› Forums › General Melanoma Community › New Year’s Resolutions – Diet
- This topic has 24 replies, 7 voices, and was last updated 11 years, 8 months ago by
JC.
- Post
-
- December 31, 2013 at 11:05 pm
As I approach my resolutions for 2014–a surreal experience this year given my Stage IV diagnosis a few months ago–I'm thinking about diet. Admittedly, other than avoiding eye contact with the vending machine at my office, I haven't made many changes since my diagnosis. I try to stay away from red meat, eat more and organic fruits and veggies, etc. I've done a poor job of cutting out desserts–I enjoy them too much. So, I'm thinking about my diet and wondering if I should be making more significant changes. I looked through prior posts and it appears that opinions on diets are about as mild and in agreement as those on politics, religion, creation versus evolution, etc. I also did some independent internet research and found nothing terribly convincing. In the end, I've decided to skip major changes. Wishing you all a happy, healthy (relatively speaking) and prosperous New Year.
- Replies
-
-
- January 1, 2014 at 4:21 am
A good healthy diet never hurt anyone. It may not help with the condition but look at all the added health benefits that come with it.. the health issues you can help avoid by eating better. And even if its just something light and moderate, exercise is always good for the soulHave a safe and happy new year
-
- January 1, 2014 at 4:21 am
A good healthy diet never hurt anyone. It may not help with the condition but look at all the added health benefits that come with it.. the health issues you can help avoid by eating better. And even if its just something light and moderate, exercise is always good for the soulHave a safe and happy new year
-
- January 1, 2014 at 4:21 am
A good healthy diet never hurt anyone. It may not help with the condition but look at all the added health benefits that come with it.. the health issues you can help avoid by eating better. And even if its just something light and moderate, exercise is always good for the soulHave a safe and happy new year
-
- January 1, 2014 at 4:58 am
I have found what I think are very convincing arguments for a diet change with Melanoma and I have done just that. There is some evidence of a chemical in broccoli, sulpherane, that may have an action against melanoma and also some studies with Tumeric. My surgeon from U of M is doing some research in relation to the chemical in broccoli. You are right though, just like politics, everyone has an opinion on it and theirs is the right one. I just think, well it won't hurt and it might help, so why not. I feel much better than I have in years, cut out dairy, Red meat, sugar, wheat and processed foods. All my aches and pains that I have had for years, just went away. :).
-
- January 1, 2014 at 12:21 pm
Thanks. This is exactly the type of response I was hoping for. Specific suggestions around broccoli and tumeric. Do you know if these are the sorts of things like that chemical in red wine (reservotal?) where one could eat broccoli everyday, 5x per day, and still not absorb enough of the chemical to (potentially) see a benefit? I also agree with your approach to diet. For me, sugar and wheat (whole grains) are the hardest things to cut out. I am aiming to reduce, however.
-
- January 1, 2014 at 12:21 pm
Thanks. This is exactly the type of response I was hoping for. Specific suggestions around broccoli and tumeric. Do you know if these are the sorts of things like that chemical in red wine (reservotal?) where one could eat broccoli everyday, 5x per day, and still not absorb enough of the chemical to (potentially) see a benefit? I also agree with your approach to diet. For me, sugar and wheat (whole grains) are the hardest things to cut out. I am aiming to reduce, however.
-
- January 1, 2014 at 2:27 pm
Mat, I'm glad that you recognize that any discussion about diet and cancer is bound to be controversial. That's because it is extremely difficult to get good, scientifically reliable data about what people eat and how it affects their health.
However, one thing that is known for sure is that the immune system can and does attack and kill melanoma. So rather than make any wholesale changes in your diet to "fight cancer", you would be well advised to to eat a healthful, balanced diet with lots of fruits and veggies so as to keep your immune system as strong and healthy as possible. Moderate exercise has also been shown to strengthen your immune system. As others have said, eating well and exercising regularly will probably make you feel physically and menatally better, anyway, so what's to lose?
As with diet suggestions, you will also find a lot of suggestions for vitamin and herbal supplements to help fight your melanoma. The two that seem to have the most evidence (not strong evidence, mind you, but at least some) are for curcumin and for vitamin D. Curcumin is a highly concentrated form of turmeric and vitamin D supplements are good for your immune system if your natural vitamin D levels are low (there is a blood test for that).
