For various reasons, I (M) sort-of adhere to a diet that is supposed to put me at lower risk for cancer. This somewhat changes what I cook for everyone else. For instance, they eat bacon when I don't and they probably eat more sugar than I do.
These guidelines come from no one source, but from the advice of two nutritionists and several doctors who have given me sometimes conflicting advice, from which I've had to pick and choose. I share them with the disclaimer that neither these guidelines nor any product/lifestyle/supplement can absolutely guarantee that you won’t get cancer. I offer them realizing that they may prove to be no more than whistling in the dark, but I'd rather whistle than cower there, helpless.
• Strictest: Be a vegetarian and avoid all animal fats.
• Less strict (this is what I'm doing since I would find it hard to be vegetarian or vegan because of my range of food sensitivities and dairy allergies, and my need for high calorie intake in order to maintain weight):
(You can decaf it naturally if you pour hot water just over the tea leaves, wait 20 seconds, pour off, then refill. In the winter, I pour my green tea into a thermos and then drink it warm all day. In the summer, I don’t mind it cold, or at room temperature.)
• Avoid fats.
(I avoid trans and hydrogenated fats, but taking the advice of a nutritionalist I knew a long time ago, I always use whole-milk dairy products. Her theory, which she backed up with research done in Germany, is that non-fat dairy products cause digestive problems, food sensitivities and other health problems. And I think whole milk products are healthier for growing children—it’s the fake fats and the high fructose corn syrup sweeteners that are worse for their health).
• Eat five servings of fruits and vegetables a day.
• Avoid sugar. (I can't say how much is too much sugar and I'm probably still eating too much, but I've cut out store-bought sweetened yogurt and cut most of my sweets/treat intake down to only super-dark chocolate. I'll address sugar in a separate, future post).
- Eat beef no more than once a week (I’m wondering if this is true only of hormone-enriched, non-organic beef, but I haven’t found a source that justifies it)
- Don’t eat pork (I don’t follow this strictly, especially in the presence of N.C. BBQ, but I've pretty much quit eating bacon except on special occasion; I'm trying to learn to love turkey bacon as a substitute).
- Avoid smoked meats.
(You can decaf it naturally if you pour hot water just over the tea leaves, wait 20 seconds, pour off, then refill. In the winter, I pour my green tea into a thermos and then drink it warm all day. In the summer, I don’t mind it cold, or at room temperature.)
• Avoid fats.
(I avoid trans and hydrogenated fats, but taking the advice of a nutritionalist I knew a long time ago, I always use whole-milk dairy products. Her theory, which she backed up with research done in Germany, is that non-fat dairy products cause digestive problems, food sensitivities and other health problems. And I think whole milk products are healthier for growing children—it’s the fake fats and the high fructose corn syrup sweeteners that are worse for their health).
• Eat five servings of fruits and vegetables a day.
• Avoid sugar. (I can't say how much is too much sugar and I'm probably still eating too much, but I've cut out store-bought sweetened yogurt and cut most of my sweets/treat intake down to only super-dark chocolate. I'll address sugar in a separate, future post).
• Avoid food additives, preservatives and dyes.
• Eat whole grain products. (I hate whole wheat pasta and I mostly eat white rice, so I'm not reaching 100 percent on this one.)
• Take some supplements to support health (but don’t go overboard). For women, some studies have shown that coenzyme Q10 helps prevent breast cancer; I take 200 mg/day. Other supplements can include coral calcium, mushroom derivatives, and flax seed oil or fish oil.
• This is my own suggestion: don’t take any diet or dietary guideline too seriously or think that any diet will kill you. I think it’s far healthier to enjoy a juicy hamburger than it is to chomp down a raw salad with a sense of bitter longing or defeat.
• Eat whole grain products. (I hate whole wheat pasta and I mostly eat white rice, so I'm not reaching 100 percent on this one.)
• Take some supplements to support health (but don’t go overboard). For women, some studies have shown that coenzyme Q10 helps prevent breast cancer; I take 200 mg/day. Other supplements can include coral calcium, mushroom derivatives, and flax seed oil or fish oil.
• This is my own suggestion: don’t take any diet or dietary guideline too seriously or think that any diet will kill you. I think it’s far healthier to enjoy a juicy hamburger than it is to chomp down a raw salad with a sense of bitter longing or defeat.
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