Sleep is absolutely crucial for a number of reasons…

1) Western scientific studies have shown that tumours can grow 2 to 3 times faster in animals that are deprived of sleep. Other studies have shown that people who get short amounts of sleep, disturbed sleep or who work night shifts (when the body should be at rest), all had considerably higher risks of developing cancers in comparison to those who get reasonably healthy amounts of sleep.

In laboratory experiments, organo sulfur compounds found in ordinary garlic have been shown to be effective
in destroying human glioblastoma cells, a common, fast growing and life threatening type of brain tumor.

The study was conducted by researchers at the Medical University of South Carolina and appeared in the scientific journal Cancer.

This is the first in a series of articles which shows the benefits of including mushrooms regularly in your diet to help prevent the onset of cancer and to help in the treatment of cancer too.

In Asia many types of mushrooms (from white button mushrooms, to Reishi and Shitake etc.) are often used to help in the treatment of cancer. They are even used with western medical drugs as part of standard treatments in hospitals in Japan.

They are believed to do many things, the most important of which is probably in the strengthening of the immune system which then creates more natural killer cells to attack the cancer.

Two studies published in the journals "Cancer Research" and the "Journal Of Nutrition" by researchers at the Beckman Research Institute in California, found that mice fed diets containing 5 to 10% blueberry powder had significantly reduced growth and spread of their aggressive triple negative breast cancer cells.

These type of breast cancer cells are highly resistant to chemotherapy and account for about 10% of all breast cancer cases.

A study published in the Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry by scientists at Texas A&M Agrilife Research, USA, found that breast cancer metastasis had been inhibited by treatments that make use of simple peach extract.

Laboratory tests discovered that compounds in the peaches were beneficial to stopping the metastasis of breast cancer in mice.

Chemotherapy are a group of drugs that basically act like very bitter poisons. Their aim is to destroy and kill cancerous cells; and then to get the body to push them (and the bitter chemical chemo poison) out of itself.
 
The problem is the chemo also often kills healthy cells along with cancerous ones. By destroying good healthy cells and by stripping away needed nutrients and hormones, it can cause major disruption to both short and long term health.
 
Unfortunately these drugs can be so harmful and dangerous that they can also often cause significant damage to and even the death of the patient before they have successfully removed all the cancer. The two most common ways this occurs is through the weakening of organs which leads to their failure; and through the destruction of the immune system which leaves your body defenceless. An ordinary common cold or a simple stomach bug, under these circumstances can have the power to turn into something very dangerous and even cause death.
 
Western doctors find themselves trapped in a very difficult dilemma: if they do not give enough chemo the cancer may kill the patient, but if they give too much then it can be the chemo (through organ failure, weak immunity and infections) that ends the patient’s life.

Eastern Traditional Medicines have long valued the humble walnut as both a highly nutritious food to enhance health and also as one that can be helpful in the treatment of many illnesses.

Western science is now catching up as it is starting to deliver many studies on how important this variety of nut is to benefiting health. We will be taking a look at lots of these studies that in particular relate to cancer in future blogs.  

This article is the first of many which will address the importance of getting good quality sleep to help prevent the growth and occurrence of cancer in the body.

Unfortunately in the past Western Medicine presented the sun as a danger and threat to our health - a main cause of skin cancer. The advice was to cover up or to stay out of it.

This however has turned out to be yet another mistake; don't get me wrong - getting burnt in the sun is a really bad idea and can be a cause of both skin problems and skin cancer. Too much sun can even be a cause of wrinkles and making you look old before your time.

But science is now showing that when you don't get enough sun you will do more harm to your body and your health. You will actually increase your chances of getting lots of types of cancers and many other serious illnesses too - such as strokes and heart disease.

Science has also started to show how sun exposure if someone has cancer can actually help in their treatment - by making vitamin D which can destroy mutated cells, by boosting the immune system which again targets cancer cells and by generally strengthening their overall health (and mood) which keeps them powered up as they fight the disease. 

In a series of articles to be posted to this blog, I will show you the many ways that Yoga and other exercises designed to build energy can be helpful in preventing and treating cancer.

Yoga has similar principles as those found in Tai chi and Qi Gong.

It is not merely a set of stretching exercises; as it also involves the stimulation of the bodies energy, advanced breathing methods and meditation techniques for the mind and soul too.

Along with Qigong it is an exercise system that I highly recommend, not just for preventing or helping to treat cancer, but for gaining superior health and well being.