthy cells. Weakened cells are more susceptible to cardiovascular disease and certain types of cancer.”

But from the Florida Tomato Growers here are some basic tomato facts:

• One medium tomato (148 g) contains only 25 calories
• And supplies 40 percent of the U.S. recommended daily allowance (U.S. RDA) of vitamin C, 20 percent of vitamin A, some of which is in the form of beta-carotene.
• Tomatoes also contain 1g of dietary fiber, about as much fiber as a slice of whole wheat bread.
• Tomatoes provide potassium, iron, phosphorous and some B vitamins.
• They are low in sodium and contain no cholesterol.

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It’s amazing what can spark a topic for a blog post.

Here’s today’s inspiration. Dove Rich Dark Chocolate.

I actually am facing down the large tablet bar myself.

But do you see that little label with the heart? NATURAL SOURCE OF COCOA FLAVANOLS.

“Enjoy the rich dark taste of DOVE® Dark Chocolate, now in a large tablet bar. DOVE® Dark Chocolate Large Bars are perfect for multiple occasions, including everyday indulgence, baking/cooking, dessert and “anywhere” enjoyment.”

Nutritional Information
Serving Size: 1/3 bar
Servings Per Container: 3

Calories 170
Calories from Fat 100

Total Fat: 11g | % Daily Value: 17%
Saturated Fat: 6 g | % Daily Value: 30%
Trans Fat: 0 g
Cholesterol: 5 mg | % Daily Value: 2%

Now 170 calories isn’t too bad. Okay it’s not as good as eating blueberries…but turns out that dark chocolate is good for you.

Raise your hand if you remember what flavanols are!

Flavanols are a class of flavonoids…which we discussed in What’s an Antioxidant? on Battling Cancer.

Cocoa is the ingredient in chocolate that hold the flavanol key to antioxidant activity of free radicals.

Basically an antioxidant is capable of counteracting the normal damaging effects of oxidation by neutralizing free radicals in the body. The balance of antioxidants to oxidants is disturbed by poor diet, smoking, disease, normal aging, x-rays and many other things. When an antioxidant neutralizes a free radical, the antioxidant becomes oxidized and the body needs to be resupplied with antioxidants.

Let’s translate that to: eat more dark chocolate. (I have half a bar left)

Sure there are other ways to consume flavanols (like tea ) but what could be more decadent than a finely processed dark chocolate bar? (The amount of flavanols depends on the processing, so avoid cheap chocolate.)

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What’s not to love about blueberries?

They are the number one antioxidant fruit and they’re delicious.

Need a refresher on antioxidants and cancer ? See the Battling Cancer archives here .

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Spring has arrived and summer approaches here in the U.S. and Canada. That means an abundance of fresh fruits and vegetables. It’s a great time to try a healthier living lifestyle.

Raw Food

The My Crazy Sexy Cancer Community has a great raw foods group that generously shares recipes and thoughts on the raw foods lifestyle.

And if you’re feeling lucky, My Wooden Spoon is running a contest this week giving away a Cuisinart Food Prep. The last day to enter is May 7, 10 PM CST.

Antioxidants

A few great recipes that incorporate antioxidant rich foods are available at Eating Well. Everything from strawberry bruschetta to blueberry ketchup!

The Super Food Connection

Super Foods are foods that are rated high in oxygen radical absorbency. They include:

• Beans
• Blueberries
• Broccoli
• Oats
• Oranges
• Pumpkin
• Salmon
• Soy
• Spinach
• Tea (green or black)
• Tomatoes
• Turkey
• Walnuts
• Yogurt

Check out Sunfood Nutrition for great articles and sources of information and ordering super foods and raw foods.

Eating Green

The Food Network offers great ideas on eating green; meals and shopping that are good for you, including an eating green guide.

GoVeg.com offers a free vegetarian starter kit. You can also get a free Johnny Rockets Streamliner, veggie burger, “During the entire month of May PETA has teamed up with Johnny Rockets to celebrate World Vegetarian Week (May 19 to 25).”

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What exactly is an antioxidant and what does it have to do with cancer?

Per the American Dietetic Association: “Antioxidants are dietary substances including some nutrients such as beta carotene, vitamins C and E and selenium, that can prevent damage to your body cells or repair damage that has been done.”

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Nutrition therapy for cancer patients runs a spectrum of definitions which include:

• maintaining the body’s immune system to keep a cancer patient in optimal condition, which will prevent an increase in hospital time while implementing traditional therapies

• a nutritional cancer prevention plan and post cancer nutrition plan

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By Marcus Stout

For the last several years, there has been an abundance of research on the effects of green tea and its possible ability to prevent cancer. There has been a lot of focus on Asian culture, where the incidence of cancer is significantly lower that that of the Western world.

For centuries, the Chinese have used green tea for health. It is used not only to protect health and slow down the aging process, but also to treat illness. It appears that there is some very good science behind what Asians have been relying on for years.

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By Rebecca Prescott

Dr Christiane Northrup has some interesting insights into the emotional and energetic issues associated with ovarian cancer. Whilst it is impossible to generalize emotional and energetic responses, she highlights the issue of rage in ovarian cancers. She describes the ovaries as being ‘female balls’ which means they relate to an active participation in the world in a way that expresses our unique creative potential, as women, on an individual basis.

She says: “…we as women must be open to the uniqueness of our creations and their own energies and impulses, without trying to force them into predetermined forms. Our ability to yield to our creativity, to acknowledge that we cannot control it with our intellects, is the key to understanding ovarian power.” (p187, Women’s Bodies, Women’s Wisdom)

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