Functional Oncology Nutrition:
I am a certified Oncology Nutrition Consultant™ and work from a therapeutic approach to assist with and support clients through cancer, enhance the quality of life, and complement and improve response to conventional and alternative treatments. I utilize specifically tailored diet, lifestyle, environment, and orthomolecular supplement protocol that is created, monitored, and adapted based on the changing data and requirements of the client.
This approach is rooted in scientific evidence that macro and micronutrients are required for the proper functioning of all biochemical processes on which our bodies depend. Without them, our bio-regulatory systems are weakened.
Additionally, various phytochemicals (biologically active molecules found in plants) have the potential to impact human health.
I partner with physicians and practitioners trained by Dr. Nasha Winters, ND, FABNO, and The Metabolic Institute of Health, alongside the conventional standard of care oncology team, to address the body's terrain (the soil the cancer has taken root in). Together, we address the hallmarks of cancer (1) to manage the disease process in addition to symptoms (tumors).
My goal is to achieve clinical stability, improve quality of life, and extend life utilizing the medicinal properties of food and strategic environment and lifestyle design that provides care for the whole person - mind, body, heart, and soul. While physicians, both conventional and alternative, treat the symptoms (tumors). I approach each client case with the following tenants in mind:
Recognize Bio-individuality
Every person has a unique genetic make-up, life experience, lifestyle, health history, type of cancer, and approach to food. Thus, each element must be assessed to tailor a successful protocol appropriately.
Based on genetics, nutrient status, current and historical state of health, motivation for change, and laboratory assessments, nutrition therapy protocols are devised and adapted according to changing needs, treatment and pharmaceutical side effects, and responses to conventional treatment and nutritional therapies.
Emphasize Nutrient-Dense, High-Quality, Whole Foods
Foods with one ingredient that has not been altered have the highest nutrient density and should be the focus. These include organic or biodynamically cultivated plants and animals, preferably grown or harvested via sustainable and regenerative methods.
Specific food groups have higher anticancer activity and should be the focus. Cruciferous vegetables, foods in the allium family, and omega-3 fatty acid foods, including flaxseed and wild and sustainably harvested seafood, are recommended.
Prioritize Low Glycemic and Genetically Recognizable Foods
Avoiding foods that cause elevated blood sugar and insulin levels (including sugars, grain-based flour, and associated products) is a primary focus, as they are a significant fuel source for cancer cells and a hallmark of cancer.
Foods, especially vegetables and fresh herbs, which are low glycemic, nutrient-dense, and high in fiber, are the priority replacements.
Ketogenic Metabolic Therapies
Emerging evidence indicates that ketogenic metabolic therapy (KMT) can reduce glucose availability to tumor cells while simultaneously elevating ketone bodies, a non-fermentable metabolic fuel. It is suggested that KMT would be most effective when used together with glutamine targeting and is currently being heavily studied for use in cancer. (2)
I follow this emerging research closely and apply it as appropriate to cases within the personalized context of the case details and data.
Optimize Omega-3 to 6 Ratio
Discouraging the overconsumption of omega-6 fats, including hydrogenated and industrial seed oils (canola, rape seed, vegetable, peanut, safflower, sunflower, soybean, corn, and cottonseed) is a primary focus to reduce inflammation, a leading contributor and hallmark of cancer.
Replacement of omega-6 fats with omega-3 fats and specific foods, including fish and flax, is a goal of oncology nutrition consulting.
Utilize a Systems-Based Approach
Detailed assessment of diet, lifestyle, environmental, and medical history is paramount to determining the highest priority areas to target for rebalancing through diet, lifestyle, ecological change, and supplementation.
The terrain systems evaluated are:
- Genetics, epigenetics, and nutrigenomics
- Digestive health and microbiome status
- Dietary status
- Immune system function
- Hormone system function
- Blood sugar status
- Environmental toxin exposure and detox ability
- Level of inflammation
- Oxidative stress status
- Stress and stress management approaches
Nutrition therapy is not intended as a diagnosis, treatment, prescription, or cure for any disease or diagnosis or as a substitute for regular medical care.
