Nutrition Tips

From Alan: For those of you who have the interest, I thought I would offer some tips on healthy nutrition. Now, by no means am I an expert in this area as I have not taken any courses and, of course, have no degree. However, I have read a lot of books and articles about cancer prevention since Jeannette was diagnosed and I had my own battle with hives years ago. So for what it worth, here are my suggestions:
1.Stay away from any artificial colors, flavors, sweeteners and preservatives and other chemicals put into food and beverages. This requires you to read the labels and to become educated on what some of the ingredients are in food. Please stop drinking diet and regular sodas immediately. Why not instead have seltzer with a splash of cranberry or any other juice that you prefer?
2. No fried foods. Everything I read says they are very bad for you.
3. Try to eat organic foods wherever possible. Fruits and veggies are sprayed with pesticides and many animals are fed hormones and antibiotics. I think the evidence is inconclusive whether this causes cancer, but why take the chance by ingesting all these chemicals into your body and who needs to risk it when there are so many organic products available now.
4. Cut down (or better yet eliminate entirely)all tobacco products (of course) and coffee and alcohol. Green tea is a much better substitute for coffee drinkers and recent studies show it to have many health benefits. My way of thinking is that any product that you can become addicted to, like coffee, alcohol and cigarettes, have to be bad for you.
5. I find it hard to judge which supplements to take. Studies are conflicting and sometimes show that supplements are unnecessary. However, everything I have read seems to say that without question flax seed oil and fish oil are really good for your system and are anti-cancer oils. I found the flax seed oil with lemon is the best tasting. I also recommend taking acidophiles, which is the good bacteria found in your stomach and is great for digestion. Its in yogurt, but I don't eat yogurt everyday so this is the next best thing. I also recommend taking a powder supplement called Ultima. I buy it in Whole Foods and it has all the valuable minerals and electrolytes in Gatorade, but without the sugar. It is all natural and really great for you.
6. Everyone says eat lots of green vegetables and fruits. I agree, but lots of fruits have high sugar content so I vote for the greens. Jeannette and I have gotten into the habit of juicing using the Jack Lalaine juicer.
7. Stay away or cut down as much as possible on sugar whether in cookies, cakes, candies, ice cream, soda, etc. Watch out for some of the power bars which also have lots of sugar. Lots of studies say that cancer cells thrive on sugar. I don't know if this has been proven to be 100% true, but I think we all know that sugar is fattening and addictive.
8. Move from white to brown. Cut out white bread, white rice, and move to whole wheat products.
9. Cut down on red meat and move instead to organic chicken and fish.

I would love to hear any other good tips to add to the list.