Your Cancer Prevention Routine

What’s the appropriate Cancer Prevention Supplement routine for you?

Cancer is the second most prominent killer of Americans—second only to heart disease. But there's increasing scientific evidence that certain supplements and foods reduce risks from a variety of cancers.

Of course, deciding what supplements to take and food to consume isn't a simple task. There's a bewildering amount of new and sometimes conflicting information on cancer-preventive food and supplements. And it seems as if not a week goes by without a new report suggesting a supplement can reduce your cancer risk.

Take the medical view on the benefits or danger of the sun, for example. We all know exposure to the sun's ultraviolet rays causes skin cancer. But just recently, the NY Times, BBC and others reported that your cancer prevention supplement routine should include high doses of Vitamin D (200-600 units per day). The skin makes vitmain D when exposed to the sun's ultraviolet rays. (See recent study concluding that ). A few months ago Reuters and MSNBC supported this view when they reported that ovarian cancer rates are lower in sunny areas. And skin cancer risks are reduced if you drink green tea -- and perhaps coffee. And if you drink coffee, you just might lower your risk of developing liver cancer. We're confused already!

Only you, with the advice of your physician or health expert, can decide what cancer prevention supplement routine is appropriate for you and your family. But naturalpath editors have culled what we believe are the most helpful articles, studies and resources on naturalpath.com and the web for you. This Cancer Prevention Supplement Guide is intended as a starting point to help research and ask the right questions about the cancer prevention supplement routine that makes sense for you given the weight of evidence and, of course, the risks and costs.

Several supplements (including or extracted from herbs, vitamins and super foods) have been shown in clinical trials to be associated with reduction in the risk of cancer. Although this is not a definitive list of cancer fighting supplements, it provides information and support on what we've found to be the most promising cancer prevention supplement recommendations and can provide a starting place for your to develop your own cancer prevention supplement routine.

Vitamin D

Vitamin D helps maintain blood levels of calcium, by keeping calcium in the body and sparing the calcium stored in your bones.

• Vitamin D and Colorectal Cancer: A higher intake of vitamin D is associated with a reduced incidence of colorectal cancer. Studies have showed that higher rates of colon cancer occur in the northern parts of the United States (where there is less sunlight) than in the southwest, Hawaii, and Florida. Researchers have advanced the theory that vitamin D, which the body can make in the skin after sun exposure, reduces colorectal cancer risk. Of course, sun exposure also brings skin cancer risk. See this article on natural sunscreens and protect yourself naturally without toxic substances.
• Vitamin D and breast cancer: insights from animal models. Vitamin D has also been associated with reduction in breast cancer. See the latest report: Vitamin D and calcium supplementation reduces cancer risk: results of a randomized trial abstracted in the American Journal of Nutritional Medicine. ol. 85, No. 6, 1586-1591, June 2007.

Vitamin E

Vitamin E is an antioxidant, which combats free radicals. Some experts believe that Vitamin E works better when combined in synergy with other antioxidants such as Selenium, Vitamin C, Vitamin A, and Beta-Carotene or mixed carotenoids. Vitamin E may inhibit a variety of cancers including esophageal, stomach, lung, and prostate.

CoQ10

Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) is used by the body to transform food into adenosine triphosphate (ATP), the energy on which the body runs. CoQ10 is found primarily in fish and meat, but the amounts in food are far less than what can be obtained from supplements. Some research suggests that a fat-soluble form of CoQ10 is absorbed better than CoQ10 in granular (powder) form. Adult levels of supplementation are usually 30–90 mg per day, although people with specific health conditions may supplement with higher levels (with the involvement of a physician). Animal Studies reported by the National Cancer Institute have found that coenzyme Q10 boosts the immune system and helps the body fight certain infections and types of cancer.

Vitamin C

Vitamin C is a water-soluble vitamin that has a number of biological functions. Good food sources of Vitamin C include broccoli, red peppers, currants, Brussels sprouts, parsley, potatoes, citrus fuit, and strawberries. Vitamin C has been shown by several studies to reduce the risk of several cancers including colon cancer and breast cancer (Br J Cancer. 1992 Oct;66(4):673) and bladder cancer. In addition to natural and supplement form, scientists have found that high doses of Vitamin C injected in the blood stream fight cancer.

