Eric Christensen

Woody exploring the ranch — 2006.

I have given up traditional gift giving — spending lots of cash on things I think someone will enjoy, but doesn’t really need. Instead I will share this story in the hope of giving you something of myself and what I believe is the true spirit of this holiday season — being grateful for what we do have and helping the less fortunate. Here goes …

In 2001, I spotted a little slice of paradise — a deserted farmhouse on 20 acres in a little town called Desert Hot Springs. Built in 1954 (the year I came screaming into this world) and still in its original beauty — concrete floors, knotty pine walls, custom made doors, and crank out windows. No heat and no AC — probably considered luxuries in those days.

It was built by a hardy husband and wife team (transplants from the Midwest) doing most of the work themselves. After finishing the modest one bedroom, one bathroom (tiny shower stall for one and no bathtub!), they started building two large barns that would later house hundreds of chickens — launching their careers as chicken farmers. They were the Zimmerman’s and landed a contract with another new startup — the Colonel from Kentucky.

While I looked up and saw the beauty of open skies surrounded by 360 degree views of mountains and a chance to escape my hectic life on the weekends — my mother, complained about all the repairs the house needed, the depilated barns, and the rodents she called disease carrying rats. Nope — she did not want her adventurous daughter out in the middle of nowhere. Not safe, not smart, and too much work! Disappointed by my mom’s lack of vision, my enthusiasm was tempered long enough to for me to negotiate a bargain price. It would be mine, all mine for only $235,000 — rats, scorpions, broken pipes, tumbleweeds, and all.

After the house became livable, it was not long before I discovered a no-kill shelter called Save-a-Pet about a mile away and two streets over. I probably could have found it without seeing the sign just by following the orchestra of barking dogs I would hear every morning around 6am — feeding time. Knock knock … “Hi, I am a vet and come out here on the weekends.” That brief introduction welcomed me with open arms by the manager I’ll call H. Asking a shelter if they need any help is like inviting a hungry homeless person to dinner.

I was totally out of my comfort zone. These dogs did not have a worried owner at the other end of the leash waiting in one of my exam rooms. There was no one to worry about their health and welfare. No one cared to play with them. No one had valued their companionship. While they waited and hoped for freedom — home was an outside pen during terribly hot summers and freezing cold winters. These castaways fought for attention whenever anyone walked by, desperate to be noticed. I watched in despair with clouded vision, unable to stop the tears when hopeful dogs lunged at the fence and fought amongst themselves for the prime spot near the gate hoping someone was coming for them. These dogs remained at the mercy of a few kind volunteers who paid them some attention when they were not overworked by cleaning out kennels, feeding 100 dogs and cats and answering the phones.

Some, of course, got homes. But others would become full-term lifers — sentenced to live out what time they had left until sickness or advancing age made them too much of a burden. This is the problem with no-kill shelters.  Unless there is an action plan in place to work with the dogs (obedience training, socialization, and daily exercise) — they become more and more difficult to adopt since a typical shelter environment is a breeding ground for behavior problems and what has been called, cage crazy.

Why am I telling you all this? I hope that will become obvious as my story unfolds. By a twist of fate — during the Katrina disaster in summer of 2005 — I got an urgent call for help. The billionaire T. Boone Pickens generously charted a private jet to fly rescued canine victims of the hurricane out to southern California and someone with connections routed that transfer to the Palm Springs airport. And you guessed it — H had committed to taking 80 homeless Katrina dogs! “So, Dr T, how many dogs can you put up at your dog ranch? I need to make room at the shelter for the Katrina dogs that are flying in next week.” (I was housing a few stray dogs that had wondered onto the property and the chickens had long ago departed — hence I now had a “dog ranch”).

Plain and simple — I am a bleeding heart for any dog in need. “OK, H, bring me ten of your dogs.” Mayhem broke out as wild, caged up dogs now had a full acre to run in. Some jumped the 4 ft fence while others dug out under the sandy soil — after 2 weeks only a few remained. H was able to round up the escapees, but I could not risk taking the runaways back.

One of the remaining dogs caught my eye and concern. He spent most of his time away from the other dogs (and people, too!), hiding under the large native mesquite bushes. He would not even come to out onto the patio at mealtime and someone always went looking for him to leave a plate of food nearby his campsite. When I mentioned this odd behavior to H, he told about the mystery dog he named Woody. Woody had been dumped at the shelter as a puppy, not yet old enough to be weaned and had to be bottle feed. H remembered the little black puppy fondly as he and Woody were newcomers to the shelter nearly 11 years ago!

