By: Cat Ebeling, RN, MSN-PHN, co-author of the best-sellers:  The Fat Burning Kitchen, The Top 101 Foods that Fight Aging & The Diabetes Fix

It’s summertime and after a long cold winter, it feels so great to get out in the sunshine. But should we fear the sun? Do we need to slather sunscreen all over us or wear long sleeved shirts and hats?

I find it odd to think that back in the days of our hunter/gatherer ancestors, there was no sunscreen, no hats, no umbrellas—nothing. How did they do it?

We actually need the sunlight on our skin for mental, emotional and health reasons. We must have sunlight. It’s essential to our health and wellbeing.

The Health Benefits of Sunlight

Some of the essential benefits sunlight provides include:

• Immune Health—Sunlight actually helps to stimulate our T cells in the skin. T cells destroy pathogens and are an important part of our immune systems.
• Vitamin D—Is a hormone that helps strengthen and modulate our immune system, regulate our sex hormone production, strengthen bones, teeth, protect our heart health, prevent cancer and keeps our genes healthy. The best way to get vitamin D is from the sun–but not if you block UVB (the rays that can burn) rays.
• Nitric Oxide—Helps our blood vessels stay dilated and increases blood flow. It also reduces blood pressure, improves cardiovascular health, and physical performance. Sun increases nitric oxide.
• Circadian Rhythm—Our sleep-wake cycle depends on our circadian rhythms. We need daylight sun and nighttime dark to have a normal sleep-wake cycle. In the daylight, sun triggers serotonin and exposure to sun in the daytime helps our bodies produce melatonin for sound sleep at night.
• Cognitive Function—Since sunlight increases vitamin D production, it has a positive effect on cognitive function—especially in the elderly. Maybe that’s why older folks retire to the Sunbelt.
• Mood–Exposure to sunlight increases the brain’s release of a hormone called serotonin. Serotonin is associated with feeling happy, calm and focused. Low levels of serotonin are associated with a higher risk of depression, especially “Seasonal Affective Disorder” or SAD.

Unfortunately, we’ve been told over and over again to avoid the sun, that the sunlight is dangerous and we should ‘fear’ it. And yes, you can get too much sun. Your skin can get burned or blistered and you can even develop skin cancer from excessive exposure to the sun. So how then, do we get the above benefits of the sun?

The Truth About Sunscreen

Yes, you are correct, getting sunburned is not usually a good thing. This means damage has occurred in your skin and the resulting redness is an inflammatory reaction. A history of blistering sunburns can actually be a predictor of your chances of skin cancer.

However, lifestyle and diet can definitely protect your skin from getting sunburned and can help lessen the damage, including the redness and discomfort of the sunburn.

The sun has two kinds of rays: UVA and UVB. UVB is actually the type that can burn you. Most sunscreens work to block the UVB rays.

However, blocking the UVB rays and just getting UVA rays (the rays that make your skin browner) won’t give many of the health benefits. Vitamin D is actually synthesized the sun’s ultraviolet B (UVB) rays hitting the cholesterol our skin cells, providing the catalyst for vitamin D synthesis to occur.

The trick with sun benefits is to get shorter exposures and build up time in the sun. So that means getting outside but limiting—not avoiding–your exposure to burning rays.

This also means getting real sun, not the kind you get from a tanning bed, which usually only put out UVA rays.

• Eat plenty of antioxidants

This is actually the key to avoid bad sunburns, and to reduce damage to your skin. Colorful vegetables and fruit are basically a type of edible sunscreen. A diet high in carotenoids (a type of antioxidant in red and orange vegetables) can actually protect against sun damage. Lycopene, the antioxidant in tomatoes has similar skin-protective properties. Vegetables that are high in vitamin C and E are also protective, as are anthocyanidins, the antioxidants found in blueberries, red or dark grapes and red wine. Eating lots of red, orange and purple stuff will prevent your skin from turning those colors!

