Diet, Exercise, Attitude - Road to Hellth

Source: Toronto Star.

Dave Servan-Schreiber was a successful, young psychiatrist when he got cancer. His doctor dismissed self-help via diet and exercise because there is no scientific proof that they help.

However, Dave did eventually pursue the diet, exercise and attitude route to health and he wrote about it: Anticancer: A New Way of Life.

His remedy: Eat vegetables, drink green tea and use turmeric (a spice common in curry). Stay away from fatty red meats and refined sugars.

Refined sugar, flour and omega-6 (fatty acids) are linked to cancer and account for 60% of the average person's diet.

An increase in cancer in western countries over the past 50 years tells him that "something in our environment has changed." He believes that "it's common sense that it's food." When Asians westernize their diets they have these problems too.

Other factors: exposure to toxins, low physical activity, social isolation.
Only 15% of cancer deaths can be linked to genes.

How do a good diet, avoiding toxins and a positive outlook help? They reduce the tissue inflammation that fuels tumours and and the growth of new blood vessels that feed tumours.

He does not eschew conventional treatment. He just says it's not enough.

There's no incentive for companies to study the effects of diet, exercise or meditation, he says, so the government has to take on this responsibility.

Al Cunningham, the head of Princess Margaret Hospital's Healing Journey claims that mental therapy hasn't worked in the past because it has not aimed at major change and, even so, few patients make full use of the programs that are in place. He also promotes moderate exercise.

In 2007, the World Cancer Research Fund, which announced that "most cancers in Western society could be avoided if people changed their diet and engaged in physical activity".

Video interview with Dave
Detailed article in The Daily Mail

Comments

[Susan Burns]

Michael - thanks for this post and video clip. There's more and more evidence coming out about the impact of overly refined foods - specifically white flour and sugar, and the effects of inflammation. In addition to Dr. Dave's story with cancer, there is evidence around the overall affects on aging (total body) and memory. I know that when I can eliminate these things from my diet I feel significantly better, am clearer in thought, and have more energy. It always blows my mind how strong cravings can be though for some yummy processed junk food! Cheers! Susan

[Recruiting Animal]

Thanks Susan. What this guy is promoting is not that radical, is it? Less sugar and more broccoli, some exercise and some form of mental stress reduction.

Two things worth noting are that it's not expensive. Also, he dismisses the claims that you can beat cancer with alternative therapies alone.