Radiation, estrogen, and a variety of chemical pollutants are known to be the major causes of breast cancer, but ones bowel regularity is often overlooked or even considered at this stage. This subject has often demonstrated a common link associated with the occurrence of many acute and chronic symptoms of less than optimal health. By simply eating more (a lot more) than you can excrete, promotes problems. Yeah of course your colon's designed to hold load, but for how long exactly and how much? thats the real 'individual' question.
To prevent this from being a dissertation lets keep it shortish and sweet. By consuming indigestible foods (raw coniferous, raw grains and roots and blended splendid manufactured crap), more food than your body can physically process (Bodybuilders, Athletes, Americans) and even consuming adequate foods though when you're constantly in a sympathetic-stressed state, you'll likely find your holding transit time to be higher than optimal and thus the activity in your small intestine to be not so positive.
So what happens when we leave 'Chyme' and undigested food particles in there for too long?
They begin to be broken down by bacteria and those specific bacteria will firstly release gases and
lipopolysaccharides (endotoxin) of which will promote a strong immune response in any animal, activating the sympathetic nervous system, reducing blood flow to the intestine and thus inhibiting the intestines energy production. When stagnation sets in absorption occurs, estrogen promotes intestinal permeability, allowing endotoxins to be moved into the blood. This then becomes a biochemistry/pathology lecture that is interesting but can become quit extensive…
"This swelling, inflammation and metabolic impairment is of course characteristic of cancer, endotoxin is a tumour promoter (Yu et al. 2010). Evidence also suggests that endotoxin increases the risk of diabetes (Pussinen et al. 2011)".
Endotoxin has been linked to have the same effects as adrenalin and estrogen and they all promote one another's activity. They all excite the cells, displacing minerals and water, creating a shock state, impair circulation and both inhibit mitochondrial respiration by wasting oxygen and glucose. So why does this damage or even relate to the breasts?
Well, as mentioned before 'estrogen' and endotoxin promote similar effects. Endotoxin is known to destabilize and inactivate the bowel’s detoxifying enzymes, impair the mitochondria's role by knowingly increasing free fatty acid production and estrogens retention. This retention and increase in estrogen levels has the potential to inhibit two key enzymes.
Number one is my favourite, Pyruvate dehydrogenase. This beauty contributes to linking the glycolysis metabolic pathway to the citric acid cycle and releasing energy via NADH. i.e. this enzyme is key to helping us use glucose, ATP and oxygen effectively for feeling great!
The other enzyme also shown to to be suppressed by estrogen presence, is cytochrome oxidase, an enzyme that is sensitive to blue light and free fatty acid oxidation, but its key when reacting with oxygen to help complete the role of energy production within the Krebs cycle (the last phase).
And when you begin to stop these enzymes from performing on the big stage, long term, the effects of endotoxin and estrogen can calculate huge metabolic problems. The breasts in particular are highly sensitive to estrogen excess (or a lack of progesterone) and the other compounds that are usually found with it (nitric oxide, serotonin, FFA's).
“Endotoxin, produced by bacteria, mainly in the intestine, disrupts energy production, and promotes maladaptive inflammation.” Ray Peat.
How can estrogen effect the breast tissues?
Estrogen lowers body temp, metabolic rate and promotes aromatase formation in the tissues. Both endogenous and exogenous estrogens stimulate breast epithelial cell (safety shields of the body) mitosis, increasing the number of cell divisions and thus the opportunity for random genetic errors.
It has also been suggested that estrogens might have an important influence on risk for developing breast cancer through effects before the initiation of the disease Trichopoulos (1990). Raised estrogen levels during fetal development have been shown to influence morphology of the mammary gland, and increased levels are also thought to be responsible for the persistence of epithelial structures that are known to be sites of malignant transformation (as mentioned before) Hilakivi-Clarke L (1998).
Furthermore, results from animal models and indirect human evidence indicate that exposure to elevated estrogen and progesterone deficiency levels in utero may increase the risk for developing breast cancer in adulthood McCormack (2003). Even if estrogens (of which there are three, I think..) can induce genetic damage, the data overall suggest that proliferative effects are likely to be the most important mechanism by which this hormone acts to influence the development of breast cancer.
