Learn How to Dramatically Reduce Your Cancer Risk Naturally
02/03/2005	

In the early 1970s, President Richard Nixon declared war on cancer. Although the war may not be over as yet, up to this point, we are certainly losing the battle. In an article released last week by the American Cancer Society, it appears that cancer has replaced heart disease as the number one killer of Americans under the age of 85.

Here are some of the gruesome details: About 476,000 Americans died in 2002 from cancer. Cancer now accounts for almost a quarter of all deaths among Americans, regardless of age. It is projected that 1,372,910 new cases of cancer will be diagnosed in Americans this year, and approximately 570,000 people will die in this country from cancer. The American Cancer Society further notes that approximately one third of new cancer cases will be due to the use of tobacco, and one third will be caused by poor nutrition, physical inactivity, or being overweight or obesity. Lung cancer remains the leading killer and is projected to claim the lives of 163,000 people this year in the United States. Obese men are 50% more likely to contract cancer, especially cancers of the liver, pancreas, stomach and esophagus, whereas obese women are 70% more likely to develop cancer, especially of the uterus, kidney, cervix and pancreas.

Unfortunately, as a practicing physician, I encounter cancer on an almost daily basis. I am typically called on to see patients on the oncology floor following seizures, paralysis, loss of speech and other conditions. These conditions typically result from cancer spreading from one part of the body into the central nervous system.

Although modern medicine has made many strides, we are still in the Dark Ages when it comes to the treatment of cancer. Think about it for a moment; how do we treat cancer in the year 2005? We cut it out (surgery), burn it out (radiation therapy), or poison it (chemotherapy). Unfortunately, all of these treatments can affect healthy tissues, as well. All can lead to lowering of the immune system, which is likely the reason why the cancer developed in the first place. I have said this many times before in prior newsletters: We will look back on these days, fifty or a hundred years from now, and consider the "modern" treatment of cancer to be as barbaric as the blood-letting that was done in the 1700s and 1800s.

The statistics are grim, but not hopeless. It is my firm belief that in many cases, you can significantly improve your prevention of cancer with proper diet, avoiding exposure to toxins, exercising, and by taking optimal dietary supplements. And, you need to cut back on saturated, fatty foods -- including harmful fried foods -- and add additional healthy essential omega-3 fatty acids and fiber to your diet. These crucial changes give you excellent foundational starting points. Please avoid excessive simple sugars, which can lower your immunity and lead to obesity; it is just such a good common sense approach to reducing your risk of cancer.

Additionally, there are many nutrients that I believe are absolutely critical for you to take to maximize your chance of avoiding the "Big C." First, the micro-mineral selenium in the correct form and dosage is a wonder nutrient. It is a critical co-factor in one of the enzymatic systems in your body to fight free radicals. However, it is extremely important that you take the right form and amount of selenium. Selenomethionine is the only form proven to work; this is the organic form of selenium and should be taken at its proven dosage of 200 mcg a day. Taken in this dose, clinical studies from The Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), The Journal of the National Cancer Institute and others have indicated that cancer incidence can be reduced by over 60% in certain cancers, and cancer mortality reduced by an amazing 50%. So powerful is this micro-mineral that it is now the subject of a 10-year nationwide study for prostate cancer that will involve approximately 10,000 men. In my opinion, it is unethical to give someone a placebo at this point, as selenium is already proven to be safe and effective. Just think of how many men taking a placebo will die during this study from cancer, as they wait for results we already know!

Although vitamin E has gotten some relatively bad press recently, I believe this nutrient does have very potent antioxidant benefits when taken in the right form and amount. I would refer you to a newsletter that I did on this subject only a couple of weeks ago.

Many of you may not be aware, but everyday, you are producing cancer cells. However, if you keep your immune system strong, it will destroy them before they grow, spread, and become lethal. Vitamin C, taken in a dose of 500 to 2,000 mg a day (preferably Ester-C), is another important antioxidant and immunity-booster that clinical studies have shown to be of some benefit for cancer prevention. There are actually some centers in the United States and elsewhere around the world that are treating metastatic forms of cancer with high-dose intravenous vitamin C, up to a few hundred grams a week, with some good success.

