Daniella Chace - Healing Smoothies for Cancer: Nutrition Support for Prevention and Recovery

Copyright 2015, 2022 by Daniella Chace, MSc, CN Photographs copyright 2015 by Olivia Brent Previously published as Healing Smoothies All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any manner without the express written consent of the publisher, except in the case of brief excerpts in critical reviews or articles. All inquiries should be addressed to Skyhorse Publishing, 307 West 36th Street, 11th Floor, New York, NY 10018. Skyhorse Publishing books may be purchased in bulk at special discounts for sales promotion, corporate gifts, fund-raising, or educational purposes. Special editions can also be created to specifications. For details, contact the Special Sales Department, Skyhorse Publishing, 307 West 36th Street, 11th Floor, New York, NY 10018 or .

Skyhorse and Skyhorse Publishing are registered trademarks of Skyhorse Publishing, Inc., a Delaware corporation. Visit our website at www.skyhorsepublishing.com. 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is available on file. Cover design by David Ter-Avanesyan Cover photo by Olivia Brent Print ISBN: 978-1-5107-6951-9 Ebook ISBN: 978-1-5107-7054-6 Printed in China This book is dedicated to my assistant Helen Gray, who is one of my oldest friends. Her dedication to the details around the editing, product research, and photography allowed me to focus on the clinical and culinary development of this book. Contents Introduction As a clinical nutritionist specializing in the burgeoning field of oncology nutrition in the late '90s, I was in charge of developing the nutrition protocols for an integrative cancer clinic in Seattle.

This was a challenging assignment as cancer creates specific nutritional needs. My patients were exhausted and overwhelmed by food planning, shopping, and preparation. There were other considerations as well, such as the side effects of treatment that affect appetite. For example, the nausea caused by chemotherapy can be triggered by the smell of cooked foods. Early in my career as a nutritionist I co-authored Smoothies for Life, which is a functional recipe book with smoothies that provide health benefits such as sleep improvement, energy enhancement, and weight loss. I began to apply my experience in creating medicinal smoothies to resolve some of the dietary issues of my patients, including alleviating chemo-induced nausea and inflammation.

Then I set to work researching each of the specific nutrients my patients needed such as carotenoids, probiotics, fiber, essential fatty acids, and protein, and finding the highest quality foods that provide these nutrients. This involved considering the importance of organic, whole foods while avoiding Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs), allergens, processed foods, and toxins. I created smoothies for patients, often designing them to meet individual needs, which meant addressing dietary restrictions, cost, and availability. Making fresh smoothies daily can become an enjoyable practice. This simple routine can be adhered to for years and, in turn, the medicinally active nutrients provide protection and healing benefits that increase over time. I have learned from years of observation that daily smoothies can dramatically improve energy during treatment and the outcome of treatment.

Smoothies can provide proper nutrition throughout treatment, reduce the length of time that treatment is needed, and when the daily smoothie routine is maintained after treatment, reduce the chance of recurrence in the future. Misinformation on the Internet Much of what we see online and via website bloggers is inaccurate and misleading. Im disheartened when I read popular websites with outdated and blatant misinformation about oncology nutrition. Even some of the trusted websites linked to television programs arent thoughtful or informed in their discussions and recommendations about food and cancer. The guidance in this book comes from decades of working with cancer patients and thousands of evidence-based studies. Effective Therapy Smoothies are easy to whip together, and also provide powerful nutrient therapy.

There is a tremendous amount of nutrition and toxicology research to consider when developing food recommendations for medical conditions. I first must calculate the daily dose of the nutrients in the studies to apply to smoothies. Then I spend weeks in the kitchen developing recipes that contain these specific nutrients at concentrated enough levels to provide benefits. The finished product is a collection of medicinally active, nutrient-rich smoothies made from fresh whole foods. Bioactive Anticancer Nutrients The ingredients in these recipes provide powerful nutrients to support healing and remission. Empirical Research The information and recommendations provided here are all based on research conducted by reputable academic and clinical institutions. Empirical Research The information and recommendations provided here are all based on research conducted by reputable academic and clinical institutions.

The studies used as the basis for these recommendations are available in the References section in the back of the book and at daniellachace.com. Medical Nutrition Therapy The following have been developed to provide a high concentration of healing nutrients while also accommodating most dietary restrictions. The recipes are vegan, gluten-free, high in protein, and devoid of common allergenic foods including dairy, soy, corn, and wheat. Synergistic Ingredients Many of the ingredients have been chosen for the synergistic effects of their nutrients, for example, black peppers ability to increase the effectiveness of curcumin. Metabolically Active Nutrients The nutrients in these smoothies must also be highly absorbable so that they can be absorbed by the intestines, received in the bloodstream, and delivered to the cancerous cells. Consider, for example, how anthocyanins have the ability to reduce the inflammation that drives cancer but only when first metabolized by gut flora.

To incorporate these elements into a smoothie, we not only need anthocyanin-rich foods such as berries, but we also need probiotics such as those found in cultured coconut milk. Laboratory Studies Translating medical research into dietary recommendations is difficult because many studies are done in a laboratory setting, with mice, or using extracts rather than whole foods. The link between specific food nutrients and how they change the development of cancer is clear. However, how much we need to ingest and how often is not as clear. We do know that eating foods with specific nutrients consistently and frequently will benefit us over time. When possible, I have used the dietary percentage information directly from the corresponding research in order to calculate the dosage (amount of that food) needed to provide the benefits found in the study.

Oncology Nutrition Research Over the last few years there has been a tremendous surge in research identifying the specific nutrients that have the ability to change the course of cancer. There is more oncology research being done around the world than ever before. With a clearer understanding of the role that food nutrients, toxins, and microflora play in disease prevention and development we have reached some long-sought answers to our questions about what triggers, promotes, heals, and prevents cancer. There is direct evidence showing us the toxins and nutritional deficiencies that create the environment for cancer cell development. This research provided the basis for the following recipes.