IGF-1, Pasture Raised Organic Heavy Cream, and Leukemia...whats a girl to do? - PaleoHacks.com

IGF-1, Pasture Raised Organic Heavy Cream, and Leukemia...whats a girl to do?

2012-06-22T22:02:23Z

I hope someone can help me with this question. I am a 44 year old (young) woman who was diagnosed 6 months ago with Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia. This leukemia is usually found in older people, but it looks like incidence in younger people is on the rise. My WBC is checked every 3 months for increases, and they tell me a bone marrow transplant is in my future...far or near, no one can say.

When I received the diagnosis in December, I immediately moved into a vegan diet, stopped all coffee consumption, drank loads of green tea, etc. My diet was mostly raw, with about 20% cooked quinoa or veggies as well.

After a month on the raw vegan diet I felt great. After three months, I was exhausted. My WBC had held steady, which was amazing, but I was starting to feel wiped out.

Research led me to the paleo/primal diet. I eat high fat, moderate protein and low to no carbs. My energy boost was almost instant. I feel absolutely amazing. I have lost 25 pounds and am now at a perfect weight. I still eat tons of greens, and juice greens one time a day.

Here is my dilemma. I have recently added coffee back into my diet. It gives me a boost, brightens my day, things seem MORE possible when I drink coffee :) I have been adding a healthy splash of pasture raised organic heavy cream in it too. Talk about an amazingly delicious breakfast!

But today I started thinking. What are the implications for growth factor and leukemia. What does one do when one HAS cancer, and is not just trying to prevent it? If anyone has any advice, I would appreciate it. I can give up the heavy cream if it means a better risk profile for advancing my leukemia. I just don't want to give it up if it isn't necessary.

Thank you so much in advance!

Answer by Kris for IGF-1, Pasture Raised Organic Heavy Cream, and Leukemia...whats a girl to do?

2012-06-22T22:27:13Z

Hi Gemma,

I am not sure specifically about the dairy- though I do know that dairy contains hormones naturally, whether organic or not- I do know that cream is full of dioxins (they are stored mostly in the fat) and dioxins are carcinogenic, so that could be of concern.

With the coffee- I would be concerned- coffee is extremely acidic (cancer thrives in an acidic environment so you want to be focusing on alkalizing your system- as you said you do with green juices). Overall coffee is shown to irritate the gut. The caffeine in one cup of coffee (not sure if you are drinking decaf or not) is enough to negatively impact your adrenals for the entire day.

My advice would be a diet that is filled with green vegetables, green juice, wheat grass, and pastured meats and healthy fats, which is sounds like you are doing. I think alkalizing your system is the best defense, based on what people I know who have overcome cancer have done. Also just focusing on doing what you enjoy, and so maybe if the coffee/cream really lightens up your day, it may be for beneficial than harmful!

~Best of luck on your healing journey~

Answer by Alan Schachter for IGF-1, Pasture Raised Organic Heavy Cream, and Leukemia...whats a girl to do?

2012-06-22T22:56:28Z

Also check out:

-vitamin d - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21048153 -curcumin - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22664111 -LDN - http://www.lowdosenaltrexone.org/ldn_and_cancer.htmA

Answer by Mscott for IGF-1, Pasture Raised Organic Heavy Cream, and Leukemia...whats a girl to do?

2012-06-22T22:57:10Z

In my opinion I don't think the cream is something you should worry too much about.

From what I've seen, the effect of dairy on IGF-1 is largely due to the proteins, particularly whey. These proteins are of course largely absent from cream. I'd say the bigger risk is excess calcium, which can inhibit the formation of the active and protective form of vitamin D. Again, not much calcium in cream.

What pastured cream does have is conjugated linoleic acid, or CLA. There's been a lot of study on the potentially anti-carcinogenic effects of CLA, which are interesting. This study was ex vivo, so take it with a grain of salt, but it found CLA has anti-proliferative effects on leukemia cells. CLA might also lower IGF-1 levels.

I'll also say that I think avoidance of linoleic acid is really important when dealing with cancer. I've written about it on this site before. To connect that back, cream is quite low in linoleic acid.

So my presumption is to say the cream is fine (assuming it doesn't have any suspicious additives), but hesitantly. The subject of cancer and diet is complicated. Be aware that much of the current evidence has limitations.

Best of luck to you.

Answer by Andrew for IGF-1, Pasture Raised Organic Heavy Cream, and Leukemia...whats a girl to do?

2012-08-19T09:15:08Z

*Dairy is not good for cancer, but goats milk seems to e alright, it is a much older species. Also I had turmeric, vitamin D, and Bicarbonate of Soda, half a teaspoonful in water three times a day to alter my PH balance. Interestingly goats milk also alters your PH balance.*