Skin protective foods include: Berries, tomatoes, carrots, red bell peppers, kale and other dark green leafy veggies, pastured egg yolks, sockeye salmon, and shrimp

• Eat more omega 3 fats and avoid inflammatory omega 6 fats

Any processed seed oil such as canola oil, sunflower oil, safflower oil, soybean oil, corn oil, or any other “vegetable oil”, is highly dangerous to your health. Seed oils are pro-skin cancer.

How? The short explanation is this—inside each and every cell in our bodies, we have the mitochondria. This is the energy production center of the cell. The cells’ mitochondria need to have specific types fatty acids to communicate with each other and work properly. These fatty acids signal when a cell is damaged or dysfunctional and the cell is destroyed. Omega 6 seed oils shut off the alarm to destroy the dysfunctional cell, and instead it can grow out of control and becomes cancerous.

The more (healthy) omega 3s you consume, the more protection from the sun you enjoy.

Skin protective fats include: Salmon, cod, other wild caught fish, grass-fed beef, pastured eggs, grass-fed butter.

• Know your own skin type and get the right amount of sun

The lighter your hair and skin, the less sun you need to get enough vitamin D and the other health benefits the sun provides. However, darker skinned people need more time out in the sun, and if you are dark-skinned and living in the northern hemisphere, you may need to take supplemental vitamin D.

• Get good sleep and get out in the sun early in the day

Did you know your skin’s ability to handle the sun has to do with your circadian rhythm? The skin’s defense against the sun actually works best the first half of the day. So if you are headed to the beach, do it early, not late in the afternoon, when you skin can handle it better.

Early morning sunlight is rich in UVB rays, which also helps prepare your skin for the UVA tanning rays in the afternoon by enhancing its UV resistance.

Daily sun vs sun ‘binging’

People who get out in the sun on a regular basis actually have better defense against skin damage than people who only get intermittent sun exposure. Holiday vacationers who binge on the sun for the week or two they are on vacation are far more likely to be at risk for sun damage, skin cancer and melanomas.

A daily low to moderate dose of the sun is much healthier than occasional sun binging.

What about sunscreen?

Granted, there are times when we all need sunscreen, even if we follow the above guidelines. Camping, a raft trip, boating, fishing, hiking—you name it, if you are outside for long periods of time, sun protection is probably important.

The problem with sunscreens is that the majority of them use chemicals to filter out the sun (mostly UVB) and unfortunately, those chemicals are quickly absorbed into the skin and into the bloodstream where they can be pretty toxic. Some of the more toxic ingredients include:

• Benzophene–Many sunscreens with chemical sun block also come with endocrine disruption. Some forms of the chemical benzophenone will inhibit the action of your thyroid hormones. Result, thyroid hormones T3 and T4 are lower than normal for several days after applying sunscreen with benzophene.
• Octyl-methoxycinnamate–Another common ingredient, octyl-methoxycinnamate is considered a xenoestrogen (artificial estrogen) and disrupts normal hormone function in men and women.
• Oxybenzone—This ingredient filters out UV rays, but it is also an artificial estrogen, which blocks testosterone in men, and can cause estrogen-based cancers in women—in addition to throwing female hormones out of whack. Oxybenzone is also dangerous to unborn children, as this study shows. And sunscreen and bug spray don’t mix—when you apply both, you absorb even more of the toxic bug-killing ingredients as well.
• Octinoxate—This chemical is the most widely used UVB-blocking ingredient. Octinoxate produces estrogen-like activity and also affects thyroid function. The scariest thing about this chemical is how easily it is absorbed into the body and the bloodstream. It has been detected in human breastmilk as well.
• Homosalate – This chemical is also another common UVB-blocking chemical that acts as an artificial estrogen in the body. Homosalate also will increase the amount of pesticides we absorb through the skin, if you happen to use buy spray as well.
• Parabens—One more endocrine disrupting/xenoestrogen synthetic preservative found in cosmetics and conventional sunscreens. Parabens can be tricky to find on labels. Look for ingredient names like methylparaben, propylparaben, isoparaben or butylparaben.

