by Joan O’Keefe, RD
I’m a cancer survivor. At 26 years-old and while six months pregnant with our eldest son Jimmy, I was diagnosed with a metastatic cancer. That experience is just one of the many reasons I am so passionate about diet and lifestyle. In my career as a dietitian, I’ve seen many cancer patients and cancer survivors and there are ways to help decrease your chances of getting this disease (and others).

We’ve been touting the benefits of Vitamin D for quite some time now, but lately, we’ve come to understand the role Vitamin D plays in cancer prevention. It’s known that the majority of breast and colon cancer cases appear in the Vitamin D deficient and the majority of cases are appearing above 35 degrees latitude (about Atlanta, GA). North of this line, it is physically impossible to make Vitamin D in the winter from sun exposure.

Most of your cells have Vitamin D receptors, as well as your organs. When you have adequate Vitamin D in your blood stream, your cells’ vitamin D receptors are full of the vitamin and it acts as armor, defending your cells against invaders. Without enough Vitamin D, your cells are weak and vulnerable. When a cancer cell forms in your body, it approaches your other cells and wants to make them cancer cells too. Cells armored with enough Vitamin D can easily resist the cancer cell, but those without enough armor are too weak to resist.

How can you be sure you’ve got enough “armor?” Know your numbers. Get your Vitamin D levels checked. Check them now and again during the winter. If you’re deficient, discuss treatment plans with your physician or clinician. We can help you return your Vitamin D levels to normal and keep them there.

James and I banter all the time about nutrition and health matters. Most of the time we agree, but not always. For years I’d tell him that I just didn’t like non nutritive sweeteners and he’d say, “let people have something sweet. It’s fine.” I’d say, “No. I know there’s something not right with them. None of my clients lose weight when they’re using these.” And now, research is catching up with my observations. Recent research indicates that the use of non-nutritive (some might call them artificial) sweeteners increases one’s chances of developing the metabolic syndrome by up to 40 percent. Finally, my husband caved. He’ll even admit – I win this one.

I have never liked non-nutritive sweeteners. People call them artificial sweeteners, but that’s a misnomer. I prefer to call them non-nutritive sweeteners. I think there is a whole host of things wrong with them – especially when they’re given to kids. And it’s all of them: stevia, truvia, aspartame, splenda, nutrisweet, etc. It doesn’t matter if they’re “naturally sourced.” Our bodies still react to them.

When you eat non-nutritive sweeteners, your body senses the sweet taste and gears up your metabolism to break it down. However, you’ve just provided your body with no calories and your body is now looking for those calories. When you start your morning with non-nutritive sweetener, say Stevia, in your coffee, you are going to end up hunting for sweets all day. Chances are you’ll also eat more calories in the day. Research shows that those with no non-nutritive sweeteners in their diets eat approximately 1/3 fewer calories per day. You’re also increasing your chances of developing the metabolic syndrome by up to 40%. And guess what folks? When you get the metabolic syndrome, you are knocking on diabetes’ door.

I have heard from many people that have read our book and then shared with me the same testimonial. They all say, “I’m not perfect, but I did cut all non-nutritive sweeteners from my diet and I’ve now lost 40, 50, 60 pounds.” Then they all ask me why no one ever told them to cut non-nutritive sweeteners before.

Many people also want to know what I use for sweetener. I honestly don’t use sweeteners. Naturally sweet (from fruit, etc) is an acquired taste, but you can do it! If you must have a sweetener, try something completely natural, like:
• Honey
• Agave Nectar
Please use only a very small amount of these and then gradually wean yourself away from them. This will help you avoid blood sugar spikes and crashes caused by simple molecules (sugar and easily digested carbohydrate) entering your body. These are the same spikes and crashes that will eventually make you insulin resistant and/or diabetic.

And remember, sugar and non-nutritive sweeteners come in all shapes and forms. Watch for it in:
• Drinks
• Packaged foods
• Diet or fat-free jellos and puddings
• Yogurts
• Lite or fat-free packaged foods