The Science

Preamble

This all started last October in 2015. I was still really, really tired from the chemo. At this point, I’d finished two years of chemo. I was 6 months post chemo, still very tired, and heading into winter. I wasn’t in a good head space.

I was not quite desperate, but I _really_, really wanted to just be normal again. Also, read that cancer ages you by 7-10 years. That kind of felt right to me. I felt like when I recovered, I’d have the body of someone 10 years my senior. So, I started reading. I started with how your body kills cancer cells. This is mostly because I didn’t want a relapse.

The article I wrote

Overview

Eight months post chemo, I wasn't in a happy place. I was coming to terms with the fact that chemo had aged me around 10 years. It was…

How our body kills cancer cells

Initially, I thought all cancer started with a mutation in the p53 gene. The p53 gene is one of the genes associated with checking the integrity of a…

Free Radicals

Basically, most DNA damage is caused by free radicals. Free radical are things that have an affinity for electrons. The redox potential is basically the amount of energy…

How vegetables defend themselves

I'd basically written off diet as "not that important". I'd tried all sorts of diet ideas over the last few years. But, nothing had really worked at all.…

A way to create a mis-match of dna damage vs repair

I became a little interested once I realized that ginger has significant amounts of phytochemicals that generate free radicals. However, in this instance, the primary reaction has a…

My little experiment on myself

At this point, I was intrigued. I don't really like vegetables. So, I wanted to figure out which ones are best, and then just east those ones. I…

My experiment on myself

I knew my wife (Monica) would never let me do this. Monica is a dentist and travels to remote villages in Alaska to do dentistry. I waited until…

My trip to the hospital

Long story short. I didn't have a relapse. But, the stress had caused my platelet levels to jump up to 60. After a incredibly stressful day, they took…

Epigenetics

** Note: After I tried my experiment, I realized that the effects of the ginger would theoretically last a long time. You can see some results in the…

Phenol content of foods

I was always told to "eat your vegetables". I wanted to know if broccoli was better then carrots. Also if broccoli was better then carrot, I wanted to…

Results from my N=1 experiment --1

All's good. I ran the numbers, and it looks like I'm seeing very predictable increase in my platelet count of 85-92% increase every 3 months. I was aware…

Research studies on phenols, cancer and gene expression

Any model we use to understand a biological system is simplistic, and not correct. As such, I wanted to start this section with actual results. I looked at…

Skin

Skin, the body's largest organ, serves as a protective barrier against external elements, pathogens, and UV radiation. Its complex structure includes layers of epidermis, dermis, and subcutaneous tissue, harboring sensory receptors, sweat glands, and hair follicles.

Athletics

Athletics encompasses a variety of competitive physical activities, emphasizing strength, speed, agility, and endurance. Participants engage in sports such as track and field, swimming, and gymnastics, aiming for peak performance and achievement.

Pain / Arthritis / Inflammation

Pain, arthritis, and inflammation are interconnected conditions affecting the body's musculoskeletal system and overall well-being.

Cancer

Cancer is a complex group of diseases characterized by the uncontrolled growth and spread of abnormal cells in the body. It can affect virtually any tissue or organ, disrupting normal bodily functions and potentially leading to life-threatening complications.

Health, Longevity and Metabolism

Health, longevity, and metabolism are interconnected aspects of overall well-being and vitality. Health encompasses physical, mental, and social dimensions, emphasizing the absence of disease and the presence of optimal function.

Conclusion

In a nutshell, it seems that eating ginger will kick your repair systems into overdrive. It also causes cancer cells to commit suicide. These conclusions appear to be well documented in scientific literature. What is not well documented is the effects of excessive ginger consumption which is what I did here.

It seems like a really good thing to consume in significant amounts. For cancer patients, it could be an excellent adjunct therapy. I would just monitor platelet levels daily. I do feel that “more is generally better”, but not to the point where you start seeing precipitous and potentially life threatening drops in platelet counts. In my experience, the primary negative side effect has been fatigue. Fatigue is present when platelet levels fall below 80, and becomes very significant when they are below 50.