What is SAFE?

If you need to find less toxic protection from the sun, look for formulas that list zinc oxide or titanium dioxide as the active ingredients. Both of these sit on top of the skin, and physically block the sun with little to no absorption through the skin or into the bloodstream.

For a complete list of sunscreens to avoid, and safer sunscreens to use check out this article from Dr. Josh Axe.

Bottom line–if you must spend a long amount of time out in the summer sun, eat a skin-healthy diet, and protect your skin with a safe and natural zinc oxide or titanium oxide based sunscreen too. And enjoy the summer sun!

References
https://bit.ly/3x966CE
https://www.marksdailyapple.com/sun/#ref-11
https://draxe.com/beauty/best-sunscreens/

The post The Truth About Sunscreen appeared first on thenutritionwatchdog.com.

You probably reach for this unconsciously at most every meal. Some people like liberal amounts of it added to most everything—eggs, soups, salads, chicken, steak, burgers, and on and on. I’ve even seen some delicious desserts prepared with this interesting, spicy ingredient.

What is it? Black pepper! This low-key ingredient graces most every table around the world. Like many spices, this common one packs a powerful antioxidant, phytonutrient-heavy punch!

Black pepper’s whole corns are actually berries that grow on the pepper plant. This small woody vine produces white flowers that develop into berries. These berries are harvested and dried and become either the whole peppercorns that you grind or you purchase it already ground into a powder. Black pepper, green pepper, and white pepper are all from the same fruit—it is just harvested at different times.

Black pepper is picked when the fruit is half ripe and just before it turns red. The peppercorns are left to dry and they become darker. The green peppercorns are picked before they ripen and are still green, while the white pepper is picked ripe, soaked and the hulls are removed, making it white. Pink pepper comes from a totally different plant that is actually more related to ragweed.

This zingy, essential ingredient holds some great health benefits. Let’s take a look…

Anti-Inflammatory, Antioxidant, and Anti-Cancer

Black pepper contains an active ingredient called piperine. Black pepper actually has antioxidant, cancer fighting, anti-inflammatory activity. In some studies, when black pepper was present, human cancer cells were inhibited from growing due to these actions.

And even more interesting is when black pepper is combined with the curcumin in turmeric, it actually enhances the absorption of the curcumin and increases its amazing antioxidant, anti-inflammatory powers.

Improves Digestion

Black pepper or piper nigrum helps to send an alert that starts with the taste buds in your mouth which travels to the stomach. When your stomach receives that signal, it begins to increase the hydrochloric acid production, thereby preparing it to better digest food.

Hydrochloric acid is one of the primary stomach enzymes necessary for proper breakdown of food into absorbable nutrients. It is especially important for protein and fats. Many, many people have weakened digestive systems, leading to heartburn (yes this is due to an inadequate amount of digestive enzymes, not too much) and slow digestion. Hydrochloric acid also helps to speed up transit time through the intestines, help it absorb nutrients better, and also fight many GI diseases.

Black pepper helps to combat constipation, diarrhea and food-borne bacteria as well. This study shows that black pepper helps to stop the growth of dangerous E.coli and Staph aureus bacteria, so if you are eating food from a buffet or picnic, adding lots of black pepper may help stave off any sort of food poisoning.

Eating foods that cause gas? Black pepper is considered an effective carminative, which means it helps to prevent gas in the intestines, leading you to smoother (and quieter!) digestion.

Helps Reduce Weight

Piperine in black pepper also helps to burn fat and lower blood sugar, making it an excellent additive to foods for combating obesity and diabetes.

In another study conducted on animals, a high fat diet combined with black pepper significantly reduced body weight, triglycerides, total cholesterol, LDL and the very harmful VLDL, along with fat mass. It also help to increase the beneficial HDL. So, piperine can help reduce fat and lipids, which can help you lose weight.