Vitamin B Complexes

Vitamin B6 helps synthesize and maintain DNA. Vitamin B12 and folate work together to protect our DNA. Researchers from Brigham and Women's Hospital (BWH) found that the vitamin may actually help reduce colorectal cancer risk. Folate, Vitamin B6 and Vitamin B12 intake have been linked to a reduced risk of breast cancer. A Vitamin B12 (folate) deficiency has been linked to an elevated rate of DNA damage, which is an important risk factor for cancer. Radioactive B12 has even been used by the Mayo Clinic to help locate cancer.

Antioxidants

According to Dr. Richard Cutler, former Director of the National Institute of Aging, “the amount of antioxidants in your body is directly proportional to how long you will live." (See Benefits of Antioxidants). Antioxidants occur naturally in a variety of foods or in the form of supplements, and they include a family of naturally formed components like vitamin A, beta-carotene, lycopene, vitamin E, and more. They are believed to protect cells from free radicals, harmful oxygen molecules thought to damage cells that result in cancer. Also check out the National Cancer Insititute study on antioxidants and lung cancer.

Green Tea

The polyphenols in green tea have also been associated with reduced risk of several types of cancer in humans. Several animal and test tube studies have demonstrated an anticancer effect of polyphenols from green tea. In one of these studies, a polyphenol called catechin from green tea effectively inhibited metastasis (uncontrolled spread) of melanoma (skin cancer) cells. (See Mukhtar H, Ahmad N., Green tea in chemoprevention of cancer. Toxicol Sci 1999;52(2 Suppl):111–7; Katiyar SK, Mukhtar H. Tea consumption and cancer. Nihal Ahmad, Hasan Mukhtar , Cutaneous Photochemoprotection by Green Tea: A Brief Review; Rev Nutr Diet 1996;79:154–84 ; Kohlmeier L, Weterings KG, Steck S, Kok FJ. Tea and cancer prevention: an evaluation of the epidemiologic literature. Nutr Cancer 1997;27:1–13 [review]

Cancer Prevention Supplement Guide: Foods

(supplements for many of these foods are available)
By eating a rainbow of food colors or by emphasizing certain foods listed below, you can incorporate a variety of protective phytochemicals into your diet. These foods limit the free radical initiation and DNA damage caused by these carcinogens and therefore appear to lower the incidence of various types of cancer. They include:

• Beans
• Berries
• Cruciferous Vegetables
• Dark Green Leafy Vegetables
• Flaxseed
• Garlic
• Grapes and Grape Juice
• Green Tea
• Soy
• Tomatoes
• Whole Grains

Cancer Prevention Articles and Tips on Naturalpath

Cancer Health Center

Cancer Prevention Diet

Colon Cancer Overview

High Fiber Diet Effective Against Colon Cancer

The Effects of Toxins in the Body

Reduce Your Household Toxin Exposure

View more cancer prevention articles on Naturalpath

Best Cancer Prevention Web Sources

Harvard Center for Cancer Prevention

Cancer Information

View more cancer prevention web sources

Cancer Prevention Videos

Video: Preventing Skin Cancer (This is a video interview with Jennifer Cooper, M.D., Assistant Professor of Dermatology at the University of Maryland Medical Center about practical steps to reduce your risk of skin cancer.)

Video: Marijuana Study Shows No Lung Cancer Links (Pt 1 of 2);

Video: Marijuana Study Shows No Lung Cancer Links; Dr. Donald Tashkin Marijuana Lung Cancer Study Pt 1 of 2 (Dr. Donald Tashkin, Pulmonary specialist from UCLA Geffen School of Medicine discusses for the first time his finding that marijuana does not cause lung cancer. Dr. Tashkin also discusses the hypothesis that marijuana may actually inhibit cancer growth.)

View more cancer prevention videos on the web

Cancer Prevention Blogs

Vitamin D Reduces Cancer

The Cancer Blog

NHS Blog Doctor

View more cancer prevention blogs

Cancer Prevention Books

Fight Cancer with Vitamins and Supplements: A Guide to Prevention and Treatment, by Kedar N. Prasad, Kedar N. Prasad Ph.D., K. Che Prasad M.D.

Cancer and Vitamin C: A Discussion of the Nature, Causes, Prevention, and Treatment of Cancer With Special Reference to the Value of Vitamin C (Paperback), Ewan Cameron (Author), Linus Pauling (Author)

View more cancer prevention books