Life Over Cancer Blog

Low-Fat Tuna Salad with Egg-less Mayo (or for those of you who’d prefer a vegan dish, Tempeh Salad)

2 to 3 cans Albacore tuna (water packed and drained) -- OR -- 3 packages tempeh, sliced and simmered in the above broth

1/2 cup chopped onion (yellow or red)

1/2 cup chopped red bell pepper, diced small

1/2 cup chopped celery, diced small (optional) 

1/2 cup diced organic apple (golden delicious, gala, etc.) peeled and diced small

1/4 teaspoon sea salt

pinch cayenne pepper

Egg-less Mayo or optional Vegenaise

1/3 to 1/2 cup egg-less mayo

1 teaspoon stone ground mustard

1 tsp lemon juice

1/2 tsp sea salt

Pinch tsp of cayenne pepper

Mixed Bean Salad w/Veggies

 Serves 12

 

4       cans 15 oz. beans ( cannellini and red kidney beans)

2 ½   cups red onions thinly chopped

2       cups green bell peppers medium chopped

2       cups red bell pepper medium chopped 

2       cups orange bell pepper medium chopped

2       cups sweet yellow corn

3       Tbsp cilantro

4       bay leaves     

½      cup olive oil

½      cup raw apple cider vinegar

1       freshly squeezed lemon juice

2       tsp cumin

2       tsp sea salt

¼      tsp cayenne pepper

 

Simple Meatless Sauce & Spaghetti

 Serves 12

12 oz package Tinkyada organic brown rice spaghetti

2 ½ cups fresh organic cherry tomatoes (halves)

2 cups green peppers (diced small)

2 cups organic Spanish onions finely chopped

1 package of Seitan Apple Sage Sausage (chopped)

2 cloves garlic finely chopped

3 Tbsps cold pressed olive oil

1  jar (7oz.) organic tomato paste (Bionaturae is one option)

1 ½ tsp sea salt

¼ cayenne pepper

Seitan Stir-Fry Vegetables

Courtesy of Ted's recipes

Serves 10

2   packs (8 oz.) Seitan medium sliced

4   cups broccoli florets

2   cups snow peas

2   cups carrots julienne

½  green pepper julienne

½  red pepper julienne

½  yellow pepper julienne

1   large shallot finely chopped

3   Tbsps olive oil

1 ½ tsp sea salt

Aromatase Inhibitors, Musculoskeletal Pain and Vitamin D

Keith Block, MD

Arimidex (anastrozole), Aromasin (exemestane) and Femara (letrozole) are aromatase inhibitors (AIs) used to treat post-menopausal breast cancer patients whose cancer is estrogen receptor positive.  These medications block aromatase, an enzyme that converts androgens to estrogen, thus reducing the risk of cancer recurrence in this population.  However, aromatase inhibitors come with unwanted side effects – including musculoskeletal pain, which in some cases is severe, and bone loss.

 Several recent studies have noted that post-menopausal women taking aromatase inhibitors have a decrease in serum vitamin D and more musculoskeletal pain and arthralgia (joint pain) than their counterparts who are not taking AIs. Moreover, since estrogen depletion is associated with arthralgia as well, and since AIs work by ensuring extra estrogen is further depleted, it follows that some women will exhibit this common side effect.  This is cause for concern, since it’s often difficult for patients to be compliant with this therapy.

Quinoa with Seitan

 Serves 8

1   cup quinoa, rinsed and drained

1   package of seitan (find in refrigerated section)

2   cups Basic Vegetable Stock (recipe page 60) OR water

2   tablespoons olive oil

1   cup carrots julienne

½  head red cabbage medium chopped

1   large onion, chopped

1   clove garlic, crushed

½  teaspoon cumin

1   tablespoon brown rice vinegar

1   pinch sea salt, or taste

8   ounces seitan, sliced into thin strips

¼  cup chopped fresh cilantro

Common diabetes drug, metformin, appears to reduce cancer risk

Keith Block, MD

 Metformin, a commonly prescribed drug for the treatment of type 2 diabetes, has been touted in several recent studies as having the potential to reduce the risk of cancer in people taking it to control their disease. 

 Metformin (Glucophage) helps control both insulin levels and the amount of glucose produced by the liver.  It’s given to people with type 2 diabetes who have not been able to control the disease through lifestyle changes – diet and exercise.

 Since type 2 diabetes affects millions of people and those numbers continue to rise – even among children and teenagers – there is a lot of scientific interest directed toward this population. It has been observed that those taking metformin to control their disease also seemed to have less risk for certain cancers. Moreover, lab studies have shown an association between metformin and its ability to cause the death of cancer cells.