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7 Steps of Prevention
1. Protect and Repair DNA
What you can do:
Preventing and Treating a Low 2:16 Ratio. With stress, illness, and simple aging, the way the liver processes sex steroid hormones can change, shifting the balance in favor of more of the "bad" 16 alpha metabolite. Postmenopausal women with breast cancer were found to have dramatic elevations of 16 alpha hydroxyestrogen. The goal is to have a higher ratio of the good alpha 2-hydroxyestrone in our system. Testing for these metabolites and determining the ratio between them has significant associations between diet and lifestyle and hydroxylation pathways. Increased levels of 2-hydroxyestrogen, the "good" estrogen, are associated with vigorous exercise, healthy thyroid hormone balance, and consumption of cruciferous vegetables (broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, cabbage), flax (an excellent source of omega-3 fatty acids), and fermented soy products. On the other hand, increased levels of the bad 16 alpha-hydroxyestrone have been linked to alcohol consumption, sedentary lifestyle, a high-carbohydrate, high-fat diet, and increased body mass.
Avoid Exposure to Ionizing Radiation. The damage rendered by ionizing radiation, such as we receive from X-Rays, is cumulative. That means each exposure, no matter how small, is potentially able to damage DNA, especially if we have had many x-rays earlier in life. Radiation is known to damage DNA and cause cell mutation, in other words, it is a carcinogen. There really is no "safe" dose of radiation. Even small doses carry risks. Avoid having x-rays taken unless absolutely necessary. Although some may attempt to diminish the seriousness of this topic, it behooves you to use extreme caution. Yes, we are exposed to radiation every time we fly, which some argue is a good reason not to worry about exposure... we get it all the time! All the more reason, in my opinion, not to expose yourself unless you really must. CT scans are particularly heavy exposure and are ordered routinely. Be willing to question your health care providers about whether radiation is really needed in your situation and what the risks, benefits and alternatives are.
Increase your consumption of anti-oxidants! Fresh, organic fruits and vegetables and their freshly extracted juices, especially dark green leafy vegetable juice are powerful sources of anti-oxidants. The phyto-nutrients in fresh fruits and vegetables are the most potent anti-oxidants on the planet. Anti-oxidants neutralize free radical molecules that can damage DNA. These free radicals are unstable oxygen molecules that are byproducts of cellular metabolism. Our bodies need some free radicals to help drive chemical reactions necessary to life. But our modern lifestyles, filled with pollution, pesticides, tobacco, alcohol, grilled red meat and trans-fats create a barrage of free radicals that attack our delicate cell membranes and life-sustaining DNA.
The carotenoids are an especially powerful class of phyto-nutrients in the fight against cancer. Carotenoids give a plant its color and contribute to its flavor. Beta-carotene is just one of many carotenoids you may have heard of. Lycopene is another carotenoid, which has been shown to have special ability to fight hormone driven cancers such as breast and prostate cancers. Tomatoes and watermelon are rich sources of lycopene. If you aren't eating a substantial amount of fresh produce (at least 5 servings per day), add a whole foods supplement such as "Juice Plus" that contains dried extracts of fruit and vegetable juice to boost your phytonutrient intake.
Anti-Oxidant Supplementation with substances such as Co-Enzyme Q-10, DHLA and Resveratrol is essential. Co-Q-10 has shown exceptional promise in the fight against breast cancer. It is absolutely essential in the production of energy at a cellular level. Co-Q-10 levels have been shown to be much lower in tumors than they are in normal tissues. When Co-Q-10 has been given to cancer patients in scientific studies, some spectacular results have been seen. It has also been shown to help prevent organ damage often seen with some kinds of chemotherapy, especially Adriamycin, often given to breast cancer patients, which is toxic to the heart muscle. Adriamycin causes Co-Q-10 levels to drop. Apparently, Adriamycin can only damage the heart if Co-Q-10 levels are low. So in patients given supplemental Co-Q-10, the Adriamycin doesn't seem to be able to damage the heart as it can in patients who are not given supplementation. We recommend a special fermented form of Co-Q-10, called Co-Q-Quinol which requires a much lower dose to have the same effect as larger doses of a pill form. Just 22 mg (milligrams) of the natural liquid fermented form is equivalent to 400mg of a synthetic pill form!
