Cervical Dysplasia

CERVICAL DYSPLASIA
Definition: Cervical dysplasia is a condition characterized by the abnormal growth of cells on the surface of the cervix, indicating either precancerous or cancerous cells.

Nutrition and Dietary Supplements
Following these nutritional tips may help reduce the chances of developing cervical dysplasia, however, any nutritional interventions should be cleared by your doctor. Some nutrients can interfere with certain medications and procedures.

•Eat calcium rich foods, including beans, almonds, and dark green leafy vegetables (such as spinach and kale).
•Eat more cruciferous vegetables, such as cabbage, broccoli, and cauliflower.
•Eat antioxidant rich foods, including fruits (such as blueberries, cherries, and tomatoes), and vegetables (such as squash and bell pepper).
•Avoid refined foods such as white breads, pastas, and sugar.
•Eat fewer red meats and more lean meats, cold-water fish, tofu (soy, if no allergy is present), or beans for protein.
•Use healthy cooking oils, such as olive oil or vegetable oil.
•Reduce or eliminate trans-fatty acids, found in commercially baked goods such as cookies, crackers, cakes, French fries, onion rings, donuts, processed foods, and margarine.
•Avoid coffee and other stimulants, alcohol, and tobacco.
•Drink 6 - 8 glasses of filtered water daily.
•Exercise moderately, for 30 minutes daily, 5 days a week.

Nutritional deficiencies may be addressed with the following supplements:

•Omega-3 fatty acids, such as fish oil, 1 - 2 capsules or 1 tablespoonful oil daily, to help decrease inflammation and improve general health.
•A multivitamin daily, containing the antioxidant vitamins A, C, D, E, the B-vitamins, and trace minerals such as magnesium, calcium, zinc, and selenium. Folic acid is important in preventing cervical dysplasia and should be part of a multivitamin supplement.
•Digestive enzymes, 1 - 2 tablets 3 times daily with meals.
•Coenzyme Q10, 100 - 200 mg at bedtime, for antioxidant and immune activity.
•N-acetyl cysteine, 200 mg daily, for antioxidant effects.
•Acidophilus (Lactobacillus acidophilus), 5 - 10 billion CFUs (colony forming units) daily, when needed for maintenance of gastrointestinal and immune health.
•Grapefruit seed extract (Citrus paradisi), 100 mg capsule or 5 - 10 drops (in favorite beverage) 3 times daily, for antibacterial/antifungal activity, gastrointestinal health and immunity.
•Methylsulfonylmethane (MSM), 3,000 mg twice a day, to help decrease inflammation.

Herbs
Herbs are generally a safe way to strengthen and tone the body's systems. As with any therapy, you should work with your health care provider to diagnose your problem before starting any treatment. You may use herbs as dried extracts (capsules, powders, teas), glycerites (glycerine extracts), or tinctures (alcohol extracts). Unless otherwise indicated, make teas with 1 tsp. herb per cup of hot water. Steep covered 5 - 10 minutes for leaf or flowers, and 10 - 20 minutes for roots. Drink 2 - 4 cups per day. You may use tinctures alone or in combination as noted.

•Green tea (Camelia sinensis) standardized extract, 250 - 500 mg daily, for antioxidant and immune effects. You may also prepare teas from the leaf of this herb.
•Cat's claw (Uncaria tomentosa) standardized extract, 20 mg 3 times a day, for inflammation, immune and antibacterial/antifungal activity.
•Bromelain (Ananus comosus) standardized extract, 40 mg 3 times daily, for pain and inflammation.
•Turmeric (Curcuma longa) standardized extract, 300 mg 3 times a day, for inflammation. May increase bleeding time so if you are using blood thinning medication, talk to your doctor before using turmeric.
•Reishi mushroom (Ganoderma lucidum), 150 - 300 mg 2 - 3 times daily, for inflammation and for immunity. You may also take a tincture of this mushroom extract, 30 - 60 drops 2 - 3 times a day.

Several population-based studies suggest that eating a diet rich in the following nutrients from fruits and vegetables may protect against the development of cervical cancer:

Beta-carotene
Some controversial clinical studies suggest that individuals deficient in beta-carotene may be more likely to develop cancerous or precancerous cervical lesions, but this relationship remains inconclusive. Other studies indicate that oral supplementation with beta-carotene may promote a decline in the signs of cervical dysplasia. Despite these promising results, the benefit of using beta-carotene supplements to prevent the development of cervical dysplasia or cervical cancer has not been proven.

Supplemental beta-carotene may increase the risk of lung cancer, prostate cancer, intracerebral hemorrhage, and cardiovascular and total mortality in people who smoke cigarettes or have a history of high-level exposure to asbestos. Beta-carotene from foods does not seem to have this effect.