If you search this site for nutrition-related key words like turmeric, supplements, vitamin D, etc you will find a number of threads discussing these topics. One recent one is "Anti-cancer supplements" at http://www.melanoma.org/find-support/patient-community/mpip-melanoma-patients-information-page/anti-cancer-supplements
I think you are wise to think about what you can reasonably do to help your body perform its best in your fight against melanoma. But take all the hype with a grain of salt. If natural supplements really could prevent or cure cancer I think that we would know that by now.
-
- January 1, 2014 at 2:27 pm
Mat, I'm glad that you recognize that any discussion about diet and cancer is bound to be controversial. That's because it is extremely difficult to get good, scientifically reliable data about what people eat and how it affects their health.
However, one thing that is known for sure is that the immune system can and does attack and kill melanoma. So rather than make any wholesale changes in your diet to "fight cancer", you would be well advised to to eat a healthful, balanced diet with lots of fruits and veggies so as to keep your immune system as strong and healthy as possible. Moderate exercise has also been shown to strengthen your immune system. As others have said, eating well and exercising regularly will probably make you feel physically and menatally better, anyway, so what's to lose?
As with diet suggestions, you will also find a lot of suggestions for vitamin and herbal supplements to help fight your melanoma. The two that seem to have the most evidence (not strong evidence, mind you, but at least some) are for curcumin and for vitamin D. Curcumin is a highly concentrated form of turmeric and vitamin D supplements are good for your immune system if your natural vitamin D levels are low (there is a blood test for that).
If you search this site for nutrition-related key words like turmeric, supplements, vitamin D, etc you will find a number of threads discussing these topics. One recent one is "Anti-cancer supplements" at http://www.melanoma.org/find-support/patient-community/mpip-melanoma-patients-information-page/anti-cancer-supplements
I think you are wise to think about what you can reasonably do to help your body perform its best in your fight against melanoma. But take all the hype with a grain of salt. If natural supplements really could prevent or cure cancer I think that we would know that by now.
-
- January 1, 2014 at 2:27 pm
Mat, I'm glad that you recognize that any discussion about diet and cancer is bound to be controversial. That's because it is extremely difficult to get good, scientifically reliable data about what people eat and how it affects their health.
However, one thing that is known for sure is that the immune system can and does attack and kill melanoma. So rather than make any wholesale changes in your diet to "fight cancer", you would be well advised to to eat a healthful, balanced diet with lots of fruits and veggies so as to keep your immune system as strong and healthy as possible. Moderate exercise has also been shown to strengthen your immune system. As others have said, eating well and exercising regularly will probably make you feel physically and menatally better, anyway, so what's to lose?
As with diet suggestions, you will also find a lot of suggestions for vitamin and herbal supplements to help fight your melanoma. The two that seem to have the most evidence (not strong evidence, mind you, but at least some) are for curcumin and for vitamin D. Curcumin is a highly concentrated form of turmeric and vitamin D supplements are good for your immune system if your natural vitamin D levels are low (there is a blood test for that).
If you search this site for nutrition-related key words like turmeric, supplements, vitamin D, etc you will find a number of threads discussing these topics. One recent one is "Anti-cancer supplements" at http://www.melanoma.org/find-support/patient-community/mpip-melanoma-patients-information-page/anti-cancer-supplements
I think you are wise to think about what you can reasonably do to help your body perform its best in your fight against melanoma. But take all the hype with a grain of salt. If natural supplements really could prevent or cure cancer I think that we would know that by now.
-
- January 1, 2014 at 11:28 pm
Here is the clinical trial they are doing in relation to broccoli and melanoma.
http://clinicaltrials.gov/show/NCT01568996
I think there are plenty of people on this site who take supplements and/or juice. Most medicines we have today have been derived from plants initially. So, there are no valid studies in relation to these compounds in food today because how would that support big pharma? They are now just starting to look. Hence the above trial. If you google diet and melanoma, you will even come across one or two blogs where the blogger is keeping their stage 4 melanoma under control with diet only.
