Just Ask Terry

Terry is happy to provide his opinion on diet and nutrition, supplements and lifestyle choices. This information is for educational purposes only. It is not meant to replace the advice of your physician and is not to be considered medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Should you have any concerns please contact your physician directly.

Q. Hello, “It seems that cancer runs in my family, and I would like to take something to help prevent me from getting cancer. Are there any important nutrients for protecting the body from getting cancer?” Helen D., San Diego, CA A. Dear Helen, There is no definitive answer to suggest a supplement will prevent you from getting cancer. I wish it were that easy, but there are so many unknown facts about cancer that it would be inappropriate to suggest a specific protocol could absolutely guarantee you a cancer-free life. However, we can certainly take measures that may help prevent cancer from occurring. First, do your best to avoid many of the chemicals that cause cancer. Try to avoid synthetic chemicals of any kind and, in particular, the fluorides and chlorine which are found in toothpaste and city drinking water. Also, avoid ingesting any other form of fluoride. These are highly cancer causing chemicals. Avoid as many chemicals as you can by choosing wisely the foods you eat, and look for organic foods when possible. Avoid hair dyes, as they can have very harsh chemicals in their formulas. Avoid colors and dyes in food. Avoid smoking and soft drinks, both regular and diet. Strive to eat a healthy diet, lean proteins, small quantities of complex carbohydrates, healthy fats such as olive oil and flax seed oil, and make it a goal to eat 7 to 9 servings of fruits and vegetables daily. Beyond a diet full of fresh foods and eliminating toxins, there are a number of doctors and scientists who are suggesting specific nutrients that may be of great benefit to prevent cancer. Much research has been done by Dr. Holick and Dr. De Luca that suggests that the lack of vitamin D is one of the root causes of cancer, multiple sclerosis and many other diseases that are more prevalent in the northern latitudes because of the lack of sunshine –and sunshine is a primary source of our bodies’ vitamin D resources These doctors suggest 3,000 to 10,000 IUs of vitamin D daily, using the higher dosage to saturate the body over several months, and then reducing to a maintenance dosage of 3,000 IUs daily. Do not avoid the sun, as it is our primary source of vitamin D. 15 to 30 minutes of sunshine, three or four times weekly, without a sun blocker, and with our hands, arms, face and legs exposed, will give us vitamin D and much more. Get enough sun to obtain a light pink color to the skin and gradually get a little tanning. Avoid at all cost any kind of sunburn that will cause blistering and damage to the skin. In addition to healthy amounts of vitamin D, I’d also suggest a good, bioavailable curcumin. Doctors at Baylor University and at the MD Anderson Cancer Treatment Center are researching curcumin, and they have found it to be one of the most powerful and natural anticancer and cancer chemotherapeutics of any agent tested in their laboratory. While more research needs to be done to completely unlock curcumin’s cancer preventing/cancer fighting capabilities, after reading the research by Dr. Holick, Dr. De Luca, Dr. Goel and Dr. Aggarwahl—researchers studying vitamin D and curcumin for the prevention of cancer–I have personally increased my dosage of vitamin D and curcumin daily.