To Meat Or Not To Meat?
One of the most common questions addressed during a consultation is about diet. What to eat and what not to eat in order to maximise the potential for healing, wellness and prevention. There is a vast array of information out there that provides differing views on what should be consumed. Some with anecdotal evidence and others with scientific evidence. So how should we eat to maximise the chances of achieving and maintaining wellness in the body whether it be from cancer or any other illness? Below is summarised the main themes of the most popular diets followed by a list of my overall recommendations.
The Gerson Diet
The Gerson Diet was developed by Dr Max Gerson and works on the principle that the body can heal itself if we eliminate toxins and nourish it appropriately. The protocol includes coffee enemas to rid the body of toxins, 13 cups of freshly juiced fruits and veggies per day to load the body with enzymes and 3 plant-based raw or cooked solid meals a day. Supplements are added to facilitate digestion, detoxification and immunity.
The diet at the Hippocrates Health Institute is similar, however, particularly for cases of cancer, it recommends eliminating all fruit due to the sugar content which is thought to fuel active cancer cells and to avoid cooked foods. It does not recommend coffee enemas, although enemas in general are encouraged, as are wheatgrass implants and shots to aid detoxification.
The Macrobiotic Diet
The Macrobiotic Diet and its role in cancer was popularised by Japanese philosopher Michio Kushi and is based on the principles of restoring balance within the body through the use of diet, physical activity and a general way of life. The macrobiotic diet is largely based on 40-60% whole grains, 20-30% pickled or raw vegetables, 5-10% of bean or bean products and regular consumption of sea vegetables. Foods to be consumed only occasionally are fruits, white meat fish and nuts and seeds. Although in cancer treatment, fruits would be avoided. The main difference here is the use of grains which is largely discouraged in the Gerson Diet and in Ayurveda.
The Ayurvedic Diet
The Ayurvedic diet also takes an anti-inflammatory approach and as for the above regimes it emphasises a vegetarian diet and avoiding animal meat, dairy and sugar. However, unlike the macrobiotic diet, it recommends against grains, starchy and sea vegetables. It also places importance on intermittent fasting, recommending 1 day per week of a juice cleanse and on other days no solid foods after 2pm. This is thought to starve the tumour without depriving the body of the nutrients required. This is done in conjunction with an individually prescribed supplemental herb regime.
The China Study
Most Western Medicine philosophies are cottoning on to the benefit of a plant-based diet and this has in part been propelled by The China Study, the largest epidemiological study of its kind performed in collaboration between Cornell and Oxford Universities in the US and the Chinese Government. It showed that across 65 counties in China the rates of mortality, cancer and chronic illness were correlated with diet. Specifically, a plant-based diet was protective while an animal-based diet led to increased rates of cancer and chronic disease including mortality from these causes.
The Fundamentals
With some of the components of the main anti-cancer diets being conflicting, it is important not to become disheartened. Attention to diet still remains an essential and valuable personal contribution that can be made to treating cancer and healing from it and its conventional treatments.
Although I believe each approach should be individualised based on the person and circumstances, my basic and generalised recommendations now include the following:
Aim for organically grown, minimally-processed, whole foods and largely plant-based.
Eliminate or minimise animal products. If you can’t eliminate animal products, avoid red meat and inorganic sources. Use high grade fish and chicken instead and limit it to twice a week or at the very least aim for 3 vegan or vegetarian days a week.
Avoid dairy and gluten. These are pro-inflammatory and add an increased load on the body which means that the body expends more energy on digestion, neutralising toxicity and easing inflammation and there is less reserve for maintaining immunity or healing and repair.
Avoid consumption of toxins such as coffee, alcohol and sugar. During active cancer treatment, avoid all sugar, including refined sugars, artificial sweeteners and those naturally-occurring in fruit and honey. Stevia is a safe and natural alternative for sweetening tea.
Be very intentional with what you choose to eat and how you choose to eat it. This includes with whom and where. Create the most reverent environment possible as the attitude and surrounding energy in which you eat greatly impacts the nutritional impact of what is consumed. If we eat with guilt and shame it is likely to make us unwell, if we consume with gratitude and appreciation, we are likely to be nourished and thrive. How you eat is as important as what you eat.
Finally, sometimes the pressure of adhering to any one protocol can perpetuate stress and illness in itself. So most of all, embark on dietary changes with trusted professional guidance, embrace it as an empowering personal contribution to wellness and although adherence may need to be strict during active therapy, ensure long-term changes are both joyful and sustainable for thriving.
References:
Lawrence H. Kushi, Joan E. Cunningham, James R. Hebert, Robert H. Lerman, Elisa V. Bandera, Jane Teas; The Macrobiotic Diet in Cancer, The Journal of Nutrition, Volume 131, Issue 11, 1 November 2001, Pages 3056S–3064S, https://doi.org/10.1093/jn/131.11.3056S
Campbell, T. Colin, and Thomas M. Campbell. The China Study: The Most Comprehensive Study of Nutrition Ever Conducted and the Startling Implications for Diet, Weight Loss and Long-Term Health. 2006.
Dr. Carol Haddad is a Radiation Oncologist based in Sydney, Australia. Her approach combines a formal qualification in Radiation Oncology with her passion for complementary therapy. She has an emphatic belief in holistic cancer care and the power of the mind to achieve wellness in the body. She offers consultation services in-person or remotely as well as seminars and workshops. Click here to learn more.