Here at The Bodhi Clinic, we commonly answer questions about the connection between diet, exercise, blood sugar, weight, obesity and cancer. Fortunately, there is good research available to draw upon and by working with a naturopathic doctor at The Bodhi Clinic, we can design and recommend an individualized plan with the goal of supporting cancer prevention and reducing recurrence. In order to maximize the anti-cancer benefits from these interventions, you need a long-term plan that works for you.
Eat a Healthy Diet
Eating a healthy diet is key to overall health and can help lower the risk of numerous cancers. Both myself and Dr. Porter provide individual diet-based recommendations based on your cancer type and individual biochemistry. We are all biochemically unique, meaning that our nutritional and chemical make-up varies and therefore dietary needs vary as well. An example of this is the more common lactose intolerance or MTHFT genetic variation (the inhibition of the body in converting folate (B9) into active folic acid).
The most important diet-related mistake in cancer prevention is likely overnutrition – overeating calories that lead to weight gain and go against maintaining a healthy weight – which is not healthy. Good evidence shows that a diet low in animal products and high in plant-based nutrition helps prevent cancer. Cancers with a link to diet include: breast, colon, lung, esophageal, oral, pancreatic, prostate, pharyngeal, laryngeal, stomach, kidney and uterine.
Balance Your Blood Sugar
Balancing your blood sugar is definitely connected to eating a healthy diet, exercise and maintaining a healthy weight.
Many of our patients have researched online the “Sugar Feeds Cancer Theory” and are working to avoid any-and-all sugar – impossible! All the carbohydrates we eat and metabolize (includes all fruits and vegetables) are processed into sugar. Trying to avoid all sugar would mean a diet high in protein and fat. Not recommended.
What is key in understanding how sugar and cancer are connected is insulin and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1). Remember, insulin is a hormone, produced by the pancreas, that allows sugar to get into the cell, and when insulin rises, so does the hormone IGF-1.
Both hormones have been known to stimulate cell growth and IGF-1 and can even stop cell-programmed death (apoptosis) – both very bad things when you are dealing with cancer. When we have a food or meal that is high in sugar, insulin and IGF-1 will increase. Fiber is the key in slowing the release of sugar from foods – think whole apple versus apple juice. The whole apple contains fiber, which will slow down that release of sugar, leading to less insulin and IGF-1 being secreted, compared to the juice, which is fiber-less and essentially dumps a load of sugar into the bloodstream, raising insulin and IGF-1. Whole foods are all high in fiber, in contrast with refined and processed foods which are low in fiber. A diet high in fiber-rich vegetables, fruits and grains has a protective effect and leads to balanced blood sugar.
Exercise Regularly
Regular physical activity is essential in weight and blood sugar management and all three go hand-in-hand; if you are exercising regularly, your weight will reach a healthy level, and your blood sugar will stabilize.
In terms of cancer prevention and reducing recurrence, regular exercise is widely accepted as fundamental. What does regular physical activity mean? Recommendations for this generally are around either 30 minutes of moderate activity (like brisk walking) five or more days per week, or 20 minutes of vigorous activity (like running), three or more days per week.
There is one important point missing from this recommendation by the American Cancer Society – you need to elevate your heart rate and breathing to get the benefits. This recommendation; however, only includes cardiovascular/aerobic activity. In order to get the full benefits of exercise for weight and blood sugar management and anti-cancer effects, I also stress the need to build muscle mass, which can be accomplished through resistance training.
Maintaining a Healthy Weight
According to the American Cancer Society, maintaining a healthy weight is one of the most important risk factors for cancer. Being obese, which means your body mass index (BMI) is equal to or greater than 30, is most concerning and lowering your BMI not only reduces your risk for cancer, but also reduces your risk for numerous other disease states as well.
Maintaining a healthy weight involves both diet and exercise changes and for the vast majority of us, stress and mood support. I commonly see chronic high-stress responses as an obstacle to weight loss and addressing the body’s response to stress and mood is an important part of sustainable weight management. Our body wants to keep and maintain weight in a high-stress state and although we can’t always remove the stressor, we can work to modify how we respond to it.
Ways to Reduce Cancer Risk and Prevent Recurrence
A healthy weight, balanced blood sugar, good nutrition and regular exercise are all connected and we should not underestimate the effect they can have on our health in reducing our risk of cancer and preventing recurrence.
There are additional steps you can take to reduce the risk of some individual cancers, yet working to achieve a healthy diet and weight, regular exercise and stable blood sugar will provide a substantial benefit.
Naturopathic medicine at The Bodhi Clinic is a whole-person approach that works to address root-causes and allows you more time with the doctor to develop an individualized, long-term and sustainable plan that will work for you.
By Dr. Elise Benczkowski, ND