www.DrDonna.info is another source of health articles.

Raw Food and Cancer Prevention
Connection Revealed

Until now, we never really knew what made raw foods, especially fermented ones, so good for those with cancer.

A diet to prevent cancer or a vitamin that can decrease one's chance to get cancer has always been of interest to those who have a family history of cancer.

Tumor Cell Growth is Studied In-Depth by Researchers

Tumor cells have their own metabolic pathways, pathways separate from what normal body cells use. When the tumor cell's metabolic pathways are activated, the tumor grows. When the tumor cell's metabolic pathways are not in use, the tumor dies. This was information reported in the journal Nutrition and Cancer last year.

The two metabolic pathways that tumor cells use are the transketolase pathway and the glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase pathway (G-6-PD).

And what researcher Maria Cascante and her colleagues found was that one of the factors that can stimulate the pathway that makes tumors grow comes from the diet, and that it's possible we may have some sort of control over tumor cells' growth.

The factor in the diet that stimulates this metabolic pathway for tumor cell growth is thiamine, vitamin B1. Thiamine regulates the messenger RNA synthesis, and thus causes the growth of the tumor. This in itself is not so surprising, since other vitamins and minerals have been discovered to be directly or indirectly related to cancer.

Background Nutrition Info that May Be Missing

But there's something else to be considered here. You see, in all vitamins and minerals, there are several forms of that vitamin or mineral that the body uses. There are natural forms, and synthetic forms. The same holds for hormones. There are natural and synthetic forms of hormones.

Most of us are familiar with the L-form and the D-form of different vitamins. For example, vitamin E can be purchased in the D-form, which is the active form, or the D,L-form which contains a percentage of active and a percentage of inactive forms.

What the inactive forms do in the body in some cases, such as a synthetic estrogen compound, is attach to important receptor sites and possibly 'turn on' genes that cause metabolic pathways that can do damage in the body or even lead to cancer.

But back to the research.

From a nutritional point of view, one couldn't conclude that because thiamine stimulates the metabolic pathway that feeds tumor cells, all thiamine is bad. One couldn't conclude that because thiamine is added to the diet as a supplement in processed foods, this should be stopped.

Some Misconceptions in Cancer Research

From a nutritional point of view, one could conclude, though, that all the different types of thiamine could be checked to see their specific effect on the transketolase pathway that feeds tumor cells, and that if one of them turns out to be a culprit in the tumor cell connection, its use in foods could be evaluated.

What generally happens in research studies is that a particular substance such as vitamin E is found to be problematic with a certain type of cancer. Then researchers make a blanket statement that all vitamin E is bad. This is not correct, though. If the specifics were not discussed, then it's actually harmful to the public to report that vitamin E had no effect with a certain type of cancer, because the truth is that it was a specific type of vitamin E, most likely the inactive form that the body cannot handle, that was responsible.

The same thing holds for thiamine.

Diet, Raw Foods and Cancer or Tumor Cell Growth Prevention

Researchers reported also that there was an interesting connection of raw foods to cancer they had not considered before. In cultures where a lot of raw foods are consumed, there is a lower incidence of cancer and tumors. These raw, and specifically fermented foods, contain high amounts of an enzyme called thiaminases. The thiaminases destroy thiamine in the body.

Natural healing practitioners have known for years that diet is directly related to cancer. They have reported that raw foods and raw fermented foods are extremely helpful in protocols for patients with cancers and tumors. They have reported that because the foods are in their natural form, these foods hold a high vitality score, or a high energy score, and that high energy vibration is transferred to the body. Although this could be true, it's also possible that the thiaminases in raw fermented foods are responsible for shutting off the transketolase activity of the tumor cells.

Raw Fermented Foods in Your Diet. All About Kefir Milk

What raw fermented foods do you have in your diet? Sauerkraut, kim-chee, miso, kefir, yogurt, raw fish, and raw meat? My favorite is Trader Joe's kefir milk which I drink daily. The kefir milk comes in quart sizes in two varieties, strawberry kefir milk and unflavored kefir milk. It is easy to create kefir milk recipes since kefir milk is very similar to yogurt in flavor and texture. My favorite kefir recipe is very simple: In a 10-ounce glass, add about a handful of frozen cherries. Then pour unflavored kefir milk on top. Add a teaspoon of cinnamon. A half teaspoon of vanilla extract is optional. Mix together and eat with a spoon.

Connection with Cancer and Diet

From a nutritional point of view, Cascante's research about high thiamine levels in tumor cells supports the use of these raw or cultured foods, something natural healing advocates have been saying for years and years. Researching this even further would no doubt prove some very interesting connections between cancer research and show us how to really inhibit tumors with diet.

Additional Resources on Cancer and Cancer Research

1. Cancer Research 1 Interested in more cancer research? Here's one of my favorite sites.
2. Cancer Research 2 This is the American Association for Cancer Research website, another excellent site.