Supplements

As I discuss in detail in my evidence-based book, A Cancer Prevention Guide for the Human Race (http://www.amazon.com/Cancer-Prevention-Guide-Human-Race/dp/1608446913), the overwhelming majority of disease prevention research, including cancer prevention research, is based upon low-level types of research, including survey-based public health studies and retrospective clinical studies. While these methods of research are rather quick and inexpensive to perform, the data that they produce is highly prone to various forms of bias. That is to say, their conclusions are often not highly accurate. On the other hand, prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical research trials, when performed properly, provide the highest level of research evidence available. However, because this type of research is so demanding, and so expensive to perform, very few cancer prevention studies are performed using this high-level approach. With this in mind, it’s important to acknowledge that the vast majority of research on Vitamin D (http://www.cancercenter.com/cancer-center-news/news/vitamin-D-deficiency.cfm) as a cancer prevention agent is based upon methods that produce rather weak (and often contradictory) data. However, among all of the known vitamins, it is fair to say that only Vitamin D is still a reasonable contender as a potential cancer prevention agent, and particularly for people with low levels of this vitamin in their blood. Specifically, based upon available research data, Vitamin D appears to be potentially most effective as a prevention agent for colorectal cancer, with most studies suggesting a 25 to 30 percent reduction in the risk (http://www.doctorwascher.com/vitamin-d/vitamin-d-significantly-reduces-colorectal-cancer-risk.html) of colorectal cancer in patients who take Vitamin D supplements. In terms of recommending a daily dose for Vitamin D supplementation, there is no consensus as to how much Vitamin D should be taken as a supplement, although healthy patients can usually tolerate 1,000 to 3,000 IU per day without serious side effects. However, unfortunately, I cannot make specific recommendations regarding the optimal amount of daily Vitamin D intake at this time. Moreover, Vitamin D can be toxic when taken in high doses, and can lead to kidney stones, kidney failure, calcifications in the soft tissues of the body, GI tract ulcers, and other serious health problems. Therefore, if you are considering the addition of daily Vitamin D supplements as part of a cancer prevention lifestyle (as I discuss in my book), I recommend that you first discuss this with your personal physician. I would also recommend routine testing of your Vitamin D levels, to reduce the risk of Vitamin D toxicity. As I discuss in detail in my evidence-based book, A Cancer Prevention Guide for the Human Race (http://www.amazon.com/Cancer-Prevention-Guide-Human-Race/dp/1608446913), the overwhelming majority of disease prevention research, including cancer prevention research, is based upon low-level types of research, including survey-based public health studies and retrospective clinical studies. While these methods of research are rather quick and inexpensive to perform, the data that they produce is highly prone to various forms of bias. That is to say, their conclusions are often not highly accurate. On the other hand, prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical research trials, when performed properly, provide the highest level of research evidence available. However, because this type of research is so demanding, and so expensive to perform, very few cancer prevention studies are performed using this high-level approach. With this in mind, it’s important to acknowledge that the vast majority of research on Vitamin D (http://www.cancercenter.com/cancer-center-news/news/vitamin-D-deficiency.cfm) as a cancer prevention agent is based upon methods that produce rather weak (and often contradictory) data. However, among all of the known vitamins, it is fair to say that only Vitamin D is still a reasonable contender as a potential cancer prevention agent, and particularly for people with low levels of this vitamin in their blood. Specifically, based upon available research data, Vitamin D appears to be potentially most effective as a prevention agent for colorectal cancer, with most studies suggesting a 25 to 30 percent reduction in the risk (http://www.doctorwascher.com/vitamin-d/vitamin-d-significantly-reduces-colorectal-cancer-risk.html) of colorectal cancer in patients who take Vitamin D supplements. In terms of recommending a daily dose for Vitamin D supplementation, there is no consensus as to how much Vitamin D should be taken as a supplement, although healthy patients can usually tolerate 1,000 to 3,000 IU per day without serious side effects. However, unfortunately, I cannot make specific recommendations regarding the optimal amount of daily Vitamin D intake at this time. Moreover, Vitamin D can be toxic when taken in high doses, and can lead to kidney stones, kidney failure, calcifications in the soft tissues of the body, GI tract ulcers, and other serious health problems. Therefore, if you are considering the addition of daily Vitamin D supplements as part of a cancer prevention lifestyle (as I discuss in my book), I recommend that you first discuss this with your personal physician. I would also recommend routine testing of your Vitamin D levels, to reduce the risk of Vitamin D toxicity.