Helps You Absorb Valuable Nutrients

We have most likely heard all the amazingly valuable benefits of the super-food of the century, turmeric. Curcumin is the active ingredient in turmeric that has the most powerful benefits on our bodies.

However, one of the problems with curcumin is that it is very hard to absorb into the body in order to get its superpower health benefits. But, when combined with piperine from black pepper, its absorption and benefits are multiplied exponentially!

One study showed that adding 20 mg of piperine to 2 grams of curcumin increased its absorption significantly. Research shows that combining the piperine in black pepper with the curcumin in turmeric can enhance curcumin absorption by up to 2,000%

So, if you want to increase the health benefits of both black pepper and curcumin, combining curcumin with piperine dramatically increases the positive effects of both.

Experts have also looked into the ability of piperine to increase the body’s absorption of resveratrol. Resveratrol is a red wine compound that may slow aging and lower a person’s risks for brain disorders, heart disease and type-2 diabetes.

The addition of piperine significantly improved the bioavailability of resveratrol, according to Nihal Ahmad, a professor of dermatology at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health who studied the effect piperine has on the body’s absorption of resveratrol.

Piperine apparently blocks a metabolic process in the body, known as glucuronidation, which causes resveratrol to break apart before it gets absorbed into the bloodstream. By slowing down this process, piperine may help the body take up more beneficial resveratrol. So how about a little black pepper with your wine?

Piperine also increases the body’s ability to absorb betacarotenes, selenium and B-vitamins including pyridoxine, riboflavin, thiamin and niacin as well as other nutrients from food.

Prevents Harmful Substances that Form When Grilling Meat

Grilling meat over hot coals or flames produces a carcinogenic substance called “herterocyclic amines”, or HCA’s. These form when meat is cooked or charred over high temperatures. That unfortunately means that char-grilled steak or flame-grilled burger has some cancer-causing ingredients. Studies have shown that just a teaspoon of black pepper per half pound of meat will almost completely eliminate the formation of HCA’s during cooking.

If that’s a bit too much spice in your meat, you can get the same effect from mixing pepper, oregano, rosemary or other herbs in the same spice-to-meat ration to get the same effects. Here is an article I wrote that teaches you the healthiest way to grill your meat.

Helps you Quit Smoking

Some of the sensory cues that are associated with cigarette smoking can actually help to suppress the withdrawal symptoms, including the craving part—which is the worst part, according to one study. A vapor of black pepper essential oil was given to 48 cigarette-smoking participants in a three-hour session, after the subjects were deprived of cigarettes. A second group inhaled from a mint/menthol cartridge device, and a third group from an empty cartridge.

Cigarette craving was significantly reduced in the group given black pepper extract, compared to the other two groups and it alleviated symptoms of anxiety. The conclusion: Black pepper constituents may be useful in developing smoking cessation treatments.

Powerful Spice That Adds Flavor and Zing

Black pepper contains some powerful anti-inflammatory, antioxidant anti-cancer health benefits. It also helps to boost the nutrient power from other healthy foods. It fights bacteria, aids in digestion, and helps with weight loss. So when the waiter comes around with that big pepper mill asking if you want a little bit on your salad or main course, say, “Pepper up!”

A Note of Caution

If you are taking prescription drugs, it’s possible that swallowing heavy doses of piperine or large amounts of black pepper could interfere with the action of these medicines. Check with your physician first before starting on any type of piperine supplement.

A side note from our friends at Organixx:

Do you sleep poorly? Do you feel sluggish or anxious? Is it difficult for you to lose weight? These are WARNING signs that you’re magnesium-deficient, and it’s going to get worse if you don’t do something about it.

Believe it or not, 80 percent of Americans are suffering from magnesium deficiency—and this includes many who are already taking a magnesium supplement.

Are you taking the wrong type of magnesium?

Up to 80% of adults do not get enough magnesium, even many who already take a supplement. Most formulas only include one or two forms of magnesium, which may not be well absorbed by the body.

