The Centers for Disease Control and the National Cancer Institute recommend you eat at least 5 servings of fruits and veggies per day, but 9+ servings per day is essential if you want to transform your health. Most folks I know don’t even average 1 serving per day. (Grains and starches don’t count)
Our modern processed food diet has left our bodies starving for nutrients at the cellular level. Juicing is the best way to extract massive amounts of nutrients from vegetables; without having to sit down and eat several pounds of vegetables per day.
Let’s review the digestive process, shall we?
When you chew food you are essentially juicing it in your mouth. You are breaking it down into liquid form, and breaking open the cell walls, so the nutrients can be absorbed by your body. The particles that cannot be broken down by your teeth or by your digestive system, pass through. The better you chew your food before you swallow, the more nutrients you are able to absorb.
A major component of my anti-cancer diet was drinking eight 8 oz glasses of freshly juiced organic carrot and vegetable juice every day.
My strategy was to eliminate all processed food from my diet and flood my body with vital raw nutrients in order to give my immune system all the fuel and firepower it needed to heal me. Juicing releases approximately 90% of the nutrients in food, which is about three times better than you can do with your teeth. Another important factor is absorption. If your body is overloaded with toxins, you could be absorbing as little as 1% of the nutrients in the food you eat.
My daily routine: I got up every morning and made enough juice (about 64 oz) to last me throughout the day. I put it in air tight pitchers, and mason jars to keep it fresh and potent throughout the day. I drank 12-16 oz at a time: early morning, mid-morning, lunchtime, afternoon, dinnertime, and before bed.
Why Carrot Juice?
Raw carrot juice is rich in cancer fighting nutrients: vitamins, minerals, flavonoids and carotenoids including Vitamins A, B, C, D, E, K, alpha-carotene, beta-carotene and lignans (enterolactone). It also is a good natural source of sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, iron, phosphorus, sulphur, silicone and chlorine.
“The carotenoids and vitamin A have shown a strong ability to inhibit cancer induction not only by viruses, but also by chemicals and radiation as well. At least part of the effect is from these nutrients acting directly on the genes.”
(Deflora S, Bagnasco M, Vainio H. Modulation of genotoxic and related effects by carotenoids and vitamin A in experimental models: mechanistic issues. Mutagenesis 14: 153-172, 1999.)
There are some natural health advocates out there that do not recommend carrot or beet juice because it contains too much sugar and “sugar feeds cancer”. While it is true that sugar feeds cancer, the sugars in vegetables can also deliver anti-cancer nutrients straight to the cancer cells. I talking about nutrients that can turn off cancer genes, interfere with cancer cell reproduction, and cause apoptosis (cancer cell suicide).
If you’re really worried about the sugar you can blenderize carrots and beets instead of juicing. The fiber will slow the absorption of sugars into your bloodstream.
I drank so much carrot juice I turned orange. Really orange. The palms of my hands looked crazy. This picture was taken November 2004, Micah was eight months pregnant with our first daughter Marin. This photo has not been retouched. I really was that orange! (I was also super skinny at 6’2″ 140 lbs. It’s pretty tough to gain weight on a raw vegan diet!)
One nurse actually told me I was drinking too much carrot juice. Silly nurse, you can’t overdose on carrots!
Note: Fruit juice is very high in concentrated sugar and really not good for you, especially when you are sick, so I didn’t drink it. A good rule of thumb is to Eat your Fruits and Juice your Vegetables.
There are a million different combinations of veggie juice, but here’s the one I drank the most.
Carrot, Celery, Beet and Ginger Juice :
My basic formula is 5 Carrots, 3-5 Celery Stalks, 1/4 of a Beet (root and top), and a small piece of Ginger Root. But don’t get too hung up on the formula. The type of juicer you have will determine how many carrots and celery stalks you’ll need to juice to make a glass. And there’s a million different juice combinations out there, so have fun experimenting. Watch the ginger, it’s strong.
Straight carrot juice is delicious by itself, but the beet, celery and ginger add some powerful extra nutrients. Also make sure you’re buying Organic produce. The last thing you need is chemical pesticides in your juice. I recommend you start with straight carrot juice. Add the other stuff in small amounts until you get used to the taste. Even if you don’t like the taste it doesn’t matter, just down it. You’re not drinking it for the taste.
I also like to mix in an alkalizing green powder like Perfect Food Raw.