Oh My God! — I never even noticed Woody on any of my visits — no one did. He was the generic looking black dog huddled at the back of this prison cell with 6 other inmates. Fat chance someone would want that dog — scared to death and so easily frightened that he would bite. Locked away and forgotten until Katrina handed him a get-out-of-jail card and free pass to my dog ranch.

Several weeks went by before Woody began to venture out. As I pulled up one late Saturday afternoon around dusk, the dogs ran out to greet me and I was pleased to see Woody out on the patio. Next comes the moment I will never forget. One of my ranch dogs (a friendly stray we called BW simply because he was black and white and easily ID’d by the reference) eagerly approached me with a Frisbee. As I casually sent it flying, Woody trotted after it. No sooner did I get the words out of my mouth — “Oh, how cute! Look at Woody, he wants to play!” — seconds later I was a witness to a crime scene. But unlike most bystanders, I flew into action when BW effortlessly nailed Woody to the ground, tearing into his neck full force. Woody let out cry I had never heard before — and I knew in that moment if I didn’t get BW off him (and 3 other dogs that had joined the gang fight) I was going to be an eye witness for the prosecution — murder one!

I needed to buy time until my screams for help would alert the caretaker. I did what most people would never do — but for me there was no other option. Because I knew Woody had beaten the odds (orphaned  pup in a shelter exposed to deadly viruses like parvo and distemper) surviving puppyhood only to suffer the neglect of an adult shelter dog that no one wanted — he sure as hell was not going to die like this on my watch! I jumped on top of Woody using my body as a shield until help finally did come. That stunt got me a ride to the emergency room where I was treated for multiple bite wounds, a severe laceration to my left arm (compliments of BW), and shock. Woody underwent surgery to repair a deep wound to his neck — which by the grace of God — spared injury to major blood vessels, keeping him from suffering a fatal hemorrhage that night.

Fortunately, in time, I regained full use of my left arm. But the emotional scars of that night remain and the why of the attack by a dog that had never attacked another dog in the three years he was with me (but did later attack a second dog) cannot be answered. At least not by me.

Over the years, I have witnessed many dog fights — most are just that. Few dogs attack with the intent to kill. They usually just make their point and move on. I am embarrassed to say I had never made that distinction. Lesson painfully learned and passed on. But wait a minute! This is not where the story ends … life was just beginning for Woody.

After a few months of rehab, Woody made it clear that he simply was not going to trust anyone but me. He did not want to be adopted — he was home. I simply agreed. He deserved his forever home and lived the happy life for his remaining years. In those three years he ate real food, explored the world on daily walks, loved to take car rides, and had his very own bed — one in my office and one at the foot of my bed. Yep, he was my dog and Rose graciously shared me.  

This year Woody celebrated the ripe age of 14 years. Sadly, he had only really lived the last 3 of those years—the ones we shared together.  It was my first experience to have earned the grateful loving devotion of a dog who knew he had been rescued not once, but twice. In 2007, Woody was diagnosed with cancer and was not expected to live more than a few months. We faced a new battle this time, but Woody’s strong spirit told me he wanted to fight, and so we did. He beat the odds again and lived another year! My War on Cancer is dedicated to Woody and all dogs battling this illness.

On December 8, 2008 I kissed by beloved warrior goodbye. PLEASE do not send your condolences — for I am comforted by the experience of giving life to a dog that was in a hopeless situation. Had Woody not been the benefactor of a tragic twist of fate, he would have remained at that shelter indefinitely — alone and afraid, with no one to grieve his passing. Instead, he had a hurricane to thank and a dog that nearly killed him, leading him to a new life.

In honor of Woody and the thousands of dogs (and cats) that have become castoffs by a society that does not yet fully accept its obligation to provide a safe haven for our adoptable pets — I pledge stronger efforts in the New Year and I, too will push for promised Change in this country:  

• I question the individual “rights” and “freedoms” of breeders and ask them to respond: Why continue to breed when we are warehousing (and killing) thousands of adoptable pets each day in animal shelters?

• I will continue to encourage my clients NOT to buy from pet stores! Puppy mills are for-profit-only businesses that care nothing about animal welfare or breeding quality.

• I fully support and will continue to work with responsible rescue groups who have reasonable adoption programs.

• I ask that dog lovers get over their pure-bred mania mindset. If your heart is set on one particular breed, please work with a rescue group committed to that breed. Just Google your favorite breed and add the word rescue — you will be amazed at your selection.

