Thanks bubbletrouble - more evidence supporting the importance of Vit D - and it does add to the picture of the interrelatedness (if that’s a word) of bc, Vit D insulin and diabetes. On the Today programme on Radio 4 this morning they had a diabetes expert talking about the rise in younger people due to obesity and poor diet, and he estimated that 10% of the NHS budget goes on treating diabetes - it’s incredible, and completely avoidable.
Very interesting article on Vit D, thanks BubbleT. Elinda x
Hello everyone
I’ve had some PM contact with the person who was given the leaflet on diet which had been done by two Consultants. She has very kindly typed out some of the key points for us - it’s not word for word from the leaflet but I’ve put in quotation marks anyway.
I would like to point out, that this is the view of two Consultants only. The reason we want to post this is to share the information that has been given. It is then up to individuals to take what they want from it, if anything. Please do take this with the good intention with which it’s been posted.
'Foods to eat and enjoy/help prevent breast/ovarian cancer
• Aim for 10 portions of fruit and vegetables per day (one portion = 80g)
• Aim for rainbow coloured fruit and vegetables
• Spinach, in salad or cooked
• Tomatoes, cooked better than raw, tomato ketchup counts (but contains sugar) – aim for at least one serving a day (prostate cancer and reduces cancer because of lycopenes)
• Berries, especially blueberries, raspberries – antioxidants
• Broccoli, mushrooms (combi), garlic – antioxidant + cardio protective
• Drink 2 litres of water, green tea
• Pomegranates and pomegranate juice - they have double the antioxidants when compared with red wine
• If eating meat, eat lean chicken and fish in small amounts
• Dark chocolate – a few small squares, rich in iron and also a mood elevator
• Porridge oats (healthiest and the most filling breakfast) – use organic unprocessed oats (not easy cook type of oats) with soy milk. Add almonds or pecans, fresh berries, banana, apple or raisin.
• Daily handful of unsalted nuts and seeds
• Try to avoid dairy – too many hormonal factors implicated in breast/ovarian/prostate cancers
• Soya, rice or oat milk, tofu excellent and safe
• Avoid saturated and trans fats – crisps, biscuits, cakes
• Avoid red meat – eat ‘cheat meat’ made from soya, tastes the same without the saturated fats. Available in health food shops, turkey, bacon.
• Eat brown pasta, brown rice, seeded bread, salads, beans
• Learn to cook new dishes
• Work on the 80:20 rule that is eat well majority of the time
. Exercise regularly, 30 minutes of walking daily, park as far as possible, avoid the lift, do housework cheerfully, gardening and DIY, sport – swimming tennis, anything that you enjoy, take up yoga, tai chi.
The leaflet also recommends the book: Your life in your hands, overcoming and preventing breast and ovarian cancer, by Professor Jane Plant.’
Excellent Elinda - in line with pretty much everything we’ve discussed here. Good to know the message is getting out.
finty x
Dear Elinda, Great to hear that some consultants are sending sensible suggestions! These are also in line with the penny brohn dietary advice and books like the rainbow diet and anticancer a new way of life.
People can tweek them as they feel what’s right for them
Best wishes
Thank you so much Elinda. That is a great summary of foods to eat.
Regards
yes, isn’t it great to see some hospital consultants interested in dietary changes!
Has anyone seen the article in Good Housekeeping this month called ‘A silent epidemic?’ which is about Vit D.
They took 12 healthy volunteers from their team selected at random and tested their Vit D levels. They say that 'many vitamin D experts consider a blood level of 75 and over (measured in nmol per litre) to be optimal.
And guess what? Not one of the volunteers reached that. In fact the highest result was 52 and the lowest two were at only 13.
One of the low scorers was the doctor who gives health advice to Good Housekeeping and she was really shocked. She’s now having vit D injections to boost it up and say she ‘will think seriously about taking supplements’.
Something that I also thought was interesting is that they state the Canadian Cancer Society recommends 'all Canadians take 1,000 iu (25 mcg) of Vitamin D in winter.
It also surprisingly said that ‘Bupa has urged people to take vitamin D3 supplements to reduce their cancer risk’.
It also says that the Government’s Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition will be making new recommendations on Vit D hopefully later this year.
It was actually a very interesting article, raising some serious questions about Vitamin D and worth a read. Elinda x
Bah…posted a response here but it’s not there. In brief…
Nice to see this thread still running ladies.
Just a pointer on ‘evidencing’ the vit D issue to mainstream doctors without having to convince them of the value of one piece of research over another. The British Dietetic Association, well respected by them and usually very conservative (seemingly avoiding the cancer/diet issue), state quite clearly in their vit D fact sheet that there is a link between lower vit D levels and breast and prostate cancer. They also note the vit D/diabetes link. Factsheet is downloadable from their website. Also, you can get a vit D test through a gp on the NHS. Hmmm, at least where I live.
