Can Cancer be Prevented? Part 2. Eat Carotenoids

 We all know that fruit and vegetables are nutritious and contain many nutrients. They play an important role in cancer prevention. 

The following information is taken from You Can Prevent Cancer by Michael Colgan, PhD 

The 600 identified pigmented compounds responsible for hundreds or red, orange, and yellow leaves in the autumn, were until recently not considered very important to us. Six of these carotenoids have been identified as major players to our health and are considered along with vitamin E as our main fat-soluble antioxidants. These are beta-carotene, lutein, lycopene, alpha-carotene, cryptoxhantin, and zeaxanthin.

Animal and human research shows that carotenoids enhance the immune response as well as protect the skin from UV Radiation damage. 

Lower cancer risk with a diet high in carotenoids

According to Dr.Colgan in his book, You Can Prevent Cancer, resent research shows that carotenoids have an important anti-cancer function. By increasing the flow of regulatory signals, carotenoids can enhance the communication between cells. Normal cells can use this enhanced communication to talk to cells damaged by carcinogens, this will prevent the damaged cells from turning malignant. This communication also inhibits proliferation of already malignant cells. Our bodies produce malignant cells daily that can proliferate into cancer. According to Colgan's book, carotenoids provide strong protective mechanism to keep these cell under control.

 Studies

Cancer research confirms the power of carotenoids. According to 60 recent studies, cancer patients have very low level of carotenoids. It is interesting to note that the lowest risk for numerous types of cancer are the people with the highest blood levels of carotenoids due to high intake of carotenoid-rich vegetables and fruit. For example, the breast cancer risk in women with a family history of breast cancer was dramatically reduced by high levels of beta-carotene and/or lutein and zeaxanthin. High serum levels of total carotenoids in women shows that cervical cancer risk is reduced. Patients with stomach and digestive tract cancers have low beta-carotene levels. 

Where to find the carotenoids

Colgan writes that a diet that includes carrots, tomato juice, water melon, pink grapefruit and broccoli provides about 11,000 IU per day of beta-carotene and over 20,000 mcg of other carotenoids. You would only consume 1,000 IU if beta-carotene and 50 mcg of alpha-carotene per day if you eat ice berg lettuce, cabbage, white potato, a pear, and an apple instead. This would not be enough for protection.

Orange juice is not a good choice, but raw fresh oranges are great. Red bell peppers are a lot better than yellow. Pears, plums, and raspberries are low in carotenoids but tomatoes are loaded. Carrots are a good choice while cabbage is not. Romaine lettuce is a good choice while ice berg lettuce is not.

Fruits high in total carotenoids. (mcg/100 grams)

Apricot - 6,665
Grapefruit, Pink - 2,129
Papaya - 1110
Tomato Juice - 9,688
Tomato, cooked - 4,850
Tomato - 3,660
Watermelon - 5,315
Orange - 375

Vegetables high in total carotenoids. (mcg/100 grams)

Broccoli, steamed - 3,265
Spinach - 12,600
Spinach, cooked, - 12,250
Squash, butternut - 5,700
Squash, Zucchini - 2,535
Carrot - 13,500
Kale, steamed - 22,000
Lettuce, Romaine - 3,925
Peppers, red - 2,660
Pumpkin, baked, 7,400
Sweet Potato, baked - 9,500

Colgan says in order to inhibit cancer, research shows that you need higher intake of carotenoids than what can be consumed in a diet. He recommends to include plenty of carotenoids from fruit and vegetables in your diet, and supplement with 20,00-30,000 mcg of mixed carotenoids.

Source: You Can Prevent Cancer, Michael Colgan, PhD

This post is linked to:
Simple Lives Thursday
Fight Back Friday
Fat Tuesday

Real Food Wednesday
Monday Mania 

Traditional Tuesdays 

Spring Cleaning Naturally

Via

It is beautiful weather here in California so I''m cleaning out and airing out the place. Soon the weather is getting warmer and the days longer everywhere. It will be time to open up the house and clean out the winter. Yep, it's time for spring cleaning again. Unfortunately most cleaning  products in the stores are not good for us. I used to get a cough and headache every time I used strong cleaning products, but fortunately I discovered that I didn't need to use them to clean my home. The problem is that regular cleaning products in the stores are full of toxins that not only mess with the immune system, but they mess with the hormones too. Many of the toxins found in cleaning products are endocrine disruptors, and as such they contribute to glandular problems, PMS, reproductive cancers and infertility.

