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| digestion and assimilation of protein are also needed to build antibodies and a strong immune system. I believe that dietary protein intake should be in the range of 15 to 20 percent of total calories. Deficiencies in adequate protein digestion and assimilation are immunosuppressive. Studies have shown that protein calorie malnutrition is an important factor in the occurrence of pneumocystis carinii pneumonia in children being treated for cancer with chemotherapy. 18 |
| Protein foods should include fish, plenty of beans, lentils, and peas, plus a variety of whole grains, fresh nuts, and seeds, with an emphasis on almonds, sesame seeds, and Brazil nuts, the richest known source of selenium. As always with nuts and seeds, be sure you purchase them from a reliable source, as they are prone to rancidity. Other good protein sources are moderate amounts of fresh organic eggs and dairy products such as yogurt, goat cheese, and Parmesan cheese. As previously mentioned, goat's milk and goat cheeses are superior to cow's milk or regular cheeses, especially for the sick. |
| Organic Eggs |
| Organic eggs, bemuse of their rich nutrient content and easy digestibility, are one of the best protein foods for people with cancer. One or two can be eaten one to three times per week; they are especially helpful when one is weak and needs to strengthen the digestive system. Eggs contain all eight essential amino acids and are rich in essential fatty acids. Although they are rich in cholesterol, they will not increase blood cholesterol to a dangerous level. In fact, when properly prepared, they are actually a good food for heart disease prevention because they contain eight times more lecithin than cholesterol. Besides protein, eggs are also rich in many vitamins and minerals, glutathione, sulfur, and phospholipids. |
| The best way to prepare eggs is to slow-cook themsoft-boiled or poached. They should never be cooked on high heat because heat reacts with fatty acids and forms dangerous trans fatty acids. Although eggs contain arachidonic acid (AA), which, as mentioned earlier, should generally be avoided, I feel that if the rest of the diet is high in omega-3 fatty acids and low in AA, moderate egg consumption will cause more good than harm. |
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