There are several other nutrients that have shown benefit for improving immunity and potentially reducing the risk of cancer. One of my favorite nutrients in this regard is green tea extract. There have been multiple studies in the medical literature indicating that this polyphenol can lead to improved immunity. A particular element within standardized green tea extract is known as epigallocatechin gallate (ECGC). In lab studies, when this nutrient was added to cancer cells, it actually inhibited formation of further growth of these tumor cells. In one study published last year in the journal Cancer Science, green tea was experimentally found to inhibit growth of a particular type of virus that leads to leukemia in adults. In another double-blinded study published in the Journal of Nutrition in October 2003, 143 heavy smokers were randomized to drink either four cups a day of green tea, black tea, or water. It was found that those individuals who drank the green tea had a significant decrease in a particular free radical marker. The study suggested that regular green tea consumption might protect smokers from oxidative damage, and could reduce cancer risk and other diseases caused by free radicals associated with smoking. I strongly recommend that you consume 250 to 500 mg a day of standardized green tea extract with a high percentage of ECGC, in addition to drinking green tea.

Beta glucan from mushrooms and baker's cell yeast have amazing benefits for enhancing your immune system's ability to kill cancer cells and bacteria, as well. When you search for "beta glucan cancer," you will find over 300 human studies published in the medical literature exposing the incredible benefits of this nutrient. It is critical that you take purified and standardized pharmaceutical grade beta glucan, as found in Nutraceutical Sciences Institute's (NSI) MGC-5 supplement. Many products on the market contain minimal elemental levels and are of very poor quality. NSI further enhances this product for you by adding four standardized mushroom extracts, including maitake, shiitake, reishi and cordyceps. Do not buy non-standardized herbs and mushrooms; they contain very minimal, if any, active levels of key ingredients. Numerous studies indicate these mushrooms have incredible benefits for promoting a healthy immune system and improving your overall health, including energy. I recommend two capsules per day for maintaining overall health, and four to eight capsules per day if you need enhanced immunity during periods of illness.

Another important nutrient that has shown some benefit for reducing risk of tumor growth is that of calcium. There have been several studies in the medical literature indicating that high-dose calcium intake, along with fiber, can decrease your risk of colonic tumors leading to cancer. In a study published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute in December 2003, 803 individuals were studied in multiple centers throughout the country and were treated with calcium, vitamin D, or placebo. The conclusion of the study was that calcium supplementation and vitamin D appear to act largely together, not separately, to reduce the risk of colon/rectal adenoma recurrence. It is recommended that you consume at least 700 units a day of vitamin D daily, and at least 500 to 1,000 mg of elemental calcium. The best form of calcium is calcium citrate malate, which appears to have the best absorption independent of stomach pH. Obviously, for those individuals suffering with osteoporosis, larger amounts of calcium are necessary. Don't be fooled by the labels on calcium supplements. For example, while it may report that the total amount of calcium in the product is 1,500 mg, the elemental form may only be a few hundred milligrams. Nutraceutical Sciences Institute (NSI) products provide calcium at elemental levels that are listed, and are in the calcium citrate malate form. NSI utilizes over 2,200 mg of calcium citrate malate to provide the 500 mg elemental level in many of its products.

Folic acid is another excellent nutrient that I strongly advise, but it must be taken in adequate amounts. I recommend taking a minimum of 800 mcg daily, along with at least 500 mcg of methylcobalamin. There have been studies in the medical literature indicating that folic acid appears to reduce the risk of colon/rectal tumors and other malignancies, such as ovarian cancer.

Finally, there are other excellent nutrients that should be taken to maximize immunity and reduce free radicals that cause cancer, including garlic, CoQ10, standardized turmeric with 95% curcumin, grape seed (ActiVin is superior), red wine, lycopene, quercetin, and many others. This is far from a complete list; rather, it is a core outline of nutrients that you should consume to optimize immunity and health.

You can get most of these cancer-fighting nutrients in any of our quality multi-vitamin Synergy line. The Synergy line of multi-vitamins are formulated and updated regularly by myself and the medical doctors at Nutraceutical Sciences Institute (NSI), with your optimal health in mind. They are freshly manufactured every few months with the best possible forms and amounts of the key nutrients noted above. I recommend to my friends, family, and patients to choose one of the twelve versions of Synergy multi-vitamins for optimal health and immunity. I want you to take the same active role in your health today.

P.S. NSI just launched a new version of Synergy called Synergy RX for people that take blood thinners. It contains all of the great nutrients discussed, but has no ginkgo or vitamin K. Many doctors recommend against taking these two nutrients when someone is on blood thinners, such as Coumadin. This link will provide you with information on all 12 NSI Synergy choices.