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Dr. Mercola
October 20 2007
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Pancreatic Cancer is Deadly -- So Cut Your Risk By 25 Percent

An eight-year long multi-ethnic study from the German Institute of Human Nutrition indicates that a diet rich in flavonols may slash your risk of developing pancreatic cancer by about 25 percent. 

For smokers, your risk reduction is even more pronounced, lowering your risk by more than 59 percent. 

The researchers also stated that this is the first study to examine specific classes of flavonols and their impact on pancreatic cancer risk reduction. The three types of flavonols covered were: 


Type of Flavonol:

Food Source:

Quercetin

Onions, apples

Kaempferol

Spinach, cabbage

Myricetin

Red onions, berries

Of the three individual flavonols, kaempferol provided the largest amount of risk reduction – 22 percent – across all participants.

American Journal of Epidemiology October 15, 2007; 166(8):924-31

NutraIngredients.com October 1, 2007



Dr. Mercola Dr. Mercola's Comments:

Pancreatic cancer is a devastatingly fatal form of cancer, and is typically regarded as the most deadly and universally rapid-killing form of cancer. According to the U.S. National Cancer Institute, close to 38,000 new cases of pancreatic cancer are diagnosed each year in the U.S., and of those, some 34,000 die from their disease. That’s a radical fatality rate.

Part of the problem is that this cancer is usually diagnosed quite late, contributing to the horrid fact that only one in every 50 pancreatic cancer patients will be alive five years later. It also shows you just how ineffective conventional treatment is.

With statistics like that, the importance of prevention cannot be downplayed, and your diet is your most logical place to start.

What Causes Pancreatic Cancer?

Three lifestyle issues keep popping up on the radar when you look at what’s contributing to pancreatic cancer:

Obesity and physical inactivity makes your body less sensitive to the glucose-lowering effects of insulin. Diminished sensitivity to insulin leads to higher blood levels of insulin, which in turn can increase your risk of pancreatic cancer.

One previous study found that men and women with high Body Mass Index (BMI) faced a pancreatic cancer risk 1.5 to 2 times higher than those with low BMI. And for women who are both overweight and sedentary, your risk is 2.5 times higher.

When they reduced their weight and exercised, they lowered their risk. In fact, the men who exercised strenuously at least 8 hours a month were found to have only 59% of the pancreatic cancer risk of men who exercised less.

And, when we talk about sugar, don’t forget about your carbohydrates! A diet high in white bread, white rice, and potatoes also puts you at much higher risk of pancreatic cancer -- especially if you are overweight and don't exercise enough.

Insulin seems to be one of the main drivers for cancer in general, and for pancreatic cancer in particular.

Why?

Because insulin production is one of your pancreas' main functions, used by your body to process blood sugar, and, in the laboratory, insulin actually promotes the growth of pancreatic cancer cells. Researchers suspect that if your body maintains high levels of insulin, you increase the pancreatic cancer's ability to survive and grow.

In fact, researchers now believe that up to a third of all cancers may be caused by diet and lifestyle. So if you want to prevent cancer, or want to treat cancer, it is imperative that you keep your insulin levels as low as possible.

How to Prevent Pancreatic Cancer

Two of the most effective ways of maintaining low insulin levels is by:

And, based on the above information about flavonols’ cancer-busting capacity, making sure to add plenty of antioxidant-rich foods in your diet is a no-brainer. Just select the foods that are good for your nutritional type.

Additionally, vitamin D has been found to cut your pancreatic cancer risk nearly in half as well. So make sure you get plenty of regular exposure to sunlight!

