Nutrition and Cancer Insights on prevention – supporting the patient living with cancer Dr. Victoria Coleman is a 1994 graduate of CMCC and a BSc in Kinesiology specializing in Fitness Assessment and Exercise Counsel-ing. Working with patients over the years, it became her mission to teach people that everything you eat, breath, drink, and think affects your health. This fuelled her desire to further expand her career and continue her studies. She is an avid follower of the Institute for Functional Medicine and is currently working toward her certification in Functional Medicine. Dr. Coleman is also the president of Douglas Laboratories/Pure Encapsulations Canada. T wo in five people are now being diagnosed with cancer. 1 It has been shown that 40 per cent of cancers may be preventable by diet and lifestyle improvement alone, and this, coupled with the agreement between major, respected organiza-tions – such as the American Institute for Cancer Research, the American Cancer Society, and the National Cancer Institute – suggests that cancer may largely be a preventable disease, suggests there is a role we can play in affecting the occurrence and outcome of this diagnosis. 2,3 We are what we eat, drink, breath, think and eliminate. This article will discuss the role of nutrition and nutritional supplementation not only in the prevention of cancer but also in supporting the patient living with cancer. The principles behind this make perfect sense and there is evidence to support extending the recommendations for pre-venting cancer for use with those living with cancer. THE ANTI-CANCER DIET AND PREVENTIVE STRATEGIES The over-consumption of calories is a major issue in many disease states. Never before have we seen such an over-caloric, nutrient-deficient population. Food of high caloric density and low caloric nutrition has resulted in obesity and disease. It is known obesity increases one’s risk for cancer but, interestingly, it has now been shown that caloric restriction, even slightly past normal weight needs, has a protective effect on cancer. This approach is called CRON-Calorie Restriction with Optimal Nutrition. The notion is to consume fewer calories (approximately 80 per cent required to maintain normal weight) but ensure all necessary nutrient needs in vitamin, minerals and other nutrients are met. The restriction is focused on the amount of calories consumed. Science has supported this theory in extending the life span of many species and it is currently being tested on primates. Studies in mice have already shown reduction in tumour growth, prolonged survival along with spontaneous tumour regression with caloric restriction. 2 www.canadianchiropractor.ca ictoria Coleman, DC, 8 • CANADIAN CHIROPRACTOR | MAY 2012
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