Inside pollution

Did you know that the pollution inside our homes from using these cleaning products are often greater than from the pollution from the outside environment? Yes, that's true. Several health problems such as allergies, liver and kidney toxicity, and respiratory irritation such as coughing, asthma, sneezing, and allergies are associated with the use of harsh chemicals in our homes. The products' neuro-toxic effects result in headaches, depression and lack of mental concentration.

Fortunately it doesn't have to cost a fortune to clean the house without toxic chemicals. I like to use lemon, baking soda, vinegar, salt, and essential oils when I clean.

Lemons

Lemons have antibacterial properties so they make an excellent choice as  disinfectants for  your home. You can cut lemons in half to remove stains from counter top or to clean the chopping board. Let it sit for a while before wiping it clean. Dip a cut lemon in coarse salt and use to scrub copper-bottom pans. Half a cup of lemon juice can also be added to the rinse cycle to brighten white linens and clothing.

Vinegar

Vinegar is not only economical but it is also very powerful. Luckily the odor disappears as it dries. You can add lemon or essential oils if you want a more pleasant smell while you clean. Mix one part water with one part vinegar and add to spray bottle, and use as an all purpose cleaner around the house. Pour 1 cup of vinegar in the toilet bowl and let sit for hours for a sparkling, odor free toilet. You can apply vinegar straight on mildew and let it sit for at least 30 minutes before rinsing. You can also wipe down the kitchen with a sponge soaked in vinegar, or add 1/2 cup of vinegar to the rinse cycle to soften clothes.

Baking soda

Baking soda is used by many to absorb odors from the fridge, but is is also excellent at dissolving grease and dirt in water. Mix baking soda with 10-20 drops of essential oils and sprinkle on the carpet to refresh it. Make sure you use oils that don't stain the carpet. Mix 1 part water with 3 parts baking soda to remove stains or sprinkle baking soda on pots, pans and dishes and soak in water to clean off burnt or caked food. You can also add 1/2 cup of baking soda to the laundry to remove dirt and grease.

Salt

Table salt can be used as an abrasive cleaner. Use coarse salt to remove stains, caked-on food, and on stove tops or other place such as the bath tub where there's no concern for scratching. Kitchen salt can be used on caked-on food pots and pans, soak the pots and pans with 3 tablespoons of salt in a couple of inches of water. Let sit for a while.

Essential oils

It is much safer to use essential oils when you clean than harsh chemicals. Essential oils can be used as a deodorizer to clean the air, as disinfectants for surfaces, for laundry and much more. 

• Disinfect: Add a few drops of oil to the dishwasher to help disinfect and purify. Essential oils can also be added to the sponge or the cloth for extra freshness. Common oils to use are fir, lavender, Melaleuca Alternifolia, pine, spruce, bergamot, orange and lemon.

• Dishwashing soap: Add several drops of essential oils like orange, tangerine, pine, lemon, and peppermint to a bottle of liquid soap. Use un-scented or natural soap if possible. Liquid castile soap can be used too.

• Laundry: Add 25 drops of eucalyptus oil to each load for an effective dust mite control. You can also add 1 tablespoon to a bottle of liquid laundry detergent. A few drops of oils like spruce, lavender, fir, juniper, rosewood, wintergreen/birch, cedarwood and juniper can also be added to the rinse cycle. Use a dampened wash cloth with 10 drops of lavender, bergamot, lemon, or melaleuca instead of a softening agent in the dryer.

• Room deodorizer: Make a room spray to deodorize, freshen, and disinfect the bathrooms, work areas, sinks, tiles, woodwork, carpets, cupboards etc. Add 10-13 drops of essential oils to 1 cup of water and put in a spray bottle.

• Floor and carpets: For non-carpet floors, add 1/4 cup of white vinegar to a bucket of water and add 5-10 drops of essential oils such as pine, spruce, lemon, or tea tree. For carpet floors, add 16-20 drops of essential oils to 1 cup of baking soda and keep in a container overnight. Sprinkle over the carpet and then vacuum.

As you can see, you don't need to purchase expensive organic or natural cleaning products in order to safely clean your home.