• I will remind you that a dog is a dog and I have met the best — mutts! Mutts also tend to live longer and have fewer health problems — just ask any vet. I am in favor of starting Adopt a Homeless Mutt Month!

Please support the efforts of those who work tirelessly to rescue our unwanted pets. To truly understand the dedication by animal advocates and their rewarding accomplishments, I hope you will treat yourself and your friends to this inspirational book, Pieces of My Heart by Jim Willis.

More about Jim and his writings or click here for Amazon.com.

Thank you, Woody, for showing me what truly matters. And thank you, Jim, for putting it all onto paper for us to remember and enjoy.

In part lll of this series, you learned that all cancer cells were once normal body cells until a compromised oxygen supply damaged the cells’ ability to produce energy — forcing it to switch metabolic gears in an effort to survive.

Eric Christensen/Hook Images

Rosie, my 11 year old white Boxer pup.

Normally, when cells become damaged beyond repair, an automatic programmed cell death mechanism called apoptosis follows. In the event these damaged oxygen starved cells manage to avoid apoptosis and cheat death, they can exist by switching to a primitive method of energy production called fermentation (discussed in part lll), which demands a constant high supply of glucose fuel.

Understanding how cancer cells produce energy and the voracious appetite they have for glucose molecules (provided by sugar and carbohydrates) — twenty times higher than normal cells — leads us to discover natural chemo treatments designed to starve cancer cells. Otto Warburg’s research revealed how cancer cell engines create energy which unlocked the mystery and opened the door to finding real cancer cures — the subject of Part V in this series.

The goal of part lV in this cancer series is to map out how we can ensure higher oxygen transfer into the cell and prevent damage to cellular respiration. Equally important is alerting you to the secondary triggers (events that disturb normal cell functions), allowing a cancerous transformation to begin.

In the simplest of terms, it is the cell membrane that determines which nutrients (oxygen, vitamins, minerals, glucose) get transported across cell membranes and into the cell contents. Referred to as the plasma membrane, it is composed of two main molecules: fats (made from essential fatty acids) and sulfur rich proteins. The fats are arranged in a double layer with large protein molecules dotted about in the membrane (see diagram).

Diagram of the cell membrane, showing fat and protein molecules.

It is important to realize that fats are a crucial component of cell membranes and have in fact been referred to as natural oxygen magnets. Maintaining the integrity of the cell membrane is vital for the passage of oxygen into the cell and to kick waste products back out. Ponder this for a moment: if completely deprived of oxygen, you will die in a matter of minutes. Cancer is just a slower death sentence that begins when individual cells are able to survive without oxygen. And as we know, these sinister cells do not play by the rules!

STEP ONE: The anti-cancer diet plan and nutrient enrichment

As a reader of this blog, you have already been lectured on this topic numerous times. You know that you cannot skip over your dog’s diet for the simple sake of bagged convenience or modify a junk diet with flavored Pet Tabs (imitation vitamin supplement) and expect a healthy result. And you have been taught how to read pet food labels (see Beneful By Purina —Another Pet Food Disaster). Remember the famous adage: garbage in garbage out?  Here’s my twist: garbage in, cancer out!

Prepare meals (or modify a good quality commercial diet) by making protein the most important ingredient. I commonly rotate my dog’s diet between several different protein sources: Poultry (chicken and turkey), whole eggs (scrambled or hard boiled), fish (canned salmon, tuna, and sardines) and diary (cottage cheese and plain yogurt). As I have said before, if you can boil water, you can become a dog chef. See how easy it can be to improve your dog’s diet in just 30 Minutes with a copy of How to Feed your Dog if your Flunked Rocket Science —The smart way to feed your dog on your budget.

I stress diet and nutrition (for humans too) as the best health insurance policy your grocery money can buy! To keep with our topic of cancer prevention, I have engineered a sample diet using foods known to contain specific nutrients (essential fatty acids, amino acids, vitamins and minerals) required for optimal cell function — decreasing the probability for a cancer to develop.

Plan B would be to modify a good commercial diet: cut back on the kibble and add fresh sources of protein listed above as often as you can. And don’t forget to share your leftover veggies!