People juice because they can get a higher concentration of nutrients than eating raw. I ate raw, 10 1 cup servings a day of veggies and two of fruit. I have just purchased a juicer.
To answer your Reservatol question, Sam Donaldson adheres to it by drinking red wine every day, there are people on this site who take it in supplement form.
Though it wouldn't be my only plan of attack for melanoma, I don't so easily toss out the diet/melanoma connection. Good Luck in whatever you decide!
-
- January 1, 2014 at 11:28 pm
Here is the clinical trial they are doing in relation to broccoli and melanoma.
http://clinicaltrials.gov/show/NCT01568996
I think there are plenty of people on this site who take supplements and/or juice. Most medicines we have today have been derived from plants initially. So, there are no valid studies in relation to these compounds in food today because how would that support big pharma? They are now just starting to look. Hence the above trial. If you google diet and melanoma, you will even come across one or two blogs where the blogger is keeping their stage 4 melanoma under control with diet only.
People juice because they can get a higher concentration of nutrients than eating raw. I ate raw, 10 1 cup servings a day of veggies and two of fruit. I have just purchased a juicer.
To answer your Reservatol question, Sam Donaldson adheres to it by drinking red wine every day, there are people on this site who take it in supplement form.
Though it wouldn't be my only plan of attack for melanoma, I don't so easily toss out the diet/melanoma connection. Good Luck in whatever you decide!
-
- January 1, 2014 at 11:28 pm
Here is the clinical trial they are doing in relation to broccoli and melanoma.
http://clinicaltrials.gov/show/NCT01568996
I think there are plenty of people on this site who take supplements and/or juice. Most medicines we have today have been derived from plants initially. So, there are no valid studies in relation to these compounds in food today because how would that support big pharma? They are now just starting to look. Hence the above trial. If you google diet and melanoma, you will even come across one or two blogs where the blogger is keeping their stage 4 melanoma under control with diet only.
People juice because they can get a higher concentration of nutrients than eating raw. I ate raw, 10 1 cup servings a day of veggies and two of fruit. I have just purchased a juicer.
To answer your Reservatol question, Sam Donaldson adheres to it by drinking red wine every day, there are people on this site who take it in supplement form.
Though it wouldn't be my only plan of attack for melanoma, I don't so easily toss out the diet/melanoma connection. Good Luck in whatever you decide!
-
- January 1, 2014 at 12:21 pm
Thanks. This is exactly the type of response I was hoping for. Specific suggestions around broccoli and tumeric. Do you know if these are the sorts of things like that chemical in red wine (reservotal?) where one could eat broccoli everyday, 5x per day, and still not absorb enough of the chemical to (potentially) see a benefit? I also agree with your approach to diet. For me, sugar and wheat (whole grains) are the hardest things to cut out. I am aiming to reduce, however.
-
- January 1, 2014 at 4:58 am
I have found what I think are very convincing arguments for a diet change with Melanoma and I have done just that. There is some evidence of a chemical in broccoli, sulpherane, that may have an action against melanoma and also some studies with Tumeric. My surgeon from U of M is doing some research in relation to the chemical in broccoli. You are right though, just like politics, everyone has an opinion on it and theirs is the right one. I just think, well it won't hurt and it might help, so why not. I feel much better than I have in years, cut out dairy, Red meat, sugar, wheat and processed foods. All my aches and pains that I have had for years, just went away. :).
-
- January 1, 2014 at 4:58 am
I have found what I think are very convincing arguments for a diet change with Melanoma and I have done just that. There is some evidence of a chemical in broccoli, sulpherane, that may have an action against melanoma and also some studies with Tumeric. My surgeon from U of M is doing some research in relation to the chemical in broccoli. You are right though, just like politics, everyone has an opinion on it and theirs is the right one. I just think, well it won't hurt and it might help, so why not. I feel much better than I have in years, cut out dairy, Red meat, sugar, wheat and processed foods. All my aches and pains that I have had for years, just went away. :).
-
- January 1, 2014 at 6:38 pm
I wish a Happy, Healthy New Year to All!