Magnesium is involved in more than 300 vital processes that support sleep, energy, metabolism, and a calm mood. But if your supplement only lists magnesium oxide, citrate, or glycinate, it could be incomplete.

A more effective option is a complete magnesium formula that includes all seven essential forms your body needs for maximum benefits.

👉 See the doctor-formulated magnesium now. You can get a free bottle during their limited-time sale.

References
https://draxe.com/peppercorns/
https://foodfacts.mercola.com/black-pepper.html
https://www.mccormickscienceinstitute.com/content/msi/assets/Singeltary%20Nutr%20Today%2045,43,2010.pdf
https://www.organicfacts.net/health-benefits/herbs-and-spices/health-benefits-of-black-pepper.html
http://time.com/5503520/black-pepper-health-benefits/

The post This Common Meal Ingredient has Serious Health Benefits and It’s Right Under Your Nose…aaachoo!! appeared first on thenutritionwatchdog.com.

Cancer. It’s one word that strikes fear into the hearts of most people. It can cause you to totally re-think your whole life. Empowering yourself with a plan of action will go a long way towards your health, wellness and mindset. If your lifestyle and diet need an overhaul, now is the time to make some drastic changes.

Foods have the power to strengthen our immune system to fight cancer, increase antioxidants in our body to protect our cells’ DNA and prevent cancer—all the while adding to our overall health. Our bodies have a natural tendency to want to heal, but we must help our bodies return to a point where they are able to fight off disease. We can do this by eliminating cancer-causing foods and toxins, and creating a diet of healthful, cancer-fighting, immune-strengthening foods.

Whether you choose to undergo conventional cancer treatments or decide to follow a more natural route, these tips on cancer fighting foods will help you fight cancer and get back on the road to health.

While conventional medicine downplays the importance of diet and lifestyle changes, it is necessary for you to realize that both your diet and lifestyle are of utmost importance!

The best start is by removing and detoxifying the body from those foods and toxins that are feeding and encouraging cancer, oxidation, and a weakened immune system, and then begin rebuilding the body’s cells—from the ground up—so to speak with super healthy foods that fight cancer.

Starve the Cancer

Adopt a ketogenic diet. Ketogenic diets have been scientifically proven to improve cancer recovery and to have a proven ‘anti-tumor’ effect on cancer cells. A ketogenic diet is a very low carb, lower protein and higher fat diet. Keto diets help to turn the body’s ‘fat burning’ mechanism on, while keeping blood sugar and insulin very low. When the body is able to efficiently break down fat, or ketones as they are called, in the body to use as fuel, the body is ‘fat-adapted’. Cancer cells primarily use glucose as their fuel, and cannot utilize ketone bodies, so they essentially starve and die on this type of diet.

Besides the keto diet’s ability to lower blood sugar and insulin and to burn fat for fuel, this diet is also known in health circles as having some very health-protective benefits. For one, it starves cancer cells, and as we know, this is super important, so it is well worth it to make some major dietary changes. This diet also helps reduce inflammation, another health issue tied to cancer.

The best way to prepare the body for a keto diet is to adopt an intermittent fasting routine. This allows the body to fast for periods of 12-16 hours or more, and helps to begin the fat adaption process.

Contrary to what many of us believe, our bodies do not just fight cancer when we actually have a cancer diagnosis. Cancer takes years to grow in our bodies, and we are actually fighting and killing off cancer cells on a daily basis! So, eating foods that fight cancer is extremely important on a daily basis as well—whether you have been diagnosed with cancer or not.

Says Ty Bollinger, from TheTruthAboutCancer.com website,

“New studies focused on the benefits of using food as medicine have made fascinating discoveries in the last decade. The results from prestigious labs all over the world show us that not only can you improve your general health to prevent disease… you can actively fight disease… with food.”

Yes, in fact, there are foods that specifically target cancer cells, all the while benefiting and strengthening the healthy cells in your body. There are foods available right at your local health food store or farmer’s market that will help you fight and destroy these invading cells.