Why your dog should eat plants

Phytochemicals are compounds found naturally in plants and can protect our cells from damage that can lead to cancer. Here are a few of the most promising discoveries:

• All berries, but particularly strawberries and raspberries, are rich in a phytochemical called ellagic acid. Research suggests that ellagic acid is able to utilize several different cancer-fighting methods at once: acts as an antioxidant, helps the body deactivate specific carcinogens, and slows the reproduction of cancer cells.
• The cruciferous vegetables are broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, Brussels sprouts, bok choy, and kale. Laboratory studies suggest that cruciferous vegetables help regulate a complex system of bodily enzymes that defend against cancer.
• Garlic belongs to the group of vegetables called Allium. The National Cancer Institute recognizes garlic as one of several vegetables with potential anticancer properties. One garlic component, called diallyl disulfide, has been shown to exert preventive effects against cancers of the skin, colon, and lung.

Why your dog needs good fats

Only two essential fatty acids are referred to as parent fatty acids — from which the body will make all other important fats needed to synthesize hormones, produce energy, enhance brain function, and more. For purposes of our discussion, we must appreciate the fact that fatty acids are found in all cell membranes and are vital to the transport of oxygen into the cell. Omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids have been referred to as oxygen magnets — pulling oxygen into the cell:

• Linoleic acid (LA)—parent omega-6 fatty acid. Good plant sources: seeds and oils of sunflower, safflower, and hemp plants.
• Alpha-linolenic acid (ALA)—parent omega-3 fatty acid. Good plant sources: flax seeds* and walnuts.

*Note: I use Udo’s Oil 3-6-9 Blend by Flora which contains the seed sources listed above. It is believed that dogs (and some humans) may lack a necessary enzyme needed to convert the parent fat alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) into the omega-3 fats (EPA and DHA). That means dogs and some people may have a limited ability to derive omega-3’s from flax seeds or walnuts. Therefore, animals that make omega-3 fats from the parent fat (ALA) can be eaten to obtain the omega-3 fats. FYI: Wild caught fish (consume ALA by feeding on algae), grass (contains ALA) fed cattle — not grain fed feedlot beef — and chickens (that are fed more natural diets containing ALA) can all make omega-3 fats. Many health enthusiasts are popping fish oil capsules like candy or like me, eating a lot more sushi — which I find much more enjoyable! For a more thorough discussion on why you need to supply good fats in your dog’s diet, please refer to an earlier post Good Fat, Bad Fat And Myth Of Low Fat Diets.

Nutrient enrichment

Specific nutrients (vitamins and minerals) in whole foods work as co-factors to help essential fatty acids (omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids) transport and utilize oxygen in the cell — previously referred to as cellular respiration.

Key point to remember: oxygen starved cells open the primitive energy pathway to fermentation — the dangerous first step that defines all cancer cells. Eating a variety of whole, unprocessed foods and taking a daily vitamin mineral supplement will help protect against nutrient deficiencies that impair vital oxygen transport systems.

Antioxidants are substances that protect cells from oxidative damage caused by free radicals — produced continuously in cells as by-products of metabolism. Free radicals are unstable molecules that can damage fats in cell membranes, proteins and DNA. Damage to cells caused by free radical attack (stealing electrons) has been implicated in the development of cancer and other chronic degenerative diseases.

Important anti-cancer nutrients can be added as supplements and also increased by the intake of good food sources:

• Antioxidants: Vitamins A (or its precursor, the family of caratenoids) and vitamin C (ascorbic acid), alpha Lipoic Acid
• Minerals: selenium, zinc
• Essential fats: omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids
• Phytochemicals: ellagic acid, garlic, medicinal mushrooms (maitake, shiitake, and reishi — one well researched product is AHCC, discussed in part ll of this series)

The antioxidants, minerals, and essential fats listed above are the hammer and nails in your cancer prevention tool kit. Phytochemicals add more muscle — if your dog is a known cancer risk, include one or more of these cancer busters.

Remember, vegetables and fruits are natural sources of antioxidants and offer beneficial phytochemicals at no extra charge!

STEP TWO: Apply a healthy dose of common sense

Just like their human companions, dogs live longer, healthier lives when they eat good foods, get enough exercise, breathe clean air, drink clean water, and stay away from harmful substances. Let’s start by looking at your dog’s environment: Air, water, yard, and people house.   

It’s the environment, stupid

Humans, along with all other animals on the planet, are living in a chemical wonderland which can spell toxic overload for many. In the last 50 years, more than 5,000 chemicals have received patents. From pesticides to engineered plastics to color dyes…these wonder materials paint the world we live in today. Naturally, our pets also consume, breathe and wear our synthetic chemical make-up. Join the Go Green movement — help your pet and the planet — reduce toxic chemical build up.

Fire the bug man!

Dogs pick up pesticides (and herbicides) by paw licking and through an intense desire to smell everything crossing their path. There are natural and much safer methods to deal with fleas and other pests. See Natural Remedies for Fleas and Other Pests.

