My Way Of Creating A Strong Immune Sytem

To Fight Off Any Unhealthy Issues

(by Keith Oakes – March 2010)

My story is one of a person being diagnosed with prostate cancer and the resulting changes I made because of that diagnosis.  I must point out I am not a nutritionist, just an engineer who has a problem to sort out.  After many months of research/reading I came to the conclusion that I needed to alter my diet/lifestyle.  The information I came across, which brought me to this decision, is available throughout the internet for anyone who wishes to do their own research.  I chose to believe the things I read and to follow the recommendations and detail the reasonings below, in order that you can reach your own decisions whether to try these things or not.  

Please note that if you are currently fighting an illness, it would be wise to check with your doctor before you make any dietary changes or additions.  The following has worked for me but I cannot guarantee it will have the same impact on others.

I was diagnosed in July 2004 with inoperable prostate cancer; given a worrying prognosis rating of 9 out of 10.

 I have always been fit and involved in various types of physical sport since I was 11 and had never had any major problems with my health.    In my 40’s I played regularly for 2 badminton teams and 1 squash team and always believed I was fit.

 I am now 61 and, after my diet and lifestyle changes, I now feel fitter and more flexible than in the past and even my recovery rate, which has always been good, has improved.

 I still play good level squash for at least an hour twice a week with no real aches and pains afterwards (due to the diet and cider vinegar).  As a bonus Anita’s health has also improved due to the changes we made; to the point that her doctor said her blood test results were those he would expect to see from an 18 year old (if only the rest of her was).

 Physical activity has been found to help survival with many different types of cancer.

 It is found that engaging in physical activity, just rapid walking 30 minutes six times a week, already dramatically reduces the chances of a relapse after breast cancer treatment or the risk of advanced prostate cancer.

 Also changing the way we manage our response to stress by learning to avoid clenched teeth, stone-hard back muscles and pressure in our chest helps.  The basic breathing techniques that have been around for thousands of years (Yoga and meditation) can transform our response to stress and strengthen our resistance to disease.

 Simply reaching out to one or two friends during hard times can even reduce the risk of dying from breast cancer by a factor of four.

 The Terrain

 We all carry cancer cells in us but we all have natural defences that generally prevent these cells from turning into an aggressive disease. These include our immune system, the part of our biology that controls and reduces inflammation, and the foods that reduce the growth of new blood vessels needed by developing tumours.

 For prevention or better disease management, it is important to change the environment --- the "terrain" -- that supports the growth of new cancer cells.

 Modern research suggests that cancer cells grow much faster under three circumstances:

 1)      When our immune system is weakened and less capable of detecting and destroying budding tumours.

2)      When low-grade chronic inflammation in our body supports the multiplication of cells and the invasion of neighbouring tissue.

3)       When tumours are allowed to develop new blood vessels expand to a larger size. If we strengthen our immune system, reduce inflammation and reduce the growth of new blood vessel, we help create an anticancer "terrain".

The Machine Called ‘The Human Body’

 Your body is only a machine but, unlike other machines, it is able to repair itself.   This repair system is generally controlled through the nerve and immune system.

 As an engineer I viewed the immune system, as I would an engine, to see how to get the best performance from it.  My conclusion was if you use the best fuel, oil and carry out regular maintenance it will run well and last for years.

On the other hand if you use cheap fuel, oil or ignore problems then the performance will be reduced and it will let you down.  Like a machine needs human help to run efficiently the immune system also needs your help to run efficiently by feeding it with vitamins, minerals, exercise and avoiding the added intake of harmful elements.

 Another difference between a machine and us is that we have the ability to think. Positive thinking has been found to be a strong influence to your well being as it actually releases a helpful chemical into your bodies’ system.   If you only have negative thoughts this releases another chemical which hinders your body’s ability to help you.

The Prostate Cancer Bible

 Two books recommended, by the prostate cancer site, to help understand and fight the disease is:-

Prostate Cancer understanding, prevent and overcome by Professor Jane Plant CBE

The Food Doctor Healing foods for the mind and body by Vicki Edgson Dip ION and Ian Marber Dip ION.

