Penny Daugherty, RN, MS, OCN presented on how nutrition affects cancer and provided recommendations. She discussed eating fruits and vegetables high in antioxidants to protect DNA from free radicals. Certain foods like refined sugars and processed meats promote cancer, while green tea, turmeric, and fatty fish block cancer. A balanced diet of whole grains, plant proteins, and one glass of red wine supports health. Maintaining proper vitamin D and methylation levels is also important to prevent cancer cell growth. The presentation emphasized self-education to choose a diet that supports the body.

1. Northside Hospital Cancer Institute
Northside Hospital Cancer Institute
Nutrition and how it affects us!
Presented by
Penny Daugherty, RN, MS, OCN

2. Let us Begin to eat WELL
• Food is Power!
• Baseline of Nutrition
• Benefits of Well-Balanced Meal
• Organic Discussion
• Snacks
• Small Meals
• Hydration

3. The basic 4-Step Plan:
• Think first:
Fruits and vegetables
Studies have shown that eating
an abundance of fruits and
vegetables ~ especially those
high in anti-oxidants will be
protection against the free
radicals that can damage the
cell’s precious DNA

4. Pros and Cons to consider:
Cancer Promoters: “Cons”
1. Energy dense foods
2. Sugary drinks
3. Salty and processed
foods
4. Red meats including
processed meats
5. >1-2 alcohol drinks
6. Oils:
soy/sunflower/corn/trans
fats
7. Omega-6 fatty acids
Cancer Blockers: “Pros”
1. Green tea/pomegranate juice
2. Herbs & spices (tumeric, garlic)
3. Fish, vegetable proteins (lentils,
tofu)
4. Glass of red wine (Pinot noir)
5. Oils: olive/canola
6. Omega-3 fatty acids

5. Great Choices:
• Think “dark colored” leafy
veggies:
Broccoli (always at least very
slightly cooked
Brussels sprouts (cook
w/baking soda to diffuse gas-
producing properties
Spinach/Kale/Collard greens
Fruits:
• Mangoes, cantaloupes,
oranges, kiwis
Berries:
Cranberries, strawberries,
blueberries

6. Whole grains (read the label…)
• Complex carbs in whole grains
will boost energy, take longer to
digest (thereby stabilizing blood
sugar) and may protect against
cancer cell proliferation
• Brown rice, millet, kasha, barley,
quinoa, whole wheat and organic
corn pasta are ALL good choices

7. Protein Power!
• Proteins repair tissue,
prevent infection and help
with cellular enegy
production
• Try to stick w/plant proteins
• Nuts, dried beans, lentils,
fermented dairy products
(yogurt and kefir)
• Can use whey or hemp
protein in smoothies.

8. Alcohol (a slightly ‘sore’ subject)
• Try to limit consumption to
beer and/or wine
The bioactive food compounds
in beer and wine are worth
noting
Red wine contains
Resveretrol…a glass is
gracious plenty
(If you choose to drink
Alcohol, make sure your
diet is rich in B vitamins
especially folate)

9. Let’s talk about “Excipients”
• Excipients are “inert” substances added to the
raw material (real food) to achieve a desired
consistency or form………..
AKA - - FILLERS – so how many bulking,
preserving, binding, gluing, coloring, coating
agents are in that “food”?????????????????

10. Natural vs. Synthetic
• To food chemists – natural and synthetic nutrients are
basically the same elements. Their goal is to preserve food,
keep it attractive and make it saleable!
• HOWEVER!! The molecular structure of synthetic
ingredients does differ from natural ingredients – the
elements are arranged in a significantly different manner.
GUESS WHAT??? Your body can tell the
difference and responds by creating “Inflammation”
to get these synthetic ingredients processed…………..

