Letha’s Asian Health Secrets

Does reducing or increasing “stress” improve our survival from cancer? Telegraph/uk: July 9, 2010:

“Cancer patients who change their lifestyle to keep company with more people could see substantial improvements in their condition, the study suggests.”

Researchers found that moving mice with cancer from their standard laboratory lodgings – where they live in groups of five – to more spacious accommodation shared with up to 20 other rodents had a significant positive effect on the progress of their condition. Their tumors shrunk in weight by an average of 77 per cent (43 per cent by volume), while five per cent of the mice showed no evidence of cancer after three weeks.  The mice’s “enriched” environment also included more space them exercise and toys with which to play, but the researchers identified the “stress of socialising” as the key factor in suppressing the cancers. . . What’s wrong with this study? Why can’t it be applied to people? No one asked the mice if living in a larger, more densely populated community was positive or negative stress.

In addition: “The reduction in the size of the tumours was caused by high levels of a particular protein, brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), which is linked to stress. This protein shuts down the production of a hormone called leptin, which in turn inhibits tumour growth.” However, leptin is also an important hormone for weight loss. Leptin helps us to feel satisfied after eating. It helps us to feel “full.” Does that mean to survive cancer, we have to challenge weight loss? Was being hungry related to “tumor-reducing” stress in the mouse experiment? Does being hungry, with its effects on mood, metabolism, cell-turnover, etc., gear-up our cancer-fighting factors?  Lots more clarification is needed.

For my money, I would rather take probiotics on an empty stomach. Taken with food, probiotics (digestive enzymes from papaya, pineapple and intestinal flora from yogurt or supplments such as acidophilus) improve digestion. On an empty stomach, they help eliminate toxins, reduce inflammation, and possibly even help prevent tumors. People with stomach ulcers should use caution.