In addition to eating a varied diet, tailor-made to your individual biochemistry, and getting out into the sun on a daily basis, I’d like to remind you to look at the sources of your whole foods as well. To optimize your entire diet, and hence, your overall health – including reducing your risk of cancer – you’ll want to make sure you’re getting:

  • Grass-fed meats
  • Organic produce, grown locally
  • Clean, pure water
  • Raw dairy products
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Community Comments ( 27 )
 		Comment on this Article
  
  
jlfortner
 [ Joined on 08/06 ] [ Posted on October 20, 2007 ]
10 Points        
   
 
Novice User

I am an ND from a non-traditional school. The power of diet was never more powerfully apparent to me than four years ago when my own grandmother (just turned 86 at the time) was diagnosed with a walnut-sized, malignant pancreatic tumor. She decided, with much encouragement from our family, to decline all traditional medical treatment and use diet and whole-food supplements EXCLUSIVELY to improve her situation. She is now almost 91 years old (fast aproaching that 5-yr milestone), still taking care of her own home and cooking Sunday dinner for the whole family once each month. She goes to church 3x per week and I see very little of her because she is always out and about. The cancer was eliminated within 9 months of her diet change and subsequent CAT scans reveal no evidence it was ever there. My reason for writing in is to encourage anyone who is uncertain about approaching health issues from a nutritional perspective. While serious problems do need careful professional attention, anyone who fails to harness the power of whole raw fruits and vegetables misses out on the most potent God-given gift for healing.

 [ Reply ]
Mercola
  
Health 1
 [ Joined on 03/07 ]  [ Posted on October 20, 2007]
5 Points        
   
Novice User
  Mercola

I am sooo very grateful for your testimony of your grandmother's health. It sounds somewhat similar to mine....only, I was literally on my death bed, given up for nothing more can be done... in my early thirties. My cousins who are surgeons and several family fiends, who are fine MDs, were at an absolute loss as to how to help me. Today at 63, I am still practicing on a semi retired basis and am well, feel wonderful and run a busy mutli disciplinary clinic, which is visited by people from far and wide, with several associates.

You are right, God put into the body the abilty to heal itself. Your Grandmother, myself and many others are living testimony to that fact. For that reason I am deeply grateful to Dr. Mercola and many of you for your invaluable and selfless sharing of knowledge and candid postings of positive input.

Thank you so much for sharing jlfortner!  We sorely need practitoners like you in our field of medicne. I wish you continued God's richest blessings in helping the sick, the broken and the ailing.

Dr. Trudy

PS Forgive my hurried writing/spelling....I am almost always in a hurry when I visit Dr. Mercola's site/column as I am usually between patients, or regular radio programs for Faith FM etc.
Mercola
  
dressagefreak
 [ Joined on 12/06 ]  [ Posted on October 20, 2007]
       
   
Apprentice User
  Mercola

Which school did you attend, if I may ask? The reason I'm asking is that I want to ultimately be an N.D. myself (am currently working on my undergrad) with plans to attend Bastyr after graduation. Anyway, I'm always curious about Naturopathy-related stuff.

And good for your grandmother! 91-wow!
  
  
mmc88121
 [ Joined on 11/06 ] [ Posted on October 2, 2007 ]
9 Points        
   
 
Moderator User
THe best way to obtain flavanols is directly from organically grown plants.

Mary
 [ Reply ]
  
  
Bridestein
 [ Joined on 12/06 ] [ Posted on October 3, 2007 ]
5 Points        
   
 
Savvy User
This is great news especially for ex-smokers - except, wait, oh yeah, unless you're a protein type and then you aren't supposed to eat onions or berries.
Okay, so - this is great news if you're a carb or mixed type!
 [ Reply ]
  
  
Arizona
 [ Joined on 06/07 ] [ Posted on October 3, 2007 ]
5 Points        
   
 
Savvy User
I have been juicing for the past several months. ( I used to do it years ago) I have been losing weight and feeling better.
 [ Reply ]
  
  
Aaltrude
 [ Joined on 04/07 ] [ Posted on October 3, 2007 ]
4 Points        
   
 
Moderator User
I have also come across a report of a study that suggests that ginger might be very effective against pancreatic cancer.
 [ Reply ]
Mercola
  
dressagefreak
 [ Joined on 12/06 ]  [ Posted on October 20, 2007]
       
   
Apprentice User
  Mercola

Would you mind posting that study? I'd love to read it. Thanks
  
  
Russ Bianchi
 [ Joined on 09/06 ] [ Posted on October 2, 2007 ]
4 Points        
   
 
Savvy User
Beware genetically modified or pesticide/herbicide processed onions or apples or berries.
 [ Reply ]
  