I would recommend making regular stops to rest and sleep. Also eating whole, fiber-rich foods (as opposed to highly processed foods) will give you slow and steady energy throughout the trip rather than short bursts of energy followed by a crash (of energy, not your car). I would recommend making regular stops to rest and sleep. Also eating whole, fiber-rich foods (as opposed to highly processed foods) will give you slow and steady energy throughout the trip rather than short bursts of energy followed by a crash (of energy, not your car).

You can support your liver, which does process ALL supplements and medications, with milk thistle. This is an herb that has been studied in a variety of liver ailments including advanced cirrhosis. It seems to calm and cleanse the liver. Also some say alpha-lipoic acid.

I take ALA all the time, but take milk thistle every three months for about one month.

Also the Gerson therapy includes a liver cleanse using coffee enemas which I personally have been doing since 1995. I like it a lot and there is a lot of discussion about it on our website annieappleseedproject.org Also about milk thistle - we show some abstracts.
Good luck. You can support your liver, which does process ALL supplements and medications, with milk thistle. This is an herb that has been studied in a variety of liver ailments including advanced cirrhosis. It seems to calm and cleanse the liver. Also some say alpha-lipoic acid.

I take ALA all the time, but take milk thistle every three months for about one month.

Also the Gerson therapy includes a liver cleanse using coffee enemas which I personally have been doing since 1995. I like it a lot and there is a lot of discussion about it on our website annieappleseedproject.org Also about milk thistle - we show some abstracts.
Good luck.

I would monitor vitamin D regularly (as both vitamin D-OH25 and vitamin D 1,25). For those with cancer history, I like to see the results between 55 & 80 ng/ml. Supplement if low. Vitamin D has an impact on overall body function, cancer survival, blood sugar metabolism, thyroid health, etc. In the NY/NJ area, our latitude is too high to make vitamin D from around now through Feb/March. So, winter is an important time to check it and supplement as needed.
B vitamin complex (all 8 of them) is also important, to make red blood cells, make some neurotransmitters, help clear excess estrogen, etc. As a water-soluble vitamin, much of the B family is lost during stress. So, this should be taken on a daily basis. You need to take this with food in your stomach, or it will make you nauseous otherwise.
Omega-3 from fish/krill/ or plankton sources is another crucial supplement, an essential fat. We do not make this nutrient, and need it for many essential bodily functions. It protects the brain, forms part of each cell membrane, is a systemic anti-inflammatory and is cancer-protective. Dosage varies with need.
Depending on your thyroid situation, you may also need selenium, iodine or tyrosine. Or, if you have an autoimmune thyroid component, I would add herbs to balance immune over-response.
You might want to add a multi, some antioxidants, and a cal-mag with k. Your choice of additional supplements would be expanded as your labs indicate. As for overall well-being, I'd bring in adaptogen herbs, anti-cancer herbs/supplements as needed, to protect from overall stress, add immune-support, and all selected for your unique constitution. This could be fine-tuned based on a thorough assessment. I would monitor vitamin D regularly (as both vitamin D-OH25 and vitamin D 1,25). For those with cancer history, I like to see the results between 55 & 80 ng/ml. Supplement if low. Vitamin D has an impact on overall body function, cancer survival, blood sugar metabolism, thyroid health, etc. In the NY/NJ area, our latitude is too high to make vitamin D from around now through Feb/March. So, winter is an important time to check it and supplement as needed.
B vitamin complex (all 8 of them) is also important, to make red blood cells, make some neurotransmitters, help clear excess estrogen, etc. As a water-soluble vitamin, much of the B family is lost during stress. So, this should be taken on a daily basis. You need to take this with food in your stomach, or it will make you nauseous otherwise.
Omega-3 from fish/krill/ or plankton sources is another crucial supplement, an essential fat. We do not make this nutrient, and need it for many essential bodily functions. It protects the brain, forms part of each cell membrane, is a systemic anti-inflammatory and is cancer-protective. Dosage varies with need.
Depending on your thyroid situation, you may also need selenium, iodine or tyrosine. Or, if you have an autoimmune thyroid component, I would add herbs to balance immune over-response.
You might want to add a multi, some antioxidants, and a cal-mag with k. Your choice of additional supplements would be expanded as your labs indicate. As for overall well-being, I'd bring in adaptogen herbs, anti-cancer herbs/supplements as needed, to protect from overall stress, add immune-support, and all selected for your unique constitution. This could be fine-tuned based on a thorough assessment.

