A World Free of Cancer
Written with Ann Arbor Holistic Health Practitioner, Pauline Hoang, ND
Dr. Pauline is a Naturopathic Physician with a B.S. in biological science and advanced training in both functional and Chinese health practices. She has worked across North America alongside top practitioners, creating personalized wellness plans for complex health concerns.
Discover how nutrition, stress, and lifestyle choices influence what causes cancer and explore holistic steps for prevention.
What causes cancer?
When most people ask, “What is cancer?”, they’re often searching for a simple, one-line answer. But cancer is more than a single event. It’s the result of a complex process that builds over time, often influenced by daily choices.
As Pauline Hoang, ND, an Ann Arbor Holistic Health practitioner, explained, “Nutrition and lifestyle definitely have a big part in the development of cancer.” She went on to emphasize that what causes cancer isn’t always a sudden trigger. “Oftentimes I tell clients that it’s not a one-time incident that ignited the start of cancer. It’s a cumulative effect over years and years of lifestyle choices that have gotten them there.”
Different Approaches to Cancer
Conventional medicine and holistic perspectives often take different routes. “Conventional treatment for cancer focuses on killing the cancer,” said Pauline Hoang, ND. “Whereas with holistic methods, it really focuses on supporting the immune system so that the immune system can sense the cancer and kill it off, but also support the immune system in a sense that the client is also able to heal.”
This shift in focus highlights a key difference: rather than seeing cancer only as something to attack, a holistic view also considers the body’s natural defense systems and how to strengthen them.
The Role of Stress and Movement
Stress may seem like an emotional state, but it can have powerful physical consequences. “The stress process is a part of every chronic disease, especially cancer,” explained Pauline Hoang, ND.
She added, “Every time someone is stressed, the stress response has an impact on every single organ system in the body. Imagine that over years and years. It really taxes the body and weakens the immune system, which allows for cancer to be a little bit more likely.”
Simple steps like movement, relaxation, and stress management can be powerful tools to lower long-term risk.
Natural Support for Cancer
When asked what one step anyone can take to reduce cancer risk, Pauline Hoang, ND emphasized the importance of syncing with natural rhythms. “I would say try to follow the circadian rhythm as closely as possible. Oftentimes we don’t wake up with the sun. The first thing we grab for when we wake up is the phone. That’s interruption to the circadian rhythm in terms of how your hormones are being released during the day. That affects your digestion, your sleep, and all those foundational pieces contribute to the risk of cancer development.”
The conversation about what causes cancer is never simple. Nutrition, lifestyle, stress, and sleep all play a role, and understanding these factors can help you take meaningful steps toward prevention.
To dive even deeper into the topic, keep reading the article below from Ann Arbor Holistic Health founder, Gary Merel, who shares his perspective on cancer, resilience, and what it means to build lasting health.
A World Free of Cancer
Most of us, in one way or another, have been impacted by the horrifying consequences of cancer. We all dream of a world without cancer. We all dream of the day when the cure to cancer will be found, in hopes that it will never again have the power to ruthlessly take the lives of our loved ones. But, what if I told you this world already exists?
The Hunza people live in a world free of cancer. “How?” you may ask. But the right question is “what”. What is the key to “curing” the ruthless disease? Experts have found that the secret to their world is actually quite simple, their nutrition and lifestyle.
Let’s begin with the question, who are the Hunzas? They are a small population of 30,000 who live in the Himalayas located at the ultimate northern point of India where the borders of India, China, Kashmir, and Afghanistan meet.
An important aspect to note about the health of these people without cancer is that in addition to the absence of disease, they’re energetic, enthusiastic, and peaceful all at the same time. Moreover, unlike the average 70-year lifespan of a Westerner, some sources say the Hunzas’ average age is 120 years. Their exceptional longevity allows the Hunza to do things that Westerners can not after a certain age. For example, it’s typical for a 90-year-old Hunza man to become a father.
So, what about their nutrition and lifestyle allows the Hunza to live for so long and disease (more specifically cancer) free? Well, many of you may have heard the phrase, “the food you eat is the best medicine”. A large portion of the Hunza diet consists of grains such as millet, wheat, buckwheat, and barley. They also eat fruits and vegetables (potatoes, peas, spinach, string beans, apples, cherries, pears, etc.) which for the most are eaten fresh and raw. Particularly, they enjoy apricot seeds, which are believed to support cancer. Additionally, the Hunza diet includes milk and cheese, and although minimally – only about once a week – the Hunzas also eat meat. Another staple to their meals includes yogurt, which is proven to be very advantageous for the human body, and nuts such as walnuts, almonds, hazelnuts, etc. Often, nuts served with fruit or in salads make up a meal.
Now, you may be asking yourself, what is the difference between their diet and mine? I eat grains, fruits, vegetables, yogurt, nuts, meat (although in bigger proportions), etc. One part of the difference is their special bread – eaten with every meal – called “chapatti.” Believed to be the secret behind the Hunza people’s ability to reproduce at 90, this special bread consists of all the essential elements. Unlike the refined flour, which means the germs have been removed, sold at Western stores, the flour used by the Hunza people is whole. One specific aspect of the nutrition of the germ of grains to be noted is the Vitamin E content, which is known to play an important role in maintaining sexual activity.
It’s worth noting that the study referenced was conducted long before many toxins, pesticides, and genetically modified crops were introduced, not just globally, but especially in regions like Hunza. Modern farming practices have dramatically changed the quality of wheat, and many experts point to these factors as key drivers behind the way gluten has been altered. That’s why you’ll often see us take a cautious stance on gluten. Even heirloom wheat varieties, which sound promising on the surface, are still impacted by today’s environment. Wind, cross-pollination, and changes in soil quality make it nearly impossible to protect any grain from the ripple effects of modern agriculture.
Another part of the difference between our diet and the Hunza diet is their “frugality” which is largely due to the harsh climate and the lack of farming land. The Hunzas only eat twice a day and mainly eat to maintain their health rather than for pleasure. Therefore, their food is made with no chemical additives and is completely natural. Additionally, the Hunza fast for about two to three months a year, meaning they only drink dried apricot juice during this time.
We must also examine the lifestyle of the Hunza people. For starters, a really interesting aspect of their lifestyle are their showers in cold water even when it’s 10 degrees below zero. Moreover, despite spending a large part of their day working outside in the fields, the Hunza people devote a considerable amount of time every day to exercise. They take walks regularly and practice basic yoga techniques, especially yogic breathing.
Additionally, unlike Westerners who are under constant stress, the Hunzas focus greatly on relaxation. They work at a slow and steady pace, and regularly take short breaks during which they practice their daily meditation to remain at a constant state of relaxation. Although these meditation sessions only last a few minutes, they’re proven to be astonishingly effective in energy restoration.
For specifics on how to change your lifestyle and diet to be healthier or to schedule a free consultation and evaluation, please contact Ann Arbor Holistic Health at 734-821-2767.