This article will help you uncover those foods that will help you to:

• Detoxify your body
• Strengthen the immune system and repair cells’ DNA
• Actually kill cancer cells and stop its spread

Top Ten Cancer Fighting Foods

1. Garlic

The #1 most powerful anti-cancer food is garlic. Garlic, especially raw garlic, along with its other close relatives in the allium family including onions, leeks and shallots are some of the most powerful cancer-fighting foods. Garlic and the rest of the allium family contain very powerful antioxidants like allicin that remove free radicals from the body. Garlic is also valuable as an immune booster, is anti-inflammatory, lowers blood pressure, LDL cholesterol, and detoxifies.

There are several studies that show an increased intake of garlic with a reduced risk of certain cancers, especially cancers of the stomach, colon, esophagus, pancreas, and breast. Other cancers that garlic and onions fight include oral, ovarian, endometrial, kidney, and laryngeal cancers.

The cancer-fighting effects of garlic may be related to its antibacterial properties, or its ability to fight cancer-causing substances, help repair DNA, reduce cell reproduction or induce cell death.

2. Broccoli, Broccoli Sprouts and other Cruciferous Vegetables

Broccoli is related to the whole cruciferous cancer-fighting vegetable family that includes cabbage, cauliflower, arugula, kale, collard greens, and brussels sprouts. Broccoli and its cruciferous cousins have proven effective against many cancers, especially breast, cervical, gastric, prostate and liver cancers.

Broccoli is also super high in powerful phytochemicals and the antioxidants glucoraphanin and indole-3-carbinol, which are proven cancer-fighting weapons, which have selective toxicity against cancerous cells, while strengthening the body’s healthy cells.

Cruciferous vegetables are known to be powerful cancer killers and many are rich in glutathione, known as the “master antioxidant” because of its powerful free-radical-scavenging abilities. Most all of the cruciferous vegetables are nutrient-dense sources of a family of phytochemicals called isothiocyanates that are linked to cancer prevention.

Broccoli sprouts actually contain some of the highest levels of cancer fighting compounds. Numerous studies have shown the highest cancer protective properties tend to be concentrated in the sprouts about 3 days after sprouted. Broccoli is also naturally anti-inflammatory, good for the bones and the heart, and nutrient dense, so it benefits overall health as well.

3. Green Tea

Green tea contains some uniquely powerful antioxidants called ‘catechins’ that are strong free-radical fighters and have been shown in lab studies to actually kill or inhibit the growth of existing cancers and shrink tumors. Green tea’s two main anticancer compounds, EGCG and quercetin are powerful weapons in a fight against many types of cancers.

Additionally, green tea helps to promote the production of the antioxidants glutathione and superoxide dismutase (SOD) which drastically lower inflammation in the body. As an added benefit, green tea also reduces the risk of heart disease, lowers LDL (bad) cholesterol while raising HDL (good) cholesterol, and lowers blood pressure.

4. Leafy Green Veggies

Leafy greens are one of the most important parts of any healthy diet since they are loaded with vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and other necessary phytochemicals. Leafy greens, especially bitter greens, like arugula, watercress, kale, collards, mustard greens, and more, are badass fighters in the war against cancer.

Many of these greens—mustard, collards, kale, arugula and more are actually part of the cruciferous veggie family, so they contain the same cancer-fighting compounds as their cousins. Leafy greens are high in vitamin C, methylfolate (an absorbable type of folic acid), and betacarotene—all powerful antioxidants.

Leafy greens are also sources of glucosinolates, which gives them effective antibacterial and antiviral properties, detox the body of carcinogenic substances, reprogram cancer cells to die, and prevent tumor formation and metastasis. These natural chemicals are activated during chewing and digestion into biologically active cancer-killing compounds such as indoles, thiocyanates and isothiocyanates.

5. Ginger

Ginger is one of the most powerful anti-inflammatory cancer-fighting foods you can find! Ginger is known to actually shrink tumors and destroy cancer stem cells, as effectively as some chemotherapy medications. However, ginger has the ability to protect healthy cells while killing cancer stem cells.

