Despite the billions of dollars spent on cancer research and treatments, cancer rates continue to skyrocket. It is currently estimated that 1,735,350 new cases of cancer will be diagnosed this year and 609,640 people will die from cancer.1 Approximately 38.4 percent of men and women will be diagnosed with cancer at some point during their lifetimes according to the American Cancer Society.

While the current standard of care using chemotherapy, radiation and surgery offers progress, we are not winning the fight against cancer. There is a new model of care referred to as the metabolic approach which holds much hope in our battle against the disease.

Nasha Winters, ND, discusses this protocol in her book, The Metabolic Approach to Cancer: Integrating Deep Nutrition, the Ketogenic Diet, and Nontoxic Bio-Individualized Therapies, addressing the factors that lead to genetic mutations which can give rise to cancer cells. Most cancers have been correlated to environmental causes mainly through diet and lifestyle. This can be good news because, utilizing the metabolic approach, we can address the root cause of most cancers by addressing what we eat and how we live.

The theory behind this method is that a cancer tumor is the result of underlying imbalances in the body. Restoring the internal metabolic conditions favors a healthy and cancer-free body. The metabolic approach is a comprehensive program that addresses all areas which influence the internal environment of the body and is proving to be both powerful and effective at preventing, treating and arresting the reoccurrence of cancer.

Effective treatment of cancer must look at the environment in which we live and address the toxic burden we are exposed to every day. This includes how we clean our homes to the pans in which we cook. The mental and emotional aspect of our bodies must also be addressed. Reducing stress, for example, can lower cortisol which will benefit the internal environment in which our cells live. Sleep is also paramount for restoring the body and boosting the immune system.

The metabolic approach also considers our genetic makeup and addresses areas where our system needs support, as well as our hormonal state. We want to correct imbalances and ensure that our bodies can detox and eliminate hormones properly.

One of the most impactful areas of treatment is how, when and what we feed our systems to ensure we are not harming our bodies by what we consume. A healthy gastrointestinal system is paramount in protecting the body from absorbing harmful substances and eliminating the toxic byproducts of our natural metabolism. Studies have shown that cancer cells thrive on sugar and inflammation in our systems; we can use food as medicine to reduce both with a profound impact on treating cancer. Dr. Winters maintains that the ketogenic lifestyle is effective at creating an internal environment that will not support the growth and spread of cancer cells.

This may sound like an overwhelming and daunting approach to treating cancer, but small changes can have a dramatic impact. For anyone newly diagnosed, I suggest stepping back and taking enough time to review treatment options and outcomes. I also suggest interviewing several different health care providers and proceeding with what makes sense to you and your family.

Dr. Drain is a naturopathic physician with Longevity Wellness in Palm Desert and can be reached at (760) 300.0558. www.LongevityPD.com.

Reference:
1) https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/understanding/statistics