As soon as my husband was diagnosed with nodular melanoma in April, 2011, I consulted with at Naturopath so I could try to keep him as healthy as possible for whatever we were headed for. That said, I thought I would add my 2 cents as it relates to this topic as I know how controversial natural methods of healing are and everyone has their own opinion. I believe people should do what they feel is right for them and their situation and no one should condemn them for their decisions.
As I stated above, my thought process is to keep him healthy and his immune system strong not only to fight the cancer, but if he needs some type of treatment or surgery, his body is healthy and strong enough to handle it.
He (& I) are taking mutiple supplements….a few are Curcumin, Vitamin C, Noni, Probiotic & Juice Plus. I also make a 'green drink' a few time a week that consists of Kale, distilled water & a pear. His job is active so he is getting decent exercise.
Those are my thoughts for what it's worth. For us, a balance between traditional medicine and alternative methods work.
Thanks for listening.
-
- January 1, 2014 at 6:38 pm
I wish a Happy, Healthy New Year to All!
As soon as my husband was diagnosed with nodular melanoma in April, 2011, I consulted with at Naturopath so I could try to keep him as healthy as possible for whatever we were headed for. That said, I thought I would add my 2 cents as it relates to this topic as I know how controversial natural methods of healing are and everyone has their own opinion. I believe people should do what they feel is right for them and their situation and no one should condemn them for their decisions.
As I stated above, my thought process is to keep him healthy and his immune system strong not only to fight the cancer, but if he needs some type of treatment or surgery, his body is healthy and strong enough to handle it.
He (& I) are taking mutiple supplements….a few are Curcumin, Vitamin C, Noni, Probiotic & Juice Plus. I also make a 'green drink' a few time a week that consists of Kale, distilled water & a pear. His job is active so he is getting decent exercise.
Those are my thoughts for what it's worth. For us, a balance between traditional medicine and alternative methods work.
Thanks for listening.
-
- January 1, 2014 at 6:38 pm
I wish a Happy, Healthy New Year to All!
As soon as my husband was diagnosed with nodular melanoma in April, 2011, I consulted with at Naturopath so I could try to keep him as healthy as possible for whatever we were headed for. That said, I thought I would add my 2 cents as it relates to this topic as I know how controversial natural methods of healing are and everyone has their own opinion. I believe people should do what they feel is right for them and their situation and no one should condemn them for their decisions.
As I stated above, my thought process is to keep him healthy and his immune system strong not only to fight the cancer, but if he needs some type of treatment or surgery, his body is healthy and strong enough to handle it.
He (& I) are taking mutiple supplements….a few are Curcumin, Vitamin C, Noni, Probiotic & Juice Plus. I also make a 'green drink' a few time a week that consists of Kale, distilled water & a pear. His job is active so he is getting decent exercise.
Those are my thoughts for what it's worth. For us, a balance between traditional medicine and alternative methods work.
Thanks for listening.
-
- January 2, 2014 at 8:58 pm
Diet… hmmm… this has always been a weak spot for me. When I was younger, I always figured I could hit the gym and take vitamins and not worry so much about eating those pesky fruits and vegetables. Now I find out that vitamins are a waste of money. I still do not like fruits and vegetables even though I know I should be eating more of them and my wife constantly tries to push them on me. If you can figure out the magic solution for a healthier diet, I say congratulations.
Kevin
-
- January 2, 2014 at 8:58 pm
Diet… hmmm… this has always been a weak spot for me. When I was younger, I always figured I could hit the gym and take vitamins and not worry so much about eating those pesky fruits and vegetables. Now I find out that vitamins are a waste of money. I still do not like fruits and vegetables even though I know I should be eating more of them and my wife constantly tries to push them on me. If you can figure out the magic solution for a healthier diet, I say congratulations.
Kevin
-
- January 2, 2014 at 8:58 pm
Diet… hmmm… this has always been a weak spot for me. When I was younger, I always figured I could hit the gym and take vitamins and not worry so much about eating those pesky fruits and vegetables. Now I find out that vitamins are a waste of money. I still do not like fruits and vegetables even though I know I should be eating more of them and my wife constantly tries to push them on me. If you can figure out the magic solution for a healthier diet, I say congratulations.
Kevin
-
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.