The Fight Against Cancer Begins in Your Kitchen
Last night PBS aired Anti-Cancer, a special with Dr. David Servan-Schreiber. I read his book by the same title when it was first published two years ago, but I thoroughly enjoyed watching the show. It was nice to see the actual doctor talking, he is such a remarkable man. And I occasionally forget things, so it never hurts to have them reinforced. The video above gives a taste of what he has to say on diet, exercise and lifestyle. It is such important information that I had to share it. If you haven't already, I highly recommend you read his book. If you have never been touched by cancer, you may prevent it by living a healthy lifestyle. Cancer is such an ugly, pain-filled disease that I can't imagine not wanting to prevent it.
Lifestyle plays the biggest role in health issues. It affects our risk of heart disease and diabetes as well as various cancers. Sadly, many people do not want to make changes, so they try to blame disease on inherited genetics.
The results of an Oxford study, published in the Lancet showed that genes account for only a small proportion of breast cancers, and for most women the main risk factors remain the lifestyle factors such as child bearing, use of HRT, obesity and alcohol consumption. These are modifiable, so by changing their behaviour women can alter their risk of breast cancer.
This holds true for many cancers. So please, even if you don't want to change your entire lifestyle, make one healthy change today.
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15 comments:
What a great post! Thank you for sharing that, Janet.
It renews in me the desire to help others find their way to health. We've gotten so far away from the small, natural, healthy things we can do every day that we sometimes forget how simple healthy living can be.
JulieLynn, we really have gotten so far away from simple, natural and healthy living, but it does not have to be difficult at all to make some changes.
I have mixed feelings. Definitely true that lifestyle plays a big role in cancer. But my experience has shown that cancer does not discriminate and also takes down those with very healthy lifestyles. More than I care to remember. So I hate to do the blame game and blame the victim.
Claudia, I am not trying to blame the victim, and I apologize if that's how I came across. I do not want to blame anyone, I want people to realize that much can be prevented with lifestyle changes. I personally know a number of people who smoke, drink, eat only red meat and processed foods and refuse to exercise, then tell me that cancer and heart disease just run in their family, so it doesn't matter what they do. As if their lifestyle has no impact on their health whatsoever. I want people to realize that their lifestyle does indeed play a role in their health. And making changes pays off.
Janet,
As you know I agree with you completely and this is coming from someone who is actively fighting cancer. I loved the book "Anticancer" and think there are many of things we all can do to decrease our risk of it either ocurring initially or recurring. Most people seem to want to believe it is genetic so they don't have to modify their behavior. It doesn't help that most oncologists are unwilling to acknowledge the link once cancer has happened. *climbing off my soapbox now*
hugs,
Ali
Ali, I get frustrated when people I care about blame genetics rather than making any healthy behavior changes. They prefer to believe that their choices have no impact on their health, when in fact some changes might protect them.
And I just can't understand why someone would choose to subject their body to chemo and radiation, but refuse to change their diet or exercise. You are right about many doctors refusing to acknowledge the link, which also gives people no motivation to improve their lifestyle.
Janet,
Of course I agree with you. I have a more crazy story for you. We have a good friend that has had 4 recent cardiac events that still eats meat, dairy and fat. What?!, yes you heard me right. Drives me crazy! I know change is hard, but dying it harder, or at least I think it is. *sigh*
Ali
Ali, I so understand that. Change is hard, but suffering and watching people you care about go through that is so much harder. I just wish there was a way to turn on the lightbulb for them so they would get it.
Alright, Janet & Alicia....I lurk far more often than I post - but you need to know I LOVE YOU GUYS! This is such important stuff. I feel honored that I am able to be empowered and I can make choices that will change my life for the better. Thanks for always reinforcing that!
Jennifer, thankyou so much for the kind words, you don't know how much they mean, and I so appreciate them!!
The whole point of this blog is to share things I have learned over the years and to help others.
After many doctors telling me there was nothing I could do to improve my son's odds, so much research has shown otherwise. I know lots of people just don't have the time to research and read like I've had, or don't know where to begin, so I like to share things I believe to be of use. I would have liked someone to have shared some of these things with me when I was starting this journey. If I have made a difference in just one person's life, then it is worth it.
I loved his book. Great information. I have already loaned it out several times. His plan is not radical and he does not ask people to do anything crazy. Studies come out every day that support his book. Lower stress, eat better, etc.
I don't think it is blaming the victim at all. If you or someone very close to you has had cancer then you know how helpless you feel-information like this is empowering. You don't have to be a victim. You can take back some control of what they will tell you is an uncontrollable disease.
I appreciate Janet (and Alicia) for helping keep us all updated on the latest research and information for cancer prevention and treatment.
Morgan, you are so right, it is empowering to know you can have some control. Thanks for your kind words.
I'm wishing I had caught the entire program, but I am interested in reading this book. It struck a cord with me when he says your doing something to your body 3 times a day,eating! Not like I didn't know that, but when it's put in that prespective and a portion of those meals arent' healthy it makes you realize what your doing. I am no where near perfect at eating healthy but Im trying to learn and change that. Thanks so much for sharing, I think I will learn allot from this book.
What an inspiring post! There is so much sense in the choices we make to feed and nourish our body. Yet so many people choose to ignore it. My mom is going through health problems right now and I know it's due to what she eats on a daily basis. Unfortunately she has eaten crappy her entire life. There are simple steps to ensure a healthy lifestyle. Thank you for sharing this video and book.
Natasha, I think a lot of this is common sense and we know it, but sometimes it takes someone putting it into different words before it hits home with us. And don't worry, none of us is perfect, but all changes we make can have a big impact on our health.
Tasha, thanks so much for your kind words. I agree, and I have seen it, what you eat on a daily basis makes such a difference as far as health problems are concerned. Change can be scary, but the payoff is huge.
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