Ginger contains a powerful compound, 6-shogaol, that is highly effective in killing cancer stem cells in breast cancer, according to a study done in 2015. Shogaol was compared to the chemotherapy drug, Taxol, and curcumin from turmeric. The compound found in ginger was found to be the most effective, especially against cancer stem cells. Taxol could not match the activity of the shogaol in ginger even at a 10,000X increase!

Ginger extracts have been shown in scientific studies to have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-tumor effects on human cells and cancer cells. Because ginger has such a powerful anti-inflammatory effect on cells, reducing key inflammatory indicators also reduced chances of cancer development, in addition to ginger’s tumor-shrinking capabilities.

Ginger’s anti-nausea action is also very valuable to prevent nausea and vomiting as a result of chemotherapy from standard cancer treatments.

6. Turmeric

The super-food turmeric has been valued as far back as 3,000 BC and is one of the most important anti-cancer nutrients studied today. Curcumin is the yellow pigment that comes from turmeric and is one of three known active ingredients in turmeric. Curcumin has demonstrated incredible anti-cancer benefits. In countries where people eat turmeric daily as a part of their diet, research shows lower rates of many types of cancers.

Over 2,000 researched studies have been published that show curcumin combats cancers of the breast, prostate, liver, colon, lung, pancreas and more. Many of these studies have shown curcumin actually stops cancer cells from multiplying and brings about cancer cell death. Curcumin’s ability to fight cancer is superior to many chemotherapy drugs because it selectively kills cancer stem cells, leaving healthy cells intact.

Curcumin is currently being tested in several clinical trials to treat cancer, including prostate, breast, colon and osteosarcoma. Curcumin can kill a wide variety of tumor cell types through several totally different mechanisms. Because of the varied way curcumin can cause cancer cell death, cancer cells are not likely to develop resistance to curcumin, unlike many chemotherapy drugs.

7. Mushrooms

Medicinal mushrooms have been used for centuries all over the world to fight cancer and enhance or modulate immune response. These mushrooms include shitake, reishi, maitake, mannentake, and cordyceps. Research has indicated these varieties of mushrooms have unique anti-cancer, antiviral, anti-inflammatory and liver protective activities.

Reishi mushrooms have been used in Chinese medicine for cancer treatments for many years. Reishi is also said to improve well being, strength and enhance health. Reishi mushrooms stimulate the immune system, diminish the unpleasant side effects of chemotherapy, and protect the cells’ DNA.

Turkey Tail is another well-known medicinal mushroom in alternative medicine. Studies show it improves survival rates, modulates (balances out) the immune system and has anti-tumor properties. It also enhances the beneficial effects of chemotherapy and reduces side effects.

Cordyceps acts an immune stimulator by increasing cancer-fighting T cells and ‘Natural Killer’ cells, while prolonging the life and power of white blood cells. This increases the body’s ability to fight pathogens, infections and cancer. It has demonstrated anti-tumor properties and also protects the kidneys from chemotherapy.

Maitake mushroom works on the immune system. Studies have shown that it can enhance two different immune system pathways, helping it fight infection and protecting the body from invaders like cancer. Maitake also protects cells with its antioxidant properties and decreases the inflammatory factor COX2 enzyme so common in cancer physiology. Maitake also fights metastases and prevents the the proliferation and spread of cancer.

8. Pomegranate

Pomegranates have been used for many, many years for a variety of diseases and illnesses like cancer. Pomegranates contain strong antioxidants, and are a rich source of anthocyanins, ellagitannins, and hydrolysable tannins.

Studies show that the pomegranate has a multi-targeted attack against various types of cancers, which is one of the reasons pomegranates are so effective. It does this by protecting against DNA damage, stopping the spread of cancer in the body, decreasing inflammation, protecting healthy cells and causing cancer cell apoptosis (cell death). Pomegranate is effective against a wide variety of cancers.