Essential oils are antiseptic and they add a nice touch to your cleaning. I like to pick refreshing oils for cleaning in the springtime. Lime, lemon, geranium, bergamot, grapefruit, rosemary and lavender are great oils for the lighter and warmer time of the year. Make your own recipes or use my essential oil cleaning recipes.

Johanna is an aromatherapist and she is passionate about educating people about health, essential oils, real food, natural remedies, and nutrition so they make healthier choices in their lives. 
Follow Johanna on twitter and facebook for more health tips and information.

This post is linked to:
WFMW, How to Tuesday Link Up, Simple Lives Thursday, Frugal Days, Sustainable Ways, Your Green Resource 
Fat Tuesday, Homemaking Link Up, Encourage One Another, Living Green Tuesdays, Waste Not Want Not Wednesday, The Mommy Club, What I learned Wednesday

Can Cancer be Prevented? Part 1.

I ordered Michael Colgan's book, You Can Prevent Cancer a couple of years ago and I decided to read it again the other day. Cancer is a hot topic and if affects a lot of people.

The following information is taken from this book,  You Can Prevent Cancer by Michael Colgan, PhD 

In 2000, a major study of 44,788 twins performed by the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm showed that heredity was a minor cause of cancer. Prostate, breast, colorectal and lung cancer were the cancers with a heredity component. 42% of the prostate cancer was genetically influenced while the other three cancers mentioned were 33% genetically influenced. The researchers concluded that the environment is the major cause of cancer. In 2001 the Karolinska Institute after more research was done, stated that most cancers are caused by lifestyle and environmental factors that we have the power to modify. If we have the power influence it, than we can prevent it. European cancer specialists also agreed with the Karolinska Institute.

Robert Hoover of the Us National Cancer also stated:

" From this work has come the widely accepted estimate that 80-90% of human cancer is due to environmental factors"

Even though all these experts agree that many cancers are caused by environmental and lifestyle factors, only 1% of the cancer dollars are spent on prevention. European Cancer Journal compared the large reduction in cancer deaths from cancer prevention programs that targeted environmental causes, with reductions in death from advances in cancer treatments. There was no questions about it, prevention is superior!

It is crazy that so little is spent on prevention when the specialists predict that effective application of prevention could reduce cancer deaths by 29% by 2020. Advances in treatments would only achieve 4%! Simple prevention strategies reduced the cancer deaths by 13%, while screenings, early diagnosis etc only reduced the cancer deaths by 6%.

Naturally, we cannot prevent cancer by exposing ourselves to toxins, eating junk food and live a sedentary life. As you can see, there are some positive news that we can minimize our chances of developing cancer by working on prevention. Stay tuned for my next post when I share some more information from Dr.Colgan's book, You Can Prevent Cancer.

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Johanna is an aromatherapist and she is passionate about educating people about health, essential oils, real food, natural remedies, and nutrition so they make healthier choices in their lives.  
Follow Johanna on twitter and facebook for more health tips and information.

This post is linked to:
Fat Tuesday

The Amount of Sugar in Fruit

There is nothing that says that you should avoid fruit on the Paleo diet, but Cordain says in his new book, the Paleo Answer, that it is wise to avoid dried fruit and eat sparingly of the high sugar fruits if you're overweight and/or suffer from type 2 diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, and abnormal blood lipids.

As you will see below, dried fruit is a lot higher in sugar than fresh fruit and should  be eaten in limited amount for most us. Fresh fruit is by far the best for us. Children are more active and don't need to limit their carbohydrate as much as adults. Just make sure that the dried fruit is unsweetened. Read the rest of the post on my Paleo Blog.

Paleo - An Anti-Cancer Diet?

Paleo is more than a diet, it is a lifestyle that means a more natural and minimalist approach to living. People eating the Paleo way clean up their diet by removing grains, sugar, legumes, and dairy and replace them with meat, fruit, and vegetables. The absence of packaged food means less exposure to toxins linked to cancer. This way of eating seems extreme by many, especially by people still promoting a high carbohydrate diet low in fat.

Loren Cordain states in his latest book, The Paleo Answer, that The Paleo Diet can greatly reduce your risk of getting cancer  due to the many nutritional elements that it contains. With the focus in the media about breast cancer it is interesting to note that lung cancer is responsible for almost twice as many deaths as breast cancer and prostate cancer. 

