Metabolic Health Revolution: Embracing Natural Solutions For Disease Prevention
Many plant-derived compounds show diverse bioactive properties that target various pathways and processes that may improve patient outcomes.
The genetic view and the metabolic view have emerged as paradigms to explain the complex nature of cancer and other diseases. Understanding the underlying mechanisms driving disease progression is critical for developing treatment strategies.
The genetic view is rooted in the somatic mutation theory, which posits that cancer comes from the accumulation of genetic alterations that disrupt critical regulatory pathways governing cell growth, proliferation, and survival. This perspective focuses on identifying oncogenes, tumor suppressor genes, and genomic alterations. As well as personalized approaches that selectively target cancer cells while sparing normal ones.
By contrast, the metabolic view of cancer emphasizes the dysregulated metabolic reprogramming observed as a fundamental hallmark of the disease. Cancer cells exhibit altered glucose metabolism, the Warburg effect, and high nutrient uptake to fuel their rapid growth. Such metabolic rewiring gives the cells a competitive advantage in the nutrient-deprived tumor microenvironment and influences various aspects of their biology – including cell signaling, immune evasion, and therapeutic resistance.
Both the genetic and metabolic views offer valuable insights. Understanding the interaction between genetic alterations and metabolic adaptations in cancer cells is crucial for finding the best therapeutic targets.
In this special report, we will delve into a comparative analysis of the genetic view versus the metabolic view of cancer and explore the respective implications. We will also look at various natural compounds known to exert anticancer effects and seek to explain their underlying mechanisms and why you should discuss using them with your integrative medical professional.
2 Fundamental Views of Cancer’s Roots
A genetic view of cancer has been believed for the better part of the past 100 years –At least by most doctors and their patients.
In a nutshell, the genetic view emphasizes genetic mutations as the central cause of cancer development and progression. These mutations can occur due to various factors, including exposure to carcinogens, errors in DNA replication, and heredity.
By contrast, the metabolic pathways view of cancer focuses on alterations in cellular metabolism as the primary driver of cancer.
The Metabolic View
The metabolic pathway view – also called the metabolic theory of cancer – proposes that alterations in cellular metabolism play a key role in cancer’s development and progression. It emphasizes that changes in how cells produce and use energy, metabolize nutrients, and regulate metabolic pathways contribute greatly to the initiation, growth, and spread.
Some of the key concepts within the metabolic view include:
1. The Warburg Effect. One of the hallmark features of this view is the Warburg Effect, named after Otto Warburg, who first observed this 100 years ago, in the 1920s. The Warburg effect describes the tendency of cancer cells to preferentially use glycolysis, even in the presence of oxygen, leading to increased glucose uptake. This shift lets cancer cells generate energy and biosynthetic precursors support rapid proliferation.
2. Altered Nutrient Metabolism. Cancer cells show altered metabolism of various nutrients, including glucose, amino acids, and lipids. This lets the tumor cells meet their increased energy demands, promote cell division, and adapt to their new micro-environment.
3. Mitochondrial Dysfunction. Mitochondrial changes in function and dynamics are common in cancer cells. Despite being known as the powerhouse of the cell, in the presence of cancer, mitochondria can show dysfunction, altered oxidative phosphorylation, and increased reliance on glycolysis.
4. Redox Homeostasis. Cancer cells often express oxidative stress due to high levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) generated during metabolic processes. Cancer cells upregulate antioxidant defenses to counteract oxidative damage and maintain redox homeostasis.
5. Changed crosstalk within the microenvironment. Metabolic crosstalk and faulty signaling can shape progress and response to therapies.
Overall, the metabolic pathway’s view of cancer highlights the complex relationship between cellular metabolism and tumorigenesis. Researchers hope to better understand the metabolic vulnerabilities of these cells, in order to discover natural ways to target specific metabolic pathways, exploit metabolic dependencies, and disrupt the metabolic symbiosis that has developed.
