One life to liver; or how to heal with detox

I just couldn't resist the soap opera play on words in the post title. It's just that this post has a cast of sensational leading characters and a dramatic, healthy plot. First, let's consider the main character, the amazing human body. Just think about it. Every second our bodies are creating 25 million new cells. Our hearts beat approximately 100,000 times a day, and our lungs inhale 2,000,000 liters of air daily. The list goes on. Our bodies are also continually exposed to less than optimal conditions. Pollution, chemicals and other stressors can all take their toll. Yet, the body will "take a licking and keep on ticking." Clearly our bodies are designed to function even when they are stressed. Talk about a daily drama!

However, the body can only do so much. Chemical exposure from the environment and the foods we eat can result in our bodies becoming less efficient or completely unable to eliminate toxins. Even though the body will attempt to function, it is not able to perform at its peak levels. Sometimes, systems in the body can become overwhelmed and disease can result.

The contamination to our bodies from chemical stressors is referred to as "body burden." "Scientists estimate that everyone alive today carries within her or his body at least 700 contaminants" (Onstot, J...).  A group of experts called the President's Cancer Panel reported that Americans are facing "grievous harm" from our exposure to chemicals in our food and environment (Washington Post)." It's depressing, but there is something we can do to support the function of our bodies. This is where detox can help.

Just what is detox or detoxification? Simply put, it's any process that enhances the body's ability to eliminate toxins. There are a variety of ways to help the body with the process of elimination. Some detox approaches seem pretty radical to me. I have found that the commitment to every day good nutrition, with a focus on foods that support the liver, is a more effective detox plan than the more extreme forms. This is what makes me feel the best. It's a lifestyle commitment to improving my health.

The next character in our soap cast, the liver, is vital to our health. We can't live without it. Could that be why it's called the live-r? Remarkably, this organ will still function even if 75% of it is diseased. As if that isn't enough, the liver also has the capacity to regenerate.  Like I said, our bodies are amazing. I find it fascinating how many functions the liver performs. If you'd like to learn more, you can read about them here. I'm just going to summarize and say that one of the liver's main functions is to act as a filter. It transforms toxins into harmless chemicals for excretion from the body.

So how can you help your body with detox?  First and foremost is to reduce stress on the liver. To begin with, strive to eliminate excess alcohol, consumption of fast foods that usually contain unhealthy fats, stop smoking and avoid exposure to pesticides, herbicides and toxic chemicals that can be found in personal care and cleaning products.  You can find a list of healthier personal care and cleaning products located here. Also, attempt to choose organic whole foods like dark green, leafy vegetables, as well as other foods that will support your liver. Here's a list of a few of the powerhouses:

• Artichoke leaf - stimulates production of bile and helps strengthen liver cell membranes
• Dandelion root - increases bile flow 
• Green tea - protects the liver from toxin damage, especially from alcohol, and may also help prevent liver tumors
• Milk-thistle seed - strengthens liver cell membranes, stimulates bile production and promotes glutathione production. Glutathione is used in virtually every body cell to neutralize toxins.
• Turmeric root - anti-inflammatory that elevates detox enzymes in the liver

The reality is we are rarely aware of our body functions until they go wrong. Then they usually have our complete attention. Unfortunately, at this point it is often times an uphill battle to healing. As the saying goes, "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure." Prevention of disease really is the best medicine. When it comes down to it, we only have one liver and one life. One of the keys to peak liver function and optimum health in general is good nutrition. This is a critical component of disease prevention and the prescription for a healthier life, and that's no soap.

Sources

http://www.medindia.net/facts/index.asp

Onstot J, Ayling R, Stanley J. Characterization of HRGC/MS Unidentified Peaks from the Analysis of Human Adipose Tissue. Volume 1: Technical Approach. Washington, DC: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Office of Toxic Substances (560/6-87-002a), 1987.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/05/06/AR2010050603813.html

President's Cancer Panel - http://deainfo.nci.nih.gov/advisory/pcp/pcp.htm

http://www.hepb.org/pdf/the_liver.pdf

http://www.hepatitis.org.uk/s-crina/liver-f3-main3.htm

http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-glutathione.htm

image from MedicineNet.com - http://images.medicinenet.com/images/illustrations/Liver.jpg

The Anti-Inflammation Diet and Recipe Book, Jessica K. Black, N.D.