Loren Cordain states in his latest book, The Paleo Answer, that The Paleo Diet can greatly reduce your risk of getting cancer  due to the many nutritional elements that it contains. With the focus in the media about breast cancer it is interesting to note that lung cancer is responsible for almost twice as many deaths as breast cancer and prostate cancer. Lung cancer is highly preventable in most cases since almost all lung cancer is caused by smoking.  Doctors such as  Dr.Urquhart and Dr. Samuel Hutton both treated non westernized people and they discovered that cancer was non existent.  Other well known European diseases were also absent, they noted.  The natives immunity to cancer disappeared the more westernized they became over the years.  Dr. Schweitzer discovered the same thing when he arrived in Gabon in 1913, that he didn’t encounter any cases of cancer . He credited the absence of cancer to the difference in nutrition of the natives compared to the Europeans. He also noticed that cases of cancer occurred  the more the natives lived like the whites.

Loren Cordain agrees in his book that the absence of breast, colorectal, prostate and other cancers had everything to do with the natives’ diet in Gabon. 

According to Cordain, the Paleo Diet is a low glycemic index, low-glycemic load diet. I learned in Cordain’s book that a very recent meta analysis of ten studies and more than 575,000 subjects performed by Drs. Qin and Dong show that a high glycemic diet increases the risk for developing breast cancer. Anther meta analysis showed similar results.  As Robb Wolfe mentions in his book, The Paleo Solution, whole grains and refined grains both turn into sugar in the body.

Apart from the Paleo Diet’s low glycemic load, it is also rich in omega 3 fatty acids and low in omega 6 vegetable oils. Studies of animal models  and tissues of breast cancer show that omega 6 fatty acids stimulate cancer growth while omega 3 fatty acids inhibit it.

The Paleo Diet is milk and dairy free. As mentioned early on in the book, drinking milk boosts  blood concentrations of female hormones. Milk drinking will elevate blood estrogen levels and increase the risk for breast and ovarian cancer in women and increase the risk for prostate and testicular cancer in men. ( I will cover milk more in detail in a future post.)

The Paleo Diet is extremely high in fresh vegetables and fruit. These are Mother Nature’s best medicine. Meta analysis of population studies have shown that fresh vegetables and fruits indeed protect women from many cancers.

As you can see there are many benefits of eating the Paleo way.

Living Well Blog Hop #23

Welcome to the Living Well blog hop! We’d like to invite you to share a blog post about what you do to Live Well. It could be a healthy recipe, exercise tips, ideas for relaxing, getting organized, lifestyle improvements – anything that you feel makes your life better.

Your Living Well hosts for the week are:

Laurie @ Common Sense Homesteading

Jo @ Jo’s Health Corner

Tina @ Being Made New

Lea @ Nourishing Treasures

Living Well Blog Hop guidelines:

1. Please provide a link back to one of the Living Well host blogs in your post. Grab one of the buttons below if you like.

2. Please link to a specific post in your blog, not your blog’s home page.

3. If you link a recipe, please use real foods and avoid highly processed ingredients. Recipes low in refined sugar/refined carbohydrates are preferred.

4. The hosts of the blog hop reserve the right to remove any posts that we deem inappropriate.

 5. Please leave a comment below to tell us a little more about your link or share your tips if you don't have a blog.  (Linked posts do not need to be from this week.)

Thanks for joining us in Living Well.

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Cleansing with Essential Oils

Essential oils can be a great addition to herbal cleanses or used alone.

They can be used in several ways:

• mix with bath salts, vegetable oils, or apple cider vinegar for a great detoxifying bath.
• add to vegetable oils for a massage
• add to the brush when dry brushing
• add to the wash cloth and used in the shower
• add to a tissue and inhaled
• add a couple of drops on your hand, rub your hands, and inhale
• add essential oils to the appropriate Vita Flex points (liver, kidney) on the feet
• make a compress and put over a specific organ that needs to be cleansed

Alteratives are remedies that cleanse and purify the blood, and they are also called detoxifiers or blood purifiers. They assist the body’s own eliminatory channels by stimulating the liver, lungs, kidneys, bowels, sweat glands, and the lymphatic system to excrete toxins.

