by L. Merlino

Created on: December 18, 2009   Last Updated: December 19, 2009

Our eating habits affect everything about our bodies, and the effect is cumulative as we get older. Cancer often results from the accumulation of toxins in our bodies due to improper diet over time.

We all have cancer cells, just as we all have viruses and other unfriendly microbes floating around in our systems. A healthy immune system usually keeps those invading organisms in a state of dormancy. When the foods we eat compromise our health, these latent offending agents have a chance of taking over.

It is a known fact that many toxins are stored in fat cells. A habitually fatty diet only aggravates the matter, while a high fiber diet, rich in antioxidants helps to flush out both organic and inorganic toxins, reducing the chances of cancer and other disease.

A diet high in chlorophyll such as that obtained from dark, leafy greens is also a powerful antidote to cancer. It is advisable to eat "low on the food chain" consuming more fruit, vegetables and whole grains - fewer meat and dairy products.

Sources of protein should be lean. Whenever possible, it is best to eat raw or undercooked veggies to gain the most from their antioxidant properties. Many vitamins and other nutrients are lost in the process of overcooking our vegetables. On the other hand, meats should be well cooked at high temperatures to assure leanness and destroy any potential parasites. Parasites such as those found in undercooked meats and seafood have also been linked to cancer.

Foods prepared with "healthy oils" such as olive, safflower and sesame oils are a plus. These healthful vegetable oils actually help to drive out and replace unhealthy fat deposits in our bodies. Do not cook or prepare foods with with canola oil - it is toxic. Anything "hydrogenated" or "partially hydrogenated" should be avoided in one's diet - read labels when shopping for food. Hydrogenated oils do not melt at body temperature. They contribute to cellulite and other adipose conditions.

Proper diet is such a great contributor to health, that it is often considered to be a cure for cancer. From my own experience, I've seen this to be true.

After many years of poor eating habits, my father had been diagnosed with colon cancer. His diet had typically consisted of highly processed meats and overcooked, often canned vegetables ... white bread and pasta and lots of red meat were part of his daily diet. Eventually his poor food choices combined with living in a polluted, high-stress, urban environment caught up with him.

Fortunately, he had a wise doctor who urged him to change his lifestyle, move out of the Manhattan rat race and eat freshly prepared, wholesome foods, with an emphasis on fresh vegetables - as opposed to undergoing the all-too-commonly prescribed surgery for his cancer.

My father took the doctor's advice, moved out to the country and adopted a more relaxed lifestyle. He also began eating fresh salads, healthy meals prepared from scratch with no chemical additives ... less red meat and fewer highly processed foods. The result was that his cancer disappeared. Naturally! My mother's good home cooking had a lot to do with it.

Many, many years later, when he died of natural causes, no trace of cancer was found in his system.

A woman I met - also diagnosed with colon cancer - had the same experience. She changed her diet, secured a better lifestyle and was healed of her cancer without the need for surgery. She was also in my dad's age group at the time. Years of offensive eating habits CAN be reversed.

Now, I'm not saying to forgo cancer surgery if that is what your doctor recommends, but do inquire about any possible alternatives.

One's eating habits are an all important component in living cancer free.

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