Smokers & Drinkers and Cancer page 2

Chapter 14 – Special Groups: Smokers, Drinkers, Women, and Skin Cancer

This chapter discusses the special needs of women, smokers, and drinkers, which are groups that are at higher risks for certain cancers and which therefore require additional protection. Skin cancer is also discussed here because it is one of the deadliest cancers despite the fact that it is one of the easiest to prevent.

Smokers

If you are a smoker, you have a much higher chance of developing many kinds cancer than non-smokers. There is no argument against this. Tobacco companies dedicate a significant portion of their advertising budgets and of the space on cigarette packaging to telling you this. Cigarette smoke is bad for you for two basic reasons: 1) it contains a number of cancer-causing chemicals, and 2) it lowers the levels of certain key antioxidants in your body such as beta-carotene, folic acid and vitamins C and E. So it's a double-whammy, since you are introducing potent carcinogens into your body, while at the same time depleting your body of the substances that can combat those and other carcinogens.

There are a couple of ways to quit. You can quit cold-turkey or use gums and patches that have been shown to work.

If you can't manage to quit, all is not lost. You don't have to just "take your chances" and hope for the best – make sure you follow the recommendations below. Many of the carcinogens that you take in when you smoke can be counteracted or neutralized by most of the substances mentioned in this book. As mentioned in the beta-carotene section above, lung cancer rates for smokers that consume large amounts of natural beta-carotene are similar to those of non-smokers.

We all know that smoking causes cancer. But we also know of many people that have lived past 100 all the while smoking 2 packs a day. How do they do it? Why didn't they develop cancer? The answer is most likely that they got their fair share of the cancer- preventers that we recommend.

Recommendations for smokers (who refuse, or as they would say, "are unable" to quit)

Whereas everyone should make sure that they get as many of the cancer preventers recommended in Chapter 11, smokers should pay particular attention to certain ones and make sure to take more than the average person. We recommend the following:

1. High folic acid and vitamin A, C, E and B12 doses High green tea consumption High natural beta-carotene consumption, particularly from dietary sources. Synthetic beta-carotene can have adverse effects on smokers.
2. High green tea consumption
3. High natural beta-carotene consumption, particularly from dietary sources. Synthetic beta-carotene can have adverse effects on smokers.
4. Lycopene
5. Grape seed extract
6. Raspberry consumption or ellagic acid supplementation
7. Cruciferous vegetable consumption

Drinkers

Alcohol intake has been linked to several forms of cancer. One of the main reasons seems to be that it lowers folic acid levels, and as we have seen folic acid protects us (especially women) from many forms of cancer. In addition, regular alcohol consumption interferes with the absorption of vitamins A, C, and D, or lowers their levels in some other way. For these reasons, alcohol consumption should be limited as much as possible, and particular preventive measures should be taken by heavier drinkers.

Recommendations for drinkers

Whereas everyone should make sure that they get as many of the cancer preventers recommended in Chapter 11, heavy drinkers should pay particular attention to certain ones and make sure to take more than the average person. We recommend the following:

1. High folic acid supplementation
2. High vitamin B12 supplementation
3. High vitamin A, C, D, and E consumption and supplementation
4. Zinc supplementation in the upper end (or above it) of our recommended range (20-40 mg)