  
Magnolia
 [ Joined on 06/06 ] [ Posted on October 3, 2007 ]
3 Points        
   
 
Savvy User
This still goes back to the incredibly wise advice of eating a richly varied diet of organic veggies and fruits, grassfed beef, free range chickens free of antibiotics and pesticides, safe seafood, raw dairy, and healthy fats and oils. If you do that, with your nutritional type in mind, you will be healthier, no doubt about it.
 [ Reply ]
  
  
Infinitus
 [ Joined on 10/07 ] [ Posted on October 22, 2007 ]
1 Points        
   
 
Novice User

Johanna,

I think our good friend, Ratiocinator, is spot on with what he/she has written.

For those interested I have provided a link, below, to a very well written article on just the topic you suggest our friend examines more closely; The Comparative Anatomy of Eating, by Milton R. Mills, M.D.

www.earthsave.ca/.../anatomy.pdf

The article clearly states the many significant differences between carnivores, omnivores and humans. A few examples of which are:

Saliva

CARNIVORE: No digestive enzymes

HERBIVORE: Carbohydrate digesting enzymes

OMNIVORE: No digestive enzymes

HUMAN: Carbohydrate digesting enzymes

Stomach Acidity

CARNIVORE: Less than or equal to pH 1 with food in stomach

HERBIVORE: pH 4 to 5 with food in stomach

OMNIVORE: Less than or equal to pH 1 with food in stomach

HUMAN: pH 4 to 5 with food in stomach

Length of Small Intestine

CARNIVORE: 3 to 6 times body length

HERBIVORE: 10 to more than 12 times body length

OMNIVORE: 4 to 6 times body length

HUMAN: 10 to 11 times body length

Colon

CARNIVORE: Simple, short and smooth

HERBIVORE: Long, complex; may be sacculated

OMNIVORE: Simple, short and smooth

HUMAN: Long, sacculated

Liver

CARNIVORE: Can detoxify vitamin A

HERBIVORE: Cannot detoxify vitamin A

OMNIVORE: Can detoxify vitamin A

HUMAN: Cannot detoxify vitamin A

It is clear that humans are suited to a 100% plant based diet, and not suited to anything derived from fauna. My teeth are designed for scraping and masticating plant matter. Do yours resemble those of a lion? Are you able to pounce on your prey, kill it and devour it then and there? Are you able to detoxify vitamin A? How long is your intestinal tract?

Meat and other fauna derivatives are not suitable foods for humans to consume. This could not be clearer, for those willing to examine the facts and who are not under the influence of cognitive dissonance.

 [ Reply ]
Mercola
  
johanna :-)
 [ Joined on 06/06 ]  [ Posted on October 25, 2007]
9 Points        
   
Novice User
  Mercola

1) you did not read my post well enough--you mistate/misread what i said.

2) the article you are referring to is very SERIOUSLY flawed and missing many parts--what you report is flawed and incomplete as well. as far as anatomy goes: have you ever opened up a horse or cow or goat or dog or cat?? or dissected any of these to compare anatomy?? well i have--i do this for a living--i am a veterinary surgeon by training and study comparative anatomy/physiology. in brief, i can tell you with certainty that the small intestine in (obligate) herbivores is almost non-existent. ours/omnivores' is substantial. this is what is primarily used to digest meats and animal products. carnivores' is even more substantial, but certainly more like ours than an obligate herbivore.. obligate herbivores' colons are many many many times larger than ours in comparison. and a carnivores, is somewhat less large than ours. sacculations are the tip of the iceberg. there are so many other differences not named. as for sacculations, ours are SUBSTANTIALLY less pronounced than an obligate herbivore's--almost non-existent by comparison. and a carnivore has yet less than us--almost none.