As a bonus: Practicing good environmental flea control along with frequent bathing may also allow you to reduce or eliminate the need to apply topical flea control products (Advantage and Frontline). Further reducing your dog’s chemical load.

Only Natural Pet Store
carries a good line of non-chemical flea products.

Second hand smoke

If you or a family member are still lighting up — take it outside! Better yet, quit this nasty habit. Studies have shown that pets (cats and dogs) that live with smokers have a higher incidence of cancer.

Even if you can avoid smokers, industrialized air still carries a host of other pollutants. Consider investing in high quality HEPA Air Purifiers for your home. Air filters will help those plagued with seasonal allergies and asthma too! 4Cloud9.com offers an array of high ranking air purifiers.

Simple soap and water for safer produce

Wash all veggies and fruits — fill your sink with water and add a few drops of dish soap. Soak and rinse well. No need to buy costly produce washes. And go organic whenever you can.

Filtered water—it’s for pets too!

Install a home water filter and stop buying all those plastic water bottles. You will save money in the long run by filtering your own water and keep more plastic out of landfills. Dump the plastic and get Sigg water bottles — lightweight aluminum with a special coating that will not leach any mental or chemical residues into the water. BTW: your dog’s water and feeding dishes should be stainless steel or ceramic. Plastic containers can contaminate food and water with chemical resides. Go Green with reusable, attractive Sigg water bottles and get one for your traveling dog too! Got mine on Amazon.com

Before there was Lysol

Household cleaners run the gamut of man-made chemicals — many which carry warning labels for children because they are considered harmful! Commercials coerce you to buy these expensive quick fixes and the joke is on you, the consumer. You can make your own cleaners using good old fashioned baking soda, borax, white vinegar and distilled water — get a spray bottle and add a little elbow grease. My good friend Cindy Scott (she wrote the book on enlightened dog training) convinced me. Cindy says she never uses anything but baking soda and white vinegar — and she’s got one husband, 2 kids, a cat, and 4 dogs! A simple Google search will find dozens of recipes for natural house cleaners. You can also add essential plant oils (such as lemon oil) that have natural disinfectant properties and smell great too. Or, at the very least, choose only earth friendly biodegradable cleaners, like Simple Green or Nature’s Sunshine products.

Be vaccine conservative

I wrote the book warning dog owners of needless vaccines. Refer to How to Protect Your Dog from a Vaccine Junkie — protect your dog from unnecessary vaccines. Don’t be bamboozled by vaccine-happy vets!

In conclusion

Cancer has been called a nutrient deficiency disease by some experts. And there is a lot of truth to this. The body has both repair mechanisms to fix damaged cells — preventing a cell from going bad — and a Special Ops immune system trained for search and destroy missions to find cancer cells and blow them up. But you must supply the raw ingredients for these systems to work properly.

Taking the proactive healthy measures mentioned here will decrease your dog’s cancer risk and at the very least will extend your dog’s expiration date — living longer, living better!

Believe it or not: The root cause of cancer was discovered more than half a century ago!

The first major breakthrough in cancer research was made way back in the 1920’s when a brilliant noble prize winning German scientist, Otto Warburg, discovered the unique energy characteristics of cancer cells. In a nutshell: Normal cells use oxygen in a process called cellular respiration to create energy, but cancer cells use a different mechanism. Warburg found that cancer cells could produce energy in the absence of oxygen in a more primitive process known as fermentation. He conclusively demonstrated how a measurable drop in tissue oxygen levels allows cancer cells to develop. In fact, Warburg (along with other respected scientists who later repeated his experiments) documented that normal cells automatically become cancer cells whenever oxygen consumption is compromised by 35%. And with that basic scientific fact, we were handed the first piece of the cancer puzzle.

Cracking the cancer code…

It would be several long decades before scientists could fully appreciate the significance of Warburg’s research. Next, necessary advances in technology (like the electron microscope) would reveal the complex nature and biochemistry of the cell membrane and its relationship to health. You see, it is not as simple as the air we breathe into our lungs. The oxygen we breathe in must then be transported across the cell membrane into the mitochondria—each cell’s factory for energy production.

Under normal operating conditions, fuel molecules (glucose) in the presence of oxygen are converted into energy currency through a complex metabolic pathway known as the Krebs cycle. But when oxygen levels are insufficient to utilize the Krebs cycle, the cell reverts to a far less efficient method to produce energy, known as fermentation—yeast and some bacteria are examples of primitive cells that can also exist without the need for oxygen.

