Supplement your diet

With 70 to 80 percent of the immune system located in the digestive tract, it isn’t surprising that the gut microbiome is key to how we feel. When our gut bacteria are properly in balance we have a thriving, beneficial microbiome supporting our immune system.

A number of studies have found that probiotics can help us maintain a healthy gut, which can be very beneficial for cancer patients. Associated benefits include: reducing the frequency and severity of antibiotic-associated diarrhea; alleviating abdominal pain and bloating; improving immune system function; and boosting white blood cells.

Curcumin is a derivative of turmeric and the pigment that gives the curry spice its yellow-orange color. Curcumin appears to be universally helpful for just about every type of cancer and has the most evidence-based literature supporting its use against cancer.

In addition to reducing inflammation in the body, some studies have shown this supplement actually stops cancer cells from dividing. Curcumin has also been noted to trigger apoptosis, or programmed cell death, which is the body’s natural and necessary way of ridding itself from damaged cells. Researchers remain committed to investigating the countless benefits of turmeric as it continues to show incredible promise in the prevention and treatment of cancer.

Caution

Zinc is the second most prevalent mineral in the human body, second only to iron. It is a powerful antioxidant that scavenges and eliminates cell damaging free radicals. A zinc deficiency can lead to a range of different cancer types as well as other diseases. It is an essential element of immune system health and critical to both T-cell production and function. It’s also key to thymus gland function, which is a crucial immune system component.

With all of its powerful benefits, zinc can protect normal cells during chemotherapy. Some everyday food choices that contain zinc include beef, beans, lamb, oysters, crab, dark meat, turkey, wheat germ, and pumpkin seeds. Dark chocolate, garlic, sesame seeds, watermelon seeds, squash, chickpeas, and spinach also contain zinc. Consider adding some of these to your diet.

Milk thistle assists in the detoxification of your liver, which helps it to function optimally. This is important when undergoing traditional cancer treatment so the chemicals can be flushed out of your system as quickly as possible. Milk thistle also has many positive effects on cancer physiology as well as its protective effects against kidney damage, loss of kidney function, and chemotherapy-induced nerve pain. It protects the kidneys from the chemotherapy, side effects of cisplatin, oxaliplatin, and carboplatin.

The active ingredient in milk thistle, an antioxidant flavonoid known as silymarin, reduces the inflammation and oxidative damage that can trigger cancer. In addition, it helps to preserve glutathione, the body’s premier inflammation-fighting antioxidant. Milk thistle is a key supplement to carefully research if you are undergoing and recovering from exposure to toxic chemicals and drugs.

Caution