As 2009 heads to a close and the promise of a new year approaches, many people vow to make their health more of a priority. Concentrating on eating foods which nourish the body and soul is the main lifestyle factor that accomplishes this. Food is not just a measure of calories, energy in and out; it is a substance which provides your cells with information. This is the concept of  the exciting field of nutrigenomics! (Click here for the recent 5 minute video explaining natural medicine for cancer)

Although, we can’t change our genetic make-up; supplying our body with real, unprocessed, living food does provide bioactive constituents that send messages to our DNA. For example, certain compounds present in foods such as cruciferious vegetables,  have been found to communicate to our cells to suppress cancer growth.  Due to the fact that all cells have the potential to  turn into cancer, it is the information provided by environmental factors, such as diet and lifestyle, that modulates signals to cells to grow or die.

I think with diet, it’s always important to add things in, just as much as avoiding things. In this way, diet turns into a lifestyle choice rather than a chore. Dr. Mercola’s recent article highlighted foods to avoid; however, he gave a good summary of foods to include in your diet. These include nutrients with the following characteristics:

  1. Grown without pesticides and chemical fertilizers (organic foods fit this description, but so do some non-organic foods)
  2. Not genetically modified
  3. No added growth hormones, antibiotics, or other drugs
  4. It does not contain artificial anything, nor any preservatives
  5. It is fresh (if you have to choose between wilted organic produce or fresh conventional produce, the latter may be the better option)
  6. It did not come from a factory farm
  7. It is grown with the laws of nature in mind (meaning animals are fed their native diets, not a mix of grains and animal byproducts, and have free-range access to the outdoors)
  8. It is grown in a sustainable way (using minimal amounts of water, protecting the soil from burnout, and turning animal wastes into natural fertilizers instead of environmental pollutants
  9. My addition: Balance out healthy proteins/fats/ and carbohydrates from real sources! Increase your phytochemical and cancer boosting potential by eating green leafy veggies!
Now, here is the top 7 foods which signal  to your body which provide bad directions to your cells:

1. Canned foods: This is due to the decreased nutrient content as well as the plastic lining containing chemicals such as BPA. These chemicals are linked to hormonal imbalances and cancer.

2. Non-organic Dairy treated with growth hormone: rBGH has been linked to an increase in IGF-1, which is a genetic signaler for cancer and immune system dysregulation.

Here is a recent abstract on how IGF-1 and growth hormone relates to cancer.

Another abstract on how targeting IGF-1 can be helpful in cancer:

(By the way, natural anti-inflammatory herbs, such as tumeric can modulate the expression of IGF-1:

Another reason milk may not be a good idea-pasteurization. (Here’s the link)

3. Non-organic or corn feed meat: These meats have decreased levels of anti-inflammatory fatty acid, CLA, and increased inflammatory fatty acid, arachidonic acid. Inflammation is linked to many diseases.

4 & 5. Non-organic Potatoes and Apples: Pesticides- linked to hormonal issues, immune problems, and cancer.

Check out my blog on sararoga.com on pesticides. Also, there’s a link in my December Top Reads to the top produce offenders of pesticides.

6. Farmed Salmon: Mercury, pesticides, toxic by-products! Not good.

Check out vital choice for information on their salmon.

7. Microwave popcorn: Lined with a plastic that can cause hormonal disruptions.

In conclusion, what to keep in mind is that what you eat communicates how your body functions. The more junk in, the more junk out. The more quality in, the better quality of life. I just heard a quote from Dr. Dean on magnesium depletion in our soil-from 500mg in the past to 150mg now. Organic foods tend to have higher nutrient density and intact constituents which better communicate to your cells. 2010 would be a great opportunity to start a higher level of awareness of how we talk to our body!

Check out my latest blogs at saratoga.com, including the latest on CT scans and Cancer and Healthy Aging.

Sources:

Dr. Dean. Magnesium Talk. YouTube

Naturopathic Institute for the Advancement of Medicine

Hou Y, Anti-depressant natural flavonols modulate BDNF and beta amyloid in neurons and hippocampus of double TgAD mice. Neuropharmacology. PMID: 19917299

Hung, W & Change, HC. Indole-3-carbinol inhibits Sp1-induced matrix metalloproteinase-2 expression to attenuate migration and invasion of breast cancer cells. J Agric Food Chem. 2009 Jan 14;57(1):76-82.