Professor Jane Plant’s History

Jane was diagnosed with breast cancer and even after a radical mastectomy, 3 operations, 35 radiotherapy treatments, irradiation of her ovaries to induce the menopause and several chemotherapy treatments the cancer still spread reaching the lymph nodes in her neck.  This led to a tumour the size of a small walnut appearing on her neck and she was told she only had 3 months to live.  This spurred her on to use the time she had left to investigate why breast and prostate cancer cases were high in the western world and low in the eastern world.

Acting on her findings she altered her diet and lifestyle and after 5 weeks the tumour completely disappeared.  This was a shock to her and her doctors who said they have never known anyone survive such serious illness.  This was in 1994 and she has had no recurrence of the cancer to-date, which has lead her to write several books on the subject, including the one I mentioned, and is also now an advisor to the British Government. This book is viewed as the bible by all the people on the prostate site.   It is also now being recommended by local GP’s and hospital doctors to patients with prostate and breast cancer.

 The book is full of useful information backed up by world independent researchers who are not sponsored by any influential companies (the food and dairy industry).    She wrote the book to put the facts in front of the reader to allow them to make their own mind up whether to act on her recommendations or not.

The Diet

Dairy Products

 The overall conclusion for the higher percentage of prostate/breast cancer cases in the western world compared to the eastern world was their eating habits. In today's Western diet, fried foods, fats (dairy products), refined sugars and other processed foods are the typical norm. Add to that the stress of hectic schedules and rushed meals experienced by the normal adult and you have a formula for digestive disaster.

 The people of the western world, on the whole, eat and drink dairy products where as the eastern world consume healthy alternatives.

 Nowhere in nature does one species of animal drink the milk of any other and only feeds milk to its own offspring until they are ready for solid food.

 So Why Do Intelligent People Drink Cow’s Milk?

 One reason is they are being misled by research results, which are sponsored by the dairy industry, telling you dairy is essential for you by using misleading references to calcium.   They fail to tell you that the calving cow’s milk, like any mother’s milk, is high in growth hormones to help the child quickly and healthily progress on to solids.

 Another problem is that modern day farmers milk their cows even during the calving period, which was never practiced in the past, and they also feed extra growth hormones to the cattle to increase their milk and meat output.  These growth hormones can never be processed out of the milk, meat or the body so they are absorbed into the system allowing un-natural stimulation of any weakness in the body.

 The Digestive Process

 Your immune system, well-being and overall condition are dependent upon a robust and well-functioning digestive system.

Every cell in your body requires nutrients specific to its function. Without the proper nutrients, your system cannot function properly, and therefore the quality of life is reduced.

 An essential part of proper nutrition is digestion. Your digestive system is designed to absorb digested molecules of food, as well as water and minerals, through the walls of the small intestine when the food passes through.

 To increase the absorption contact area of the wall there are thousands of tiny finger like projections. In turn, each finger like projections is covered with microscopic projections which the molecule of food brushes against as it passes through the small intestine.   These projections are very important to the absorption process so if anything flattens/covers them, such as fat in the food, this will greatly reduce their ability to absorb.

 Digestive problems not only impair people's wellness on a biological level, they can be physically painful, emotionally and socially embarrassing, and can impair the quality of life; these ailments can also lead to other medical problems.

 The Eating Process

 You can create problems for yourself from the very first bite of food you take.

In the distant past children were told to chew their food so many times before swallowing so they did as they were told as they always obeyed their parents (if only they would do that now).   Today some people, for one reason or another, are in a rush, when eating, so they are not chewing enough.

 If food is not chewed properly, allowing too large a lump to be swallowed, it is significantly more difficult, for the system, to break down the food in the stomach.

 To help your digestion systems to work properly, while eating, keep the following in mind:-

 1)      Slow down your eating.

2)      Chew your food thoroughly, preferably until it’s pretty much liquefied.

3)      Taking time to chew your food also allows time for “sensors” in your mouth to “phone in” the order to your stomach and intestines as to what kind of enzymes are going to be needed to break the food down.

