Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 14, Number 6, 1 Iune 1997 — Simple rules to help fight cancer [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Simple rules to help fight cancer

Today's family health practices frequently include traditional Hawaiian herbs, lomilomi, ho'oponopono and other therapies. Vivid memories persist of lining up with my sister and brother under our kukui tree and having our tongues and mouths cleansed with the sap of the kukui nut. It's an experience difficult to forget! Tutu still provides 'uhaloa for my children's colds, sore throats and bronchial congestion, even though they are young adults now. And the entire family still enjoys lomilomi. fn a Bishop Museum publication, Mary Kawena Pukui and associ-

ates reported that certain varieties of taro, sweet potato, banana and sugar eane were cultivated for their medicinal value. Mai'a lele, maoli, iholena, koa'e and 'ele'ele were banana varieties used in remedies for digestive and bowel trouble. Two types of sweet potato, mohihi and the

small hua moa — with flesh the color of egg yolk-eased vomiting. Kiki and lehua sweet potato were recommended for asthma. The foods cultivated and eaten by our ancestors have given way to western French fries, chips, canned meats, sausage. Coke and beer, whieh have none of th«

protective qualities of our traditional foods and may, in fact, be harmful. The counsel of kūpuna to eat all of our lū'au, pōpolo, palula greens and other vegetables is no longer passed on. Yet, many illnesses could be prevented by eating the foods of our kūpuna. For example, modern science has found that dark, leafy greens contain folic acid, vitamins A and C, antioxidants (aunty ox e dents) and phyto-chemicals (fight o kem e cals). These are nutrients that help prevent such illnesses as colds, infections, birth defects, and cancer. Cr ancer is our most feared illness. We're afraid of it because we

don't understand it and because doctors don't yet have a cure. We can't see it developing, it surprises us. However, scientists have made mueh progress in understanding cancer and now ean give us solid advice on how to avoid it. We know that

40 to 60 percent of cancer cases are linked to food. We also know that tobacco — smoking and chewing tobaceo — and second hand ,t smoke, are responsible for 30 percent of

cancers. Constant exposure to chemicals and x-rays ean cause eancer. The chemicals in foods are just one category of chemicals. There are also rare cases of genetic (inherited) cancer. The good news is we know important, but simple, ways to prevent cancer. We also know that eancer develops slowly, over a very long time, probably 10 to 30 years. This makes it hard to detect. However, during that long period, called the "incubation" phase, we have many opportunities to block the process. And that is really good news. $trong evidence exists that cer-

tain foods increase the risk of developing cancer. Avoiding those foods will reduce the risk. What foods ean you eat to prevent cancer? The best cancer protection foods are vegetables and fruits, especially those with a lot of fiber and the vitamins A and C. Papaya, guava, mangos, all cabbages, broccoli, cauliflower, lū'au, spinach, horenso, watercress, are well known to us and are easy to find and eook. All ean also be eaten raw, except for lū'au. Eating these protective foods regularly every day will strengthen the body's defenses to fight cancer, as these foods contain phytochemicals, or tiny amounts of elements, such as anti-oxidants, that stop cancers from growing. Scientists are studying many different phytochemicals and how they work to fight cancer in different areas of the body. T he simple rules to fight cancer are: 1 . Eat a variety of vegetables, fruits and grains, at least five 1/2 eup servings every day. 2. Eat a low fat diet. This means cooking the traditional Hawaiian way: steaming, baking and roasting, and eating more fish and ehieken (no skin). 3. Eat foods that are good sources of fiber, such as greens, taro, potato, cooked dried beans, brown rice and whole wheat bread.

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Ko Wai Ola o OHA Wmm m ^ ^ mma wmm > - , sssa

by Claire Hughes Nutritionist, Hawai'i Department Of Health