3) i did not say we were carnivores, i said we were omnivores, and some more veggie or meat-eating, or less than others. also, we are not obligatorily either one--we have the body anatomy and chemistry to eat what we want whether it's all plant, all animal, or both. obligate herbivores do not. they have to eat plants or die soon. obligate carnivores (cats come the closest to that) don't do well on veggies only for very long. we do quite well either way. some better than others, depending on body type.

4) my statements are based both on my many years of medical/surgical practice, as well as academic study.

5) you would do best to heed your own advice: examine the facts for yourself.

6) don't be under the influence of a book, just because it ''says so''. people have their own agendas and often leave things out.
Mercola
  
Terse
 [ Joined on 02/07 ]  [ Posted on October 29, 2007]
       
   
Novice User
  Mercola

I'm sorry ESoP, but I just can't see how well a cat can do without meat easily.  Maybe I'm missing something. . .

There's the whole thing with cats naturally going out and hunting mice and myriads of other small animals.  As felines get bigger, they have a tendency to go after antelope.  So like I said, maybe I'm missing something.

A cat's life is based off of instinct.  Since they instinctively eat meat, I would assume that they're carnivores at heart.  But then again, maybe I'm missing something.
  
  
wesmar111
 [ Joined on 08/07 ] [ Posted on October 20, 2007 ]
1 Points        
   
 
Novice User

  Dr. Merc Is still learning But if we are not still learning then we are stagnet. learning is wonderful.

 [ Reply ]
  
  
jlfortner
 [ Joined on 08/06 ] [ Posted on November 6, 2007 ]
       
   
 
Novice User

To answer the one who asked where I went to school - I graduated from Trinity College of Natural Health. I said I chose the non-traditional path, but there has been a change in terminology over the past 75 years. What used to be "traditional" is now called "non-traditional" or "alternative." The use of chemicals and surgeries is not traditional. I do believe there is a place for drugs and surgeries and I am grateful many things have been developed, but I don't want to practice that way - which is why I did not choose a residential program that spends a lot of time teaching the use of drugs and surgeries. I am sure many people would view my education as insufficient, but I would point out the results and I would also say that no doctor (regardless of where he or she went to school) is any better than her program of continuing education after school is over. Many simply stop studying and that will always result in inadequate health care. I believe there is a place for true traditional NDs like me and a place for the modern ND and the modern MD as well. All are needed, and the quality of American health care would go up substantially if we all worked together, accepted and understood each other, stopped trying to do each other's jobs, and stopped trying to run each other out of business as so many do these days. I know that's more than you asked for, but these are issues you need to be aware of before you choose a school. They are radically different and, sadly,  they don't get along with each other at this time. You have to choose a school based on how you want to practice - be true to yourself about what you really want to do.

 [ Reply ]
  
  
15PiecesOfFlare
 [ Joined on 09/06 ] [ Posted on October 22, 2007 ]
       
   
 
Novice User

I had an uncle die of this earlier this year.  He was 69 and had been into alternative health techniques and eating healthfully since before I can remember.  He was a modest eater, very educated, a music critic and jazz enthusiast.  He and his wife had been married 41 years with no children.  They were and are some of the most elegant people I've ever met.

The only thing I can remember him doing 'verboten' (as of late) was eating edamame since the early nineties.

 [ Reply ]
  
  
dressagefreak
 [ Joined on 12/06 ] [ Posted on October 20, 2007 ]
       
   
 
Apprentice User

These foods happen to be some of my favorite fruits and veggies, which I eat on a regular basis. Yay for me! ;-)

 [ Reply ]
  
  
Millie_203
 [ Joined on 06/06 ] [ Posted on October 20, 2007 ]
       
   
 
Novice User

Dear Thomas T.

In my six years of researching natural remedies, it is my opinion that all health professionals are held back by the powers that be.... the Cancer Inc., FDA, AMA, ADA, Big Pharma,  to some extent.

Dr. Mercola surely cannot be an exception.  People like him can only do their best to reach us with the truth, even if he is somewhat hindered by those who are lost in deception.

I also believe Dr. Mercola has to decide where to devote his time. If he recommends anyone's ideas, I don't believe he would do that without first thoroughly researching their findings. T