Despite the news that cancer is set to explode in Asia, it's appearing as if adopting an Asian-inspired lifestyle may be the key to warding off cancer. Apparently, Asian and western women share the same genes that have recently been linked to an increased chance of developing breast cancer, and yet women in the west are more likely to develop cancer. Asian lifestyles have long been touted as a way to stay healthy. The typical Asian diet is low in fat, meat and overall calories, and high in vegetables and soy, which is a stark change from the mainly animal-based North American diet, one that revolved around processed foods.
All that said, I don't think I could live on a fully Asian-style diet. I mean, I love sushi and Thai and many other Asian foods, but giving up my cheese? Say it ain't so.
What do you think?
1. Thank you for the thoughtful article. It is true that Asians have a healthier lifestyle. One of the main reasons why Asians have a lower incidence of cancer than we do here in the States is that they consume more Brassica Vegetables (broccoli, cauliflower, Kale, Cabbage, etc.).
These amazing vegetables have a variety of anti-cancer phytochemicals that help to prevent cancer. The three most important phytochemicals in these vegetables that help to ward off cancer are: Diindolylmethane (DIM), Sulforaphane, and Selenium.
More information about DIM is available at the Diindolylmethane Information Resource Center at the University of California, Berkeley.
www.Diindolylmethane.org
All three of these elements have independently been shown to have potent anti-cancer properties. More recently DIM, has also been shown to have potent immune enhancing properties by affecting the all important Interferon-Gamma protein--the key cytokine that modulates the entire innate immune response system.
Koreans who consume Kim Chi, for example, get a lot of DIM in this food product as it is chopped cabbage in an acidic solution which helps with the development of DIM.
More information about DIM's immune enhancing affects is available at:
www.ActivaMune.com
The German Institute of Human Nutrition has established that the link between a lower cancer risk and food consumption is lowest for people who regularly consume Brassica vegetables, significantly lower than general fruit and vegetable consumption.
http://www.activamune.com/news.htm
Sulforaphane and DIM have been shown to synergize by scientists in their anti-cancer activities, while Selenium and Sulforphane have also been shown to synergize.
All of this, in part accounts for why Asians have a healthier lifestyle than the average American that rarely touches vegetables, let alone Brassica vegetables and why Asians enjoy lower cancer rates than we do here in the US.
Timely article. Thanks for the posting.
Posted at 9:41AM on Jun 5th 2007 by Arash M. Davallou