Immune Health

Protect and Strengthen Bone Marrow to Prevent a Deadly Cancer

Leukemia, one of the top 10 blood cancers in the United States, is an abnormality of bone marrow stem cells.
Acute lymphoblastic leukemia, bone marrow smear. Kateryna Kon/Shutterstock
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This is part 11 in The Miraculous Immune System

In this series, we’ll explore the true power of our immunity, the organs that work tirelessly to protect us. We’ll also provide practical ways to protect these vital gifts from the divine.

Leukemia, one of the top 10 blood cancers in the United States, is an abnormality of bone marrow stem cells.

Bone marrow is vulnerable to a variety of harmful factors and lifestyles. We will delve into these conditions and explore measures to keep this crucial cellular workshop healthy.

A Prevalent and Deadly Cancer

Nora Ephron, the famous director, screenwriter, and producer, delighted millions with romantic comedies such as “When Harry Met Sally ...,” “You’ve Got Mail,” and “Sleepless in Seattle.”
Ephron died in 2012 after keeping her acute myeloid leukemia diagnosis secret for six years, for fear it would interrupt her career. Her memorial service at Lincoln Center was attended by an A-list crowd of mourners that included Meryl Streep, Tom Hanks, Steven Spielberg, Martin Scorsese, and many more.
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Few victims of leukemia, commonly known as blood cancer, get such a send-off. Leukemia accounts for about 3 percent of all newly diagnosed cancer cases and nearly 4 percent of all cancer deaths, making it the 10th most prevalent cancer in the United States.
Based on earlier reported data, the American Cancer Society projects 59,610 new leukemia cases and 23,710 deaths in 2023.

Stem cells constantly divide in the bone marrow to replenish numerous blood cells. Many factors from the internal or external environment can lead to mutations of stem cells, causing them to grow abnormally and divide too rapidly. The resulting cancerous cells can outnumber the healthy cells in the blood.

Because of this, leukemia patients might bleed or bruise because of a lack of properly functioning platelets, or they might fatigue very quickly for lack of normal red blood cells. They also become highly susceptible to infection because of a lack of normal white blood cells.

Protect and Strengthen Bone Marrow Function

There are various factors associated with increased risk of different subtypes of leukemia. Avoiding them and taking other measures helps maintain healthy bone marrow.

Avoid Toxic Chemicals

Benzene exposure is a known risk factor for leukemia. Unfortunately, this chemical is used in abundance in products ranging from clothing to plastics. It’s added to so many other chemicals that it ends up as a frequent contaminant in cosmetic products.
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Easier to avoid is Azathioprine, an immunosuppressive medication that has also been linked to bone marrow toxicity.
Exposure to chemotherapy such as alkylating agents and topoisomerase II inhibitors can increase the risk of leukemia.

Avoid Electromagnetic Radiation

When a cell divides, cellular DNA needs to be duplicated and split. A group of Russian geneticists and linguists, led by Peter Garyaev, conducted scientific studies that demonstrated that DNA possesses a unique capability to attract photons to travel along the helical structure of the DNA molecule.

This suggests DNA is not only a biological molecule but also an energy-carrying molecule.

Exposure to ionizing radiation, including X-rays, is particularly harmful to the DNA of bone marrow cells, increasing the risk of leukemia.
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Medical radiation therapy for cancer patients increases the risk of a subsequent second type of leukemia.
A study conducted on a cohort of 308,297 radiation-monitored workers from France, the United States, and the United Kingdom revealed significant evidence linking protracted low-dose radiation exposure to various types of leukemia with an increased risk of mortality.
Results of a case-control study in Italy suggest an excess risk of leukemia among children exposed to magnetic fields from power lines.

Avoid Viral Infections

Certain viral infections, such as the human T-cell leukemia virus and Epstein-Barr virus, are associated with specific subtypes of acute lymphoblastic leukemia.
Human immunodeficiency virus, the virus that causes AIDS, can also affect bone marrow, causing a chronic state of inflammation and immune activation, which can exhaust the bone marrow’s ability to produce new blood cells.

Avoid a High-Fat Diet and Obesity

For a long time, bone marrow fat (BMF) was considered insignificant and was overlooked in its contribution to organism development and disease.
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However, recent research has shed light on the significant effects of BMF on health. Accumulation of BMF is now associated with conditions such as osteoporosis, Type 1 diabetes, Cushing’s disease, estrogen deficiency, anorexia nervosa, and bone metastasis in prostate and breast cancers.

Bone marrow is also an early and sensitive responder to changes in diet, particularly the fat content.

In a recent animal study, a high-fat diet induced a state of low-grade inflammation affecting not just the fat cells in adipose tissue, but also the bone marrow.

This is mediated by a particular subset of white blood cells, which are particularly inflammatory and aggressive. These cells migrate to adipose tissue, triggering inflammation before pro-inflammatory macrophages increase.

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Bone marrow fat cells release substances that enhance the production of more fat cells, creating a self-perpetuating cycle of inflammation.

This indicates that bone marrow plays an important role in diet-induced inflammation and associated diseases.

Take Vitamins, Minerals, and Antioxidants

When the bone marrow is healthy and has the necessary raw materials, such as iron, folate, and vitamin B12, it can respond quickly to increased demands.
A whole food diet rich in nutrients can enhance the health of bone marrow. The following vitamins and minerals are particularly critical for bone marrow health:
  • Vitamin A is essential for the production and function of many types of cells in bone marrow and for supporting immunity.
  • Vitamin B12 and folic acid are involved in DNA synthesis and repair and are critical for producing red blood cells in the bone marrow.
  • Vitamin D and calcium work together to maintain the health of bones and teeth and support the function of bone marrow cells.
  • Iron is required to produce hemoglobin, a component of red blood cells in the bone marrow.
  • Zinc supports immune function, which is closely related to the process of cellular production in the bone marrow.
Additionally, antioxidants can help reduce bone marrow oxidative stress. Eating foods rich in antioxidants, such as berries, nuts, and chocolate, can reduce oxidative damage to bone marrow and can help offset radiation exposure. 

Get Regular Exercise

Unsurprisingly, exercise is one of the best ways to foster healthy bone marrow. Exercise can increase the number of bone marrow stem cells, increasing blood formation and tissue and organ rejuvenation.

Control Stress

Chronic stress takes a toll on overall health. A study published in Nature Medicine revealed a fascinating connection among stress, bone marrow, and the risk of heart disease.

The study found that psychosocial stress overstimulates bone marrow stem cells, which then produce excessive amounts of inflammatory cells such as neutrophils and monocytes. These cells flood the bloodstream and accumulate in the arteries, heightening the risk of heart attack or stroke.

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Another study of patients with relapsed or refractory chronic lymphocytic leukemia found that stress is related to immune and inflammatory processes that contribute to a rapid increase in cancer cells.

Be Mindful and Positive

Because the mind and body are interconnected at the cellular, molecular, and energetic levels, being mindful can have a profound effect on health.
Nearly 70 percent of patients with hematological cancer, including lymphoma, multiple myeloma, and leukemia, reported fatigue in a randomized controlled trial. After only a single session of 30-minute mindful breathing, the patients reported a significant reduction in fatigue, including difficulty initiating or finishing work, feeling washed out, and frustration.
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Leukemia can take a toll on physical and emotional health. Practicing gratitude every day has been shown to have a significant effect on health and well-being.
How to Protect and Strengthen Your Bone Marrow Function. (The Epoch Times)
How to Protect and Strengthen Your Bone Marrow Function. The Epoch Times
The final part of our series will summarize the remarkable features of the miraculous immune system shielding the body from harmful invaders and providing lifelong protection.

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