What are some cancer-fighting foods?

Cruciferous vegetables, garlic, berries, mushrooms, turmeric, and soy.

Who is Chef Lauren Kretzer?

A cancer survivor and plant-based chef.

What is Sulforaphane?

A compound in cruciferous vegetables with health benefits.

How does garlic benefit health?

Boosts immunity, detoxifies carcinogens, and halts cancer growth.

What are the benefits of incorporating berries?

High in antioxidants, reduce inflammation, and prevent DNA damage.

Cancer Survivor Gives 5 Favorite Cancer Fighting Foods | Lauren Kretzer on The Exam Room Podcast

Physicians Committee・4 minutes read

Chef Lauren Kretzer, a cancer survivor, shares her experience and cancer-fighting foods, highlighting the importance of lifestyle changes and preventive measures post-cancer treatment, focusing on specific foods like cruciferous vegetables, berries, garlic, mushrooms, turmeric, and minimally processed soy. Lauren advocates for a plant-based diet and offers free recipes and holistic living tips on her website, Instagram, and Substack platform, with a paid version providing access to more content, including her Healing Cancer Protocol.

Insights

Chef Lauren Kretzer's personal experience with cancer showcases the importance of informed decision-making post-diagnosis, emphasizing the significance of preventive measures, lifestyle changes, and dietary adjustments in cancer management and risk reduction.
Cruciferous vegetables, garlic, berries, mushrooms, turmeric, and minimally processed soy are highlighted as key cancer-fighting foods due to their potent anti-cancer properties, affordability, availability, and ease of incorporation into daily meals, offering a holistic approach to health and well-being.

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Summary

00:00

"Chef cancer survivor shares food insights"

The podcast discusses cancer-fighting foods, focusing on five specific ones.
Chef Lauren Kretzer, a cancer survivor and plant-based chef, shares her experience and knowledge.
Lauren recounts her cancer scare, initially mistaken for a cold, leading to a large mass discovery in her chest.
The mass, a benign thymic cyst, required surgical removal, including her thymus gland.
Post-surgery, Lauren was diagnosed with a rare aggressive form of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.
Despite no visible cancer post-surgery, oncologists recommended intensive chemotherapy due to microscopic cancer potential.
Lauren sought multiple opinions, ultimately opting for surveillance instead of immediate chemotherapy.
Under constant monitoring and surveillance, Lauren remains cancer-free two years later.
The importance of lowering cancer risk through lifestyle changes and environmental factors is highlighted.
Lauren's optimistic outlook and empowerment through dietary changes and lifestyle adjustments are emphasized.

12:26

"Preventive Measures: Fighting Cancer with Food"

The decision not to undergo chemo treatment was carefully considered, prioritizing the well-being of young children in the household.
The choice was influenced by the cancer being at stage one, with a high cure rate and no visible cancer post-treatment.
The individual emphasizes the importance of preventive measures and a whole food plant-based diet post-cancer experience.
Cruciferous vegetables are highlighted as potent cancer fighters due to their availability and affordability.
Common cruciferous vegetables include broccoli, cauliflower, kale, arugula, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, bok choy, collard greens, watercress, radishes, and turnip greens.
Raw consumption of cruciferous vegetables is recommended for optimal health benefits, particularly due to the compound Sulforaphane.
Techniques to activate Sulforaphane include letting chopped vegetables sit before cooking and using ground mustard powder.
Garlic is praised for its immunity-boosting properties and its role in detoxifying carcinogens, halting cancer cell growth, and blocking angiogenesis.
Incorporating raw garlic into meals, like salads, is suggested for its anti-cancer benefits.
Berries are lauded for their high antioxidant content, ability to reduce inflammation, and overall nutrient density in fighting cancer.

24:10

"Berries, Mushrooms, Turmeric: Cancer-Fighting Foods"

Berries reduce inflammation, prevent DNA damage, and tumor angiogenesis.
Frozen berries are available year-round and are cost-effective.
Blackberries are the highest in antioxidants among common berries.
Indian Gooseberry, or Amla, is the highest antioxidant food; a small amount provides a significant boost.
Mushrooms, especially white button mushrooms, lower breast cancer risk.
Mushrooms contain aromatase inhibitors and boost natural killer cell activity.
Turmeric, with curcumin, is a potent anti-cancer spice found in curry powder.
Turmeric can be added to various dishes for its health benefits.
Soy, specifically minimally processed soy products, is linked to lower breast cancer recurrence and prevention.
Starting soy consumption early in life reduces the risk of developing breast cancer as an adult.

36:04

Benefits of Soy in Diet and Health

Soy from an early age contains a plant estrogen compound different from the body's estrogen, making it beneficial without negative effects. Minimally processed soy like tofu, tempeh, edamame, and unsweetened soy milk are recommended, while ultra-processed soy products should be avoided.
Soy consumption does not lead to chest enhancements in men, contrary to popular belief, and can be a healthy addition to one's diet.
Lauren Kretzer, a cancer survivor, shares her nutrition and plant-based cooking knowledge through her website, LaurenKretzer.com, Instagram account, and Substack platform, offering free recipes and holistic living tips, with a paid version providing access to more content, including her Healing Cancer Protocol.
The Substack platform combines a newsletter and blog, offering subscribers insights into food, nutrition, wellness, and travel from a vegan perspective, with a paid subscription granting access to additional exclusive content, such as Lauren's detailed post on her Healing Cancer Protocol.