Now, take a moment to refresh your memory (or become familiar) with some basic cell biology taught at high school level. In 9th grade (unless you were snoozing) you learned that each cell is somewhat self-contained and self-maintaining. Body cells take in key nutrients, convert these nutrients into energy, carry out specialized functions, and reproduce as necessary.

Different cell types have different functions, but all normal cells share these common abilities:

• Reproduction by controlled cell division.
• Metabolism: taking in raw materials, building cell components, energy production and releasing by-products.
• Cell contents are contained within a permeable membrane that is made from specific fats and proteins.

Now pay particular attention to that last bullet point: Cell contents are contained within a permeable membrane that is made from specific fats and proteins. Whether or not cell membranes contain an optimum amount of these specific fats and proteins—critical for membrane function—will depend mostly on the foods (nutrients) you eat or don’t. [Topic to be thoroughly discussed in cancer Part lV.]

Why is the cell membrane so important?  Because oxygen and other vital nutrients must be transported into the cell through the cell membrane—if not, the cell either dies or worse flips the cancer switch on. Damaged cell membranes cannot adequately transport key nutrients into the cell for energy production and other vital cell functions. Remember, when the oxygen supply drops below what is needed for energy production by the normal pathway of cellular respiration—damaged cells revert to a primitive form of energy production known as fermentation.

Understanding the composition and critical functions of the cell membrane was the next puzzle piece to fall into place before Warburg’s cancer research received its full glory of accolades. Bottom line: When oxygen and other vital nutrients get a free pass into each cell, it’s the best health insurance policy that money can’t buy!  And it’s the best guarantee that cell function will go on with “business as usual”, keeping us and our dogs out of the disease business.

Protecting this vital cell membrane is like protecting your valuable belongings from water damage by insuring there are no leaks in your roof. Worst yet, picture your house with no roof in a rainstorm—get the BIG picture?

Cancer for Dummies:

• Oxygen starved cells throw out the factory blueprints for cellular respiration and revert to the primitive process of fermentation.
• As a result of using the fermentation cycle, vital cell functions go haywire, resulting in the birth of stupid, zombie-like cells that have lost their capacity to perform any specialized purpose—we call that cancer.
• Renegade cancer cells do not obey the normal cycles of cell division and cell death. The uncontrolled growth of cancer cells is like parasitic mutiny—if not stopped before a complete hostile takeover—the body becomes overrun by malignant tumors.

Too often, cancer is not detected in its early stage of development, where the battle should begin. Instead, cancer progresses on until symptoms of illness are fully recognized—usually years after that first cell began its cancer journey. No, your sick dog or uncle did not just get sick 2 weeks ago! Your dog or uncle maintained an alive and kicking status (seemingly well) for as long as their own body’s natural defense systems were able to keep cancer in-check at third base. At this stage in the game, your dog or uncle can still throw the curve ball that will strike out cancer. But when cancer swings and hits the ball that unleashes the third baseman that slides into home plate—game over!

Knowing that it is possible to halt a developing cancer means you need to get in the game right now! Later could be too late…

You can’t delegate health, it’s a choice

Getting cancer is not just simple bad luck or an unlucky chance throw of the dice. But it could be major payback for the sins of an unhealthy diet leading to chronic nutrient deficiencies topped off with a lazy failure to limit exposure to toxic chemicals. Add to that a stubborn comfort zone that keeps you stuck in a stressful, unsatisfying life and you have the recipe for any number of medical disasters!

Modern day dog translation: A lifetime of eating processed commercial pet food diets, medical care focused on disease management—not wellness, and lack of physical exercise and play time leading to chronic frustration and anxiety.

As someone who takes personal responsibility for the amazing good health that I enjoy, you can bet that I don’t delegate my health to drug happy M.D.’s. Neither should you. And since many common cancers are being referred to as diseases of lifestyle (poor diets, stress, and bad habits), we and our dogs are not simple victims of cancer—we have some say in the matter. We can stack good health odds in our favor and be ready to battle any health threat rearing its ugly head!

The remaining keys to the anti-cancer kingdom are discussed in Parts IV and V. See my introduction (Part l) to this five part series on cancer: The Ultimate Cure for Cancer Is…

In Part lV of this series, you will discover the triggers that damage the cell membrane and impede the flow of nutrients into the cell—beginning the cancerous transformation. Remember, the goal is always practice prevention first!  In Part V, I teach you how to fight back like a cancer commando.

