Breast Cancer survivors celebrated life at the “Well Healed” luncheon and fall fashion show hosted by the Cancer Treatment Centers of America® (CTCA) on behalf of the Denver Metropolitan Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure®. Sharon Day, CTCA Director of Nutrition, offered nutrition advice and answered questions from the audience.
The luncheon was open to all breast cancer survivors, and more than 150 attended the festive event. Breast Cancer survivors showcased the fall’s top fashions that will help take women from the gym, to work, to a night on the town. The fashion show was sponsored by Macy’s and Sports Authority.
Sharon Day, CTCA Director of Nutrition, offered nutrition advice and answered questions from the audience. Sharon is one of a few hundred dieticians in the country who is board certified in oncology. 
Ask the Dietitian: Nutrition and Cancer
Sharon Day, RD, CSO, CNSC, serves as the Director of Nutrition at the Cancer Treatment Centers of America® in Phoenix, Arizona. Sharon is one of a few hundred dieticians in the country who is board certified in oncology. She oversees a team of clinical oncology dietitians, who work together, to provide nutrition support and counseling to patients using a proactive approach.
Super Foods
People often ask me, “What super foods would you recommend I eat every day?” While there isn’t one specific magical food, we know that plant foods contain millions of phytochemicals that may play a role in cancer fighting and prevention. With that in mind, I always recommend a strong emphasis on a plant-based diet. When choosing plant foods, choose whole foods opposed to processed foods, and keep in mind that the color of the fruit or vegetable is specific to the nutrient, so always choose a wide variety of colors. The recommendation from the American Institute for Cancer Research is 5-9 servings of fruits and vegetables per day for cancer prevention.
I’ve listed some of my disease-fighting favorites and their potential benefits:
Cruciferous Vegetables (cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, brussel sprouts)
- May enhance detoxification of undesirable compounds; may contribute to maintenance of healthy immune function
Anthocyanins (berries, cherries, red grapes)
- Bolsters cellular antioxidant defenses
Flavonols (onions, apples, tea, broccoli)
- Neutralizes free radicals which may damage cells, bolster cellular antioxidant defenses
An easy way to incorporate these foods into a healthy diet is to blend ½ cup frozen broccoli, ½ cup frozen blueberries and ½ cup dark cherry juice and serve immediately. This drink can add a powerful whole food-antioxidant punch to your day. Fresh fruits and vegetables are always best, but frozen items still have nutrient value and can be more convenient.
Soy
Due to conflicting messaging in the media, I often get asked about soy and whether or not I recommend patients avoid it. My answer universally is no. In my opinion, there is not enough evidence to suggest that soy foods are harmful. A daily serving or two of soy milk, tofu stir fry or edamame can be a nice contribution to a plant-based diet. I do, however, recommend the avoidance of soy pills and powders. Patients often comment on the abundance of soy lecithin or soybean oil that is found on food packaging labels. Soy lecithin is a stabilizer and soybean oil is a fat – neither of these components contain the phytoestrogens that soy protein contains. With that said, I would encourage anyone asking about the labels on processed or prepackaged foods to evaluate their dietary trends regarding processed foods. If every label that you pick up has soy lecithin in it, the concern is not that soy lecithin is in “everything,” it’s that everything that you are buying is processed. My recommendation is to buy less processed foods and more whole foods. Choose food items where the ingredients don’t have to be translated.
Should I avoid fruit because of the sugar?
A theory exists that “sugar feeds cancer.” This is only a theory, and has not been proven in humans. Our body’s main energy source is glucose or sugar in the blood. While it is true that cancer cells have a need for glucose as well as other nutrients, nearly every cell in the human body has a need for glucose. If you were to try to completely avoid all sources of natural sugars found in grains, vegetables, fruit, milk and beans, you would starve your healthy cells, resulting in malnutrition. In fact, our body’s need for glucose is so great, that complete avoidance of sugars in the diet may cause our bodies to break down the protein we eat, or the protein we have stored in our bodies, to make glucose to feed our healthy cells. This could cause symptoms such as weakness and fatigue, as well as malnutrition. A diet rich in fruits, vegetables and whole grains is a diet high in vitamins, minerals and plant chemicals that support healthy cell growth and fight disease.
I do recommend decreasing refined sugars and sweets, such as soda, candy, cookies, and cake which have minimal nutritional value. One recommendation is to write a diet diary for one week to evaluate your dietary trends.
Once you identify your baseline, make gradual changes to decrease added sugars in your diet.
- Read food labels to identify hidden added sugars.
- Choose products that don’t have added sweeteners.
Be mindful of sugar substitutes which don’t give you the opportunity to change your taste buds’ desire for sweetness.
Comments 
4th Annual Komen Denver Ambassador Award
s starting at 12 a.m. on Tuesday, December 6, 2011
In May 2010, three weeks after my 26th birthday, I was diagnosed with Stage 1 Breast Cancer. I was young and had no family history, so I had a hard time understanding the meaning of my diagnosis. I never thought I would have to make such a decision, let alone at such a young age. I wondered how the diagnosis and treatment would affect my self-confidence … how I would feel about myself.