4)      Swallowing food too quickly leaves your stomach and intestines unprepared for what’s coming - kind of like a guest showing up at your door unexpected.

The shortfall of digestive enzymes then compounds the problems caused by lack of chewing. Food can end up sitting in the stomach too long and fermenting, which creates excessive gas. This can then result in heartburn, belching, flatulence, or other uncomfortable symptoms.

Food that has fermented absorbs the available acid but never reaches the needed levels to break the food down and therefore, when it reaches the small intestines, due to the lack of information as to the volume of food, does not trigger the release of enzymes needed to neutralize the acid level of the food.

The continuation of the food through the system at this moderate acid level irritates the sensitive linings of the intestine, which can result in irritable bowel syndrome.

All this occurs because the food was not chewed properly to begin with.

As well as the body not absorbing the available nutrients in the food the unprocessed food can finish up as weight gain with no health gain.

To aid the digestive process it is recommended that, due to the stomach processing the food takes time (around one hour), it is advisable, when eating fruit as part of the meal, to eat it before the main meal an hour and a half after the main meal.

Fruit will break down quicker in your stomach, than the main meal, so if you eat the fruit directly after the main meal it will back up in your stomach, and start fermenting, while the acids are working on the main course.

 The World Health Organisation Recommendations

 It was recommended that we should eat 5 different fruit and vegetables a day, with bias towards vegetables, but this has now been increased to 9 (I think this is to increase the variety of vitamins and minerals in the diet).

 Most vitamin and minerals are only required by the body once or twice a week as they are slowly utilised by the system; the exception is vitamin ‘C’ and ‘D’ which need replacing every day.

 You need a variety of fruit or vegetables per week in order to cover the required vitamins and minerals your system needs to function correctly.   If you eat the same type of food every day you limit the variety of nutrients, your system needs, so remember the key word variety.

'Food Rules' That Could Change You’re Eating Habits Forever

This blunt bit of grandmotherly advice is a reminder of the health risks of white flour. People who eat lots of whole grains tend to be healthier and live longer. 

There are now thousands of food products in the supermarket that our ancestors wouldn't recognise. They are processed in ways designed to get us to buy and eat more by pushing our evolutionary buttons (such as our inborn preferences for sweetness, fat and salt). 

It makes sense. 

Such cereals are highly processed and full of refined carbohydrates and chemical additives. 

The colours of the many vegetables on your plate reflect the different antioxidant phytochemicals they contain. Many of these chemicals help protect against chronic diseases but each in a slightly different way, so the best protection comes from a diet containing as many different phytochemicals as possible. 

The water in which vegetables are cooked is rich in vitamins. Save it for use in soups or add it to sauces. 

The more ingredients in a packaged food, the more highly processed it is. (A long list of ingredients in a recipe is not the same thing; that's fine.) 

Enhoxylated diglycerides? Cellulose? Xanthan gum? Calcium propionate? Ammonium sulphate? If you wouldn't cook with these additives, why let others use these ingredients to cook for you? The food scientists' chemistry set is designed to extend shelf life and make old food look fresher and more appetising than it really is. Whether or not any of these additives pose a proven hazard to your health, many of them haven't been eaten by humans for very long, so they are best avoided. 

Removing fat from foods doesn't necessarily make them non-fattening. Carbohydrates can also make you fat and many low-fat and non-fat foods are more sugary to make up for the loss of flavour. You're better off eating the real thing in moderation than bingeing on "light" food products packed with sugars and salt. 

Processed foods dominate the centre aisles while fresh foods line the walls - meat, fish and dairy.

The more processed a food, the longer the shelf life and the less nutritious it is.

Real food is alive - and, therefore, should eventually die. (One of the few exceptions is honey, which has a shelf life measured in centuries.) 

In general, mass-produced food is cooked with too much salt, fat and sugar, along with preservatives, colourings and other biological novelties. 

