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Go_Dogs
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Jun 21, 2013

Dietary Supplements

I probably should have posted this on the 'Disabilities and General Health Issues' thread, but I honestly don't like to go there.
Anyhow. I noticed several forum members are dealing with cancer. Me, being one of them. I have been taking broccoli sprout extract capsules for 3 years. Who really knows if it's helping, but I'm still here. When I went to reorder it, the website recommended Turmeric extract. If you know anything about these supplement websites, they really can't tell you what anything they sell is good for, so they are very vague.
Question: From what I can gather on the Internet, Turmeric is an antioxidant that fights inflammation. People use the extract for fighting cancer as well as joint pain. Does anyone have experience using it for any reason? I did read that it can cause gastric upset and you should take it with food. TIA

3 Replies

  • My care is from Memorial Sloan Kettering.
    My oncologist advised taking a centrum silver type vitamin, and skipping supplements in favor of good nutrition.
    The only additive or supplement my oncologist said NOT to take was turmeric. While it shows some cancer preventative properties, there may be an issue with it actually interfering with treatment. It's ok to use a little as a spice, in cooking, but not as a supplement. More research needs to be done.
    Our diet was not bad, but we did improve it.
    By our own decision, we decided to eat as organically as possible. The nutrition is not different, but there are some pesticides, fungicides, and processing agents in food that I'd be better off without.
    We are 80% vegetarian, with mostly lean chicken or fish, in small amounts, on the other days.
    We eat whole grains/seeds every day: barley, oats, quinoa, chia, flax, brown rice, etc.
    we eat beans 4/5 times a week
    We bought a vitamix and have a smoothie a day, with homemade organic fat free plain yogurt, fruit, flax or chia, etc.
    No white sugar. I use raw organic honey, raw cane sugar, maple syrup, or agave.
    Red meat only once a month or so, sometimes less.
    Cruciferous veggies almost every day . Broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, as well as the leafy deep greens.
    No store bought bread products. I make all our breads with organic whole flours. I make sourdough english muffins, bread, pizza, etc. but we don't eat many bread products.
    A square of dark chocolate a day!

    That may sound weird or boring to you, or expensive, but I can tell you my food bill went down, I'm cooking really delicious interesting things, and we've each lost 22 lbs in the last 3.5 months. Overall our meals look pretty normal, you would not sit down at my table and think, gee these people eat weird stuff.
    My diet (above) is layered over Weight Watchers so it incorporates all their Good Health Guidelines.

    Good luck in your recovery! Stay strong!
  • I agree about proper nutrition. When diagnosed, I did a lot of research. I got a Vitamix and have changed my diet about 180 degrees. This particular brand of broccoli sprout extract has come highly recommended by the members of my health care team, that believe in supplements. It is a touchy subject as some people believe in it, other's think it's snake oil. As I said, I was diagnosed at stage 4, 3 years ago and I'm still here. Who really knows for sure, but I don't think the broccoli sprout extract is hurting anything.
    The broccoli sprout extract contains high amounts of the active ingredient that would be very difficult to consume thru diet, alone. The Turmeric extract also contains ingredients to enhance absorption and efficacy.
  • My personal opinion is that when diagnosed with cancer the biggest dietary change should be towards really eating healthy. I know this isn't what you asked, but I do think it's important, the most important. Guiding a diet away from supplements to preserve, enrich taste, texture, etc. just can't be good for a body needing all of its attention on destroying an invader.
    I've been diagnosed with cancer 5 times and feel it's important that the doctor have a solid foundation to work on. To date it's worked for me, I'm in remission from an incurable and plan staying that way if I can .