9. Berries

Berries, including strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, cranberries, blackberries, black raspberries, cherries, elderberries, and bilberries are all loaded with a cancer-fighting substance called anthocyanins. Blackberries, black raspberries and blueberries, in particular, have some of the highest levels of this health-promoting phytochemical. Anthocyanins slow the growth of pre-malignant (cancer) cells and prevent new blood vessels from forming which would feed a cancerous tumor.

10. Orange Colored Vegetables

Bright colored vegetables means that they are loaded with phytochemicals, especially antioxidants called carotenoids which fight cancer. Other carotenoids include alphacarotene, betacarotene, lycopene, lutein, and cryptoxanthin, which are all related to plant-based vitamin A.

Including citrus fruits, sweet potatoes, pumpkin, squash, red peppers, tomatoes and other bright red, orange or yellow vegetables will help to get plenty of these powerful carotenoids in your diet. Betacarotene has been well-studied and is known to be essential for a strong immune system, detoxing the body, and fighting cancers of the skin, eyes and organs. ‘Eating the rainbow’ helps to give your body a full spectrum of these powerful cancer-fighting tools.

This list is by no means complete—there are literally hundreds of foods, herbs and spices that fight cancer, and by eating a variety of fresh, organic, naturally raised foods—along with limiting the toxins in your diet and environment, you can begin the healing process.

In addition to the above cancer-fighting foods, overall nutrition is extremely important. Every bite you put into your mouth should be a nutritious super-food. Strengthening your body, powering up your immune system and optimizing your health as much as possible is key to your health and longevity.

Be sure to include plenty of healthy proteins in your diet. While this is a plant-heavy diet, it by no means is a vegan diet. A healing body needs protein to rebuild itself. Supplement with small amounts of naturally-raised, grass-fed and grass finished meats, organic, pastured raised poultry and eggs, and wild caught fish. Meat, poultry and fish raised in a natural environment without added hormones, antibiotics or grain will nourish and protect your body while it fights cancer.

Add in bone broth to soothe and heal the digestive system while strengthening and fortifying it. Bone broth is valuable to help soothe and remove inflammation in the gut. Often gut issues are a basis for overall inflammation in the body–one of the starting points for cancer growth.

Healthy fats are also key to good nutrition and good health to fight cancer. Avoid toxic, processed vegetable oils and instead consume plenty of natural healthy fats like grass-fed butter, organic, unrefined coconut oil, and high antioxidant extra virgin olive oil. And be sure to add in the cancer fighting healthy fats of unprocessed nuts, avocados, and grass-fed organic dairy products, especially cultured dairy products like organic (unsweetened) yogurt and unprocessed cheeses.

Above all, keep a healthy mindset, meditate, de-stress, and love your body and yourself. Your body needs your attention now to recover and regain health. Give gratitude and appreciation for those supportive people in your life and appreciate living. Every day is a new day. Take care and have faith!

Speaking of cancer

We’ve all been popping vitamins like candy lately…

But according to Harvard, THIS vitamin has been linked to cancer!

The sad news is…

This Vitamin is in the top 5 most bought supplements in the USA.

And there’s a high chance you’re taking this vitamin too.

So please, I urge you to check this out.

References
https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/causes-prevention/risk/diet/garlic-fact-sheet
https://thetruthaboutcancer.com/12-ways-to-prepare-detox-cleanse/
https://draxe.com/detox-diet/
https://draxe.com/cancer-fighting-foods/
https://drjockers.com/plant-based-ketogenic-diet/
https://drjockers.com/10-critical-ketogenic-diet-tips/
https://thetruthaboutcancer.com/cancer-fighting-benefits-of-curcumin/
https://www.lifeextension.com/Magazine/2016/11/How-Pomegranate–May-Protect–Against-Cancer/Page-01
https://foodrevolution.org/blog/ginger-cancer-treatment/
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/321410.php
https://www.cancertherapyadvisor.com/fact-sheets/cancer-reishi-mushroom-fact-sheet/article/647081/2/

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