The Genetic View
The genetic theory of cancer posits that genetic mutations and alterations are the key drivers of cancer initiation, progression, and metastasis. This perspective emphasizes the role of genomic instability, oncogenes, tumor suppressor genes, and other genetic factors in the development of tumors.
Key concepts within this view include:
1. Genomic Instability. Characterized by mutations, abnormal chromosomes, and DNA damage. Genomic instability comes from factors such as environmental carcinogens, errors in DNA replication, and cell cycle defects.
2. Oncogenes. Genes that promote cell proliferation and survival when mutated or overexpressed. Mutations can drive uncontrolled cell growth.
3. Tumor Suppressor Genes. Regulate cell cycle progression, DNA repair, and apoptosis. They act as guardians of genome integrity. Loss of function mutations or inactivation of tumor suppressor genes can disrupt cellular homeostasis and predispose cells to malignant transformation.
4. Driver Mutations vs. Passenger Mutations. Not all mutations contribute to tumor development equally. Driver mutations drive tumor progression and evolution. By contrast, passenger mutations are incidental and don’t directly aid tumorigenesis. But they can accumulate because of genomic instability.
Overall, the genetic view underscores the importance of understanding the molecular mechanisms beneath oncogenesis and tumor biology. Researchers aim to develop targeted therapies, precision medical approaches, and biomarkers for early detection and personalized treatments.
Pros and Cons of Each View
Metabolic
Emphasizes changes in cellular metabolism, like increased glucose uptake and altered energy production as key drivers of cancer.
Pros:
‣ Highlights the importance of metabolic reprogramming in cancer cells, offering new targets for therapy.
‣ Offers a holistic view of cancer, considering the complex interactions between genetic and environmental factors.
Cons:
‣ May over-simplify the role of genetics and genetic mutations.
‣ Hard to target metabolic pathways precisely, leading to potential drug side effects on normal cells.
‣ Limited understanding of the interaction between metabolic alterations and genetic mutations.
Genetic
Focuses on genetic mutations, alterations, and abnormalities as primary drivers.
Pros:
‣ Identifies specific genetic mutations and pathways implicated in development, guiding targeted therapies.
‣ Allows for classification, based on genetic signatures, allowing for personalized treatment options.
‣ Provides a clear framework for understanding the underlying molecular mechanisms.
Cons:
‣ Overlooks contributions of non-genetic factors, such as potential metabolic dysregulation.
‣ Challenges in targeting precise genetic mutations due to tumor heterogeneity and evolution.
‣ Cancer cells may develop resistance through alternative pathways.
Why It Matters… Or Does It?
Understanding the predominant views of cancer can influence your treatment strategies and outcomes. It may also determine what treatments your medical team even decides to offer you.
Advocates of the metabolic pathways view argue for exploring metabolic interventions as adjunct therapies and/or as preventive measures.
Supporters of the genetic view pin their hopes on precision medicine and targeted therapies tailored to individual genetic profiles.
However, there’s room for prevention and holistic support across the spectrum of both points of view… which we’ll explore below.
Ultimately, an integrated approach that considers both genetic and metabolic aspects of cancer may offer the most comprehensive understanding and most effective adjunctive therapies.
How to Reduce Your Risks from a Genetic Viewpoint
If you subscribe to the genetic view and want to reduce your risk of developing the disease, there are 5 actionable measures you can take to mitigate potential genetic predispositions and minimize exposure to carcinogens. You’ll note that some of the recommendations are applicable to whichever view of the disease you subscribe to.
1. Know Your Family History, Learn Your Genetics.
‣ Learn about your family’s medical history if at all possible. Certain genetic mutations may increase your risk.
‣ If your family history is unavailable, such as if you were adopted or your parents passed on at an early age, consider getting your own genetic testing done. As they say, “Forewarned is forearmed.” However, just because you have “bad” genes doesn’t mean those genes will express themselves. Pay attention to lifestyle factors and radically reduce your exposure to carcinogens.
2. Make an appointment with an integrative physician.
‣ An integrative physician can play a key role in promoting overall wellbeing through a holistic and personalized approach.