People who eat according to the rules of a traditional food culture are generally healthier than those who eat a modern Western diet of processed foods. Pay close attention to how a culture eats and what it eats - small portions eaten at leisurely communal meals; and no second helpings. 

Think Pringles or Big Mac.

Food sold at petrol stations (except perhaps for the milk and water) is all highly processed - imperishable snack foods and extravagantly sweetened drinks. 

Eat foods that have been pre-digested by bacteria or fungi, such as yoghurt or soya sauce. 

There's nothing wrong with special-occasion foods, as long as every day is not a special occasion. Chips, pastries and ice-cream offer some of the great pleasures of life, so we shouldn't deprive ourselves of them but the sense of occasion needs to be restored. One way is to start making these foods yourself; you won't go to that much trouble every day. Another is to limit your consumption to weekends or social occasions. Some people follow a so-called "S policy": "No snacks, no seconds, and no sweets - except on days that begin with the letter S." 

Obsessing over food rules is bad for your happiness and probably for your health too. There will be special occasions when you will want to throw these rules out of the window. All will not be lost. What matters is not the special occasion but the everyday practice - the default habits that govern your eating on a typical day. "All things in moderation": It is often said but we should never forget the wise addendum, sometimes attributed to Oscar Wilde: "Including moderation." 

 Our General Day To Day Food List

1)      We have cut out all food where dairy products are used directly or indirectly during the manufacturing process.

2)      When milk is required we use Soya milk.

3)      Avoid any red meats because of their high fat content and the introduction of chemicals to increase meat yield.

4)      Avoid any preserved/processed food with harmful ‘E’ numbers.

Adding Anti-cancer Foods

We try to include, every day, foods that have cancer fighting properties.  Such as anticancer herbs and spices (green or rooibos tea, turmeric, ginger, thyme, rosemary, mint, basil, sage), omega-3 rich foods (salmon, sardines, mackerel, walnuts, green vegetables), cruciferous vegetables (broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage), garlic, onions and leeks, plums, blueberries and even a little bit of red wine.

Our Breakfast (For One Person)

 1)      Natural oats warmed in Soya milk.

2)      Add 1 large or 2 small fresh strawberries (ideal when available), half a dried apricot and when strawberries are not available, a few dried raisins and sultanas and if possible a teaspoon of blueberries.

3)      Grind together, 2 teaspoons of pre-mixed flax/linseed, sesame, pumpkin and sunflower seeds mixed in the ratio of 2,1,1,1 and 4 freshly shelled almond nuts, in a coffee grinder.

4)      To sweeten add a teaspoon of honey.

The seeds are pre-mixed, but not ground, and stored in a glass jar in a darkest part of the fridge.

Fresh fruits, seeds and nuts should only be prepared just before eating as they quickly lose nutrition and, in the case of the almonds, you would need 5x as many if you used pre-shelled ones.

Mid-day Snacks (1 of the following)

 1)      Half an apple, pear or banana

2)      Sweet corn (very good to fight cancer)

3)      Small fish or avocado salad sandwich (salad is a perfect food any time)

4)      Freshly made soup

General Principles Of The Main Meal

 We have cut out red meats due to high fat contents and the fact that dairy cows and beef cattle are fed additives to increase output and bulk size, as well as the practice of unnatural cross breeding.

These additives can never be processed out of the milk or the meat so any products will still be contaminated.

 We steam, or stir-fry in virgin olive oil the vegetables to keep in all the goodness.

 Dessert is usually a mixture of small portions of two or more fruits (you only need a palm full of each) with Soya cream or sorbet.

 I now, to give myself the best chance of survival, keep to the food and supplements mentioned with only a treat every now and then.

 I have found that eliminating sugar, salt and fat from my diet has made my taste buds appreciate the food I eat more and eliminated the desire for junk food.

 A List Of Some Of The Fruit And Vegetables Included In Our Diet

 1)      Broccoli                      Anti-cancer, Antioxidant - a perfect food.

2)      Strawberries                Anti-cancer, Antiviral, Antibacterial – a perfect food.

3)      Spinach                       Anti-cancer, boosts the immune system, supports bone health –                                         a perfect food.

