Vegan Eating and Cancer - How eating vegetables has helped me heal

Originally posted on Nov. 17/17

This post is courtesy of one of our incredible "Veggie and loving it!" subscribers,   
​Virgil Anderson.... 
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In his words  ...   

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​I have been living for the last couple of years with one of the rarest but most difficult types of cancer. Called pleural mesothelioma, this cancer grows in the tissue lining the lungs and is the result of having worked unprotected around asbestos form much of my career. Mesothelioma is an aggressive cancer that is difficult to treat, and while I have been undergoing traditional treatments like chemotherapy, I have also embraced some alternatives for wellness.

Focusing on Plant-Based Foods

I have not been adhering to strict vegan diet, but when I read up on the health benefits of plant-based eating I realized I could start to feel better if I ate better. I have been incorporating more vegetables into my diet and have been looking for more plant-based protein, trying to eat more beans, seeds, soy, and nuts. Having been a meat-eater my entire life, cutting some animal products out of my diet hasn’t been easy, but it has been worth the effort. I find I have more energy and the side effects of chemotherapy have not been as severe as they were previously.

How a Vegan Diet Can Help Cancer Patients

I like to share my experiences in the hopes that I can help others, and that means reaching out to talk about different things I have learned and tried. Eating a more plant-based diet is working for me, but I also did my research to find out why and to be sure this wasn’t just something I was imagining.

Here are some of the important things I learned:

Animal fat affects cancer survival. I did my research and found out that more fat in the diet, especially animal fats, can negatively impact survival rates for all types of cancer. I actually have a chance to live longer by eating less fat and more vegetables.

A vegan diet boosts the immune system. I have learned more about my immune system while researching cancer than I ever thought I would. The immune system is important in the body’s fight against cancer cells and tumor growth, and it turns out that a diet without animal products helps the immune system function better, specifically against cancer cells.

Plant-based foods are better for overall health. Studies show that diets with more vegetables, fruits, nuts, seeds, and other whole foods are better for health generally than those with meat, dairy, and processed foods. By switching to more plant-based foods I have seen improvements in my health, from less fatigue to better tolerance of chemotherapy.


During my research, I was fortunate to come across Veggieandlovingit.ca and have the opportunity to speak with Kimberly. She has been a ray of inspiration to me, and I am blessed to have been given the opportunity to collaborate with her in spreading cancer awareness.
Kimberly, thank you for having such a kind heart! 
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It is I, that must thank Virgil for being so forthcoming, and sharing information to all those that may benefit.
More information can be found on this topic @ www.mesothelioma.net . Search Vegan.   It discusses one of the most compelling findings from modern research:  A diet without or with minimal animal products can prevent cancer and may even promote healing in cancer patients. If you are living with mesothelioma, a vegetarian or vegan diet may be able to improve your quality of living.


Please feel free to comment, or leave questions below.    I look forward to hearing from all of you, that this topic resonates with!
Kimberly


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