From a Western nutritional perspective, we know that including plenty of fresh fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean meats helps strengthen our overall health, improve cardiovascular health, and build strong immune systems.

A Chinese nutritional perspective embraces those ideals and expands the role of food as medicine by recognizing that certain types of food have specific resonances with the energies of the immune system and our ability to release cancer-causing pathogens and support the body in recovering from surgery. , radiation and chemotherapy.

turnips

This remarkable but common healing food impacts all 12 meridians (energy pathways in the body) to help us eliminate pathogens and detoxify the body.

Turnips in the diet can provide support for people undergoing chemotherapy or radiation therapy or for those who need to detoxify from the stress chemicals that are formed as we respond to everyday life.

In Asian countries, soups are made with turnips, carrots, and cabbage to help strengthen the immune system and heal from viruses, bacterial infections, and other pathogens. A cup or two of this type of soup 4 to 7 times a week can strengthen internal organs and promote a vibrant flow of energy throughout the body. When our energy flows smoothly and unobstructed, disease cannot exist.

You can easily make this soup using a base of 4 cups organic chicken broth (organic or low-sodium vegetable broth), 3 large diced turnips, 3 large diced carrots, and 1/2 cup white cabbage. Add 1-2 teaspoons roasted garlic, 1 small red onion, 2 teaspoons fennel seed, and 2 stalks of finely chopped organic celery for flavor.

Bring to a boil, then simmer for one hour.

Foods rich in lycopene

Lycopene is similar to beta-carotene, a powerful antioxidant that helps prevent cancer. Lycopene is naturally produced in the prostate and decreases with age. However, we can help maintain healthy lycopene levels through diet.

Foods rich in lycopene include red vegetables and fruits, especially cooked or processed tomatoes. Other foods include pink grapefruit (check for interactions with certain cancer drugs and other medications), watermelon, apricots, and pink guava.

However, before you rush out and buy lycopene supplements, you should also be aware that the FDA has questioned the efficacy of lycopene supplements and high consumption of lycopene-rich foods after examining data from 107 observational studies and 23 studies that included blood tests. .

The FDA stated that consuming lycopene supplements or large amounts of lycopene-rich foods does not have a significant impact on health and prostate cancer. The FDA’s position on this issue is reported in the Journal of Cancer Institute issue (July 10, 2007).

However, there is anecdotal clinical evidence of clients improving their PSA levels (levels that indicate prostate health) by adding lycopene-rich foods to their diets.

From a Chinese nutritional perspective, lycopene and other antioxidants are not magic bullets. Instead, it is believed that the presence of antioxidants such as lycopene, in combination with other nutritional and energetic properties of food, may be a powerful tool in helping the body detoxify and protect against cancer. That’s why it’s important to take a balanced approach and integrate a wide variety of foods into your diet.

Similarly, the American Cancer Society advocates a diet comprised of a wide variety of foods rather than overindulging in any one food or taking high levels of antioxidant supplements.

Pumpkin seeds

This simple food seems to decrease the activation of prostatic cell multiplication by testosterone and DHT (dihydrotestosterone, a testosterone conversion product). As a result, pumpkin seeds can help prevent enlargement of the prostate gland.

Pumpkin seeds help create healthier cholesterol levels and protect bones by providing a source of zinc (low levels are associated with more hip fractures and osteoporosis).

Sprinkle raw pumpkin seeds over salads, soups, and other favorite foods. For added flavor, you may want to toast the seeds, but the nutritional value is higher when eaten raw.

organic chicken

In the Chinese nutritional system, chicken helps strengthen the internal organs of the kidneys, which are said to govern our reproductive organs at the energy level. Organic chicken is free of hormones, antibiotics, and pesticides, and helps detoxify the body. Chicken is also a lean source of protein.

Include other lean organic meats and fresh produce to further reduce toxins in the diet.

Affordable sources of organic produce and some meats are available at local farmers’ markets. Also, you may want to join a community garden to get the freshest sources inexpensively and help others partake of organic food.

drink healing drinks

Decaffeinated green tea, chrysanthemum tea, barley tea, red clover, and saw palmetto tea – all of these natural teas are rich in antioxidants and have detoxifying properties.

Chrysanthemum has a cooling and detoxifying effect. When combined with a small amount of decaffeinated green tea, cinnamon, and ginger, chrysanthemum can help calm nausea caused by chemotherapy and radiation therapy.

Trained Chinese herbalists often combine chrysanthemum with other herbs to create a decoction or tea that helps cure prostate cancer.

Foods to Avoid

Lower the level of sugar, caffeine, and fat in your diet, particularly trans fatty acids. Read labels. When you see the word “hydrogenated,” it’s a clue that trans fatty acids are present. All of these foods create excessive heat in the body at the energy level. Since the energy of cancer is hot, if we decrease the foods that feed the heat, we can also protect our body against cancer.

Similarly, chemotherapy and radiation are also hot in nature. By reducing spicy foods in our diet, we can empower ourselves to minimize the side effects of these types of treatments and detoxify the body.

Cut out sugar substitutes like sucralose (Splenda) and aspartame (Nutrasweet). Although many studies have produced data suggesting that these sugar substitute sweeteners are safe for regular human consumption, these products do not contain internal organ healing properties.

Also cut out sweeteners that contain saccharin, which studies show is associated with certain health risks, including birth defects and cancer.

Stevia is an all-natural sweetener that is appropriate for diabetics or others trying to cut out sugar. Stevia Rebaudiana is an herb from the chrysanthemum family that provides natural sweetness without raising glucose levels in diabetics, and contains properties said to help balance high blood pressure, help balance the pancreas, and reduce heartburn.

Please note that the information in this article is for educational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose or treat any medical condition. Check with your doctor before making any new dietary changes when recovering from prostate health problems.