“Digestion is quickly shut down during stress…The parasympathetic nervous system, perfect for all that calm, vegetative physiology, normally mediates the actions of digestion. Along comes stress: turn off parasympathetic, turn on the sympathetic, and forget about digestion.” -Robert Sapolsky
The epidemiological evidence suggests that the risk of breast cancer might be reduced by lowering lifetime exposure to oestrogens through changes in lifestyle and reproductive behaviour. So what changes can we offer..to reduce the endotoxic-breast cancer risk link...?
Well…
The Mayo Clinic recommend a variety of approaches depending on the type of injury to the breast. Surgery, where the cancerous growth is removed, lymph nodes or the actual breast itself (mastectomy). Other options depending on your physicians recommendations may be along the lines of radiotherapy, chemotherapy or targeted drugs; such as 'Herceptin' to help lower human growth factors found in abnormal breast tissues or Tykerb often used in combination with chemo in the advanced metastatic individuals…. so as you can see, no real preventative lifestyle tips to reduce endotoxic exposure (though they do mention potential risk factors to consider, constipation not being one of them).
Ray Peat on the other hand recommends maintaining adequate blood levels of circulating cholesterol
and thyroid. This he states is due to cholesterols long history as a protectant against many endogenous toxins and thyroids pro energy effects, though an over burdened liver can't convert adequate thyroid;
"We are all subject to a variable degree of inflammatory stimulation from the endotoxin absorbed from the intestine, but a healthy liver normally prevents it from reaching the general circulation, and produces a variety of protective factors. The HDL lipoprotein is one of these, which protects against inflammation by binding bacterial endotoxins that have reached the bloodstream.
Another highly popular suggestion Ray Peat has written about extensively and made to help reduce the incidence of endotoxin threat and keep the intestine clear, is to consume either (a) raw carrot and or bamboo shoots daily. Something as simple as a grated carrot or bamboo shoot with salt and vinegar can produce major changes in bowel health, reducing endotoxin absorption, and restoring constructive hormonal functions. This is largely because of their indigestible nature, antibiotic and antibacterial properties, not only do they pass through the intestine acting as a dust pan and brush but due to the nature of a carrots development beneath the soil they are not prone to threat from hungry bacteria from within the intestine.
"Multiple studies demonstrate that endotoxin damages mitochondrial function and ultrastructure, (Crouser et al. 2002). Endotoxin’s (and estrogen’s) ability to stimulate swelling and hypo-osmolarity of cells inhibits the oxidative metabolism of mitochondria, resulting in decreased energy production and increased lactate production (Bundgaard et al. 2003)".
Dr John McDougall, a highly established, plant based physician advocates removing the cause. According to Dr Mcdougall, dairy proteins are the worst offenders and have been shown to paralyse the intestinal/bowel activity and inhibit peristaltic motion, thus effecting bowel transit time and slowing overall removal of food chyme. This he states occurs most commonly in children due to their signs of hypersensitivity, such as specific IgE antibodies to cow's-milk antigens.
Along with removing dairy from ones diet, Dr McDougall advocates the traditional inclusion of soluble fibre from real foods (fruits, starch and root veg) and if needed insoluble fibre to help prevent any rise in bacterial growth and activity.
Additional recommendations from the research to help clear the gastrointestinal tract from any excess bacterial endotoxin, has been to utilise various pro-paristaltic herbs. For example; yellow dock (Rumex crispus), Cascara sagrada, various Aloe species (in this case many preparations of aloe gel will be useless as anthraquinones are present in the periphery of the leaf, and are not included in many commercial Aloe gel products), Senna, and Turkey rhubarb (Rheum palmatum).
Oh and MCTs (Medium Chain Triglycerides) from the likes of coconut oil have also been shown to significantly reduce lipopolysaccharide toxicity (Kono et al. 2003), cook with it, apply it, do what you want with it, its such a beautiful food!
At recommended doses these herbs and compounds can have gentle, therapeutic effects, this is due to anthraquinones role in inhibiting the formation of nitric oxide, increasing mitochondrial respiration, inhibiting angiogenesis and invasiveness, whilst also inhibiting fatty acid synthase (Zhang, et al., 2002).
Lastly, from a personal perspective and from the objective results that I have gained, by reducing the amount of direct animal flesh I consume (in any state) and taking control of my life through establishing a dream and set of clear values, my intestinal health has improved ten fold. My replacement of calories has come from a large number of tropical fruits, root veggies and grains (organic when possible), all with a speedy transit time, digestible attitude and pro metabolic and glycogen replenishing effects when consumed in adequate balance.