11. Methylation…………what??
• What does methylation mean to us? (bear with me…)
• Cancer cells have low levels of DNA methylation – which
switches off tumor suppressor genes.
• What you eat affects the level of biochemicals – which in turn
affect methylation and gene suppression.
Foods that SUPPORT methylation:
Green tea, cruciferous and green leafy vegetables, beans, peas,
sunflower seeds, liver (oh well..), whole grains and natural
cereals: i.e: oatmeal

12. More methylation delicacies…..
• Spinach, garlic, brazil nuts, kidney
beans, tofu, chicken and fatty fish
(salmon, mackerel, sardines)
• Choline-rich foods: eggs, dark lettuce,
peanuts
• And then there’s ZINC – which
regulates the methylation
• process ……………
So – we either supplement with zinc or
enjoy oysters, clams – and then
there’s that one glass of red wine to
enjoy……..
Sound a little like the Mediteranean
diet???????

13. It’s time to talk about sugar
• Our genes developed in an environment where one person consumed – at
most – 24 kgs (4 lbs) honey/year
• We NOW consume 70 kgs(150 lbs) sugar/year
• So here’s the deal:
• 56% calories come from 3 sources that were non-existant as our genes
developed:
refined sugars (cane, beet, corn sugar)
bleached flour (white bread, white pasta)
vegetable oils (soy, sunflower, trans fats)
These 3 sources contain NONE of the proteins, vitamins, minerals, omega-3
fatty acids needed for proper body functioning. They DIRECTLY fuel the
growth of cancer!

14. Glucose ~ in it’s proper
perspective
• Glucose = the form of digested sugar in the body
• The metabolism of tumors is largely dependent upon glucose metabolism
Note: A PET scan simply measures the body area that absorbs the most
sugar………
• WHEN foods with a HIGH glycemic index (refined sugar, white flour,
anything containing high fructose corn syrup, etc) are eaten > levels of
glucose rise rapidly
• The body insulin production ramps up to get that excess glucose into the
cells > > > Insulin growth factor (IGF) then ramps up to ahdle all the insulin
being secreted and that causes CELLULAR INFLAMMATION!
Today we know that peaks of insulin + secretion of IGF directly stimulate the
growth of cancer cells and their capacity to invade the neighboring
tissues……….
• Glucose = the form of digested sugar in the body
• The metabolism of tumors is largely dependent upon glucose metabolism
Note: A PET scan simply measures the body area that absorbs the most
sugar………
• WHEN foods with a HIGH glycemic index (refined sugar, white flour,
anything containing high fructose corn syrup, etc) are eaten > levels of
glucose rise rapidly
• The body insulin production ramps up to get that excess glucose into the
cells > > > Insulin growth factor (IGF) then ramps up to ahdle all the insulin
being secreted and that causes CELLULAR INFLAMMATION!
Today we know that peaks of insulin + secretion of IGF directly stimulate the
growth of cancer cells and their capacity to invade the neighboring
tissues……….

15. And finally..Vit D
• We rarely consume enough Vit D – most natural sources include:
Sunlight – BOO HISS – causes wrinkles. . . And more BOO HISS while
undergoing many types medical treatment…..
Note: great dietary sources of Vit D fatty fish, fish oils
(remember that icky cod liver oil??), egg yolks, and cheese
(artisan cheese, please!)
Obesity: Vit D is extracted from the bloodstream by fat cells which alter its
release into the circulation. People with a BMI> 30 often have very low
levels of Vit D.
Dark skin – Melanin < skin’s ability to make Vit D
Age – older people can’t convert Vit D to its active form
ASK to be tested:
Most accurate test is the 25-hydroxy Vit D

16. Vit D – More is More!
• MUST take Vit D”3” with Vit K – trust me!
• UNLESS you have a clotting problem and/or are on Coumadin
or another blood thinner – Ask your provider!!
• Vit K is synthesized in the GI tract and helps transport the Vit
D to its rightful place in the body
• Latest recommendation is 2000 iu/day.
As with L’oreal – Your very precious bones are worth
it!!!!!!!!!!!!

17. The Key is Self-Education
• Most people spend
more time choosing
their wardrobe than
what they put into their
one and only body.
• You MUST be your own
teacher and your own
advocate!

18. Penny Daugherty, RN, MS, OCN
Oncology Nurse Navigator
Off: 404-459-1657
Cell: 678-787-6427
Penny.daugherty@northside.com