Cancer is an abnormal growth of cells in the body. Unlike normal cells, cancer cells can grow out of control, form new cancer cells and invade other tissues.
Cancer prevalence is high in the United States. The three most common cancers among male survivors are prostate (43%), colon and rectum (9%), and melanoma (8%). Among female survivors, the most common cancers are breast (41%), uterine corpus (8%), and colon and rectum (8%) (cancer.org).
Holistic Recovery
Although a cancer diagnosis can be frightening, most cancers are slow-moving, providing ample opportunity to strengthen and heal the body during all stages.
Meditation, yoga, and a nutrient-dense diet can play a powerful role in a holistic cancer recovery approach and are especially important if chemotherapy/radiation treatment is chosen, as these processes can be very hard on the body’s limited resources.
3 Important Nutrients for Holistic Cancer Recovery
Folate
Folate is part of the B complex of vitamins. Folate is a key nutrient in human health. Low intakes of folate can contribute to birth defects, blood diseases and cancers. The best sources of folate include: spinach, turnip greens, bok choy, parsley, romaine lettuce, asparagus, cauliflower, broccoli, and beets. Folate dosage can vary greatly, but generally, between 400-1,000 mcg are recommended.
Protein
Proteins contain the building blocks that are needed for hormone production, immune system function, and thyroid hormone manufacturing and efficiency. For cancer patients, during chemo/TR doubling protein intake is crucial to recovery. Sources of protein include wild fatty fish, organic chicken breast, pork chops, tofu, beans, eggs, lean beef, yogurt and nuts & seeds. Adult men need about 56 grams/day and women need about 46 grams/day. These amounts vary based on activity level and if women are pregnant or breastfeeding.
Vitamin B12
This vitamin is part of the B complex of vitamins. It is involved in energy metabolism and transports oxygen throughout the bloodstream. It is only found in animal sources with the highest counts found in beef liver, sardines, crab, Swiss cheese, and eggs. The RDAS for Vitamin B12 are between 2.4 – 2.8 mcg per day.
Originally posted 2018-07-10 09:15:01.