Since I work on an individual basis, I'd need much more information. Have you had your vitamin D levels tested (vitamin D-OH 25 & 1,25 vitamin D)http://www.vitamindcouncil.org/health-conditions/cancer/breast-cancer/ ? Low D is a big factor in prevention and survival in breast cancer.
I'd look at recent labs to see what your blood sugar (as HgbA1c) is. Before composing a complete program, I'd check for inflammation (c-reactive protein), copper, ceruloplasmin, zinc levels, thyroid status. Plus the regular complete blood count and chem screen. I look at your diet to see if you are missing major groups of nutrients. As a base, I often recommend vitamin D3, B complex, omega-3 oils and a host of anti-oxidant/anti-inflammatory supplements based on your labs. If you are anemic or have low thyroid or high blood sugar or chronic fatigue or poor digestion or active cancer, etc., then these factors are all considered, and supplements added to support your situation. Then, we can track your progress and repeat the labs in several months and adjust from there. Since I work on an individual basis, I'd need much more information. Have you had your vitamin D levels tested (vitamin D-OH 25 & 1,25 vitamin D)http://www.vitamindcouncil.org/health-conditions/cancer/breast-cancer/ ? Low D is a big factor in prevention and survival in breast cancer.
I'd look at recent labs to see what your blood sugar (as HgbA1c) is. Before composing a complete program, I'd check for inflammation (c-reactive protein), copper, ceruloplasmin, zinc levels, thyroid status. Plus the regular complete blood count and chem screen. I look at your diet to see if you are missing major groups of nutrients. As a base, I often recommend vitamin D3, B complex, omega-3 oils and a host of anti-oxidant/anti-inflammatory supplements based on your labs. If you are anemic or have low thyroid or high blood sugar or chronic fatigue or poor digestion or active cancer, etc., then these factors are all considered, and supplements added to support your situation. Then, we can track your progress and repeat the labs in several months and adjust from there.

Make sure to talk to your doctor about your supplements, since some supplements can interact with medications. Because doctors may not know about all supplement-drug interactions, you may also need to do your own research and pay close attention to any side effects. Do not take more of a supplement than is recommended, because many nutrients can be toxic if you take too much.

For more about vitamins and supplements, see our feature article: http://www.cfah.org/hbns/preparedpatient/Vol4/Prepared-Patient-Vol4-Issue4.cfm
Add New Answer Make sure to talk to your doctor about your supplements, since some supplements can interact with medications. Because doctors may not know about all supplement-drug interactions, you may also need to do your own research and pay close attention to any side effects. Do not take more of a supplement than is recommended, because many nutrients can be toxic if you take too much.

For more about vitamins and supplements, see our feature article: http://www.cfah.org/hbns/preparedpatient/Vol4/Prepared-Patient-Vol4-Issue4.cfm
Add New Answer

Herbs are plants that are commonly used as health supplements. Herbs are also used for flavoring, like mint, and may have medicinal qualities, such as aiding digestion.

For more about vitamins and supplements, see our feature article: http://www.cfah.org/hbns/preparedpatient/Vol4/Prepared-Patient-Vol4-Issue4.cfm
Herbs are plants that are commonly used as health supplements. Herbs are also used for flavoring, like mint, and may have medicinal qualities, such as aiding digestion.

For more about vitamins and supplements, see our feature article: http://www.cfah.org/hbns/preparedpatient/Vol4/Prepared-Patient-Vol4-Issue4.cfm

Yes, FDA regulations for vitamins and supplements are similar to FDA regulations for food products. Note that health supplements do not have to meet FDA standards for drugs, which are more rigorous and require extensive testing for safety.

For more about vitamins and supplements, see our feature article: http://www.cfah.org/hbns/preparedpatient/Vol4/Prepared-Patient-Vol4-Issue4.cfm
Yes, FDA regulations for vitamins and supplements are similar to FDA regulations for food products. Note that health supplements do not have to meet FDA standards for drugs, which are more rigorous and require extensive testing for safety.

For more about vitamins and supplements, see our feature article: http://www.cfah.org/hbns/preparedpatient/Vol4/Prepared-Patient-Vol4-Issue4.cfm