Cancer is when a group of cells begin to grow out of hand. Cellular apoptosis or cell death does not occur as frequently as needed. Certain lifestyles have been shown to increase inflammation affecting the natural processes of the body. Inflammation has been linked to a sedentary lifestyle, autoimmune conditions, and more. 

Controlling Inflammation 

In order to naturally protect yourself against cancer and other chronic health conditions, there are preventative measures you can take. The first being to assess and address inflammation. Inflammation is closely related to the food we eat and how we process the proteins. Many of these proteins are genetically modified leaving our body unsure how to break them down, and in turn, creating an inflammatory response. 

There are multiple ways to control inflammation, one being a food sensitivity test. A food sensitivity test will reveal the foods that your body has created antigens to and adverse reactions. By removing these foods from your diet, your inflammatory response will decrease. 

Lifestyle Changes

A study performed showed that per year, the cost of healthcare that was attributable to poor diet and lifestyle was $33.9 billion with 54% of that coming from just the US. It is critical to incorporate a healthy diet and exercise into your routine. Those who are overweight are at a higher risk of developing cancer. One reason being is that adipose (fat) tissue does not respond well to insulin. However, cancer cells have insulin receptors and if you have poor insulin sensitivity you could be feeding these cancer cells. Following a healthy diet and exercise protocol will aid in healthy weight management and glucose regulation. 

Sleep is another factor. Our bodies need sleep to properly repair and restore our cells. Decreased sleep relates to elevated cortisol levels and other hormonal factors. Increased hormone levels increase the risk of cancer development and cancer cells. 

Lastly, avoid unnecessary toxins and environmental triggers. Harmful toxins and chemicals are in many common household cleaning products as well as soaps, lotions, and laundry detergents. 

Natural Supplements 

There are many supplements that help protect the immune system and reduce the risk of cancer. One of the most important supplements to consider is Vitamin D. In fact, vitamin D deficiency is an epidemic. One study found that 85,000 breast cancer cases just in North America alone could have been avoided if they had sufficient vitamin D levels. A dose as low as 3500 IU per day could reduce your chance of breast cancer by 50%. 

Additionally, zinc is another important supplement to take as it aids in apoptosis. The combination of zinc and Vitamin D together is critical when it comes to reducing your risk. 

Finally, other supplements to talk to your healthcare provider about are melatonin, curcumin, flavonoids, flaxseed, garlic, folic acid, green tea, L-glutamine, vitamin A, probiotics, and omega 3 fatty acids. 

Hormone Testing

Hormone testing is a great option to consider as an imbalance of any one hormone can create serious health problems. Estrogen is equal to growth, which is not always a good thing. Ensuring your hormone levels are in check and taking preventative actions to keep them in check will help reduce your risk of developing cancer as well. 

Here is an example of a salivary comprehensive hormone test we use from Labrix: 

 

 

It is important to keep in mind all factors that could be causing you inflammation. Inflammation is the key to almost all underlying health conditions and cancers. Eliminating as many toxins as possible and fueling your body with clean whole nutrition is a great place to start! -Kenna Vaughn, Senior Health Coach 

 

References: 

Mead, Jay. “Becoming Immune to Cancer: Winning with Integrative Solutions for Prevention and Survival.” Functional Medicine University. 2020, www. Functionalmedicineuniversity. com/members/989.cfm.

 The scope of our information is limited to chiropractic, musculoskeletal, and nervous health issues or functional medicine articles, topics, and discussions. We use functional health protocols to treat injuries or disorders of the musculoskeletal system. Our office has made a reasonable attempt to provide supportive citations and has identified the relevant research study or studies supporting our posts. We also make copies of supporting research studies available to the board and or the public upon request. To further discuss the subject matter above, please feel free to ask Dr. Alex Jimenez or contact us at 915-850-0900.