Another Reason to Go Organic

 

John Holleman enjoys one of Tahoe's finest views.

John Holleman enjoys one of Tahoe’s finest views.

When colon cancer took John Holleman from my small circle of friends we all saw his passing as the warning shot that things we took for granted were not always what they seemed. John was one of the fittest men I knew. He ripped tele turns with an athletes balance of power and finesse and the only time I legitimately beat him skinning to the top was when he refused the option to try a free-pivot tele binding and stubbornly climbed with Hammerhead bridles on his heels. John later admitted, resistance is futile, and then upgraded to BD’s O1.

I thought John ate well too, generally eschewing sugar, but not beer, and perhaps, not paying close enough attention to the source of his food, whether or not it was GMO, or organic. Certainly in his final years he was more attentive to this, even before his diagnosis, but it seems it was too little too late.

Is Cancer Natural?

So I started doing research on cancer cures, and more importantly, the cause. It seems cancer is quite natural, but the natural elimination of it is hampered by inadequate nutrition. The diet of civilized communities seems to contain a high percentage of contamination, or in the case of genetically modified organisms, perversion of the important ingredients.

In World Without Cancer, G.E. Griffin notes that members of the Hunza tribe in northern Pakistan routinely live beyond a century, and never die from cancer. Members who leave for the city die young, and often from cancer. This indicates diet, not genetics, is the critical factor.

It is hard to know if John might have been able to put his cancer into remission using natural methods that the AMA and pharmaceutical corporations fought hard to suppress, or even make illegal, like a laetrile. One thing is certain, once he surrendered to the solution the medical establishment offered, his life expectancy was dramatically reduced, even with the rosy optimism they painted it in.

Diet is critical

Many of my friends got colonoscopy’s. I didn’t hear any dire results, but I did my own research online, and noted I had most of the same symptoms John had prior to being diagnosed with Stage 4 colon cancer. They chopped his guts, and then they chemo’d him to death. After a second operation he was left without a large intestine, and given weeks to live. He lasted two more years in spite of yet one more round of chemo, and then John decided to enjoy what time he had left without the suffering imposed by shotgun blasts of radiation to his weakened body. He shifted to organic foods, more fruits and veggies, and hemp oil – yeah, the canabinoid kind. He claimed it relieved pain and helped him digest food with only half his intestines.

Since recognizing the importance of diet, and supplements, I’ve made my own personal turnaround. That list of cancer symptoms has diminished, but not disappeared. Call it remission, not necessarily a cure, but something that can be managed better than chemo and a colostomy bag.

At first the changes in diet didn’t seem to be doing anything except eliminate options from my palette. Four years after listening to my wife and obediently following her recommendations, something my ego still has trouble with, I’ve lost symptoms and weight. At her insistence I saw Dr. Schallenberger, a naturopath, who recommended a vitamin rich powder in a smoothie every day. I don’t do it every day anymore, but I do take it regularly. I’m still getting older, and there’s probably some other area of health I’m negligent in attending to, but for now, it is worth passing on the importance of food. Not just something to feed your face and stop the hunger pangs, but quality food; natural, raw, unprocessed, vitamin-rich, nutritious, and when prepared right, delicious food. After all, you are what you eat. To stay healthy, we need to eat healthy.

Staying natural, going organic

With that introductory backdrop, let me announce my intent to mix in articles on organic food and related health issues during the summer months. It’s easier to stay in shape for skiing next season if you eat well. Until next time, bon appetite’.

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© 2014

4 comments

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    • gofor311 on 17Jun2014 at 7:56 pm

    Diet is definitely key to health, that much has been known for ages. I can’t say I agree with the potential of diet to cure late stage colon cancer however. The word is still out on GMO vegetables, especially because the blanket GMO doesn’t really mean anything other than certain traits were selected for or inserted. Modification for yield is one thing, adding bt pesticide genes is quite another. Either way you’re right, if you can afford organic, it can’t be bad!

    On colonoscopy (and other routine diagnostics), it’s an important tool to find abnormalities early. Many cancers are curable with modern techniques, some aren’t. It all depends on the systems that metastases have spread to. Just like with skiing, having early information is always best. Then you can decide what to do with it.

    • samesamedifferent on 18Jun2014 at 2:10 pm

    Chance will always be the biggest factor in cancer. And any tale of tribes is purely anecdotal until randomized intervention studies have been made. Having said that, following your beliefs makes you a happier person, which is far better than being an old one. Going for local produce and keeping with seasonal crops will save the world some co2 pollution, and keep the next one alive if not one self. Besides, a lot of glaciers will benefit.

  1. Proper studies come up with generalisations about groups that are never 100%. Only probabilistic statements can be derived for individuals. So docs talk about risk factors. By all means make your own assessment according to your risk factors and personal history but the predictive value will be low for many people. And folk who’ve invested a lot in diet and lifestyle changes who nonetheless get cancer often regard themselves as a failure.

  2. One only need look at the studies of the diets of Seventh Day Adventist who advocate a clean vegi diet with no processed food. They have nearly a century of research to support their religious belief and now backed by science against our record obesity and diabetes in this country. They live longer and are much heather. I think they have an average life expectancy of over 90. This diet helps fend off cancers which are based on junk life style and diets. Though not an Adventist by any means, it’s hard not to recognize their efforts. They have a ton of data about healthy foods. I been on this diet since 1989 and I feel pretty good other than loosing my hair.

    I got colonoscopy when I was 55. Clean as a whistle!

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