‣ An integrative physician can conduct a thorough evaluation of your medical history, lifestyle factors, family history, and genetic predispositions to assess and reduce your overall risk.
‣ Integrative physicians emphasize the importance of lifestyle modifications to reduce risk… which may include dietary changes, regular exercise and movement, stress management, smoking cessation, and sleep.
‣ These practitioners may incorporate detoxification protocols to help eliminate toxins from the body. Detoxification strategies might include supplements, herbal therapies, and lifestyle interventions designed to support the body’s natural detoxification processes.
3. Screening/Early Detection
‣ Integrative approaches to screening may be similar to conventional healthcare providers as they advocate appropriate screening tests.
‣ They may include advanced imaging, functional medicine testing, and biomarker assessments to identify early signs or detect underlying imbalances that contribute to risk factors.
4. Maintain a Healthy Lifestyle.
‣ Adopt a balanced diet rich in vegetables, fruits, and lean proteins. Limit processed foods (anything in boxes, bags, and fast-food wrappers), conventional red meats, and sugary beverages.
‣ Get regular physical activity that includes aerobic workouts, strength training, and flexibility for overall wellness and to reduce obesity, which is linked with a greater risk for cancer.
‣ Avoid tobacco products in every form. It is a leading cause of disease.
‣ Lose 10% of your body weight. It doesn’t sound like a lot, but it can make a significant difference to your wellness.
5. Limit Exposure to Carcinogens.
‣ Carcinogens are known to influence DNA replication and make your body toxic. Try to make your lifestyle as “clean” as possible.
‣ Minimize your exposure to environmental carcinogens including air pollutants, industrial chemicals, pesticides, herbicides, etc. Be mindful of exposure in your surroundings including parks, schools, and golf courses, home gardening products, and more.
‣ Whenever possible choose organic foods, as they reduce your risk of pesticide accumulation on the produce you eat.
‣ Practice sun safety. While you need some vitamin D, you can get what you need in about 30 minutes. If you’re going to be in the sun all day, use a preferably non-toxic sunscreen to protect your skin.
How to Reduce Your Risk from a Metabolic Viewpoint
Embracing a metabolic view of cancer means you recognize the role of metabolic dysregulation in cancer development and progression. You can then adopt ways to optimize your metabolic health. Here are 7 ways to serve up greater health and wellness with the metabolic view in mind.
1. Follow a healthy diet. Adopt a diet rich in vegetables, fruits, lean grassfed proteins, wild-caught fish, and healthy fats. Avoid processed foods (anything in a box, bag, or fast-food wrapper), sugary beverages, and refined carbs that contribute to insulin spikes, inflammation, and metabolic dysfunction. Emphasize foods rich in phytochemicals, antioxidants, and fiber which promote wellness from the inside out.
2. Manage weight and body composition. Maintain a healthy body weight and composition through regular physical activity and good food choices. Visceral fat is linked with inflammation, insulin resistance, and disease risk.
3. Time-restricted eating/intermittent fasting. Helps regulate metabolism, enhance cellular repair, and reduce inflammation. Try alternate-day fasting, periodic fasting, or daily time-restricted eating windows to find the right pattern for you.
4. Prioritize nutrient-dense foods. Choose foods high in essential vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and phytochemicals to support metabolic health and cellular function. Eat the rainbow – a variety of colorful fruits and vegetables.
5. Get adequate sleep. Sleep optimizes your circadian rhythms, regulates your hormones, and boosts repair processes. Aim for 7-9 hours of quality sleep per night.
6. Avoid environmental toxins and carcinogens. Minimize exposure to environmental toxins, pollutants, carcinogens, and endocrine-disrupting chemicals… whether found in air, water, food, personal care products, or household items. Choose organic produce whenever possible.
7. Get regular physical activity for 150 minutes per week or more. It helps support metabolic health, improve insulin sensitivity, and reduce inflammation.
This checklist helps support your metabolic health, optimize cellular function, and lower your risk of disease. A good integrative physician can help you implement these strategies -- which are remarkably similar for both views of cancer!
