The amazing variety of detection techniques, which are constantly being revised and developed, no doubt save lives, especially if a tumor can be removed before it spreads. Generally, this is accomplished through surgery, radiation, and/or chemotherapy. However, once a mass of tumor cells has been diagnosed, prevention is after the fact.

A cancer cell is an out-of-control invader setting its own course of gradual multiplication in any organ, gland, or body system. It continues to divide until, as a mass, it breaks apart to invade other parts of the body. This process of spreading is called metastatis. Cancer devastates the most important part of the cell – the DNA, which controls the cell's functioning.

The only logical and immediate line of defense is to employ a self-healing lifestyle with a dietary focus targeted to reduce the possibility of developing or nurturing cancer cells. Prevention is still the only approach possible to ”win the war on cancer”. This does not mean that you have to deprive yourself of everything that you like or crave, but that you become more moderate in your indulgences, more educated in your choices, and more experienced with the positive benefits of a healthy way of eating.

Faulty diet encourages the growth of cancer cells. Lung, stomach, colon, uterus, ovary, prostate, and breast cancer fall into this category. It has also been documented that certain foods will increase the volume of hormones that elevate the risk of cancer. Cancers such as breast, uterus, ovary, and prostate are directly associated with an excess of sex hormones.

A number of foods also carry carcinogens that can stimulate the production of free radicals. A free radical is a reactive atom with unpaired electrons within the cell that damages cellular functioning.

Nearly 75 percent of a cancer's growth occurs before it is medically detectable. This rate of growth is slow, but progressive, often taking up to twenty to thirty years to announce itself. Most detection instrumentation, as of this date, cannot identify a tumor cell until it reaches a weight of nearly 1 gram – roughly 1 billion cancer cells. Most imaging equipment can only detect a tumor of a size approximating 10 billion cells! A tumor of this density will weigh close to 10 grams.

Protecting Your Colon

The influence of bile acids in the colon is another factor in cancer development. Bile acids, released by the gall bladder into the duodenum to emulsify fats, flows into the small and then the large intestine. Unfortunately, bacteria in the digestive tract change these bile acids into cancer-promoting chemicals called secondary bile acids. These secondary bile acids are formed from the growth of bacteria encouraged by meat-based diet. Vegetarian-based diets form a harmless bacteria that does not pose the same risk. In societies with a high consumption of grains, vegetables, beans, and fruits, lower rates of colon cancer appear. Plant roughage, devoid of animal protein complexes, bonds to toxins while moving food through the intestine quickly. The fiber absorbs and dilutes bile acids, altering the quality of intestinal bacteria to harmless one.

In addition to preventing colon cancer, fiber can help the individual already diagnosed with colon polyps, intestinal growths that can become cancerous. Surgeon Jerome J. DeCosse, from Cornell Medical Center, experimented with dietary bran on patients with recurrent polyps. Within a period of six months, the polyps became smaller and fewer in number.

The benefits of a diet focused on whole-grains, beans, vegetables, and fruits come from abundant long-chain fibers that absorb toxins and expand to keep the intestinal tract clean and free of harmful bacteria without the addition of animal fat and cholesterol, which stimulate colon cancer.

What are Whole Grains?

Whole grains are cereal grains with their bran intact. They have seven layers of protective fiber with hundreds of nutrients and micronutrients locked in. Botanically, wild rice and buckwheat are classified as seeds; however, for the sake of simplicity and due to their fiber content, I’ve listed them as whole grain. There are also many varieties of native corn, traditionally known throughout the world as maize. General knowledge of corn today is limited to grits and the hybrid variety that is actually considered a vegetable. Dried versions (grits and dried whole kernels) qualify more as a grain.

Examples of common whole grains are as follows:

• Brown rice
• Barley
• Millet
• Oats (rolled, steel cut, instant flaked)
• Buckwheat
• Rye
• Whole Wheat/cracked wheat (a.k.a. bulghur)

• Quinoa (“keen-wa”)
• Corn grits
• Amaranth
• Wild rice

Five Reasons for Eating Whole Grain

Here are five benefits you derive by eating whole grains :

1. Regularity Eating whole grain means you'll be getting long-chain fibers, which take up water in the colon and expand to create bowel regularity. Often, when people first begin to eat whole grain and reduce foods and substances that stimulate bowel function (caffeine, sugar, tobacco, etc.), they complain that whole grain causes them to become constipated. Quite the contrary! In the beginning, you may experience several days of your bowels acting sluggish as they become accustomed to purging themselves without the help from stimulants. Within days, you’ll be amazed at your body’s adjustment to whole grain and a new kind of regularity you've probably never experienced.
2. Blood Sugar Stability The complex sugar chains of whole grains' molecular structure slowly break apart and, as they enter the blood, gradually raise blood sugar in a way that is even and consistent, as opposed to the wild up-and-down swings of refined sugar. This creates more sustaining energy and mental calm. Wide swings in blood sugar create the release of stress hormones and can initiate the build-up of arterial plaques.
3. Vitamin B and E Group The bran covering of whole grains contains many B vitamins, such as niacin, vitamin B6, pantothenic acid, riboflavin, and thiamin, as well as Vitamin E. These water-soluble vitamins are essential for immune health, protection from diseases such as beriberi and pellagra, cardiac strength, DNA health, the building and maintenance of body tissues, skin and eye health, cholesterol reduction, appetite regulation, prevention of depression, certain hormone formation, red blood cell development and gum health.
4. Toxicity Discharge Whole grain's bran covering bonds to different toxins and escorts them out of the body via the bowel. Because of the bran’s tendency to absorb water, possible toxins within the bowel do not remain long enough to become absorbed into the blood.
5. Decrease of Cravings for Sugar and Fat For its nutritional value as well as its ability to stabilize blood sugar, whole grain consumption will automatically reduce your cravings for sweets and fatty foods, This makes your change of diet less of an effort and means that you need less willpower to avoid foods that are not health supportive.

Extract from the book “Nature's Cancer-Fighting Foods.” By Verne Varona.