Pooping often is a clear sign of a healthy nervous system, mitochondria activity and food choices. Any tissue that is sensitive to estrogen, will be vulnerable to endotoxin exposure.
Keep your intestine clean and your breasts healthy!
Be wise.
Beatle.
To prevent this from being a dissertation lets keep it shortish and sweet. By consuming indigestible foods (raw coniferous, raw grains and roots and blended splendid manufactured crap), more food than your body can physically process (Bodybuilders, Athletes, Americans) and even consuming adequate foods though when you're constantly in a sympathetic-stressed state, you'll likely find your holding transit time to be higher than optimal and thus the activity in your small intestine to be not so positive.
So what happens when we leave 'Chyme' and undigested food particles in there for too long?
 |
| Endtoxins physiological effects on the organism! |
lipopolysaccharides (endotoxin) of which will promote a strong immune response in any animal, activating the sympathetic nervous system, reducing blood flow to the intestine and thus inhibiting the intestines energy production. When stagnation sets in absorption occurs, estrogen promotes intestinal permeability, allowing endotoxins to be moved into the blood. This then becomes a biochemistry/pathology lecture that is interesting but can become quit extensive…
"This swelling, inflammation and metabolic impairment is of course characteristic of cancer, endotoxin is a tumour promoter (Yu et al. 2010). Evidence also suggests that endotoxin increases the risk of diabetes (Pussinen et al. 2011)".
Endotoxin has been linked to have the same effects as adrenalin and estrogen and they all promote one another's activity. They all excite the cells, displacing minerals and water, creating a shock state, impair circulation and both inhibit mitochondrial respiration by wasting oxygen and glucose. So why does this damage or even relate to the breasts?
Well, as mentioned before 'estrogen' and endotoxin promote similar effects. Endotoxin is known to destabilize and inactivate the bowel’s detoxifying enzymes, impair the mitochondria's role by knowingly increasing free fatty acid production and estrogens retention. This retention and increase in estrogen levels has the potential to inhibit two key enzymes.
 |
| Exogenous and Endogenous factors that inhibit cytochrome activity |
Number one is my favourite, Pyruvate dehydrogenase. This beauty contributes to linking the glycolysis metabolic pathway to the citric acid cycle and releasing energy via NADH. i.e. this enzyme is key to helping us use glucose, ATP and oxygen effectively for feeling great!
The other enzyme also shown to to be suppressed by estrogen presence, is cytochrome oxidase, an enzyme that is sensitive to blue light and free fatty acid oxidation, but its key when reacting with oxygen to help complete the role of energy production within the Krebs cycle (the last phase).
And when you begin to stop these enzymes from performing on the big stage, long term, the effects of endotoxin and estrogen can calculate huge metabolic problems. The breasts in particular are highly sensitive to estrogen excess (or a lack of progesterone) and the other compounds that are usually found with it (nitric oxide, serotonin, FFA's).
“Endotoxin, produced by bacteria, mainly in the intestine, disrupts energy production, and promotes maladaptive inflammation.” Ray Peat.
How can estrogen effect the breast tissues?
Estrogen lowers body temp, metabolic rate and promotes aromatase formation in the tissues. Both endogenous and exogenous estrogens stimulate breast epithelial cell (safety shields of the body) mitosis, increasing the number of cell divisions and thus the opportunity for random genetic errors.
It has also been suggested that estrogens might have an important influence on risk for developing breast cancer through effects before the initiation of the disease Trichopoulos (1990). Raised estrogen levels during fetal development have been shown to influence morphology of the mammary gland, and increased levels are also thought to be responsible for the persistence of epithelial structures that are known to be sites of malignant transformation (as mentioned before) Hilakivi-Clarke L (1998).
Furthermore, results from animal models and indirect human evidence indicate that exposure to elevated estrogen and progesterone deficiency levels in utero may increase the risk for developing breast cancer in adulthood McCormack (2003). Even if estrogens (of which there are three, I think..) can induce genetic damage, the data overall suggest that proliferative effects are likely to be the most important mechanism by which this hormone acts to influence the development of breast cancer.
“Digestion is quickly shut down during stress…The parasympathetic nervous system, perfect for all that calm, vegetative physiology, normally mediates the actions of digestion. Along comes stress: turn off parasympathetic, turn on the sympathetic, and forget about digestion.” -Robert Sapolsky
The epidemiological evidence suggests that the risk of breast cancer might be reduced by lowering lifetime exposure to oestrogens through changes in lifestyle and reproductive behaviour. So what changes can we offer..to reduce the endotoxic-breast cancer risk link...?
