Cancer Prevention, Gratitude, Optimism, and Food: A Powerful Relationship

by Darra McMullen,

Women’s Health Network Member, and GHWCC Writer/Researcher

What common thread(s) could possibly connect subjects as diverse as breast cancer (or any cancer) prevention, traditional winter foods, and attitudes of gratitude and optimism?  The answer is “plenty” – plenty of “common thread” connections and plenty of healthful takeaway lessons for us all.

            This article could easily be entitled, “Onward from October, Through the Holidays, and Beyond” because of the many dovetailed facts connecting breast cancer (or any cancer) prevention with holiday, or more generally, wintertime food favorites, and the positive mind-set we often have around holiday time and early in the new year.

            As we’ll see as this article progresses, the ingredients common to holiday or winter favorite foods and the positive mind-set common to the new year should become part of a year-round regimen for breast or any cancer prevention, improved overall immunity, and general health improvement.

            To begin, let’s take a look at the importance of mind-set in cancer prevention before getting into the nuts and bolts of nutritional aids against the disease.

            According to scientists at the University of Kentucky in Lexington, a person who regularly gives thanks by daily jotting down three items (or more) for which he/she is grateful, can extend life by up to around 12 years.  The “attitude of gratitude” habit and the optimism it engenders help activate a gene that strengthens the immune system’s ability to destroy cancer cells, as well as helps lower blood pressure and slows aging of blood vessels and organs.  Test subjects’ gratitude lists didn’t have to be extensive; even simple things like viewing a funny video that lifted a test subject’s spirits could “count” as one of the three gratitude items named on the daily list.

            The importance of the daily list was not its contents, per se, but rather the fact that the list served to remind the individual to stop, focus, and think about the positive things in his/her life, and that positive focus and mind-set of gratitude actually improves health, slows aging, and helps prevent cancer development.

            For years, self-help books, various faiths, and anecdotal evidence have encouraged gratitude and positive mind-sets, but now, more and more scientific evidence is backing up the importance of those same attributes by showing the connection to improved health, cancer prevention, and even cancer survival for those stricken with the disease.  Cancer patients are now regularly encouraged to practice gratitude and optimistic attitudes to help them deal with the rigors of treatment, as well as to help keep them from falling into depression over their serious conditions.

            Many people, both commoners and celebrities, are coming forward on the Internet and in traditional media about how gratitude and optimism have improved their health (and lives in general).

            One recent magazine article on stress featured famous actress Linda Grey of “Dallas”.  In the article, Grey, who is still lovely at age 75, credited going for a daily “gratitude walk” with helping her feel renewed, calm, and centered.

            Now that we know gratitude and optimism are key elements to cancer prevention, improved immunity, stress relief, and, in general, longer life, let’s next take a look at nutritional aspects of cancer prevention.

            Wintertime food favorites can be a wealthy source of cancer preventive ingredients.  Winter foods often contain one or more of the following:  cinnamon, nutmeg, garlic, rosemary, turmeric, tomatoes, apples, pumpkin or pumpkin seeds.  The aforementioned ingredients are known to directly or indirectly serve as a cancer preventive.  Each ingredient will be discussed individually.

            Cinnamon is known to strengthen immunity against harmful bacteria, lower blood sugar markedly, and even lower bad cholesterol.  Although these health benefits are not direct cancer preventives, cancer risks are known to go up in people experiencing high blood sugar; therefore, lowering those levels should theoretically lower cancer risk.

            According to scientists at Washington State University in Pullman, something as simple as enjoying cinnamon spiked drinks can help ward off disease caused by harmful bacteria.  Additional interest exists in experimenting further with cinnamon’s immune enhancing properties.

            Nutmeg is known for it’s anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties.  Inflammation, in general, is known to increase the likelihood of several serious disease conditions, including cancers.  Any helpful weapons against inflammation are, therefore, also weapons against cancer and other life-threatening problems, such as diabetes and heart disease.

            Garlic’s germ-fighting compound, allicin, forms when a garlic clove is crushed. Allicin is an amazing substance that fights invaders in the body at all stages of the invaders’ development.  Garlic is an antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal, and anti-parasitic agent believed to help the body ward off many types of invaders, including cancer cells.

            According to the book, Prescription for Nutritional Healing, by Phyllis A. Balch, rosemary has anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, and carcinogen blocking effects.  The flavorful cooking herb is undergoing additional study for cancer therapy.

            Curcumin, the active health ingredient in turmeric, is known to block the production of pro-inflammatory compounds in the body.  Also, curcumin has anti-oxidant properties, and laboratory studies indicate curcumin can guard against many carcinogenic substances.

            Research presented in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition indicates that consuming a daily cup of cooked tomato products helps increase the activity of the body’s natural germ killer cells by 38 percent.

            In Prescription for Nutritional Healing, lycopene, an antioxidant agent found in tomatoes, is listed as a substance that protects cells from oxidants associated with cancer.  Additionally, the book says, “Eating a diet that includes plenty of tomatoes cuts the risk of cervical, lung, stomach, and prostate cancers.  Preliminary reports suggest it may also prevent breast, colorectal, esophagus, mouth, and pancreatic cancers.”

            Another recommended food to consume regularly to improve immunity and to help prevent cancer formation is the apple.  University of Illinois scientists have recently observed that consuming apples when hit with a bad cold enabled subjects to cut symptom severity in half and trim three days off of sick time.  Apples contain quercetin and boron, which improve the body’s immune response to invaders.

            First magazine (the 11/9/15 issue, p.23) makes note of the importance of pumpkin’s anti-inflammatory carotenoid compounds.  Reducing body wide inflammation is important to cancer prevention, as well as to the prevention of other serious diseases such as various types of arthritis.  According to the First magazine report, adding one-half cup of pumpkin to the daily diet can relieve aches, pain, and stiffness in about a week’s time.

            Pumpkin is one of the richest natural sources of carotenoids, according to USDA researchers.  Now we know another tasty and useful weapon in our arsenal against cancer.

            Even the seeds of the pumpkin plant can be useful in cancer prevention and for overall health maintenance.  Pumpkin seeds are high in zinc, healthy fats, and fiber, all of which help the body’s general functioning.  The zinc, in particular, is important to keeping the immune system in top working order, critical to cancer prevention.

        

    In conclusion, we can do much to prevent the dreaded “c” word, cancer, and much to support our bodies’ battle with the disease should we fall victim to it.  A potentially cancer free life begins with a positive attitude, a thankful disposition, and a healthy, balanced diet that takes advantage of key foods prevalent, but not limited to, the winter season.  Let’s go forth and seize the day with happy hearts, grateful thoughts, and tummies full of cancer fighting edibles.