Essential oils with lymphatic, diaphoretic, expectorant, diuretic, hepatic, laxative and emmenagogue properties are considered alteratives. **( Explanation at the end of the post)

Most commonly used essential oils with alteratives properties are angelica root, black pepper, carrot seed, cypress, everlasting, fennel, grapefruit, geranium, juniper, lemon, orange, peppermint and rosemary.

Some of my favorite alteratives are:

Cypress
Cypress, (Cupressus sempervirens var. stricta) has a bitter, acidic, sharp, spicy and balsamic-woody top note. The middle note is balsamic-woody, sweet and spicy. The base note smells more like cypress with a forest scent and is not as sweet. The aroma clears the head and is very relaxing.

Cypress was used by the Romans and the Greeks. Sempevirens means ever living, and the tree was dedicated to the gods of the underworld.


It has a calming, balancing, refreshing and clearing effect on the emotions. Cypress is useful in anger and will also restore calm. In France, Dr.Valnet used cypress for bronchitis and coughs at hospitals, and the cough was stopped by putting drops of cypress under the pillows. It also has astringent and vaso-constrictor properties, and may therefore useful in circulatory problems.

 Grapefruit

Grapefruit, (Citrus paradisi ) has a sweet, fresh, intense citrus and fruity top note. It is a clean and refreshing smell. The middle note is softer and milder with sweet and pleasant orange-citrus aroma with some bitterness and slightly earthy tone. The base not has the same characteristic scent but is a lot weaker. Grapefruit is uplifting and positive, and it is a very energizing and reviving scent.

Grapefruit has a very uplifting, reviving, and energizing effect on the mood. It has historically been a good choice when feeling stressed, depressed, or suffering from nervous exhaustion. It is very balancing. 

Due to its diuretic and detoxifying properties, grapefruit may be useful in cellulites. Grapefruit has historically been used to stimulate the liver and gallbladder, which may help regulating eating disorders. Grapefruit is traditionally used for oily skin and acne. It has also historically been used for stretch marks, fungal infection, wounds and bruises.

Lemon
Lemon, (Citrus limonum) has a sharp, clean and refreshing aroma. It smells like the zest of the fruit. The aroma is very relaxing, but at the same time it feels like it clears the mind and sharpens the senses. It is obvious it is a top note because the scent doesn’t last long.
Lemon increases the ability to concentrate. It lifts the spirit and clears the mind. It is also a powerful antibacterial.

Lemon is said to stimulate the action of the white blood corpuscles, and according to Battalglia it also counteracts the acidity in the body. It also has a tonic effect on the circulatory system. It is well known for its detoxifying and astringent properties. 

Here are some other tips of how essential oils can used.

Some people cleanse several times a year, but it also important to keep cleansing all through the year. Eat a wholesome diet with fresh vegetables and fruit, avoid as much toxins as possible, drink lemon water, exercise, and add the essential oils mentioned above.

*This statement has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent disease.

Lymphatic - Assist the tissue cleansing action of the lymphatic system. 
Diaphoretic - Promoting sweating, assisting the excretory functions of the skin. 

Expectorant - Promoting expulsion of mucus, assisting the respiratory system. 

Diuretic - Promoting urination, assisting excretory functions of the kidneys.

Laxative - Promoting bowel movements, assisting excretory functions of the large intestines. 
Hepatic - Enhancing liver functions, assisting the liver's detoxifying functions. 



Before you leave:

I recommend that you always perform a skin patch test when you try a new oil.

Check out my safety page to make sure you are aware of any contrindications before you use essential oils. Some oils are not suitable when suffering from certain conditions. Also, Read this Before You Start Using Essential oils. Some oils should not be applied prior to sun exposure so make sure you check this list before spending time in the sun.

Not sure how to apply the oils? Visit these pages to learn how to apply the oils:

• Topical Application
• Inhaling Essential Oils
• Are You Diffusing the Oils Correctly?
• How to Dilute Essential Oils
• Vita Flex Technique

If you're new to essential oils you might want to check out my Getting Started Guide. 

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Johanna is an aromatherapist and she is passionate about educating people about health, essential oils, real food, natural remedies, and nutrition so they make healthier choices in their lives.  
Follow Johanna on twitter and facebook for more health tips and information.

This post is linked to:

Fat Tuesday, Detox Challenge , Wildcrafting Wednesday, Natural Living Monday