Diet and NF

[doey]

Hi all! The tumor compressing my scalene muscle, at my neck and shoulder junction has grown smaller. I can feel the difference in size.

I wonder if it has to do with my new diet. In the past several months, I have adopted a Vegetarian diet.

I am on high fiber, low carbohydrate. I take wholegrain bread, oatmeal, bread from the bakery, and other things as long as they are not too fired or deep fried. I do not take fast food.

Partlally because I want a slim body and besides, I do not have much saliva to eat everything.

I also take Melilea Greenfield organic everyday for the fiber.

Did anyone experience tumor shrinkage by adopting a healthier diet?

Oh, and my optic gliomas are stable. Yay! Visual field result turned out the same as six months ago.

<small>[ November 12, 2007, 10:57 PM: Message edited by: Yvonne Foong ]</small>

[Ghostwriter4]

YVONNE
YAHOO! your vigilance PAID OFF YOU'VE TAUGHT ME A THING OR TOO

[Mark H]

Yvonne,
great news! <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="biggrin.gif" />
I've been waiting to find out. I don't know if diet has anything to do with it but I'm real happy. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="smile.gif" />
Mark

[doey]

Mark: You mean u were waiting for my diet to work out? yikes!
Ghostwriter: haha seems like it. But other tumors in the brain and spine grew though.

[Marion]

I'm very happy for you! I don't know if there's any connection, but eating a healthy diet is always a good plan for anyone. I have NF1. I am a vegetarian, strict, for 7 years now. No effect on my condition, but in every other way it makes me feel good (especially spiritually). All the best to you. Marion

[doey]

Hello Narion

Yes, a healthy diet is good anytime. Vegetarian makes us feel healthier overall. I am feeling lighter now.

[CindyLouWho]

Hi Yvonne,
Diet in NF is very interesting to me, most of what I have read is specific to just general cancer avoidance or to NF1 but I am sure it could be relevant to NF2 as well.

I've read several anti-cancer books and by far the best was this one....informative and easy to read. They also have a cookbook out but I haven't seen it yet.
http://astore.amazon.ca/webelements03-20/detail/0771011350

The book discusses all of the well known tumor fighters...quercitin, reversatol, catechin, curcumin...after reading the book I researched all of these compounds and was truly amazed at the shear volume of studies which have shown their anti tumor potential. Catechin has been looked at specifically with respect to NF. Here is one of the studies on that. http://www.news.ucdavis.edu/search/news_detail.lasso?id=6178&title=Tumors%20in%20Mice%20Delayed%20by%20Red%20Wine%20Component,%20Study%20Shows

Catechin is a component of red wine and also green tea. My guess would be that alcohol causes a certain amount of oxidative stress though so I should think the tea might be the route to go. IMO. There was a study just this week that shows that the benefits of green tea are increased by adding citrus. Here is the article on that.

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/448539/study_citrus_juice_vitamin_c_boosts.html

Just wondering if you also knew that curcumin has a great deal of cancer research behind it...there have been problems with getting a good absorption rate, but I emailed a Doctor at MD Anderson who said that they have found a solution to that and will be doing curcumin and NF2 trials sometime in 2008 or 2009.

All of the flavanoids are compelling. One that hit the news this week was Silibinin which is found in milk thistle, this study found it was helpful with liver cancers but it has also been looked at with respect to glioma cells.

Here is the wikipedia definition.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silibinin
Here is the recent article.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/11/071114111149.htm
Here is the work which might be applicable to NF.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=17804742&dopt=AbstractPlus

These are just some of the things that popped into my head when I saw your thread. I'll let you do your own research...there was a recent study about NF1 that said those patients were more likely to be affected by oxidative stresses so my best guess would be that as you plan your diet you might want to think....anti-oxidants, polyphenols, flavanoids, and a healthy chemical free environment. Hey, it can't hurt right! Besides the big known NF pharmaceutical company has patented some things like green tea extract, and such, so there may well be something to it.

I wish you all the best, <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="smile.gif" />
Cindy

[CindyLouWho]

Me again. By pure coincidence I just had this article come across my computer, it talks about the author of the book, Foods that Fight Cancer, which I recommended in my previous post. Thought it was quite appropriate.

Book suggests plant-based diet to prevent many types of cancer
http://canadianpress.google.com/article/ALeqM5ikuFiTymHPYR98CO6bG-GAZqY_Ig

[cheylhope]

My sister is taking the BIO30 and is a vegeterian, what foods do you eat?

[Heidi]

sounds good but just remembr what works for one person might not work well for another person. ALso please check with your DR too.
I always tell people what works for one mightnot work for the other person.each of su is different with uor casees of NF we have too.So please take it slow and if yu do notice a difference tell yuodr abuot ti too so they know what youare doing tomake it beter. Better yet contact a NF researcher in yuor area and let them now too . hugs heidi