This looks interesting. It does say short periods of fasting!!
Very interesting. Thanks for sharing!
I agree that it’s interesting, and quite a lot of research has been done into this. The theory is that calorie restriction, reduces the amount of clucose available for tumours to grow. It seems that while normal healthy cells can adapt to a shortage of glucose by utilyzing ketones from fat for energy, it appears cancer cells cannot do this, and are heavily dependent on glycolysis.
If that is how it works, then presumably, the same effect could be achieved by something like the Atkins diet, which is a high protein/low carbohydrate diet that also induces ketosis.
The other thing that ties in with this, is that there is a strong link between metabolic disease, and breast cancer, and the recommended treatment for this is a high protein/low carb diet to restrict glucose and increase ketosis (the burning of fat). This appraoch flies in the face of traditional cancer diets, such as the China Diet, which are based on low protein/high carbohydrate, but then maybe their success is simply down to calorie reduction.
So interesting.
Sadly, I love my carbohydrates, so I couldnt do the Atkins diet, but I don’t mind the fasting bit—How long would be enough, they don’t say!! Miss one meal or would it need longer?
Truddles, the fasting thing isn’t proven, so as the article say’ it’s probably not a good idea to do it until the research has been done.
It does seem very interesting though. Apparently the Professor responsible for this recent research became interested in the possibility of fasting as a potential treatment for cancer, after studying a community in Loja, Ecuador, where cancer and diabetes is virtually unheard of. They have discovered that this community have very low levels of glucose (due to genetics rather than diet),and believe the absence of cancer and diabetes may be linked to this.
Funnily enough, the Prof who treats e wrote an interesting article about the strong link between metabolic disorder and cancer, and of course metabolic syndrome is all about too much glucose in the blood, and the bodies increasing struggle to get rid of it (by producing more and more insulin).
I know it was recently reported that type 2 diabetes had been cured with severe calorie restriction, so maybe it could help treat cancer.
Thanks, Lemongrove
It does seem so logical, I hope the research continues.
Might give something up for Lent ,which is soon, i think !
What beautiful Owls you have on your picture…are they yours Truddles?
I think I may have big trouble following any diet, you have to really be focused and I guess more information, would indeed help and spur you on.
Sorry I went a bit off topic there as we used to have 2 owls like that fly into my downstairs bathroom as it was on their regular flight path…lol
Clare xxx
Hi all,
I’d love to tink that we could be assured that changes in our diet could significantly affect cancer, but I get so confused as to what is/isn’t right for you! I’m overloading with fruit at the moment as I got an infection after my first surgery, and drinking innocent smoothies like water! Am I doing the wrong thing?
I’ll defintely be keeping an eye on this thread!
Sassy
Very interesting research even if it’s only in its infancy.
I had a somewhat enforced period of fasting during my FEC. I got so sick that I was given meds that all but knocked me out and the most I could manage the first 2 days after were tiny sips of water or I’d throw up. Couldn’t eat much the day of chemo either as I’d be very sick. The FEC did work incredibly well for me as I had it pre-surgery and the large tumour I had starting shrinking very rapidly. However, it may have worked like that anyway so I’m definitely not attributing that to my enforced fasting. I am though pleased there was a very remote chance it helped as it was such a terrible ordeal to go through.
Sassy - things like fruit smoothies are very high in sugar even though it’s not added. You’d probably be much better eating lots of veggies in their whole form if possible and some fruit in its whole form.
As a general rule, handwashing is very important for preventing lots of ordinary infections like colds etc so you could carry around one of those gel cleaners for the odd times you can’t get to a bathroom.
Elinda x
Sassy, I agree that there is a lot of conflicting information about diet, but the fasting thing does have a certain logic. The theory is that cancer cells can only utilize glucose to grow, while normal cells can utilize fat for energy (ketosis), so as fasting forces the body to (eventually), utilize fat, it could starve cancer. However,the problem with fasting is that the body tends to utilize muscle first, so in addition to fasting it would be necessary to exercise to maintain muscle (which might be difficult while fasting). The alternative approach is to avoid sugar, with a low carbohydrate/high protein diet. Personally, I don’t like the Atkins diet, because I find it’s too restrictive, and too fatty. But I try to stick to a low GI type diet focusing on lean meat and fish, with green veg.
Truddles, re your love of carbs.if you go on to Amazon, and type in low GI pasta, and shirataki noodles, you will see they stock a range of very low carb products. Apparently unlike ordinary pasta, which the body can convert into sugar quite quickly, the low GI pasta is made with wheat that has been treated with an enzyme that makes it much harder to convert to glucose. The japanese shirataki noodles are made of yam which is very low GI. Word of warning though, do not heat them in the liquid they come in, cause it’s very smelly - rinse them and pat them dry first.
Sassy, I agree about all the diet info, but the fasting thing does seem to have a certain logic. Cancer cells can only utilize glucose, while normal cells can utilize fat (ketosis), so fasting would force the body into ketosis (eventually). Only problem with fasting is that the body tends to utilize muscle before burning fat, so it would be necessary to exercise while fasting, which could be problematic.
The alternative would be to adopt a low carbohydrate/high protein diet, to limit sugar. Personally I prefer a low GI diet to the Atkins style, as I find the Atkins to restrictive, and fatty. I try to stick to low fat chicken and fish with veg (I buy organic as much as I can to limit additives), and avoid high GI starchy food such as potatoe, bread, pasta, rice (or replace it with low GI alternatives).
Truddles, you can still have carbs, if you buy a low GI version. If you go onto Amazon and put in low GI pasta and Shirataki noodles, you will see products that are suitable. The pasta is still made with wheat (like normal pasta), but the grains are treated with an enzyme, which makes it much harder for the body to convert it to glucose. The noodles are made with yam, and is very low in both GI and carbs. Be careful if you buy the Shirataki noodles at Japanese food suppliers, because they are often made with Soya, which might not be good if you have oestrogen receptive BC.
If you have rice, try and go for the wholegrain variety, which again takes longer to convert.
Shirataki noodles sound fascinating! I’ll have to watch how I pronounce that word to my sons! I’d never believe you can get all this stuff from Amazon; type in anything you want and its yours at the click of a button.
Clare, the owls are lovely arent they. I love all birds, ive never seen an owl for real in the wild, but I sometimes hear them calling across the nature reserve near us.
Lemongrove, you’re a mind of information, thankyou. We eat a lot of high GI foods, trying to change the family’s eating is the hardest part, my kids are teenagers and my hubby insists on meat with EVERY meal.