"Weeds need to be taken up with care: Pull too hard, and the weed breaks in your fingers, leaving the root to grow and spread."
Conventional treatments often act like mowing the lawn (killing the bulk tumor), but leave the roots (Cancer Stem Cells) behind, leading to recurrence.
You can target these roots directly using specific natural compounds like Sulforaphane, Curcumin, and EGCG that block stem cell survival pathways.
Incorporating simple daily habits—like eating broccoli sprouts, drinking matcha, and snacking on red grapes—can change your body's soil so the weeds can't grow back.
Hey Crew!
Carli here, and I am so excited to be back in your inbox.
I want to revisit my incredible conversation with Dr. Tims. If you caught our interview (or read our newsletter), you know how incredible it was.
He shared an analogy that completely shifted my perspective, and I felt called to do a deep dive on it for you all today because it answers that nagging fear we all live with, recurrence.
He described cancer treatment like gardening. Traditional therapies, chemo, radiation, surgery, are like mowing the lawn. They are fantastic at cutting down the visible weeds, the tumor mass, and things look pristine for a while.
But if you don't pull the roots, the weeds inevitably grow back. In our bodies, those roots are called Cancer Stem Cells (CSCs).
These cells are the seeds of the disease. They are incredibly resilient, often dormant, and they have special defenses that allow them to hide from standard treatments.
Dr. Tims explained that this is why we see recurrence months or years later, the roots were left in the soil. But here is the massive dose of hope I want to give you today, we don’t have to leave those roots alone.
While conventional medicine mows the lawn, we can use targeted nutrition and lifestyle changes to reach into the soil and pull the weeds out by the root.
Targeting the Roots
I’ve dug into the research to find the most potent, science-backed tools that specifically target these stem cells. Here are six ways to help you pull the weeds and create an environment where cancer struggles to survive.
1. The Power of Broccoli Sprouts (Sulforaphane)
If you take one thing away from this, let it be the power of raw broccoli sprouts. They are packed with sulforaphane, a compound shown to target the specific signaling pathways (like Wnt and Notch) that keep stem cells alive.
The Data
A study found that sulforaphane reduced the population of breast cancer stem cells by 65% to 80%. It essentially cuts off the renewal pathway these cells rely on.
Action Step
Throw a handful of raw broccoli sprouts into your daily smoothie or salad.
2. Curcumin & Black Pepper
We all know turmeric is amazing for inflammation, but it’s also a powerhouse against stem cells, if you take it right. It needs black pepper (piperine) to really work.
The Data
Research has shown that a specific combination of curcumin and piperine completely inhibited the formation of mammospheres (clusters of stem cells) in lab studies. Neither worked as well alone, but together, they stopped the stem cells in their tracks.
Action Step
Always add fresh cracked black pepper when cooking with turmeric, or choose a supplement that includes piperine.
3. Red Grapes & Berries (Resveratrol)
We often hear about the antioxidant benefits of fruits, but resveratrol, found in the skins of red grapes and berries, is a specific inhibitor of stem cell survival.
The Data
A fascinating study revealed that resveratrol significantly decreased the percentage of ALDH-positive cancer stem cells, a key marker of stemness, and reduced the size and number of mammospheres by suppressing the Wnt/beta-catenin pathway.
Action Step
Snack on organic red grapes, with the skin, or blueberries.
4. Apples & Onions (Quercetin)
This common flavonoid, found abundantly in onions and apple skins, is a hidden gem for cancer control.
The Data
Research indicates that quercetin suppresses the proliferation and self-renewal of breast cancer stem cells by downregulating proteins like ALDH1A1 and CXCR4, making it much harder for these cells to migrate and survive.
Action Step
Don't peel your apples! And try adding red onions to your meals for a quercetin boost.
5. Green Tea (EGCG)
Your afternoon matcha habit is doing more than just giving you a boost. The compound EGCG in green tea helps block the signals cancer cells use to travel and spread.
The Data
A study on inflammatory breast cancer demonstrated that EGCG reduced the secretion of VEGF-D, a protein that helps cancer spread through the lymph nodes, by approximately 50%.
Action Step
Swap that second cup of coffee for high-quality organic matcha or green tea.
6. Fasting Mimicking Diet (FMD)
You might have heard of Dr. Valter Longo’s work at USC. His research on the Fasting Mimicking Diet is groundbreaking for metabolic health and cancer care.
The Data
Research showed that FMD cycles could reduce the number of cancer stem cells by lowering glucose and IGF-1 levels. This starves the cancer cells while simultaneously boosting the immune system's production of T-cells to fight back.
Action Step
Look into FMD protocols or discuss supervised fasting windows with your care team.
It can feel overwhelming to navigate all the information out there, but remember, knowledge is power.
By stacking these simple habits, like sipping the tea, eating the sprouts, and adding the spice, we are taking an active role in our healing.
We are in this together, learning, growing, and taking our power back one step at a time.
With heart,
Carli
Founder of The Cancer Crew
Help us make the next issue even better by picking the option that fits you best.
Must-Reads You Might’ve Missed