Cancer Treatment Approach:
I do not consult on cancer treatment as I am not a licensed physician. However, I advocate for a patient-centered, multi-intervention treatment paradigm that addresses the full range of physical, mental, emotional, and environmental influences on the cancer patient, informed by and personalized based on the patient's data.
This approach enables comprehensive personalization and uses an array of disciplines, including diet, mind-body, physically active therapies, and conventional therapies and dietary supplements, to support optimal health.
I highly encourage all clients to add a Metabolic Terrain Institute of Health Terrain-Based Treatment™ Certified practitioner trained by Dr. Nasha Winters, ND, FABNO, in the Metabolic Approach to Cancer (MATC) to their team. I believe this is essential, and it is the approach I use to manage my disease process.
You can find a list of physicians here. Upon signup, I will review your intake form and recommend a specific MATC doctor for your case.
Your MATC doctor will provide customized alternative treatment and supplement recommendations utilizing the same data outlined above. They will aid in protecting your healthy cells and ongoing quality of life from the toxic side effects of conventional therapies and bring the alternative therapy toolbox to the table.
Integrative Oncologist Directories
Global Preferred Directories:
Physicians trained in metabolic oncology by Dr. Nasha Winters, ND, FABNO are my preferred recommendation for all clients. These are the doctors I work alongside and highly recommend. They operate from a test, assess, address approach utilizing a whole stack of data gathered about their patients and create custom treatment plans using all tools available from all toolboxes.
- Metabolic Terrain Institute of Health Metabolic Approach to Cancer Physicians trained by Dr. Nasha Winters, ND, FABNO
- Believe Big Integrative Practitioner Directory
United States:
- OncANP Directory of Fellows by the American Board of Naturopathic Oncology (FABNO) Physicians
- Society for Integrative Oncology (SIO) Physician Directory
- American Association of Naturopathic Physicians
International:
- Australian Naturopathic Practitioners Association
- Canadian Association of Naturopathic Doctors
- UK Accredited Registers
**Integrative Oncologist costs start at $500 and are not included in this program. They do personalized treatments, and I do customized nutrition, strategic environment, and lifestyle design. You must have both for the absolute best outcomes!
Adjunct to Cancer Treatment:
Functional Oncology Nutrition, including ketogenic metabolic therapies, are adjunct therapies and should never be used without a comprehensive treatment program.
I support those who are committed to making changes to their internal and external environments while facing all of the following circumstances:
- Complementing the medical standard of care (“SOC”) for those:
- Undergoing current treatment
- Progression in treatment
- Completion of treatment
- Recurrence after treatment
- Alternative to the medical standard of care:
- Opt out of standard of care
- Standard of care has failed them
- Support the goal of cancer prevention
TEST, ASSESS, ADDRESS…DON’T GUESS
No two people are alike, and no two diets should be the same! I utilize the following data to fully customize your case's nutrition, environment, and lifestyle recommendations to address your specific cancering process.
Genetic Testing: Nutrition Genome
Nutrigenomics is a branch of nutritional genomics that studies the effects of foods and food constituents on gene expression. It is a field of research focusing on identifying and understanding molecular-level interaction between nutrients and other dietary bioactives with the genome.
I work with a specialized genetic testing company called Nutrition Genome. This company provides insights into how your genetic profile affects your metabolism of particular fats, sugars, carbohydrates, grains, and proteins, facilitating an optimal nutrition plan for your DNA.
Nutrition Genome also provides insights into how your genetic profile enables you to tolerate stress, toxins, and DNA damage. This information allows me to customize a stress management, exercise, and lifestyle plan that complements your body's stress tolerance and level of sensitivity to various chemicals, toxins, hormones, pesticides, herbicides, cancer treatments, statins, birth control, fluoride, plastics, medications, chemo agents, antibiotics, steroids and more.