A great book on juicing is The Juicing Bible. It’s got tons of detailed information on the nutrient content and health benefits of different veggie juices, and lots of combinations to try.
And if you’re serious about juicing everyday, you’re gonna need a good juicer.
I love my Champion Juicer. I’ve been using the one in the picture since 2004. It has a heavy duty commercial motor and is way easier to clean up than most juicers. And believe me, easy clean up will make all the difference in making juicing a part of your regular routine. If money is tight, there are cheaper alternatives like The Juiceman Pro, but they won’t last as long.
My Champion Juicer working like a champ! Bottoms up!
Juicing is the first component of my Super Health Triad.
The other two are The Cancer-Fighting Salad, and The Anti-Cancer Smoothie
(((c)))
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Hi Chris
Great site and I have found it very useful. Just wondered if you had any problems with energy levels from only having raw food and juicing? I realise weight loss will happen with this. Also are there any good sources of protein while on this kind of diet? I have seen in the UK Pulsin Natural Pea Protein, just wondering if taking this kind of think will help the cancer! or not make any difference.
Thanks for all your research and putting it online.
Steve
Hi Steve
You will have low energy for a few days as your body detoxes, but once that phase is over you will feel great with tons of energy.
Protein is important. Every cell in your body is made of amino acids and essential fatty acids. Pea Protein is good. I really like Sunwarrior Warrior Blend which is vegan protein from pea, cranberry, and hemp.
I also take Ultimate EFAs, an essential fatty acid supplement from Yes Supplements.
Hello,
I just happened to come across your site and feel grateful.
I was diagnosed with breast cancer several months ago. Right away the “doctors” wanted to put me on chemo, do three surgeries, radiation and different medications they admitted caused heart and bone disease. I flatly refused the entire protocol. I switched to a raw food diet and try to drink a lot of lemon water.
And I do take some supplements like vitamin C, enzymes, hemp protein along with peroxide and baking soda. I’m basically treating myself from information I’ve read on the Internet. My problem is I am out of work and don’t have very much money. Can’t even afford to buy a lot of organic produce for juicing. What would you recommend is the most important thing I can do to try to shrink these big tumors I have and stop the cancer from spreading?
I’m still full of life and vitality and certainly not ready to die.
God bless you for this site!
Did you make your juice all at once for the whole day? And if so, what were your portion sizes? I juice veggies but never know how much to make a one time. Thanks!
Hi Amber
Yes I juice a batch for the whole day and I drink 12-16 ounces at a time.
Store the rest in air tight glass jars in the fridge.
Great! Can you tell me what a days recipe would look like? Thanks!
My basic formula for one serving is approximately 5 Carrots, 3-5 Celery Stalks, 1/4 of a Beet (root and top), and a small piece of Ginger Root. That should yield 8-12 oz depending on the juicer. Multiply that times how many servings you want to prepare and you’ve got it.
Hi Chris,
Congrats on getting cancer free and it’s been really interesting reading your blog. I’m just wondering how many glasses of carrot juice did you drink per day that made you turn orange? I understand that you made enough to last you a whole day, but do you remember the specific amount of glasses you drank per day?
I ask this because a lot of people say that I need a tan or look sick because I’m too pale. I don’t necessary want to turn orange but wouldn’t mind getting more colour without suffering sunburn or spraying myself with fake-tan chemicals. I’ve read in a recent study that carrots and other vegatables can give you a golden look over time if you consume enough of them. If you’re intereseted you can find it here:
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/01/110111133224.htm
Cheers,
Andy.
Hi Andy
I drank approximately 64 oz per day, you can divide it up into eight 8oz servings
or five 12-16 oz servings.
Carrot juice may or may not improve your skin tone. It might just make you look jaundiced.
10-15 minutes of laying out in the sun per day is the best method
by far because it produces the best form of Vitamin D.
Don’t use sunscreen and don’t shower right after, your body needs time to absorb the Vitamin D
through your skin.
:)
(((c)))
Hi Chris, I’m so glad you are cancer free, my question is.. can I do the juices to prevent cancer or is it for people who aldready have cancer? Thanks.
Yes absolutely.
The purpose of juicing is to flood your body with the raw nutrients it needs to function properly
as most of our foods today are nutrient deficient, and loaded with sugar and artificial ingredients.
A clean diet and exercise are the best cancer prevention methods.