Consume B Vitamins from natural sources. Avoid synthetic B vitamins and all synthetic substances! Folate and Vitamin B-12 are especially helpful in protecting DNA. Low levels of Folate are associated with significantly increased risk for breast cancer. Alcohol, cigarettes, birth control pills and non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (such as ibuprofin and aspirin) can cause Folate levels to drop substantially. But even if you don't use these substances, you can benefit from the added protection of Folate supplementation. Folate helps the DNA to protect and repair itself and replicate normally. Without it cells can't divide properly and may turn cancerous. 400 mcg (micrograms) daily is essential. B-12 works with Folate to construct and repair DNA. It's a great idea to take them together. They should be taken separately from your other vitamins and supplements, because the B-12 is quite delicate and can become inactivated by other vitamins. B-12 also requires "intrinsic factor", a substance secreted by the cells in your stomach, in order to be absorbed by the body. As we age, our bodies make less intrinsic factor, and therefore absorb less B-12. So we need to consume more as we get older. 30 micrograms is a good dose. Sublingual B-12 combined with Folate is easy to take and effective as a mid-morning pick-me-up! It is especially essential for those over 60, or with pancreatic insufficiency, partial or total removal of the stomach and disorders of the small bowel.
Get Plenty of Vitamin E. Well known by almost everyone as legendary for its anti-oxidant power, Vitamin E is also shown in laboratory studies to slow the speed at which tumor cells grow and divide, promote tumor cell death and prevent new blood vessels from growing in a tumor. 400-800mg daily is an important addition to your diet. Be sure to get a natural and not synthetic vitamin E. The alpha L tocopherol (think of "L" as in lousy!) is synthetic. Food sources are avocados, sweet potatoes, almonds, leafy green veggies, wheat germ and salmon. Its effect is potentiated (made stronger) by vitamin C and Co-Q-10.
Add Green Tea and Turmeric to your diet. Many studies have shown that these substances not only have the ability to protect and repair DNA, but that they POTENTIATE each other. In other words taking both together makes each one many times more powerful than it would be on its own! They are also powerful anti-inflammatory agents and natural cox-2 enzyme inhibitors. This makes them great if you suffer from arthritis or any inflammatory condition, such as most autoimmune disorders. Green tea is known to be a natural thermogenic agent as well, helping the body to burn more calories than it normally would and thus contributing to weight loss. Many good reasons to include them in your wellness plan.
Take Indol-3-carbinol supplements. These incredible indol compounds activate the 2-hydroxyestrone metabolite, which activates tumor-suppression genes in the DNA. It appears to stop breast cancer cells from growing by shutting off a key enzyme necessary for the cells to grow. It also interferes with the relationship between estrogen and the estrogen receptors in breast cells, causing them to divide much more slowly. It also activates the DNA to send messages that prevent tumor cells from invading bodily tissues, spreading to other areas and keeps tumor cells from adhering together (this prevents them from sticking to one another or other tissues, preventing a tumor from growing and spreading.) Natural sources are the brassica family of vegetables, including broccoli, cabbage, kale, cauliflower, and Brussels sprouts. The absolute richest source appears to be BROCCOLI SPROUTS. You would need to eat several pounds of broccoli to get the indols found in an ounce of sprouts!!!
Supplement with Selenium. Studies show that the amount of selenium in the soil and the rate of cancer in that location are inversely proportional. Those areas with the lowest rates of cancer have the highest amount of selenium in the soil. The best food source is Brazil nuts. Just one ounce of Brazil nuts gives 1200% of the RDA of selenium. Garlic, onions, leafy greens, mushrooms and whole wheat are other rich sources. If you take supplemental selenium 200 mcg (that's micrograms, not milligrams) is recommended.
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*These statements have not been evaluated by the food and Drug Administration. This Product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
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