Results of Chat on Nutrition and Supplements

[Maryanne]

At this time a transcript of our first moderated chat on "Nutrition and Supplements" is not available. As a result, Becky and I thought it would be of benefit to start a thread specifically for posting what supplements members are taking and any additional ideas you might want to share on nutrition. Until transcripts become available, having all posts on the same subject in one thread will be of help to alot of us who were unable to attend as well as those who's questions might not have been answered.

Please feel free to post below,
Maryanne and Becky

[Maryanne]

Supplements I am currently taking:

Multivitamin
I3C 200mg 3 x day
CLA 1000mg 3 x day
Curcumin 900mg 2x day
CoQ10 100mg 3x day ( took 90mg a day during Chemo)
Green Tea Tabs (5) 350 mg a day( I also drink green tea throughout the day)
EPA/ DHA ( Life Extension contains 2000mg of fish oil,700mg of EPA,500mg of DHA) 2 x day
Mega GLA ( Life Extension) 2 tabs a day
Whey protein shake( Life Extension) raises glutathione in healthy cells reduces it in cancer cells) a day
1 tablespoon of flax seed a day
Cook with only olive oil and canola oil
No cheese or milk except yogurt plain
No meats of any kind
No sugar or white flour
Would definitely recommend Life Extension, they have a great site with search engine as well as an impressive advisory board.
Try to follow Dr Patrick Quillen's book "Fighting Cancer with Nutrition"
When on Chemo took only Multivit and COQ10
Currently on Herceptin for 1 year

[CherylS]

Good idea for this thread. I was unable to log in to the chat room last night, but really wanted to.

This is my list of supplements, approved by my onc. I would sure like to hear what you all have to say though.

Olive oil only
Vitamin C 1,000mg x 2 day
Calcium +D 600 mg. x 2 day
Multivitamin
Vitamin E 400 IU x 2 day
EPA, DHA 850mg and 200 mg x 2 day
evening primrose oil 1 day
alpha lipoic acid x 2 day
Whey Protein 20 grams day
milk thistle 1800mg x 2 day
COQ10 100 mg. day
Beta Carotene 25,000 IU day
garlic 1000 mg. day
magnesium 250 mg. day
B 100 complex 1 day
NAC 1 a.m. and 1 p.m.
melatonin 6 mg. at bedtime
I am on Arimidex
I take Atavan one or two per day
currently using Vicodin for pain from Tissue Expanders, 1-2 per day.

Looks like I should add curcurmin and flax oil. What is I3C? I just recently saw another post on this. Where is it available? Any other thoughts? I appreciate your help.

[Becky]

I take a multi with everything that includes literally everything. I also take:

100mg Co Q10 3X a day
1000 mg fish oil 4X a day
500 mg Evening Primrose 1X day
250 mg standardized olive leaf extract 3X day
50 mg zinc every other day
250 mg magnesium every other day (opposite day of zinc)
1000 mg maitake 2X day
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil daily
only cook with olive oil or canola oil
drink pomegrante juice - about 4 oz every morning
blueberries every day

That's it. I am thinking about Zyflamend.

For the record, Joe let me know today that he will probably be able to post the chat soon (for everyone to read). Next Sunday, December 11 at 8 pm EST is a free form chat. The next topic chat is on the 18th at 8pm EST and it's subject is Advice on getting thru diagnosis and chemo. Come prepared to let folks know what worked for you to relieve symptoms (like sucking on ice during chemo treatment in order to prevent or reduce mouth sores) and those on chemo to ask how to relieve symptoms.

Becky

[al from Canada]

As promised, a list of supplements that we use and links to (hopefully) validate their use is posted in a sepate thread called

Moderated Chat Room #1 Supplement summaries and links


Have fun,
Al

[RhondaH]

I have to admit…I’m the strange one of the group…I take 1, 200mg Coenzyme Q10 supplement daily to keep my heart healthy while on Herceptin. The BALANCE of what I take is dietary. I follow the Diana Grant Dyer Breast Cancer Diet (she is a 3 time cancer survivor who is a registered dietician and I STRONGLY recommend her diet, book and website. (http://www.prevention.com/article/0,5778,s1-1-93-43-270-1,00.html?) as when I was first diagnosed, I read that supplements provide only 10% of what the actual food does. I do it RELIGIOUSLY 6 days a week and give myself 1 “cheat day” (even this day I also drink my TBS of olive oil and the shake (which incidentally, my 4yo even likes). I am including some excerpts from her diet as to why I do what I do (comments in bold and parenthesis are mine or points I want to emphasize). I didn’t do it while on chemo as doing TEC (Taxotere, Epirubicin and Cytoxan) every 2 weeks for 6 rounds, I needed as much protein as I could get AND I got diarrhea REAL BAD. Also, you should stay away from grapefruit while “doing drugs” as you don’t want it to interfere with the efficacy of the drugs (I’ll start eating it AFTER Herceptin).



