When researchers took subjects who were on blood pressure medication and had them use sesame oil as the only edible oil for 45 days, there was a significant reduction in body weight and body mass index. Blood pressures also dropped significantly. In addition, they found that levels of antioxidants were much higher in the sesame oil group. The only catch is that if you stop the sesame oil diet, it all comes back.
 
Note: Make sure the oil is refrigerated so it does not go rancid. Eating rancid oil is extremely bad for you. Also, a number of people are sensitive to sesame oil, so if you decide to try this, discontinue if any new symptoms develop.
 
Yale J Biol Med. 2006 Mar;79(1):19-26. Effect of sesame oil on diuretics or Beta-blockers in the modulation of blood pressure, anthropometry, lipid profile, and redox status.
Sankar D, Rao MR, Sambandam G, Pugalendi KV.

A recent study found that acupuncture significantly improved sinus allergies and congestion. If you have persistent sinus allergies or asthma you should definitely consider a course of acupuncture treatments. We have many cases of severe asthma and allergies that have resolved with acupuncture and herbs.
 
Med J Aust. 2007 Sep 17;187(6):337-41. Acupuncture for persistent allergic rhinitis: a randomised, sham-controlled trial. Xue CC, et al.

Folate is essential for normal cell growth. However, in animal models that already had pre-cancerous or cancerous lesions, folic acid made the cancers worse. In this study, researchers looked at the effects of high dose folic acid (100ng/ml) on colon cancer cells. They found that the cancer cells grew faster and had higher metabolic activity. They also found that folate seemed to lower iron metabolism and therefore lower the iron levels in the cells.
 
Ironically, folate has been used clinically in high doses to treat cervical dysplasia. We don’t yet know why megadoses seem to be good for treating some precancerous lesions and for promoting others.
 
So the bottom line is its probably not a good idea to supplement with high doses of folic acid unless you have a very good reason to do so.
 
Br J Nutr. 2007 Sep 10;:1-6 [Epub ahead of print]

High folic acid increases cell turnover and lowers differentiation and iron content in human HT29 colon cancer cells. Pellis L, et al.

Ok, this initial list was compiled by a patient . . . so all of you people on the anti-inflammatory diet send lots of good karma her way for sharing this. Suggestions for adding to the list can be made in comments.
 
Disclaimer #1: though technically wheat free, spelt is not gluten free, so if you have Celiac disease or some other gluten sensitivity, this list is not for you.
 
Disclaimer #2: If you are diabetic, hypoglycemic, etc. you still have to watch the sugar intake and carb load
 
Disclaimer #3: I have not looked at the ingredients on these items personally so read the labels and decide whether they are appropriate for you based on your particular condition.
 
Y’s wheat free food list:
 

1. rudy’s organic bakery - spelt ancient grain bread (whole foods)
2. rudy’s organic bakery - spelt bread (whole foods)
3. rudy’s organic bakery - whole spelt tortillas (whole foods)
4. rudy’s organic bakery - spelt hamburger buns (whole foods)
5. rudy’s organic bakery - spelt hot dog buns (whole foods)
6. trader joe’s spelt tortillas (trader joe’s)
7. frozen steel cut oatmeal — but there is brown sugar & maple syrup already added (trader joe’s)
8. mc cann’s - quick cooking irish oatmeal (whole foods and trader joe’s)
9. pocono - cream of buckwheat (whole foods)
10. arrowhead mills - gluten free all purpose baking mix (whole foods)
11. arrowhead mills - rice & shine hot cereal (whole foods)
12. pastariso - certified organic brown rice pasta — they have different types: linguini, elbow, etc. (whole foods)
13. sylvan border farm - wheat free general purpose flour (whole foods)

My experience with Black Cohosh in terms of menopausal symptoms has been inconsistent. Works for some, doesn’t for others. I have also used it with varying success on patients undergoing therapy with aromatase inhibitors, again with mixed results. It is, however, a great analgesic. This study at least should alleviate some fear for cancer patients who use it.
 
Black cohosh (Cimicifuga racemosa [L.] Nutt.): safety and efficacy for cancer patients.
Walji R, et al. Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Toronto
 
GOALS OF WORK: Black cohosh is commonly used to treat hot flashes and other symptoms associated with menopause. It is thought to have multiple mechanisms of action, including potential phytoestrogenic properties. This has caused some concern about its use by patients with hormone-sensitive cancer. This paper will present the results of a systematic review of the safety and efficacy of black cohosh (Cimicifuga racemosa [L.] Nutt.) in patients with cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A critical assessment of clinical (n = 5) and preclinical (n = 21) studies of black cohosh and cancer (breast and prostate) to treat hot flashes and other related symptoms is presented. In addition, clinical studies, case reports, animal studies, and in vitro assessments of the safety of black cohosh for patients with hormonally sensitive cancers is summarized and interpreted. MAIN RESULTS: In general, the research assessing efficacy of black cohosh for the treatment of hot flashes in women with breast cancer is inconclusive. There is laboratory evidence of antiproliferative properties but no confirmation from clinical studies for a protective role in cancer prevention. Black cohosh seems to have a relatively good safety profile. Concerns about liver toxicity are inconclusive. With relevance to cancer patients, black cohosh also seems not to exhibit phytoestrogenic activity and is in fact possibly an inhibitor of tumor growth. CONCLUSIONS: The use of black cohosh appears to be safe in breast cancer patients without risk for liver disease, although further research is needed in this and other populations.
PMID: 17602247 [PubMed - in process]

