Cancer Prevention and Diet
While breast cancer awareness organizations have brought to mind the statistic of “one in nine,” the more accurate figure for Ashkenazi Jewish women is “one in eight.” The high rate is attributed to the “Jewish gene” – three mutations in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes – which increase the risk of breast cancer by 60-80 percent. 4,000 women in Israel are diagnosed with breast cancer each year, and 900 of them die from the disease. However, lung cancer is the most dangerous of all cancers, accounting for 29 percent of all cancer deaths.
The link between an unhealthy lifestyle and an increased risk of cancer is well-known and proven. Two significant steps to reduce risk are physical activity and proper nutrition. Dietary recommendations include a plant-based diet, eating whole grains, reducing saturated fats (from animal products), reducing omega-6 trans fats (hydrogenated vegetable oils) and replacing them with oils rich in omega-3. The two foods that I consider most important for cancer prevention and treatment are flaxseed and seaweed.
Flaxseed, rich in omega-3s, is also one of the best plant sources of lignins – compounds with anti-tumor, anti-estrogenic and antioxidant properties. Flaxseed is particularly effective in treating breast and colon cancer, as these cancer cells contain estrogen receptors that can be inhibited by lignins.
Seaweed is an easily digestible vegetable, containing ten to twenty times more minerals than land vegetables and rich in a wealth of vitamins and minerals. It helps cleanse the body of toxins, removes radiation residues, supports thyroid activity and improves liver function. Ancient Chinese medical books state: “There is no swelling that seaweed cannot relieve.”
In honor of Cancer Awareness Month in October and November, I’m offering a recipe that combines both flaxseed and seaweed. Conveniently, no one will know they’re eating seaweed or flax. I made this dish for a Shabbat dinner with guests—I didn’t hear a single comment about the seaweed, and there were no leftovers.
The recipe has two steps, but it's not complicated. If making the dough seems daunting, you can buy store-bought whole wheat dough and focus on the healthy filling. However, making the dough only adds five minutes of work and one more bowl to wash, so it's worth the investment.
Wishing everyone health and happiness until one hundred and twenty.
Components:
dough:
1 cup wholemeal flour (spelt or wheat)1/4 cup olive oil
1 tablespoon ground flax seeds
1/2 teaspoon Atlantic gray sea salt
3 tablespoons hot water
1/2 cup water (approximately)
Preheat oven to 180°C (350°F).
Soak the flax seeds in the hot water with the salt for 5 minutes. Mix the mixture with the rest of the ingredients and knead until you get a smooth dough. Roll out the dough into a thin layer and place in a pie pan or other mold. Prick the dough with a fork and bake for 10 minutes, until partially golden brown. Remove from the oven and set aside.
Wakame filling:
2 tablespoons olive oil1 onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, chopped
1 cm ginger, grated
1 package beet greens (chard or kale), coarsely chopped
2 carrots, cut into thin strips
1/4 teaspoon turmeric
Salt and pepper to taste
1 tablespoon wakame
1 tablespoon ground flax seeds, soaked in 4 tablespoons water for 5 minutes
1 small kohlrabi, sliced into thin slices
1 small carrot, thinly sliced
Soak the wakame in cold water for ten minutes. Squeeze out excess water and set aside.
Preheat oven to 180°C (350°F).
Heat olive oil in a deep frying pan. Add the onion, garlic, ginger and spices and fry for 5 minutes until the onion becomes translucent. Add the beetroot and carrots and fry until the beetroot is soft. Remove from heat and stir in the wakame and flax seeds. Fill the partially baked crust with the mixture.
Arrange the kohlrabi slices in a circle on the pie to form a flower shape. Place the carrot slice in the center of the circle. Gently brush the kohlrabi with olive oil.
Bake for 25-30 minutes, until the top is golden brown.
Serve hot.
Enough for 4-6 servings as a side dish.
Enjoy your meal!