Breastcancer.org Info
Grapefruit juice and medication

• Certain components in grapefruit decrease the level of a particular enzyme that helps clear medications from the body
• This interaction causes unpredictable changes in the amount of medication that your body can absorb
• Medicine that accumulates in the body may cause an increase in side effects
• Do not eat grapefruit or drink the juice while on tamoxifen, since grapefruit can interfere with absorption



“I wanted everything that I put in my mouth to help maximize my potential for long-term survival from cancer.”



“3 to 6 Servings a Day of Whole Grain Foods
I threw away my white rice and now use a variety of whole grains such as brown rice, bulgur, and wheat berries. I buy only whole grain bagels, breads, cereals, crackers, tortillas, and pasta. This maximizes my intake of fiber, which may fight breast cancer by lowering levels of estrogen in the body.”



“1 or 2 Servings a Day of Beans
I can honestly say that my gastrointestinal tract has adapted, with a minimum of physical and social discomfort, to having beans every day! I put beans in everything from soups to salads to pizza for a huge fiber boost. I always have bean soup on hand, and I eat lots of hummus made from chickpeas. I use a lot of canned beans because they're quick and easy to keep in the pantry.” (I don’t like garbanzo beans so I put ½ c. in my shake every day…can hardly taste them.)



“A Handful of Nuts Several Times a Week
Nuts are a great source of fiber and another likely breast cancer foe--monounsaturated fats.” (I specifically eat (Brazil nuts are highest in selenium, hazelnuts are highest in a
compound like Taxol. I eat all nuts) 3 times a week.



“9+ Servings a Day of Fruits and Vegetables
As a dietitian, I had been eating my "five-a-day" consistently. But I moved up to nine or more a day because research shows that fruits and vegetables are packed with promising cancer-fighting phytochemicals. By eating twice as much produce, I hope to create a biochemical environment in my body that maximizes my ability to resist cancer.

Getting nine servings a day doesn't happen by accident; it takes thought and planning. So I aim for three servings at each meal plus fruit or veggie snacks each day. (The shake takes care of 3 servings, 1 serving for breakfast; the salad takes care of 3 servings, 1 serving for lunch and dinner the rest of the servings) Once you get the hang of it, it's much easier than you think. (I created a food diary checklist that helped me in the beginning and I would be happy to email it to anyone that is interested) Every single day, I try to include something from each of these groups:

· Cruciferous veggies: broccoli, broccoli sprouts, brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower (I rotate these each time I need a new one and cut up 1/2 c. for my salad)

· Lycopene-rich produce: tomatoes, red grapefruit, watermelon, guava (I put ¼ of a tomato on my salad)

· Beta-carotene-rich produce: winter squash, carrots, sweet potatoes (I put a carrot in my daily shake and rotate the others)

· Citrus fruit: oranges, grapefruit (see above)

· Berries: strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, blueberries (I keep bags of these in the freezer and rotate them)

· Dark green, leafy veggies: spinach, romaine, kale, collards, Swiss chard (I put a cup of these in my salad each day and rotate them)

Once a week, I eat shiitake mushrooms for their anticancer activity (I put ½ c of these in my salad once a week as well as slice them for a salmon recipe I have), and fresh or water-packed artichokes (I put ½ c of these on my salad once a week) for their silymarin content. (Also found in the herb milk thistle, silymarin supports optimal liver function.)”

“1 or 2 Servings a Day of Low-Fat Dairy Products
I use 1 percent rather than fat-free milk because dairy fat has the highest concentration of a molecule called conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), which has promising anticancer activity. I use only organic dairy products from non-BST-treated cows. (BST is a growth hormone.) Milk from non-BST cows contains lesser amounts of a compound called IGF-1. Higher blood levels of IGF-1 have been linked with several types of cancer. Much more research needs to be completed to clarify the relationship between IGF-1 and cancer, but I prefer to eliminate this possible risk factor from my diet.”