Eating to starve disease?

Putting the concepts of eating and starving together may seem paradoxical, but when it comes to food and disease experts are finding a definite connection. You can view the amazing details in this TED Talk video by Dr. William Li, an expert in angiogenesis.  If you prefer to skip the short video, I've attempted to summarize his talk below.

http://www.ted.com/talks/william_li


So what is angiogenesis?  Angio comes from the Greek word meaning "pertaining to blood vessels" and genesis comes from Greek word meaning "the act of producing or giving birth to". So angiogenesis is the production of new blood vessels.

In the video, Dr. Li describes angiogenesis as "an important natural process in the body used for healing and reproduction." An example of reproductive angiogenesis is the uterus as it sheds its lining and produces another with each monthly menstrual cycle.  The process of the growth of new blood vessels that occurs after an injury is an example of healing angiogenesis. In both of these instances, angiogenesis is regulated by a complicated balance of factors that either stimulate or slow the growth of new blood vessels. Experts now recognize that when these factors become unbalanced and too much or too little angiogenesis takes place, cancer, age-related blindness, diabetic ulcers, cardiovascular disease, stroke, skin diseases, and many other diseases can occur.

Let's look at cancer, which is what Dr. Li focuses on in his presentation. In order for a tumor to grow beyond a certain size it requires new blood vessels. Interestingly, researchers have discovered that "small activator molecules produced by the cancer cells... signal angiogenesis in the tissue surrounding the tumor" (National Cancer Institute). Scientists also know that without angiogenesis tumor growth halts at about 1-2 mm. Dr. Li explains in the video that after a certain age many of us probably have these 1-2 mm microscopic cancers, but the disease doesn't progress beyond this point.  Experts are learning that in some people the body doesn't respond to the cancer cells' signal to begin angiogenesis. One expert calls this cancer without disease.

The fact that a tumor stops growing without angiogenesis has staggering implications.  Could cancer possibly be thwarted from developing into a larger, more aggressive and life threatening disease? Dr. Li is looking into this possibility and has done numerous experiments on animals with fairly good success, considering the cases were mostly more advanced stages of cancer.  How has he been able to accomplish these results?  By using angiogenesis medicine.

So, what does eating to starve disease have to do with angiogenesis? Well, Dr. Li has found that there are foods that have the ability to regulate angiogenesis. In the case of cancer this means specific foods have anti-angiogenic properties. They have the potential to starve a cancer by interfering with the angiogenic process. This in turn limits a tumors blood supply and ultimately stops its growth! Chemical comounds like dithiolthiones and sulforaphane which are found in cruciferous vegetables such as cabbage and broccoli are anti-angiogenic. The slide is from Dr. Li's presentation.  It lists some of these foods that have anti-angiogenic properties.

Source: Dr. Li and the Angiogenesis Foundation

Dr. Li's statement at the end of the presentation was profound for me.  Food can be my chemotherapy, three times a day! What do you think? It might seem a little outside the box to consider food as medicine or chemotherapy. However, considering that both food and chemotherapy are chemical compounds, it's not that big of a stretch. Why is that what comes from nature is sometimes seen as less superior than a drug that man can create from nature? If the end result is finding a cure or preventing cancer, it really doesn't matter from where it's derived. Until that end result happens, I feel empowered by knowing there are foods I can choose to eat that really are having a positive impact on my health.

UPDATE: Check out the Eat to Beat Cancer Initiative - "which has catalyzed a movement to improve health through cancer-fighting foods. Based on the latest medical science, there are practical, healthy, and tasty food choices that can be made by you every day, at every meal, to incorporate cancer-fighting foods into your diet."

