More and more studies are recognizing the power of nutrients in fruits and vegetables that may be helpful to prevent diseases and cancer.
- Phytochemicals such as beta-carotene, lycopene and isoflavones found in fruits, vegetables and grains have been identified as disease fighters.
- Research found that risk or prostate cancer drops for men who eat tomatoes and tomato products as tomatoes are high in lycopene.
- It has been shown that colon cancer declines among those who drink green tea and regularly eat soy products and foods rich in selenium.
It may not be clear how phytochemicals in fruits and vegetables work to prevent cancer but many researches have proven that this compound is effective in lowering risks of certain cancers and disease in general.
Many people with cancer take herbs and other alternative therapies such as vitamins, minerals antioxidants, enzymes, amino acids, animal extracts, hormones or other dietary supplements. They hope it will help in treating their disease or improve nutrition and general health. While many dietary supplements may be said to cure cancer, to date there is no evidence that these products are effective treatments for the disease
Herbs
- Herbs are the main ingredient to treat diseases since hundreds of years ago.
- Today, herbs can be found in pills, liquid extracts, teas and ointments.
- Many of these herb-based products are safe to use but some may have side effects, particularly to the liver. They could interfere with chemotherapy, radiation therapy or recovery fro surgery.
Vitamins, Minerals & Dietary Supplements
- Many people with cancer take some or many types of vitamins, minerals and other diet supplements to enhance their immune system or even destroy cancer cells.
- The doctor or dietitian may advise supplementing your diet with certain vitamins and minerals during treatment particularly if you are unable to eat an adequate diet. In most cases, however, a supplement that contains 100% of the Malaysian Recommended Daily Allowances is usually sufficient.
- Taking any supplement in large doses or without a doctor’s knowledge can be harmful as they may reduce the effectiveness of chemotherapy and radiation therapy.
- Currently, there are no regulations controlling the safety, content and quality or dose recommendations for these products. Malaysian Law does not require manufacturers to print possible side effects on labels.
- Antioxidants protect the body’s cells from damage caused by free radicals (by-products of the body’s normal processes. Many people take antioxidants in supplement form such as vitamin C, vitamin E, beta-carotene and selenium).
- Taking large doses of antioxidant supplements is usually not recommended while undergoing chemotherapy and radiation therapy. If you want more antioxidants, fresh fruits and vegetables would be the best options.
Safety considerations:
- Tell your health care team about any herbal products and supplements that you are using or considering using. Bring the bottle(s) of the supplement to your doctor for approval of the dose and to ensure that the ingredients do not interfere with your health or cancer treatments.
- Ask your doctor or dietician for reliable information on dietary supplements.
- Check the product labels for both the quantity and concentration of active ingredients contained in each product and the expiry date.
- Stop taking the product immediately and call your doctor if you experience side effects such as wheezing, itching, numbness or tingling in limbs.
- It is important to do your own research that is written by recognized experts of a product before you buy an expensive supplement. Also avoid supplements that are priced cheaply as they are most likely of low quality.
- When you shop for herbal supplements, make sure to find a product that uses only the effective part of the plant. Avoid botanicals that have been made using the entire plant, unless the entire plant is recommended.
- Remember that a product described as “natural” is not necessarily safer or more effective.
- Consider the name and reputation of the manufacturer or distributor. Large companies with a reputation to uphold are more likely to manufacture their products under strict, quality controlled conditions
- Does the label provide an address to contact the company?
- Try to avoid mixtures of many different supplements. The more the ingredients , the greater the chance of harmful effects.
- Avoid products that claim to be “miracle cures,” ‘breakthroughs” or “new discoveries.” These claims are almost always completely untrue.
- Avoid products that claim to be effective treatment for a wide variety of unrelated illnesses.
Some kinds of cancer therapies cause low white blood cell counts. If you have a low white cell count, you must handle and prepare food carefully to reduce your exposure to bacteria.
What to Do :
- Wash hands thoroughly with warm soapy water before and after preparing food and before eating.
- Use different cutting boards for meats and vegetables. Sanitise cutting boards well after each use. Wash the board with warm soapy water and rinse well. Wash the board again with a solution of 1 tablespoon of bleach in 4 cups of warm water. Let the solution stay on the board for at least 2 minutes and then rinse with hot clean water.
- Keep hot foods hot (above 60°C) and cold foods cold ( below 40°C).
- Thaw foods in the refrigerator or microwave oven and cook them immediately. Never thaw foods at room temperature.
- Refrigerate all leftovers within 2 hours of cooking them and eat them within 24 hours.
- Eat only well cooked foods. Avoid raw and undercooked foods.
- Do not eat raw eggs ; you must always cook them thoroughly
- Drink bottled water and commercially bottled soft drinks.