Enjoy the sunshine today 
Thanks so much for posting summary of the consultants advice - good to see it includes diet and exercise. It does not seem that different from, Jane Plant’s and Servan-Schreiber’s advice, the Gerson diet or the Rau Swiss diet - so maybe a consensus is emerging. I’m certainly “about there” with my eating although I still struggle with the huge amounts of fruit and sugar issues… not clear answer there I think so am focusing of veg and limited fruit. Interesting that no supplements are included…
Sunshine today where I live so already had 40min walk in it despite painful feet from Capecitabine - hope it helps; it certainly helps my mood! Hope we all enjoy a sunny weekend!
This is one for the secondary ladies.
Another study showing dark coloured rice can inhibit tumour blood vessel formation in an in vitro study, by inhibiting Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF):
foodforbreastcancer.com/news/purple-rice-compounds-inhibit-tumor-blood-vessel-formation
Forming a blood supply (angiogenesis) is essential for tumours to grow - this is the basis for drugs like Avastin, which is a monoclonal antibody that inhibits VEGF and prevents a blood supply forming. There is a lot of research going on at the moment into anti-angiogenic foods and drugs.
This study concerns purple rice, but I have seen a similar study on black rice. Red rice (which I gather is available in Sainsburys) contains the same compounds, so presumable has the same effect. The study seems to have used an extract though, so I am looking to see if that is commonly available. I will report back if I find anything.
finty x
Thanks Flinty - love the sound of purple rice and the biochemistry behind it - I plan to tell work colleagues at my retirement do on Mondaya that I’m metamorphosising into a biochemist (am really much more arts/holistic orientated so really appreciate your interpretaions)
Did anyone see the newspaper article earlier this week (think is was the Daily Mail) about Black Raspberries and they good properties? Seems they are just coming into this country and are packed with anti-oxydents and Sainsburys will stock them - I should have bought a copy since I only read this whilst in a cafe…
All colours of the “rainbow” - as Chris Woollams books suggests!
Interesting, not heard of it before.
I found an article from last year in the Mail online (yikes!)and it looks like black/purple rice has other good qualities too:
Have to say, I’ve never seen it for sale in the shops though. Elinda x
Hi girls like the sound of this purple & black rice im going off wholemeal pastas 
so more rices would be good
what pastas do we all eat here ?
Mekala x
Is anyone following the Essiac tea programe im thinking of doing this (12 week course) after my rads are finished
Mekala x
Hi Mekala
Never tried the Essiac tea and don’t know anything about it I’m afraid.
Re the pasta. I eat very little and only white pasta. It’s usually an occasional lasagna but probably about once a month.
I think when you change your diet, its important not to go too mad on any one thing as if you get sick of it your stuck.
I eat whole grain rice with nearly every main meal as I eat so many different curries and spicy dishes.
I am though going to make some flat breads this week which will be with white flour. If white things are only occasional (by which I mean about once a month) I think to myself they’re not too bad and it keeps variety in the food.
Hopefully some other women with have some more ideas for you. I see there is nice quinoa recipe on the recipe thread which I might try too.
Elinda x
Mekala: “what pastas do we all eat here ?”
Home-made. It takes 5 mins to mix by hand, OH loves gadgets so he gets to roll it in his new pasta machine and it is just so silky in the mouth.
I rarely eat pasta these days, I prefer the specialist rices and they seem to have more health benefits re cancer. I have found a supplier for red rice (Waitrose), but not purple rice yet - maybe time to check out the local chinese supermarket.
Meanwhile, as I’ve just started Tamoxifen I’ve been doing some reading on diet interactions, and there is some recent research suggesting pomegranate extract increases the effectiveness of Tamoxifen:
Also, blueberries:
foodforbreastcancer.com/studies/6479
finty x
Hiya - I always eat wholewheat pasta as it’s lower glycaemic that white and often book “spelt” that I get from a local health food shop - it’s even lower glycaemic that wholewheat but does has less nutrients so I tend to alternate them
About rice - evidently wholewheat basmati rice has the lowest glycaemic index but other wholewheat rices are not too bad. Am now on the hunt for the red and purple - thanks for these ideas…
I have a pack of purple rice (which is really nice tasting BTW) so I rooted it out for look.
Mine is made by Riso Gallo, an italian company, and was bought here in France. I’ve just checked their website, and sadly they say that it is not available in the UK. Other brands may be available.
Red rice (Camargue Rice, from France) is available in the UK. If you can’t find it in your local health food shop there are some stockists listed here…
Oh, I’m glad to hear about the wholegrain basmati rice as I’ve just bought 2kg of it in a BOGOF deal from Tesco!
K x