4)      Avocado                     Good for blood (contains Selenium) – a perfect food.

5)      Oats                            Stimulates digestion, Antioxidant, excellent for bones – a perfect food.

6)      Papaya                         Anti-cancer, anti-parasitic, detoxifies – a perfect food.

7)      Almonds                     Anti-cancer – a perfect food.

8)      Brussel sprouts            Anti-cancer, Antioxidant - a perfect food.

9)      Cauliflower                 Anti-cancer, antioxidant – a perfect food.

10)  Mushrooms                 Supports immune system, anti-cancer – a perfect food.

11)  Garlic                          Antibacterial, antiseptic, antiviral, antibiotic – a perfect food.

12)  Flax/Linseed               Anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory – a perfect food.

13)  Sesame seeds              Antioxidant, reduces cholesterol, strengthens cardiovascular system.

14)  Sunflower seeds          More beneficial nutrient source than meats, eggs and cheese.

15)  Pumpkin seeds            Excellent for prostate health, omega 3, essential fatty acids.

16)  Peppercorns                 Antioxidant, antibacterial.

17)  Sweet potatoes            Highly nutritious, sooths inflammation of digestive tract, detoxifying.

18)  Celery                          Anti-cancer, aids digestion.

19)  Eggs                            Boosts immune system.

20)  Onions                         Antiseptic, antibiotic, detoxifying.

21)  Salmon                        Good for the immune system, bones and teeth.

22)  Game                           Supports the immune system, helps the body repair damage.

23)  Mackerel                     Strengthens the immune system.

24)  Kiwi Fruit                   Good source of digestive enzymes.

25)  Apricots                      Antioxidant, natural sweetener.

26)  Blueberries                  Antioxidant, improves circulation, benefit eyesight.

27)  Figs                             High in calcium.

28)  Cherries                       Natural antiseptic.

29)  Lemon                         Anti-cancer, antiseptic.

Supplements 

Vitamin D is one of the most essential vitamins needed to help the body to function correctly and it requires a certain amount daily.

The body can absorb vitamin ‘D’ from sunlight but even with regular exposure of the face and hands there is not enough absorb.

 A case study showed that a life guard working on the beach in Florida was tested and found to only have a third of the required amount of vitamin D.

 In my case I took one a day capsules for 2 years with no noticeable effect so for the past 12 years I have been drinking 15ml of liquid cod liver oil.  I also eat fish occasionally and I live in a sunny climate but still my blood test results were border line.

 The taste of cod liver oil is not to everybody’s liking, me included, but I found that I soon got used to it to the point that I can drink it as part of my morning routine and 2 minutes after taking it the taste has disappeared from my mouth, which is the reverse to when taking the capsules, then I had the after taste for hours.   I think one of the reasons the taste disappears quickly is because the diet has changed my taste buds enough that it makes the strong taste more bearable.

 Therefore in my opinion the health gain from taking cod liver oil liquid, and not the capsules, is well worth putting up with the taste.

Other Supplements

 1)      Spirulina                                  (Fights tumours, anti-fungal and antibacterial)

2)      Selenium                                 (Antioxidant mineral found in dairy products)

3)      Vitamin B12                           (Needed for growth and division of cells)

4)      Soya Isoflavonas                     (High protein, rich in vitamins, minerals and fibres)

5)      Pau d’Arco (Lapacho)           (Alleviation of chemotherapy symptoms, remission of tumours)

6)      Ginkgo Biloba                         (High in flavonoids helps fight cancer)

7)      Rooibos Tea                            (50x more antioxidants’ than green tea)

8)      Mug of Cocoa (75+% pure)    (Mixed with soya milk) (High in flavonoids to fight cancer)

Cider Vinegar

 I am sure you have all heard the old saying, “An apple a day keeps the doctor away.”  Apples are among the most health-giving fruits available to us as they contain a host of beneficial vitamins and minerals.

 Like the above saying cider vinegar has been around for generations and was consumed by our grandparents. Today it has lost popularity due, I think, to its strong sour taste which is also a reason given for not taking cod liver oil.