Don’t Underestimate the Role of a Top Integrative Physician
No matter which paradigm you embrace, your integrative physician can play a key role as a partner in your wellness and serve as a critical member of your medical care team. They are skilled at seeing the big picture as well as the minutia.
Here are some of the key roles an integrative physician may play in your health:
1. Holistic and comprehensive care. They see your needs from a holistic point of view, including complementary therapies.
2. Nutritional support. Offer nutritional guidance and support, promote healthy eating habits, and optimize nutritional status during and after treatments. Plays a critical role in immune function, inflammation reduction, and recovery.
3. Stress reduction. Lend emotional support, mindfulness-based practices, relaxation techniques, and counseling to promote resilience and wellbeing.
4. Physical rehab. May collaborate with others such as PTs, OTs and others to develop personalized rehab programs that improve physical function, mobility, and strength.
5. Health promotion and prevention. Reduce the risk of recurrence, optimize health outcomes, and enhance overall well-being. Educate and encourage regarding dietary habits, exercise routines, and overall well-being to support long-term overall health.
10 Top Compounds to Optimize Your Wellness
On the theme of a healthy lifestyle and optimal diet focused on organic vegetables, grass-fed meats, and wild-caught fish, certain key compounds have been researched as ways to support your DNA replication and metabolic pathways. Are you using these yet?
NOTE: These compounds are not a magic pill. Consult with a licensed healthcare provider before taking any dietary supplement. Some compounds may interact with medications or treatments, including chemotherapy. Your integrative healthcare provider or nutritionist can help you identify if these compounds are right for you.
Another Important Consideration
Nutritional products won’t do a bit of good if they don’t get to your cells… if they’re not bioavailable. The best way to solve this problem is with the fast-absorbing technology called Liquid Protein Scaffold™ (LPS™) technology. LPS™ technology attaches hardto-absorb compounds such as curcumin and other polyphenols to a protein molecule… which the body instantly recognizes and absorbs.
1. Frankincense (Boswellia serrata). Frankincense, derived from the resin of the Boswellia tree, has been used for its medicinal properties for centuries. While research on frankincense’s specific effects on metabolic pathways and DNA health is ongoing, several studies suggest potential benefits… to promote DNA integrity, support healthy DNA replication, and activating immune cells such as T lymphocytes and natural killer (NK) cells. Frankincense is an ingredient in our Onco-Adjunct™ Pathway 1™ and 2™ products.
2. Resveratrol. A polyphenol and potent antioxidant found in plant sources such as grape seeds. Resveratrol modulates metabolic pathways involved in energy metabolism, lipid metabolism, and glucose homeostasis. It has been shown to activate enzymes such as AMPK, which regulates energy balance, and by doing so, promotes glucose uptake. Resveratrol has been linked to longevity and DNA repair, enhanced cellular survival and resilience. It has also been shown to activate sirtuins, a group of proteins involved in DNA repair, cellular stress response, and longevity – aiding overall health and well-being, supporting metabolic pathways and healthy DNA throughout a person’s lifespan. Resveratrol is an ingredient in our Onco-Adjunct™ Pathway 4™ product.
3. Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG). A catechin polyphenol found abundantly in green tea, especially matcha green tea. It’s been studied for its potential health benefits relating to metabolic pathways and DNA integrity. Like Resveratrol, it is involved in energy and lipid metabolism and glucose homeostasis. EGCG also activates AMPK and glucose uptake, enhances DNA repair, and supports healthy DNA. EGCG is an ingredient in our Onco-Adjunct™ Pathway 4™ product.
4. Curcumin. The main bioactive compound in turmeric, extensively studied for its potential health benefits, especially on metabolic pathways and DNA integrity. Like EGCG and Resveratrol, it’s been widely studied and shown to modulate energy and lipid metabolism, AMPK, and more. Oxidative stress can lead to DNA mutations, chromosomal abnormalities, genomic instability. Curcumin helps neutralize reactive oxygen species (ROS) and supports DNA repair mechanisms and maintain genomic integrity and stability. Curcumin is also involved in metabolic signaling pathways. Curcumin is an ingredient in our Onco-Adjunct™ Pathway 2™ product.
