Avoid cancer treatments’ most dangerous effect
New evidence shows cancer patients can avoid one of the most dangerous conditions in their fight against the disease.
This condition is called cachexia, which is “wasting” of the body, caused by malnutrition.
The effect of cachexia is so profound that it plays a key role in the large majority of cancer deaths. Tragically, patients lose their appetite, causing them to they eat less. They eventually miss out on the essential nutrition required to fuel the fight for their lives.
Unfortunately, most oncologists don’t provide nutritional counseling or strategies to prevent cachexia. The irony here is that chemo and radiation therapies — the primary tools of conventional oncologists — have harmful effects on taste buds and sense of smell.
These effects cause taste and smell abnormalities, or TSA. For instance, chemo treatments often prompt a metallic taste in the mouth which can linger for months after therapy is discontinued.
The result is predictable: diminished appetite, inadequate nutrition, weight loss, and depression.
Giving taste buds an assist
Previously, researchers identified lactoferrin (a bioactive protein in saliva and milk) as an agent that interacts with salivary proteins to diminish the metallic flavor caused by chemotherapy. Lactoferrin also boosts immune response.
In this new investigation from Virginia Tech College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, researchers recruited 19 cancer patients who were undergoing chemotherapy and coping with the effects of TSA. Saliva samples revealed high levels of salivary iron and low immune proteins.
For 30 days, each patient took lactoferrin supplements (250 mg, three times each day). Researchers collected saliva samples at baseline, at the end of the intervention, and 30 days after.
And the results:
- Overall increase of immune proteins
- Significant drop of salivary iron
And most importantly, the participants total TSA score was significantly reduced.
This nutrient is critical for all cancer patients
As a doctor with a strong nutritional approach, Dr. Fred Pescatore goes into some detail about dietary concerns for cancer patients in his Essential Protocol to a Cancer-Free Future.
“The thing to remember about cancer,” he says, “is that most patients succumb from malnutrition [or cachexia] — not the actual disease itself. It’s why I always tell my cancer patients that it’s crucial for them to eat. You have to make it your job — especially when chemotherapy and radiation destroy your appetite.”
And when it comes to dietary choices during a cancer fight, he stresses the importance of giving your body plenty of protein, while cutting processed sugars and simple carbohydrates to a minimum — or, ideally, to zero.
He notes that some oncologists tell their patients it’s fine to gorge on ice cream sundaes and other sugar loaded treats to avoid cachexia.
But in reality, he says, “This is absolutely deadly advice.”
Unlike healthy cells, malignant cells rely on a steady stream of sugar to thrive and grow quickly. But cancer cells can’t metabolize fatty acids.
Bottom line, Dr. Pescatore says, “If you want to prevent or beat cancer, your body must start using fat — not sugar and carbohydrates — as its primary fuel. When this happens, you effectively starve cancer cells while still allowing your healthy cells to thrive.”
Dr. Pescatore has much more to say on the topic of nutrition and cancer in his brand new learning tool, his Essential Protocol to a Cancer-Free Future. If you want to learn more about how to protect yourself and your family from the ravages of cancer, click here for more information or to enroll today.
SOURCES
pubs.rsc.org/en/Content/ArticleLanding/2018/FO/C8FO00813B#!divAbstract
Effect of lactoferrin on taste and smell abnormalities induced by chemotherapy: a proteome analysis
Food and Nutrition
August 27, 2018