There are many men who ask me what to take as a supplement to prevent cancer in general. This is a difficult question to answer, as we still do not fully understand the workings and intricacies of cancer in many cases. Certainly there are now established links between smoking, exposure to toxic substances and pesticide sprays, the high consumption of alcohol and cancer. There are also genetic links, especially in relation to prostate cancer and bowel cancer. Long-term stress, obesity, radiation exposure, hormonal imbalance and deficiencies in nutrients have all been linked to cancer too.
There are now active ingredients in certain herbs and foods that have anti-carcinogenic properties. I highly recommend you incorporate them into your diet on a regular basis. It is also wise to take one or more of the following supplements if you have had exposure to the any of the risk factors.
However if you are undergoing chemotherapy treatment, it is advisable not to take any anti-oxidants or anti-cancer supplements as they exert such a powerful influence that they can actually stop the chemicals from penetrating the cancer. Always check with your doctor or health professional if you’re unsure.
Treatment & prevention program
- The diet for health and vitality in is high in anti-oxidant foods, which have been shown to help prevent cancer. Incorporate this into your life, along with some exercise and relaxation such as meditation for 20 minutes a day.
- An extract of green tea (Camellia sinesis) contains an active anti-tumour agent called epigallocatechin gallate. Take two tablets, two to three times a day, of the recommended dose of the standardised extract (5 g).
- A lycopene extract, which is made as a standardised extract from tomatoes, has been found to be a powerful anti-oxidant and has specific anti-cancer properties in relarion to prostate.
- Other anti-oxidant/anti-cancer foods and herbs are rosemary, turmeric, flaxseed oil, selenium, fish oils, vitamin E, coenzyme Q10, and vitamin BI2 with folic acid. You can obtain tablet forms of most of these substances; ask you naturopath for the dose suitable for your needs.
- An anti-oxidant herbal tablet made from St Mary’s thistle, turmeric, rosemary, grape seed and green tea is a must for my cancer patients.
- After any cancer treatment, keep the immune system boosted by such herbs as astragalus and cat’s claw.