The current ahead of print journal of Circulation magazine has this convincing study on the blood thinning effects of Vitamin E. This is of interest not only to patients with cardiovascular disease, but also to cancer patients, who notably tend to have associated hypercoaguability disorders, and to fertility patients who test for factor V leiden or the MTHFR mutation
 
Effects of Random Allocation to Vitamin E Supplementation on the Occurrence of Venous Thromboembolism. Report From the Women’s Health Study
Robert J. Glynn PhD, ScD*, Paul M Ridker MD, Samuel Z. Goldhaber MD, Robert Y.L. Zee PhD, and Julie E. Buring ScD
 
From the Division of Preventive Medicine (R.J.G., P.M.R., R.Y.L.Z., J.E.B.), Center for Cardiovascular Disease Prevention (P.M.R.), and Division of Cardiovascular Medicine (P.M.R., S.Z.G.), Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Mass; and the Departments of Biostatistics (R.J.G.), and Epidemiology (J.E.B.), Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, Mass.
 

Background—Supplementation with vitamin E may antagonize vitamin K in healthy adults, but it is unclear whether intake of vitamin E decreases the risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE).
 
Methods and Results—The Women’s Health Study randomized 39 876 women 45 years of age to receive 600 IU of natural source vitamin E or placebo on alternate days. Before randomization, 26 779 participants gave blood samples, which were used to determine factor V Leiden, G20210A prothrombin, and 677C>T MTHFR polymorphisms. Documented VTE (including deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism) and unprovoked VTE (no recent surgery, trauma, or cancer diagnosis) were prospectively evaluated, secondary end points of the trial. During a median follow-up period of 10.2 years, VTE occurred in 482 women: 213 in the vitamin E group and 269 in the placebo group, a significant 21% hazard reduction (relative hazard, 0.79; 95% CI, 0.66 to 0.94; P=0.010). For unprovoked VTE, the hazard reduction was 27% (relative hazard, 0.73; 95% CI, 0.57 to 0.94; P=0.016). In subgroup analyses, the 3% of participants who reported VTE before randomization had a 44% hazard reduction (relative hazard, 0.56; 95% CI, 0.31 to 1.00; P=0.048), whereas women without prior VTE had an 18% hazard reduction (relative hazard 0.82; 95% CI, 0.68 to 0.99; P=0.040). Women with either factor V Leiden or the prothrombin mutation had a 49% hazard reduction associated with vitamin E treatment (relative hazard, 0.51; 95% CI, 0.30 to 0.87; P=0.014).

Conclusions—These data suggest that supplementation with vitamin E may reduce the risk of VTE in women, and those with a prior history or genetic predisposition may particularly benefit.

We’ve been preaching this for years in our talks and directly with our patients. The body is a delicate balance between pro-oxidants and antioxidants. There is an appropriate time for oxidation and an appropriate time to prevent oxidation. Knowing which to do is something that you should consult with a clinician about. They can run lab tests or perform a physical exam that can help determine which you need.
 
This recent study is more evidence of the damage that can be caused by the vitamins that many companies tout will improve male factor infertility. In this study, the antioxidants essentially created sperm that was not very functional but pretty…looks aren’t everything in the world of sperm either.
 
You could say that the antioxidants gave the sperm premature ejaculation, a process known as sperm decondensation. Because the genetic matierial is released too early, it is ineffective at inducing pregnancy.
 

Reprod Biomed Online. 2007 Apr;14(4):418-21. Links

Here is a link to a number of studies relating to acupuncture and infertility:
 
Fertility Research

In this study, pretreating prostate and skin cancer cells with ultrasound (20 kHz, 2 W cm-2, 60 s), then giving Quercetin (50 M) selectively induced cytotoxicity in skin and prostate cancer cells, while having minimal effect on corresponding normal cell lines. About 90% of the viable skin cancer cell population was lost within 48 h. Ultrasound reduced the LC50 of quercetin for skin cancer cells by almost 80-fold, while showing no effect on LC50 for nonmalignant skin cells.
 
In other words, ultrasound made Quercetin toxic to the cancer cells at a dose that is not toxic to normal cells.
 
British Journal of Cancer (2005) 92, 499-502.

A ten year comparison of organic versus conventional crop content found that the flavonoid levels in organic tomatoes were almost double that of conventional tomatoes. One of the flavonoids studied was quercetin which has strong anti-cancerous properties and can help with allergies and numerous other conditions.
 
J Agric Food Chem. 2007 Jul 25;55(15):6154-9. Epub 2007 Jun 23. Links