 Prior to taking cider vinegar I suffered with back pain, when sitting in one position too long or playing sports, this is due to bad arthritis at the top and bottom of my spine and also in several fingers which stopped me making a fist.

 I have been taking a tablespoon of cider vinegar 3x a day for about 5 years and now I don’t suffer any pain after working or playing squash.

 The best time to drink the vinegar is just before a meal as it helps your digestive system work well.

You can mix it in a squash drink or even a juice, such as apple but avoid orange, if you can’t drink it on its own.

 How It Works

 The vinegar dissolves and flushes the acetic acid crystals from the joint, which if not removed will cause inflammation of the joint.

 To test this, if you put a fresh egg into a glass full of vinegar for a couple of days. You will see, when you pour the liquid out, the yolk inside the egg because the shell has dissolved away.

 You must remember though, even if you avoid acetic acid foods, like oranges, the arthritis is in your blood and you can never get rid of it so if you stop taking the cider vinegar the inflammation will return.

 I think the benefits and wellbeing far outway the inconvenience of taking the vinegar.

Cider Vinegar Has Other Benefits:-

1)      Cider vinegar is a powerful detoxifying and purifying agent.

2)      Breaks down fatty, mucous and phlegm deposits within the body.

3)      Improves the health and function of the vital organs of the body, such as the kidneys, bladder and liver.

4)      Oxidizes and thins the blood, which is important in preventing high blood pressure.

5)      Promotes digestion, assimilation and elimination, all the while neutralizing any toxic substances that enter the body.

6)      Neutralize any harmful bacteria that may be found in certain foods.

7)      Helpful when used to treat asthma, nose bleeds, osteoporosis, cancer, Candida, high cholesterol, colds, constipation, muscle cramps, colitis, diabetes, diarrhoea, depression, dizziness, ear discharge, eczema, fatigue, gallstones, kidney stones, hay fever, headaches, heartburn, hiccups, indigestion, insomnia, kidney and bladder problems, metabolism, nasal congestion, sore throats, stiff joints, ulcers and weight loss.

 Things To Avoid

 1)      Sugar -- which feeds cancer growth and inflammation. Refined sugar is abundant in desserts, soft drinks (one can of Coke contains 12 coffee-size packs of sugar...), sauces (Ketchup, ready-made salad dressing, etc.), white flour which is equivalent to sugar as far as the body is concerned (white bread, bagels, muffins, etc.), and reducing pro-inflammatory omega-6 fatty acids (red meats, dairy).

2)      Large species of fish have high contents of mercury/kg in their system (due to the food chain of big fish eat small) and it will never leaves their system or yours.

3)     We stopped using a microwave because tests have shown that the molecular structure of the blood changes due to the microwave process still taking place for a further 20 minutes after removing it from the microwave. Microwaves were banned in Russia in the mid 70’s due to the results of tests carried out.    Think about it !!!  and reach your own decision 

4)      Avoid any drink that is stored in plastic bottles as the liquid moving about in the container absorbs the plasticizers from the container walls and stays in your system.

5)      Avoid using cling film or plastic storage containers to store food (especially hot food) for the same reason as plastic containers.

6)      Never eat any burnt food (toasted or barbequed) as the burnt parts are carcinogenic so poisonous.

7)      Drinking water from the tap is best filtered, if not boiled as well.

8)      Filter bottled water as there are questions as to the source of the water and the possibility of harmful impurities.

9)      In-house pollutants, some cosmetics, scratched Teflon pans, chemical residue of dry-cleaning, liquids in contact with hard plastics, radiomagnetic fields of prolonged cell phone exposures are the leading and most easily controlled causes.

Web pages to obtain further information in detail.

 http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=faq&dbid=16#dig2

http://www.ayurhelp.com/articles/digestivesystem.htm

http://www.pacifichealthcenter.com/blog/19-digestive-problems/

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/david-servanschreiber-md-phd/we-can-all-fight-cancer-b_b_469718.html