Stay tuned—soon you may know more than your own doctor! Part IV coming next month: Your game plan to avoid cancer—the anti-cancer diet and wonder supplement program for you and your dog!

Remember that a well functioning immune system is your best guarantee of health. In fact, the immune system is on guard 24/7 in what has been termed immune surveillance.

A basic summary of immune surveillance states that:

Immune surveillance performed by specialized cells in the immune system known as Natural Killer (NK) cells can recognize and destroy spontaneously arising malignant tumor cells. Tumors can develop when transformed malignant cells escape immunological host defense mechanisms. The increased incidence of spontaneous tumors in immunosuppressed individuals indicates that the immune system can provide a major mechanism for host resistance against cancer and infectious diseases.

Now I will tell you how you can up your health insurance policy and fight back by taking nutraceuticals——food extracts from selected plants and herbs proven to have medicinal properties. One key nutraceutical from the plant kingdom that has proven to enhance natural killer cells (special cells that attack cancer) is AHCC* (Active Hexose Correlated Compounds)—a proprietary blend of mushroom mycelia extract that was developed by scientists in Japan.

*The Amino Up Chemical Company produces AHCC in commercial quantities at its facility in Sapporo, Japan.

Still skeptical? Just do a Google search.

Here is a list of the published research:

http://www.ahccpublishedresearch.com/wwwroot-ahcc/default.htm

As outlined in the research studies, AHCC stimulates the production of NK cells, killer T-cells, and cytokines such as interferon. Making it a welcomed weapon against chronic infections as well as cancer.

In Japan, AHCC is routinely used in the treatment of cancer patients. It has been found to reduce the toxic side effects of chemotherapy and has also been documented to increase the survival rates of cancer patients.

AHCC is a trademarked product sold by Quality of Life Labs as Kinoko Gold AHCC. Other recognized supplement companies such as NOW Foods have also formulated products using AHCC. NOW Foods sells this trademarked product as AHCC Immune Support**—the same potency for less cost than Kinoko Gold. For additional savings, buy the powdered form and not the capsules. Mix it into a smoothie or soft food like yogurt or applesauce. Your dog will enjoy lapping up these tasty foods too!

**Available from iherb.com. Use code TER129 at checkout and get $5 off your first order.

Human adult dose is 2-6 capsules per day, preferably on an empty stomach. Use the higher dose (2 capsules 3 times per day, for a total of 9) to battle cancer or fight off infections. Use the lower dose (2 capsules daily) for disease prevention.

A supplement rule of thumb for dogs: give one-fourth the human dose to dogs under 25 pounds; one-half the dose for dogs between 25 and 40 pounds; three-fourths the dose for dogs between 40 and 55 pounds; the full dose for dogs over 55lbs. AHCC has no reported side effects and is regarded to be very safe.

Don’t be confused by the many different types of medicinal mushroom products available. Many have merit. To name just a few well studied mushrooms: Maitake, Shitake, Reishi and Cordyceps—all have been shown to have many healthy benefits. More of these mushrooms are popping up in natural food markets since they have become popular food-fare among health enthusiasts.

So you see, it is possible for us to help ourselves and our canine pals boost the natural abilities of an amazing immune system to battle cancer and other health threats. Yes, we can fight back!

Taking Nutraceuticals is a far different approach from swallowing toxic chemo cocktails in the war against cancer or using a super charged line of antibiotics ready to combat the next super bug. By working with the body’s intelligence we can evoke its natural healing powers and not worry about the negative side effects or fallout from using our super power, Big Pharma. Declaring drug war should be our last resort, never our first option!

Nutraceuticals, another gift from Mother Nature’s medicine cabinet, offer real help for an army of natural fighting soldiers. Remember, a top notch immune system is your best defense to ward off any type of illness—even cancer!

Everywhere you look these days, we hear news about this or that vitamin, mineral, vegetable, herb, plant from the rainforest, or exotic fruit reported to “cure” or protect us from cancer—but the fact of the matter is really just this: Our immune system (when working properly) has the natural ability to find and destroy cancer cells as well as the viruses and bacteria that make us sick. In fact, the most successful natural remedies simply amp up or help the immune system to fight its own deadly battles!

So, our health really depends on how well our immune system is functioning at all times—no silver bullets, no black magic. Our very own body intelligence is our best weapon to defeat the growth of cancer cells and keep us free of disease. It is only when the immune system fails to detect and destroy malignant cancer cells or mount a targeted attack against bacterial and viral invasions that we get sick. Sometimes we become the unwilling host to a flu virus or strep throat; other times falling victim to life threatening diseases, like cancer.