Well…
The Mayo Clinic recommend a variety of approaches depending on the type of injury to the breast. Surgery, where the cancerous growth is removed, lymph nodes or the actual breast itself (mastectomy). Other options depending on your physicians recommendations may be along the lines of radiotherapy, chemotherapy or targeted drugs; such as 'Herceptin' to help lower human growth factors found in abnormal breast tissues or Tykerb often used in combination with chemo in the advanced metastatic individuals…. so as you can see, no real preventative lifestyle tips to reduce endotoxic exposure (though they do mention potential risk factors to consider, constipation not being one of them).
Ray Peat on the other hand recommends maintaining adequate blood levels of circulating cholesterol
 |
| Carrots, grate them up or chew them well, acting as a brush for the intestinal wall! |
"We are all subject to a variable degree of inflammatory stimulation from the endotoxin absorbed from the intestine, but a healthy liver normally prevents it from reaching the general circulation, and produces a variety of protective factors. The HDL lipoprotein is one of these, which protects against inflammation by binding bacterial endotoxins that have reached the bloodstream.
Another highly popular suggestion Ray Peat has written about extensively and made to help reduce the incidence of endotoxin threat and keep the intestine clear, is to consume either (a) raw carrot and or bamboo shoots daily. Something as simple as a grated carrot or bamboo shoot with salt and vinegar can produce major changes in bowel health, reducing endotoxin absorption, and restoring constructive hormonal functions. This is largely because of their indigestible nature, antibiotic and antibacterial properties, not only do they pass through the intestine acting as a dust pan and brush but due to the nature of a carrots development beneath the soil they are not prone to threat from hungry bacteria from within the intestine.
"Multiple studies demonstrate that endotoxin damages mitochondrial function and ultrastructure, (Crouser et al. 2002). Endotoxin’s (and estrogen’s) ability to stimulate swelling and hypo-osmolarity of cells inhibits the oxidative metabolism of mitochondria, resulting in decreased energy production and increased lactate production (Bundgaard et al. 2003)".
Dr John McDougall, a highly established, plant based physician advocates removing the cause. According to Dr Mcdougall, dairy proteins are the worst offenders and have been shown to paralyse the intestinal/bowel activity and inhibit peristaltic motion, thus effecting bowel transit time and slowing overall removal of food chyme. This he states occurs most commonly in children due to their signs of hypersensitivity, such as specific IgE antibodies to cow's-milk antigens.
Along with removing dairy from ones diet, Dr McDougall advocates the traditional inclusion of soluble fibre from real foods (fruits, starch and root veg) and if needed insoluble fibre to help prevent any rise in bacterial growth and activity.
Additional recommendations from the research to help clear the gastrointestinal tract from any excess bacterial endotoxin, has been to utilise various pro-paristaltic herbs. For example; yellow dock (Rumex crispus), Cascara sagrada, various Aloe species (in this case many preparations of aloe gel will be useless as anthraquinones are present in the periphery of the leaf, and are not included in many commercial Aloe gel products), Senna, and Turkey rhubarb (Rheum palmatum).
Oh and MCTs (Medium Chain Triglycerides) from the likes of coconut oil have also been shown to significantly reduce lipopolysaccharide toxicity (Kono et al. 2003), cook with it, apply it, do what you want with it, its such a beautiful food!
At recommended doses these herbs and compounds can have gentle, therapeutic effects, this is due to anthraquinones role in inhibiting the formation of nitric oxide, increasing mitochondrial respiration, inhibiting angiogenesis and invasiveness, whilst also inhibiting fatty acid synthase (Zhang, et al., 2002).
Lastly, from a personal perspective and from the objective results that I have gained, by reducing the amount of direct animal flesh I consume (in any state) and taking control of my life through establishing a dream and set of clear values, my intestinal health has improved ten fold. My replacement of calories has come from a large number of tropical fruits, root veggies and grains (organic when possible), all with a speedy transit time, digestible attitude and pro metabolic and glycogen replenishing effects when consumed in adequate balance.
Pooping often is a clear sign of a healthy nervous system, mitochondria activity and food choices. Any tissue that is sensitive to estrogen, will be vulnerable to endotoxin exposure.
Keep your intestine clean and your breasts healthy!
Be wise.
Beatle.
