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| then pasteurized and homogenized? Are preservatives or other additives such as synthetic vitamin D used? |
| I favor a moderate intake of organic milk products (unless one is allergic) in the form of yogurt and hard cheeses. However, organic goat products are even a better choice for most people, because goat dairy more closely resembles mother's milk and its enzyme configuration is easier to digest and assimilate. Also, goats are less likely than cows to be raised commercially, so the animals themselves are less contaminated by noxious chemicals. |
| The Importance of Phytochemicals |
| There are hundreds and hundreds of phytochemicals in plant foods that help prevent cancer. The chemicals that plants synthesize for self-protection against sunlight and insects and to help maintain their own growth enhance human health as well. Over the last twenty years, researchers have consistently found that those who eat the most vegetables and fruits have the lowest rates of cancer. Research has also shown that animals given vegetables and fruit before and after exposure to carcinogens are less likely to develop cancer. |
| In a recent study involving the intake of vegetables, fruits, and related nutrients in relation to the risk of premenopausal breast cancer, a strong inverse association was found between high intake of these nutrients and a low incidence of cancer. This study concluded that certain measured components found together in vegetables may have a synergistic effect on breast cancer risk. 3 However, other unmeasured factors in these foods may also influence risk. The implications of this data are profound. Ultimately, they could be used to design a diet that would not only provide increased protection against cancer, but also serve as an adjunct therapy for individuals with cancer. |
| Foods contain both major and minor constituents. The major ones, familiar to us all, are protein, fat, carbohydrates, and fiber. Of the many minor dietary constituents, some of the more familiar nutrients that research has found to be beneficial in cancer prevention include vitamins A, C, D, and K, folic acid, and selenium. In addition, there are a large number of substances, unfamiliar to most individuals, that inhibit carcinogenesis. Known as phytochemicals, they can protect against cancer in many diverse ways by: |
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