Folate (Vitamin B9)
Like beta-carotene, some evidence suggests that folate (also known as vitamin B9) deficiencies may contribute to the development of cancerous or precancerous lesions in the cervix. Researchers also theorize that folate consumed in the diet may improve the cellular changes seen in cervical dysplasia by lowering homocysteine (a substance believed to contribute to the severity of cervical dysplasia) levels. The benefit of using dietary folate to prevent or treat cervical dysplasia has not been sufficiently proven.

Folate-Rich Foods
•Black-eyed peas
•Lentils
•Okra
•Kidney beans
•Great Northern beans
•Broccoli
•Iceberg lettuce
•Beets
•Lima beans
•Sunflower seeds
•Spinach
•Brussels sprouts
•Corn
•Asparagus
•Baked beans
•Green peas
•Baked potato
•Cabbage
•Avocados
•Peanuts
•Romaine lettuce
•Tomato Juice
•Orange juice
•Strawberries
•Oranges
•Eggs
•Bananas

Maca

The Wonders of Maca
A cruciferous vegetable of the mustard family, maca is related to radishes and turnips; maca grows at altitudes of 14,500 feet (4,420 metres) in the Andean mountains of Peru, where few other plants can survive.

Benefits of Maca:
•relieved hot flashes and other menopausal symptoms
•enhanced libido and imroved potency
•increased energy, stamina, and endurance
•relieved depression and reduced stress
•relieved premenstrual syndrome, or PMS
•improved athletic performance
•increased testosterone levels
•enhanced fertility

Maca: A Natural Secret
Maca is used to regulate hormonal functions and slow the decline of an aging hormonal system—for both women and men. Its action focuses on the root of all hormonal problems by nourishing and strengthening the hypothalamus/pituitary axis (HPA).

Maca may be used as an alternative to conventional hormone replacement therapy (HRT) to help lessen the symptoms of menopause. Maca also regulates and balances the entire endocrine system, strengthening and toning the reproductive glands to promote a heightened sense of well-being and provide the body with greater energy and vitality.

When shopping for a maca supplement, look for a brand that uses pure, certified organic maca originating from the Peruvian highlands. Gelatinization of maca (the removal of starch from the root, producing a powder that is easier to digest) allows for greater potency and optimal absorption.

Maca is available in capsules, tablets, and powder. It has a pleasant, malty, butterscotch-like flavour, perfect for smoothies. Remember, maca is a food and less than 1,500 mg daily will likely not deliver desired results. The suggested intake is 1,500 to 5,000 mg daily in two doses.

More About Maca
In addition to sugars and proteins, maca contains uridine, malic acid and its benzoyl derivative, and the glucosinolates, glucotropaeolin and m-methoxyglucotropaeolin. The methanol extract of maca tuber also contained (1R, 3S)-1-methyltetrahydro-carboline-3-carboxylic acid, a molecule which is reported to exert many activities on the central nervous system. The nutritional value of dried maca root is high, similar to cereal grains such as rice and wheat. It contains 60% carbohydrates, 10% protein, 8.5% dietary fiber, and 2.2% fats. Maca is rich in essential minerals, especially selenium, calcium, magnesium, and iron, and includes fatty acids including linolenic acid, palmitic acid, and oleic acids, and 19 amino acids, as well as polysaccharides. Maca's reported beneficial effects for sexual function could be due to its high concentration of proteins and vital nutrients, though maca contains a chemical called p-methoxybenzyl isothiocyanate, which reputedly has aphrodisiac properties.

The growing demand of the supplement industry has been one of the primary reasons for maca's expansion. The prominent product is maca flour, which is ground from the hard, dried roots. In Peru, maca flour is used in baking as a base and a flavoring. The supplement industry uses both the dry roots and maca flour for different types of processing and concentrated extracts. A quick internet query will show dozens of different extracts available, each touting some enhanced efficaciousness for a traditional use or health claim. Another common form is maca which has undergone gelatinization. This is an extrusion process, sometimes used for other vegetables, which removes the fiber from the roots using slight heat and pressure. Maca is one of many root vegetables with a dense fiber matrix which can be gelatinized to create products with more efficient digestion. Gelatinized maca is many fold stronger than powdered root, and is employed for mainly for therapeutic, medicinal and supplement purposes. It can also be used like maca flour. There is also freeze-dried maca juice, which is a juice squeezed from the macerated fresh root, and subsequently freeze-dried.

Small-scale clinical trials performed in men have shown that maca extracts can heighten libido and improve semen quality, though no studies have been performed on men with sexual dysfunction or infertility. Maca does not affect sex hormone levels in humans, and has not been shown to act on hormones directly. It has been presumed that maca's hormone-normalizing effects may be due to the root's unique nutritional profile, which provides optimum levels of nutrients utilized by the body's endocrine system. In addition, maca has been shown to increase mating behavior in male mice and rats.