Regarding cancer— I know firsthand that the last thing you should be talking to talk to your doctor about, is diet— but why is that? Why is the thought of using diet to prevent (and battle) cancer so far-fetched?
No one would negate that our body is composed of cells. Furthermore, everyone accepts that food fuels our cells. So why deny that diet has a direct correlation to the growth and proliferation of cancerous cells? After all, cancer is defined as, “A disease caused by an uncontrolled division of abnormal cells.”
The Basics of Cancer
First things first— not all cancer is created equal. Considering the human body is composed of trillions of cells, it’s no surprise that there are more than 100 distinct types of cancer. Cancer is complex— and there’s still a whole lot to learn. Regardless of its complexity, all forms of cancer share some basic characteristics. According to the National Cancer Institute, “Cancer is the name given to a collection of related diseases. In all types of cancer, some of the body’s cells begin to divide without stopping and spread into surrounding tissues.”
What Causes Cancer?
The National Cancer Institute informs us that, “Cancer is a genetic disease— that is, it is caused by changes to genes that control the way our cells function, especially how they grow and divide.” I won’t argue that. Science supports that the underlying cause of abnormal cell replication is due to damaged DNA. However, damaged DNA is not always a result of genetic predisposition. There are a number of lifestyle and environmental factors that contribute to the damage.
Other Factors that Contribute to Damaged DNA:
- UV rays
- Unhealthy diet
- Radiation
- Chemicals found in: skincare products, processed foods, dryer sheets, scented candles, cleaning products, tobacco, etc.
While it’s true that different forms of cancer will vary substantially in their behavior and response to treatment, they all share one commonality— in order for cancerous cells to proliferate— they must be fed.
What Do Cells Eat?
Healthy cells have the ability to feast on glucose (sugar and carbs) OR ketones (fat stores). Cancerous cells don’t have this luxury. Cancerous cells are dependent on glycolysis— meaning they’re glucose-dependent. Cancer cells have not yet evolved to utilize ketones for fuel. This is where step 1 comes into play.
STEP 1: Implement a Squeaky Clean Keto Diet
The ketogenic diet is a low-carb, moderate protein, high-fat diet. Keto, as it’s commonly called, shares many attributes with popularized “caveman” diets such as paleo and carnivore. The ketogenic diet is often referred to as a sugar elimination diet because carbohydrates, (simple or complex) are composed of glucose (sugar molecules).
Simplified, carb restriction is sugar restriction.
The ketogenic diet involves reprogramming the body to rely on ketones rather than glucose, for fuel. By restricting carbohydrates, cells will turn to fat for energy. The action of burning fat for fuel produces ketones. When ketone levels rise, the body enters into a metabolic state known as ketosis.
The basic idea behind keto is to become comfortable in this metabolic state in order to burn fat and lose weight. And as it turns out, becoming keto-adapted is actually helpful for preventing and even reversing cancer, too.
Why Clean Keto Matters
In order to cash in on ALL the keto benefits (HULK-like energy, disease prevention, longevity, etc.) you’ve got to focus on clean ketogenic foods. Clean keto is about eating nutrient-dense, whole foods. Period. Leafy greens, consciously-sourced proteins, and unprocessed fats. It’s really that simple. And just in case it’s not that simple, I’ve created a free guidebook breaking down the best foods and supplements for a clean keto diet.
More specifically, squeaky clean keto
The ketogenic diet is highly effective at starving out cancer cells. However, many “clean keto” foods are also highly acidic— and cancer thrives in acidity. In order to defend against cancer, it’s important to focus on selecting low-carb foods that are also low in acid. The infographic below helps illustrate the basic guidelines of squeaky clean keto.
STEP 2: Focus on Alkaline-Forming Foods
You may have heard that cancer cannot exist in an alkaline environment. That theory was derived from Otto Warburg’s Nobel Prize-winning study in 1931. Warburg concluded that cancer cannot live in an alkaline environment. The only problem is— neither can we.
The body was designed to regulate cells and organs at a particular pH— the stomach, 2 to 4.5; the small intestine, 7.4; the large intestine, 5.5 to 7; and so on. By implementing an alkaline diet— your body won’t go 100% alkaline— if it did, you’d die with a condition called metabolic alkalosis. 😑
The bottom line— eating alkaline-forming foods won’t necessarily kill the cancer. By “eating alkaline,” you’re supplying the body with an abundance of nutrients. This will naturally boost the immune system, and strengthen the body in its fight against cancer. The infographic below helps illustrate the basic guidelines of an alkaline-rich, ketogenic diet.
STEP 3: Add in Natural Cancer-Fighting Supplements
There’s a lot of mixed information out there regarding nutritional supplementation and cancer. Some supplements may interfere with traditional cancer treatments, so it’s always wise to consult your doctor prior to implementing a nutritional regimen. Your cancer treatment center or hospital may have an integrative medicine division. That’s a good place to start if you want to know what herbs, teas, or nutritional supplements would be best for your specific condition. The following is a list of supplements I took while battling malignant melanoma as suggested by Dr. Russell L. Blaylock and Dr. Axe.
Cancer-Fighting Supplements
- Sweedish Bitters (immune support, anti-inflammatory)
- Essiac Tea (free-radical protection)
- Cancer-Fighting Elixir (immune support, anti-inflammatory, SUPER alkaline)
- Blue Majik (antioxidant-rich, cellular protection)
- Turmeric Oil (protects against oxidative stress)
- Superieur Electrolytes (helps ease keto-flu)
- Omega-3 Fish Oil (DHA) (anti-inflammatory)
- Pycnogenol (increases strength of blood vessel barrier walls, powerful antioxidant)
- Bilberry Extract (strengthens the walls of blood vessels)
- Hesperidin (helps prevent tumor invasion of blood vessels)
- Grape Seed Extract (prevents the destruction of blood vessel barriers)
- Artichoke Extract (antioxidant-rich)
- Quercetin (anti-inflammatory, cancer prevention)
Now I know this is a lengthy list— and perhaps I went off the deep end (just a bit). But doing the work (taking the supplements, getting adequate sleep, laughing, de-stressing) was what made me feel empowered in light of a life-threatening diagnosis. And that’s exactly why I’m writing this post— to remind you— given the opportunity to heal, your body has superhuman powers. Give it hell!
Do you need help putting together a battle-plan in order to combat cancer? Click here to connect with me and get started today!
Whether you’re well-versed or brand spankin’ new to keto life and looking for some help, you should check out Katie’s coaching program. Coach Katie lives keto all day, errryday. She keeps up to date on the latest science, so you don’t have to. But more importantly, she addresses your specific goals to help you achieve ultimate success on your keto journey. And it’s always better to have someone in your corner, guiding you along. So if you’re ready for total life transformation and ultimate keto success, schedule your FREE initial keto consultation today!
Medical Disclaimer
This content is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to provide medical advice or to take the place of such advice or treatment from a personal physician. All readers/viewers of this content are advised to consult their doctors or qualified health professionals regarding specific health questions. Neither Katie Rodriguez nor the publisher of this content takes responsibility for possible health consequences of any person or persons reading or following the information in this educational content. All viewers of this content, especially those taking prescription or over-the-counter medications, should consult their physicians before beginning any nutrition, supplement or lifestyle program.
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