5. Quercetin. A flavonoid of various vegetables and fruits. As with the compounds already listed, quercetin modulates various metabolic pathways involved in energy and lipid metabolism, AMPK, glucose uptake, and more. It can lead to improved metabolic efficiency and insulin sensitivity. Quercetin can help protect DNA from oxidative damage, support DNA stability and genomic integrity, and reduce the risk of mutations. Quercetin is an ingredient in our Onco-Adjunct™ Pathway 2™ product.
6. Berberine. A bioactive compound that originates from various plants, which has gained attention for its potent health benefits. For one, berberine may help improve glucose metabolism by activating AMPK, promoting glucose uptake, enhancing insulin sensitivity, and improving glycemic control. In addition, berberine has been shown to lower lipids, boost HDL, support healthy cholesterol and support DNA stability and metabolic pathways. What’s more, berberine may support DNA repair and protect it from damage by aiding genomic stability and reducing risk of mutations. The compound berberine is an ingredient in our Onco-Adjunct™ Pathway 3 and the all-new Pathway 3+ product.
7. Fermented wheat germ extract (FWGE). Fermented extract of wheat germ may have positive effects on metabolic pathways and DNA stability. FWGE shows antioxidant properties, which may help protect against mutations, chromosomal abnormalities, and genomic instability. FWGE contains bioactive compounds that modulate energy metabolism and function. Emerging studies show that FWGE supports DNA repair from sources such as environmental toxins. Overall, FWGE shows promise for promoting metabolic health, supporting DNA stability, and more. Fermented wheat germ extract is an ingredient in our all-new Onco-Adjunct™ Pathway 3+ product.
8. Fisetin. A natural compound found in fruits and veggies such as strawberries, apples, onions, and cucumbers. It has gained much attention for its potential effects on metabolic pathways and DNA stability. As an antioxidant, it can neutralize reactive oxygen species (ROS) and support DNA stability and integrity. Fisetin also modulates metabolic pathways involved in energy and lipid metabolism and glucose uptake. It supports DNA repair. Fisetin is a compound contained in our Onco-Adjunct™ Pathway 4™ product, supplying an amount equivalent to 38 strawberries.
9. Beta-glucans. Beta-glucans are soluble fiber found in certain foods like mushrooms and yeast. They’ve been studied for their benefits for metabolic pathways and DNA stability. Beta-glucans help regulate blood sugar levels by slowing absorption of glucose in the intestines and binding cholesterol in the digestive tract. Studies suggest that beta-glucans may help promote satiety and reduce appetite and promote feelings of fullness. They may help promote a healthy gut and regulate the immune system by stimulating macrophages, dendritic cells and natural killer (NK) cells. Betaglucans are an ingredient in our Onco-Adjunct™ Pathway 4™ product.
10. Cannabidiol (CBD). A non-psychoactive compound that may help support metabolic pathways and DNA stability. By influencing cannabinoid receptor activity, CBD may support glucose uptake, enhance mitochondrial function, and modulate lipid metabolism, leading to improved insulin sensitivity. CBD shows antioxidant properties, scavenges free radicals, and reduces oxidative stress – and thus protecting DNA stability. Stress can disrupt metabolic pathways and DNA repair. CBD helps promote relaxation and reduce stress, supporting metabolic health and DNA stability. CBD is an ingredient in our Onco-Adjunct™ Pathway 1™ product.
So there you have it… 10 natural compounds that can help support your health from ground up…
Whether you subscribe to the metabolic view or the genomic view, these ingredients may help support genomic integrity and metabolic pathways behind-the-scenes. A smart thing to do for your health.
And every one of these formerly hard-to-absorb polyphenols now exhibits superior bioavailability, because they’re made with Liquid Protein Scaffold™ technology that expedites it to your cells.