Hello!
Stumbled across your website. Congratulations on discovering REAL food! We’ve been juicing for over 20 years and getting close to 60 with no health problems…no pills of any kind…
Just a note….you may have already found out that you didn’t turn orange from the carrots. When you started cleansing the liver dumps all the bile and your body starts the dumping process. Skin, being the largest organ, really takes a beating. The orange is from the toxins in your liver…..that’s a GOOD thing:-)
Keep up the good work! A nutritionist we used to work with said ‘as long as you have 1 glass of raw vegetable or fruit juice a day you will never be sicker than you are today’,,,food for thought.
I applaud all of you that juice. I am 30 yrs old w/ 3 children & was diagnosed with colon cancer in March which is why I’m trying to eat raw. I have to admit I have not done what I’m supposed to so it has spread. So for the past few days I’ve just been drinking water and eating sprouts and veggies and stopped smoking. I’m kind of in a funk because I’m not getting my nicotine, no sugar and not enjoying the foods I used to. But I know it’s to save my life.
I can only afford a vita mix or a champion. I wand to juice. It appears that vita mix can juice but should I go with champion?
Hi Joe
The vita-mix is much more versatile. It doesn’t extract juice like a juicer, but you can make
fruit and veggie smoothies, soups, nut butters, tons of stuff with it.
If I could only afford one it would be the vita-mix hands down.
Did you do the Gerson Therapy while you were fighting cancer? Im just curious since juicing is a huge part of it. Just wondering. I want to tell more people about your blog. You are an inspiration!
Hi Angie I did a modified version of Gerson Therapy (juicing and raw foods) along with many other therapies which I discuss on this site.
Hey Chris,
You site is fantastic. I haven’t read through the whole thing….YET:) I too was juicing (by the way when I woulod say this, most people though I was taking steroids, lol) and even though it was had halted some spots of my cancer, it was not working fast enough to prevent the fluid in my abdomen. I had to relent to chemo and now developed an alergy to it. MY body is saying enough of that, and now I get to go back to juicing. I think you site will come in quite handy!!
I wanted to tell you I had at one point joined a support community online and much to my dismay they were clearly anti-alternative. I had to say something at one point. The moderators were quite mean and even went so far as to say people who chose alternatives were just taking the easy way out. I was so offended I decided to drop it, but I felt they needed to know why. So…… I told them. I asked if they thought changing your lifestyle completely was easy, if cutting out all the foods you love was easy, and no sugar. And how about when you go out with friends or visit family and you? How was this easy. I basically schooled them and they appologized. I still quit the site. Yeah it is pretty easy when you are at home, and once you start it is all good, but I have to admit to you I mourned certain foods before i started, truly cried. I have to start again. I won’t cry this time because i know i can do it. I am motivated!
Thank you for your site. I know it will be helpful,
Jessica
Hi Jessica thank you so much for sharing your experience. It’s amazing how much opposition and aggression there is toward natural and alternative therapies. I would argue that chemo is the easy way. Yes it’s horrible and miserable, but the mental, emotional, and social pressure that comes with a decision to refuse chemo is so hard that most people cannot do it. I applaud your courage and support you 100%. Do every single therapy you can find.
Chris
Dear Chris:
Thank you for your the valuable information on your website. I had surgery for lung cancer two years ago (I have never smoked). The cancer is back and I want to fight it without chemo, etc.
I am juicing and eating the salad and have eliminated all meats, dairy and bad white stuff. I am exercising and praying.
What kind of tests do you use to know that you remain cancer-free? I would like to avoid radiation as much as I can. The drs. love their CT scans!
I will keep you in my prayers. God bless you and your family. Thank you for all your help.
Sincerely,
Nelia
(Mother, wife and good friend).
Hi Nelia!
I admire your courageous decision!
I did monthly blood work for several years and have had several ct scans over the years, but considering that one ct scan is the equivalent of 400 x-rays,
I’m not too keen on having anymore done.
If you aren’t doing ct scans, definitely have monthly blood work done to monitor your markers.
Thank you for your prayers, God has blessed us!
We will pray for your healing.
Chris
What about V8 splash? It’s got Antioxident Plus in it. Please say yes!!!! LOL
Hah! Yeah, V8 Splash is a fail. Tastes good, but it’s pasteurized and full of sugar. I used to drink it and think it was healthy before I got cancer.