Cancer and Nutrition

Hello again! 

I just picked up my very own URL, so you can find me at www.aaronkaskowitz.com. I am also accepting clients for health coaching in March. If you are looking for an accountability health partner, I'd love to work with you to achieve greater everyday wellness. I'm also open to feedback and discussion anytime. Please feel free to reach out!

Cancer

This is a write up I put together for a friend discussing how nutrition may impact cancer. I am by no means an authority on cancer treatment but I have read numerous reports and studies about some therapies that have worked for people battling life threatening illnesses, and it is certainly information worth sharing.  I know that if I were dealing with something this serious I'd be searching for any and all tools to feel armed for greater wellness and happiness. 

I believe diet and lifestyle can make a huge difference in beating cancer, as well as nearly any other illness. At the very least these interventions can be used in conjunction with the standard of medical care to greatly increase wellness. 

We all have cancerous cells in our bodies every day, but our immune system constantly destroys them. Cancer cells primarily thrive on sugars (glucose), so when we stop eating carbs we are decreasing their fuel sources. That's one significant reason why a high (quality) fat diet is my go-to for longevity. 

It's also important to eat lots of GBOMBS (greens, berries, onions, mushrooms, beans, seeds) to support the body through nutrition. They all have a place in our daily diet, though I'm not a big fan of beans. I try to eat a rainbow 🌈 every day. Each color of veggies/fruits has its own benefits and micronutrients. It's the polyphenols that give their deep, gorgeous colors.

I'm kind of obsessed with cruciferous veggies lately. Here's a great source of info on plant foods with potent anti-cancer effects.

If you want to do some reading from one of my favorite sources for lots of cool health topics, check out this link to Tim Ferriss and Peter Attia's cancer toolkit. 

What I Would Do With This Knowledge

If I were undergoing chemotherapy I would ask my doctor if fasting around my chemo sessions was advisable. I've read that it is very helpful in increasing the effectiveness of the treatment and bouncing back afterward. Fasting can give the body a chance to take a break from digesting and focus on healing and ditching bad cells. It also starves cancer cells because there's a lack of glucose. 

I'd use lots of medicinal mushrooms like reishi, and I'd eat tons of the veggies mentioned above. I'd also add lots of MCT oil to my diet using coconut oil products like this to help me follow a strict ketogenic diet. The ketogenic diet is very low carb, high fat, and moderate protein. Much more can be found here and in my ketones blog post.

Mindfulness/meditation/spiritual practice is essential. It promotes peace of mind and relaxes the nervous system to allow the body to heal. It is also a time to practice gratitude for the beautiful life we live and decrease damaging stress hormones. Quality sleep, community involvement and regular exercise are also essential. 

Until next time!

-Aaron Kaskowitz-

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