“1 or 2 Servings a Day of Soy Products
Soybeans contain many potentially anticarcinogenic compounds, including saponins, phytates, protease inhibitors, and isoflavones (weak estrogen compounds). So I have one or two servings a day of whole soy foods such as tofu or soy milk (BOTH are in the shake), which supply a total of about 25 to 50 mg of isoflavones. This amount is similar to a traditional diet in Japan, where women get far less breast cancer than do American women--though we don't have proof yet that soy is what protects them.”



“Fatty Fish Two or Three Times a Week
The omega-3 fats in fish such as salmon, mackerel, white tuna (NOT albacore as higher in mercury), sardines, and herring may help fight breast cancer. Almost all restaurants have salmon on the menu now, which is what I order when I eat out. And we eat two meals of these fish each week at home.



I've eliminated all meat and poultry from my diet to maximize my intake of plant foods. If you do eat meat, buy only very lean cuts and keep your portions small (the size of a deck of playing cards or less). (I do STILL eat meat 1 or 2 days a week though I am trying to incorporate a vegetarian meal in it’s place once in a while)”



“Garlic, Herbs, and Spices--Used Liberally
Every herb or spice increases your intake of phytochemicals that may fight cancer. (And they lend great flavor to my low-fat recipes!)” (I sprinkle turmeric and oregano, both of which have cancer fighting compounds, on my salad every day)



“1 to 2 Tablespoons of Ground Flaxseed a Day
Flax is a source of lignan precursors, which are converted inside the body to a weak antiestrogen that may be useful in preventing or treating estrogen-responsive tumors. Flax also supplies a plant form of omega-3 fats. The optimal amount of flax to consume is the subject of much current research.” (this is put in the shake)



“4 to 6 Cups a Day of Green Tea, Either Hot or Iced
I make a half-gallon pitcher of iced green tea every other day. I drink it for the promising anticancer activity of a compound it contains called epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG).” (OOPS, gotta get my 3rd cup)



“Extra Virgin Olive Oil or Canola Oil for Cooking
Both of these oils are high in monounsaturated fats, which may protect against breast cancer. I always look for processed foods with no trans fats (from partially hydrogenated oils) because these may increase cancer risk.

My goal is a low-fat diet with 20 percent of total calories from fat. Is the amount of fat you eat linked to breast cancer risk? Research is conflicting, but a low-fat diet does make it easier to stay trim, and that's another way to fight breast cancer.” (Because I don’t cook w/ olive oil daily I drink a TBS per day as well as make an Italian salad dressing w/ it, otherwise it is the only oil I use)



“Diana's Phytochemical Super Shake
This shake rocks! It equals one serving of vegetables, two servings of fruit, one serving of soy, one serving of ground flaxseed, and one serving of whole grain (wheat bran plus wheat germ)--plus one-third of your daily fiber. It's also delicious!

· 2.5 oz soft or silken tofu (about 1/3 c)

· 6 baby carrots

· 3/4 c fresh or frozen unsweetened fruit

· 1 Tbsp wheat bran

· 1 Tbsp wheat germ

· 1 Tbsp ground flaxseed

· 3/4 c calcium-fortified soy milk

· 3/4 c calcium-fortified orange juice

Put all the ingredients in a blender. Process on low speed, then increase to high for 1 to 3 minutes, or until fully blended. Makes one serving (3 cups)

Per serving: 313 cal, 18 g pro, 49 g carb, 9 g fat, 9 g fiber, 565 mg calcium, 89 mg sodium”

Good luck and good health

Rhonda Hoffman

An exellent resource. Well done.

RhondaH that looks like a very well worked out diet.

I agree Life Extension is a very good site.

Have a look at Annie Applseed as well - run by an indignant gritty and motivated sufferer with an interest in nutrition etc.

Rhondah's diet is among other things low in omega sixes. I parrot on but I really do beleive it is essential to cut out omega six sources looking for an intake balance of 1:1 omega three to six.

RB

[Marlys]

Rhonda,
I would like to see your food diary checklist . I sent an e-mail several days ago but I assume you didn't get.
Thanks, Marlys

[katcdale@yahoo.com]

thanks for the nutrition advise and what your are doing, I may try it!! Kat

[RhondaH]

As promised, here is a previous post that I (and others responded to) as to our current diet and supplement regimen. I hope you AND others find this helpful as well as please add your own regimen so we may increase our resources. Thank you.