Sources
http://onlinedictionary.datasegment.com/word/angio
http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/understandingcancer/angiogenesis/Slide9
http://www.angio.org/

More on Breast Thermography

When my doctor suggested a breast thermogram he also mentioned that I should check with my insurance company to see if they covered it.  My insurance informed me that this screening test is considered experimental and unproven. I was surprised by this because from what I understand breast thermography has been approved by the FDA since 1983. So what's up?

Well, unfortunately it seems that thermography has become a victim of ethics and politics. According to Dr. William Cockburn, some less than ethical providers aren't adhering to testing protocol, or aren't qualified to interpret the thermograms.  These should always be read by doctors trained in thermography, just as doctors trained in radiology read mammograms. Politically, thermography is seen as competition with mammography. The American College of Clinical Thermography states that thermography  is a supplement to mammography, not a competitor. "In fact, thermography has the ability to identify patients at the highest risk and actually increase the effective usage of mammography."

I found several studies that underscore the effectiveness of thermography in detecting breast cancer. Research reported in the International Cancer Journal suggests that it shows considerable predictive value.  It's important to note that thermography and mammography do not diagnosis breast cancer.  This can only be done by pathology, but both screening tools do aid in detection.  Where thermography shines is in its ability to find abnormalities before they can be seen with mammography. This is especially important for young women who typically have denser breast tissue, which makes detection of irregularities more challenging with mammography. 

Another benefit of thermograms is their cost. Screening mammograms aren't routinely offered to women under the age of 40. Electing to monitor breast health with an annual screening thermogram is a more cost effective option than paying for a mammogram. With the recent advances in digital technology, current research in breast cancer screening is showing that "for breast cancer care, it has become possible to use thermography as a powerful adjunct and biomarker tool, together with mammography for diagnosis purposes." I think a thermogram is worth it.  What do you think?

By the way, if you're interested in finding a qualified thermography clinic in the US, this link lists them by state: http://www.thermologyonline.org/Breast/breast_thermography_clinics.htm
 



Sources:
http://www.breastthermography.org/paradigmshift.html
http://www.thermologyonline.org/Breast/breast_thermography_what.htm
http://www.biomedcentral.com/content/pdf/1471-2407-4-17.pdf
http://informahealthcare.com/doi/abs/10.1080/03091900600562040

Breast thermography?

Isn't technology incredible? Especially when it works. My most recent remarkable medical technology moment occurred the other day when I had a digital infrared thermal imaging (DITI) test. DITI, or thermography, is a no contact, non-invasive screening tool. When I took the test all I had to do was stand in front of the scanner. There is no risk of radiation, no needles and no nuclear dyes.  Ladies, imagine no cold, glass plates clamping down on your sensitive body parts! A screening test with NO side effects.  Like I said, remarkable.


No side effects sounded great, but I wondered how does thermography work? From what I understand, we all radiate infra-red heat (think night vision goggles). Each of us has our own unique heat signature and usually these are fairly symmetrical. Symmetry is important in heat signatures, but more on that later.

Anyway, the thermography technician explained to me that as I stand in front of the scanner it converts the infrared heat radiating from my body into electrical impulses. As the image from Meditherm shows, these impulses are then computer mapped using different colors. A photo is taken of these colored heat patterns. This is called a thermogram. Each color on the thermogram indicates more or less heat coming off the body.

Of course, being the wondering type of person I am,  I questioned why I needed a thermogram when I've already had digital mammograms, a contrast MRI and a sonogram of my breasts. My doctor explained that a thermogram is about looking at physiology, which is the study of the function of the body's systems.  Whereas, a mammogram, MRI and sonogram are all about anatomy, which is the study of the body's physical structures. He went on to say that because of this they can be complementary tests. 

