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[[File:CancerAwareness.jpg|right|thumb|500px|Cancer is a leading cause of death in the western world, accounting for 1,600 deaths per day in the US alone.]]The [[Ketogenic Diet]] may help with the treatment of cancer, including brain tumors<ref name="Seyfried-2011"/><ref name="Seyfried-2009"/><ref name="Seyfried-2005"/>. There are researchers who believe that the origin of cancer lies with metabolic abnormalities that lead to genetic problems rather than the genetic problems being the root cause<ref name="SeyfriedFlores2013"/>. Note that while the [[Ketogenic Diet as a Treatment| Ketogenic Diet may help with a number of diseases]], the [[Health Risks of the Ketogenic Diet| Ketogenic Diet also has some health risks]].
=How the Ketogenic Diet may help=
There may be several mechanisms behind the effect of the ketogenic diet on cancer.
* Restricting calories intake also impacts tumor growth, with 12% restriction reducing tumor growth in rodents<ref name="Welsch-1992"/>.
* Even modest amounts of Omega-6 or saturated fat may negate the benefit of Omega-3<ref name="Welsch-1992"/>.
=Further Reading=In addition to the scientific papers referenced in this article, there are some books that may be useful. ==Ketogenic Diets: Treatments for Epilepsy and Other Disorders==[http://www.amazon.com/Ketogenic-Diets-Eric-H-Kossoff/dp/1936303108 Ketogenic Diets: Treatments for Epilepsy and Other Disorders, by Eric H. Kossoff] is the best all-around book I've come across on the ketogenic diet, and while it focuses heavily on epilepsy, it does touch on other conditions. If you are considering the Ketogenic Diet, I would consider this as essential reading. It has a positive view of the ketogenic diet, but balances this with the caution that comes with being a medical practitioner that has used the diet for many years.==Anticancer==Anticancer is a [http://www.amazon.com/Anticancer-New-Life-David-Servan-Schreiber/dp/0670020346 book by David Servan-Schreiber]. In the book, David describes his personal battle with brain cancer, and the research he did to understand why we get cancer. The book presents a grim warning of the cancer epidemic that is occurring in the western world, with age-adjusted cancer rates steadily rising since the 1940s. However, the book also offers hope, as there are useful that may help fight cancer. Anticancer is an approach that may reduce our risk of getting cancer, and for those with the disease, it might supplement surgery, chemotherapy and radiation as treatments. The book claims that genes only comprise 15% of the risk for cancer, with smoking and diet contributing 30% each. There are several parts to the anticancer approach:* The book suggests that the immune system forms a defense against cancer. If our immune system is compromised, then cancer can grow. * Avoid high [[Glycemic Index]] foods. Having continuously elevated blood sugar and insulin levels causes chronic inflammation that compromises the immune system and provides growth hormones the fuel cancerous growth. High Glycemic Index foods are also linked to obesity, diabetes, and heart disease.* Eat foods with anticancer properties, such as curry, green tea, soy, garlic. The book contains a longer list, and there is another book [http://www.amazon.com/Foods-Fight-Cancer-Essential-prevent/dp/0756628679/ref=pd_sim_b_1 Foods to Fight Cancer] with more information. I have not looked at the research that supports these foods. * Boost [[Omega 3]] intake and reduce Omega 6 intake, aiming for a 1:1 ratio of Omega-3 to Omega-6. This ratio is found in grass fed animal products, or it can be achieved through foods rich in Omega-3 such as fatty fish or Flax. All Trans Fats should be avoided (look for "partially hydrogenated" in the ingredients to identify trans fats).* Detoxify by not consuming poisons. This primarily means eating more organic food, especially animal products such as meat or dairy. For non-animal products, some are worth getting organic, whereas others pose a more limited risk. There is a list of the 12 least contaminated and 12 most contaminated foods at [http://www.organic.org/articles/showarticle/article-214 The Dirty Dozen].* Exercise for at least 20 to 30 minutes per day. The book notes that different types of cancers require different levels of exercise to achieve a comparable effect; for instance, colon cancer requires twice as much as breast cancer.* Feelings of helplessness ([[Internal Control Index| External Locus of Control]]) and past emotional traumas compromise our body's ability to fight cancer. For some, exercise can restore our feeling of control over our lives, but counseling may also be needed.* Meditation, including yoga, tai chi, etc., helps reduce stress.==Cancer as a Metabolic Disease==This book, "[http://www.amazon.com/Cancer-Metabolic-Disease-Management-Prevention/dp/0470584920 Cancer as a Metabolic Disease: On the Origin, Management, and Prevention of Cancer]" by Dr. Thomas Seyfried, is an expensive, technical book by one of the leading researchers in this field. It's recommended if you want to research more deeply into this topic. There is also a smaller and cheaper eBook called "[http://www.ketogenic-diet-resource.com/cancer-diet.html Fight Cancer with a Ketogenic Diet]" that is based on Seyfried's book.=See Also={{KetoSeeAlsoKetoList}}
=References=
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