Metabolomics
Metabolomics is the scientific study of the chemical reactions in organisms, cells, or tissues. Each reaction produces small chemicals called metabolites, critical in keeping our cells healthy and functioning correctly. (3)
These different chemical reactions and the metabolites they produce are unique to every individual. This is why it is highly encouraged that you add a Metabolic Terrain Institute of Health Metabolic Approach to Cancer-trained physicians to your team and run all cancer treatment therapies by them for review. Each body and each cancer case is unique and MUST be addressed as such for the best possible outcome. We will utilize your genetic data to personalize your overall cancer treatment approach.
Full Blood Chemistry:
Monthly blood panels (less frequent for low-grade cancers and stable cases) are crucial to our success in monitoring your health, cancer drivers, and progress. Ask your general practitioner or licensed health care provider (not your oncologist) for a “standing order” for the list of blood markers below. Many of these markers will be drawn monthly until your labs are stable and healthy. These labs should be covered by insurance if you list every existing and pre-existing condition and your family history of disease.
If your doctor refuses to order all of these tests, find a new doctor who is more open-minded! Remember, your doctor WORKS for you. In most states, I can also facilitate self-directed lab work as a last resort. However, this will be an out-of-pocket expense ($160-$700).
Complete Blood Panel Markers (FASTING!):
- CBC with Differential (Complete Blood Count)
- CMP (Complete Metabolic Panel) with Chem 20
- LDH (Lactate dehydrogenase)
- hs-CRP (High Sensitivity CRP)
- Sedimentation rate (ESR)
- Ferritin, Total Iron, and Total Iron Binding Capacity (TBC)
- Vitamin D3: 25-OH (D3)- Total, Immunoassay
- AM Cortisol
- Fasting Insulin
- IGF-1 (Insulin Growth Factor Number 1)
- HbA1C (hemoglobin A1c)
- Complete Thyroid panel including TSH, Free T3, Free T4, Total T3, T4, Reverse T3, T3 Uptake, Thyroid Peroxidase, and Thyroglobulin Antibodies
- Complete lipid panel
- Uric Acid
- Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEG-F)
- Copper
- Ceruloplasmin
- Fibrinogen
- Homocysteine
- Retinol (Vitamin A)
- Gamma Glutamyl Transferase (GGT)
Self-Testing at Home:
I will also ask you to track your food in an online diet diary and use a glucometer to test your blood glucose and ketone levels at home regularly.
- Blood Glucose & Ketone Testing – KetoMojo
- Continuous Glucose Monitoring
- Diet Diary & Food Logging - Cronometer
Functional Testing:
Additional testing may be recommended depending on what is seen in the blood chemistry, DNA, and health history.
- Microbiome: Diagnostic Solutions GI-Map
- Hormones: Precision Analytical DUTCH
- Mold & Mycotoxins: Mosaic Diagnostics MycoTOX
- Mitochondrial Function: Mosaic Diagnostics Organic Acids
- Heavy Metals: Quicksilver Blood Metals & Tri-Mercury
- Environmental Toxins: Mosaic Diagnostics GPL-TOX & Glyphosate
Cancer Success Stories
Resources:
- Hanahan D. Hallmarks of Cancer: New Dimensions. Cancer Discov. 2022;12(1):31-46. doi:10.1158/2159-8290.CD-21-1059
- Winter SF, Loebel F, Dietrich J. Role of ketogenic metabolic therapy in malignant glioma: A systematic review. Crit Rev Oncol Hematol. 2017;112:41-58. doi:10.1016/j.critrevonc.2017.02.016
- Chen Y, Li EM, Xu LY. Guide to Metabolomics Analysis: A Bioinformatics Workflow. Metabolites. 2022 Apr 15;12(4):357. doi: 10.3390/metabo12040357. PMID: 35448542; PMCID: PMC9032224.