Rhonda

PS...OOPS, Brazil nuts are for selenium...

[R.B.]

White buttom mushrooms an aromatase inhibitor.

Something else to add a little of to the diet?

RB

http://www.cbcrp.org/research/PageGr...?grant_id=3801

ABSTRACT

.........White button mushrooms are found to suppress breast cancer cell growth by preventing the synthesis of estrogen, the female hormone.........

[kat in the delta]

That DR. Barrie ______said that if you got anything from a health food store, get a filtered fish oil or/and a medicinal mushroom extract. with a label.....She mentioned massages and accupuncture for pain as well as yoga, meditation,... and for preventing lymphdem., she said to use light weights.... and that women who exercised by even walking briskly had a 50% advantage of the cancer NOT coming back over those who did nothing..............for what its worth to any of you. Anyone else listen to that teleconference this past week???? kat in the delta

[RhondaH]

Would anyone like to ADD to this? Take care and God bless.

Rhonda

[lu ann]

Hi Rhonda,

I'm just curious. Are you currently NED or are you still in some kind of treatment? It seems with your discipline that you are healthy.

My husband and I used to belong to an Organic Farm Co-Op and learned about eating foods that were locally in season. We also canned tomatoes, beets, and applesauce last year. This year we added canned strawberry jam. Were saving it for a cold winter day to eat on toast. Yummy!

I very seldom if ever eat fresh strawberries and tomatoes out of season. They are picked either white or green and gassed before they arrive to ripen. Yuck! I guess I'm just too spoiled from the wonderfull flavour local fruits and vegetables provide during our growing season.

Where are you moving to? Good Luck.

Blessings from Lu Ann

[RhondaH]

Lu Ann,

I was fortunate to have only been Stage 1 at dx, BUT I also don't feel that there is ANY magic bullet, so I put EVERYTHING in my arsenal to prevent further recurrence. I STRONGLY feel that POOR diet (I used to BINGE eat candy bars, junk food, processed food...if I got 1 or 2 fruit and veg...FRESH, per day in, I was lucky), NO exercise and I think what cinced it for me was my dad becoming terminally ill and my having to take care of him from 100 miles away as well as being the single mother of a 3 yo son and full time employee to an insurance company (thank GOODNESS they have been so good to me). I'm a FIRM believer that EXTREME stress changes DNA (I've read studies that there is a "healthy" amount of everyday stress that a person can take, but I was having panic attacks of what was happening to him as I was his sole caregiver and didn't know what was going on with him at times and the day I was to see a counselor, my dad went in the hospital for the last time and I had to go out of town) so, yes, I AM NED and finished my last year of Herceptin 8/10/06. I wanted to join a CSA this year, but they ran out of spots, but they DO sell their extra at the farmers market and OH is it beautiful not to mention reasonable. I also, shop locally as much as I can and cook in season and have SO much fun trying new recipes (found some DELICIOUS sounding butternut squash recipes, I can't wait to try). I was able to freeze asparagus, rhubarb, blueberries, strawberries, raspberries (40 lbs ea of the last 3 as I put them in my smoothie every day AND buying organic, locally AND in bulk was MUCH cheaper than in the store, prepackaged, non organic). I must admit, beets are something I've NEVER been able to acquire a taste for (I'll eat ANYTHING else), but it is SO bad that my mother LITERALLY used to put me in the bathtub to feed me on "beet" day as I would spit it out and I have pix to prove it...now I'm sorry, but I'm not going to go to THAT extreme to get my child to eat something. My weakness is pumpkin butter (mom and I are looking for a recipe for it) and I go to the local farm to buy it. I actually already moved on 5/1/06 and only about a mile from where I was (in Grand Rapids, Michigan) to a WONDERFUL tree lined street with...hold onto your hats 40 kids on the street over a dozen of which are boys Tony's age (he's hosting his first sleepover tonight and 3 of them are coming over...he wanted more, but my basement is not unpacked yet and he needs practice first) so I had better get busy. Take care and God bless.

[kat in the delta]

Maryanne and all,
I just listened to a doctor from MSK cancer center and she said all we need is a multivitamin and Calcium with D. If you have a ? about herbs, supplements etc,,,The doctor said to go to the only official website: www.MSKCC.org or small case letters:www.mskcc.org. kat in the delta