So what is significant about temperature imbalances in the body showing up on a thermogram?  Well, remember I mentioned that symmetry or balance of heat signatures in the body is important. My doctor explained that he compares the heat signatures from one breast with the other.  If an imbalance between them is noted he considers it a "thermal signal." A thermal signal may be the result of "increased vascularity". What's that? Well, it may indicate disease and in some cases cancer. According to the American Cancer Society (ACS), when cancer cells begin to grow they start out by using nearby blood vessels. But the tumor soon outgrows this blood supply and it begins angiogenesis - the growth of new blood vessels.  As a result, increased vascularity, or blood flow, occurs in the area of the tumor. This additional blood supply increases metabolic heat which shows up as a thermal signal on the thermogram.
 
Interestingly, "without new blood vessels, a tumor can't grow larger than about the size of a pin head (about 1 to 2 cubic millimeters)(ACS)." Cancerquest states that "a mammogram can detect tumors at very early stages, when they are around the size of a pencil eraser." So what about the period of growth between pin head and pencil eraser stage? This is where breast thermography is particularly useful. It has the potential to detect problems earlier than mammography and this allows for earlier intervention and treatment.

So you may be wondering, like I was, why thermography isn't offered as a standard screening tool for breast cancer? Why isn't it used in conjunction with mammography? Why doesn't my insurance company cover this test? I'll get into this in my next post.  



Sources:
http://degreedirectory.org/articles/What_is_Anatomy_and_Physiology.htmlhttp://www.meditherm.com/thermography.htm
http://www.acsevents.org/docroot/ETO/content/ETO_1_4X_Why_Do_Tumors_Need_Their_Own_Blood_Supply.asp
http://www.cancerquest.org/index.cfm?page=3223#Q19
http://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info.cfm?pg=bodymr

Mind, spirit dis-ease and cancer connection?

It was a total shock to me when I was told I had breast cancer. I'm sure I'm not unique, but I think my total shock resulted from the concrete and absolute belief that I was doing everything humanly possible to prevent cancer. So, my brain went into NOT ME mode. This is a mistake. Shock and denial...just beginning to process my grief.

In retrospect, I think the "not me" mode I reverted to stemmed from my firm belief that if I practice all the healthy lifestyle habits the medical community stresses for cancer prevention, I won't get it. Period. End of story. I rationalized like this: I don't even have any genetic predisposition to this cancer. I don't smoke, I rarely drink, I filter my water, I eat flax, I blah, blah, blah. Perhaps you've had this same painful conversation with yourself. I hope not. Well, I now realize that my discussion with myself didn't include two very important components of my health: my mind and spirit.

I think I've always been vaguely aware that if the mind and spirit are in a state of dis-ease, the body is affected. I just didn't appreciate the degree of this mind/body effect. I’m a science geek so I love this photo from The Franklin Institute. It shows neurons in the brain. These neurons connect with muscles in the body at places called neuromuscular junctions. The brain speaks to the muscles via chemical neurotransmitters. Anytime we experience an emotion a flood of chemical reactions occurs, which may cause our heart to beat faster, our muscles to become tenser and a host of other responses. These reactions underscore the intimate relationship between the body and the mind. Interestingly, according to The Franklin Institute, massage therapists have reported finding "that deep massage can trigger the release and awareness of powerful, long-held emotional memories." This is called somatic recall, an example of the mind/body connection.

When we experience, for example, mental pain, anger, bitterness, sadness, or any host of emotions, the body is affected. The situation becomes toxic when the mental pain is internalized, repressed and ignored or never addressed. Some interesting research on personality and cancer conducted by Dr. Lydia Temoshok at the University of California San Francisco theorized that, "people with repressive personalities, who look calm but hold in a cauldron of painful emotions, are more prone to develop cancer."

The fact remains that most of the medical community believes there is insufficient scientific evidence to make the claim that there is a mind-body-cancer connection. It's also a slippery slope to walk if the quest for understanding and awareness of how one might have come to have a disease leads them to self blame. The journey to dis-ease is long, complex and consists of many variables. I now recognize the importance of looking at my health from a holistic perspective. On the path to healing, the mind and spirit are just as important as the body. Because "the part can't be well unless the whole is well," and we're so much more than a part!

Sources:
http://www.fi.edu/learn/brain/exercise.html
http://oralcancerfoundation.org/emotional/mind-body.htm