Scientific studies have shown that we can and do influence the functioning of our immune system. Diets that lack essential nutrients, stress, and exposure to a growing onslaught of chemical pollutants have all been shown to weaken the function of the immune response and subsequently our health.

The same goes for your dog. Assuming your dog is not burdened by the stresses of financial worries, job dissatisfaction, a demanding work schedule, caretaker responsibilities, difficult personal relationships, etc—spending his days napping, playing and feeling loved—the single most important factor that will determine your dog’s state of health and longevity is what foods he finds in his food dish!

It’s the choices we make, not fate, that determine our health and the health of our animal dependents. Each day we make choices that will either weaken our army of immune soldiers—or optimize its fighting abilities to win and protect our health. I have long advocated the common sense approach of maintaining good health—a proactive state of living called disease prevention. A mindset yet to be embraced by a flawed health care system which looks more like this: Get sick then change your diet, get more exercise and reduce stress. And if that’s too much trouble, no doubt you will join the millions of sickos in America and help to pump up drug company profits!

I have learned from my own personal health experiences and those of my furry patients that we can improve our own state of health and strongly influence the health of our pets by the choices we make. Stack the health odds in your favor!

Start a proactive health campaign with a few simple principles:

• Get smart: plan your diet each day and don’t leave it up to chance. This will help you to avoid tempting junk foods and make better choices. You also need to rethink the misguided idea that feeding your dog the same commercial diet every day is healthy. Like us, they need and crave a variety of whole foods. Simple whole foods like baked chicken, ground turkey and scrambled eggs are easy to prepare. Add more of these wholesome foods to your shopping cart and skip the dog food aisle!
• Go green: eat vegetables with meals and snack on fruits—both are high in protective antioxidants. Most dogs like to eat cooked vegetables. Favorites are: carrots, peas, green beans and broccoli. Also try canned pumpkin, yams and butternut squash. You can ensure an optimum intake of these hard working antioxidants by including a good quality vitamin/mineral supplement.
• Adopt a “more rest and less stress” lifestyle that includes daily exercise. Start by leashing up your dog for walks around the neighborhood, visit local dog parks, or engage in play activity at home. Just get started and your dog will keep you motivated to continue this very good behavior!

There really is sage advice hidden in that phrase: “the good old days”. Like feasting on simple whole foods that were common place on kitchen tables when our grandmothers (younger readers may need to go back as far as great grandmother) were the gourmet chefs of our time! Remember, whole foods contain the best sources of essential nutrients (vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and fatty acids) and that has not changed! Don’t short-cut your health with fast food products that list ingredients known only to food chemists—just look at the pet food industry. Open a bag of kibble and ask yourself, where is the beef?

What you eat and what you feed your dog will surely determine the number of doctor visits in the days ahead. Although I am a big fan of dietary supplements (vitamins, minerals, herbs, amino acids, fatty acids) and Nutraceuticals (foods that aid in the prevention or treatment of disease) they are not substitutes for a health-based diet. However, I must pause here to praise the efforts of science to provide us with substantial scientific studies and documentation on how certain key supplements and Nutraceuticals have proven to offer numerous health benefits, safe effective treatments, and sometimes even cures for almost any health challenge we may face—our pets included! (More on this in Part 2: How to fight cancer without drugs.)

You can boost your health IQ by reading Super Foods Rx—Fourteen Foods That Will Change Your Life, by Steven Pratt, MD. (I got mine from Amazon.com.) This smart Doc shows how you can actually change your body’s biochemistry and stop the progression of diseases like type II diabetes, hypertension, certain cancers, obesity and Alzheimer’s simply by eating more nutrient-dense foods.

Don’t worry, you can find these simple foods at your local supermarket. Some of the foods that made it to the top fourteen, like blueberries, broccoli, spinach, salmon, and walnuts did not surprise me. However, some did, like oranges, pumpkin, beans, and turkey. And if you don’t like some of the super fourteen, the author offers what he calls sidekicks: similar foods that can be substituted.

This wonderfully written book will surely help improve your eating habits simply by knowing why these foods are so good for your health. On a recent food shopping spree at Trader Joe’s, I found myself reaching for a variety of canned beans (marinated 3 bean salad, refried black beans with jalapeno peppers, organic black bean soup), dried wild blueberries and walnuts. Foods that can be easily added to salads and other dishes. Your dog is sure to enjoy eating some of the super fourteen too! Now, pass the blueberries please…