Dr. Heidi Lucas, of the Seattle Cancer Treatment and Wellness Center, recently interviewed on nutrition and cancer treatment, gives these tips on cancer-fighting foods and diet strategies for maintaining health while going through cancer treatment and for cancer prevention.

• Edamame is a great whole food protein. She does not recommend cancer patients with estrogen-positive cancer consume soy powder and soy supplements.
• Green tea is recommended for cancer recovery and cancer prevention. She recommends drinking loose leaf green tea and green tea in supplements to all cancer patients.
• Protein smoothie is recommended as a daily drink. Using whey protein powder, add ice cubes, milk -- soymilk or juice, tablespoon of ground flaxseeds and a handful of frozen or fresh berries. Additional sources of protein include lentils, beans and nuts -- or chicken and fish. Nuts to include in the daily diet are Brazil nuts, almonds and walnuts.
• Choose whole organic fresh food whenever possible.
  

During the interview, Dr. Lucas explained the importance of modifying blood sugar and getting refined carbohydrates out of the diet. "Cancer cells have high metabolic rates and thrive on glucose. Glucose is the favorite food of cancer cells. When someone gets a PET scan, the technicians put a radioactive tracer on glucose cells to see where they go. Where the glucose goes, that's where the cancer is found."

Sound advice. The Seattle Cancer Treatment and Wellness Center is the only cancer center in the Northwest where medical oncologists and natural medicine practitioners work as a team. Bob Condor, who conducted the interview, is the editor of Seattle Conscious Choice, which covers health, environment, food, social good, spirituality and personal growth.