aspirations. They reconnect with authenticity to their feelings and values and decide to live them.
4. They deepen and bring honesty to their relationships with oth- ers.
5. A compete re-assessment of their lives is undertaken. They are willing to change. This often includes diet, lifestyle, career, goals and relationships.
6. Radical changes in diet have been closely associated with spontaneous remission. These changes usually include decreas- ing processed, refined foods and consuming more fruits and vegetables.
7. They take vitamins and supplements to help support their im- mune system.
8. They slow down, taking time to relax and fully enjoy the gift of life. Often, prayer or meditation becomes a regular practice.
9. They become in tune with their body and ‘listen’ for cues relat- ing to energy, emotions and body signals that are a part of daily life.
10. They rejoin social networks and experience the joy of being of service to others. Through their own healing, they help to heal others.
I am not a medical doctor, and I know very little about sur-
gery, medication, radiation and emergency care. These treatments are invaluable when needed. We have the best medical system in the world when it comes to acute care. You must always work with your healthcare provider when making any medical decisions about your cancer diagnosis and care.
What is missing from traditional medicine is the inclusion of the foundational pillars of health: nutrition, exercise, sleep, stress management and detoxification. Hopefully, this is changing as many of us demand a different approach to our healthcare. The “pill for every ill” mentality is not working for us. We are sicker and more depressed than ever, and the medications with all their lethal side effects are only making things worse. “Let food be thy medicine” first and foremost.
Do you really want to make a difference in your health and
recovery? Here’s what the integrative experts are recommending to help you get started:
• Check your Vitamin D level. The research on vitamin D is indisputable. Women with vitamin D deficiency have a much higher risk of breast cancer. In a recent USC study, women deficient in vitamin D were eight times more susceptible to malignant cancer than women with higher levels. The active form of vitamin D (D3) has been shown to inhibit the growth of breast cancer cells. The optimal level is 50-70ng/ml and even higher for treatment of serious disease. The best way to elevate your level is through safe sun exposure and supplementing. Always check with you doctor regarding vitamin D and get yours tested today.
• Minimize sugar and refined carbohydrates. Cancer cells thrive on sugar and refined grains including pasta, bread, cakes, muf- fins, crackers and cereals. Much research has been done on the correlation between blood glucose and insulin levels and tumor growth. It is important to decrease the glycemic load of your meals by limiting processed foods and especially anything containing high fructose corn syrup. Eat whole foods with fiber, good fats and protein.
• Eat your vegetables. We need at least 8-10 servings a day or more if we are on a healing diet. Cruciferous vegetables have been identified as having particularly potent anti-cancer properties. In one study, women consuming at least 2 servings a day of crucifers had a 40% drop in their risk of developing breast cancer. To get you started, try adding broccoli sprouts to your salads and sandwiches, as they contain up to 50 times the sulforaphane (a powerful detoxifier and cancer killing agent) found in the mature plant. Think kale, watercress, cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli and parsley.
• Enjoy berries. Most berries are exceptionally high in polyphe- nols. Berries possess anticancer properties which have been found to counter the growth of tumor cells. Berries are high in fiber and low in sugar. Best of all, they are delicious.
• Eat healthy fats and protein. Include quality protein in every meal to get an abundance of healthy fats, which are essential for building every cell membrane in your body. Try wild caught salmon, organic eggs, grass fed beef and nuts, like almonds and walnuts. Use coconut oil or grass fed butter to cook and bake with and olive oil for dressings.
• Spice it up. There is more and more research connecting the amazing medicinal properties of natural spice compounds and cancer/disease prevention. Two powerful anti-cancer spices include turmeric and black pepper spices. Turmeric, revered in India as the “holy powder,” has been found to have an aston- ishing array of antioxidant, anti-cancer, antibiotic and antiviral properties.
• Drink green tea. Unlike black tea, green tea contains large amounts of catechins, which are compounds that boast many cancer fighting properties. Japanese tea steeped for 8-10 min- utes is the richest source of these compounds.
• Get adequate sleep, ideally 7-9 hours a night in a dark room. Lack of sleep is associated with weight gain and an increased risk of disease. Sleeping in a dark room ensures adequate pro- duction of the hormone melatonin, which reduces the risk of breast cancer. Quality sleep gives your body the time it needs to repair, rest and heal.
• Avoid toxic body care products. These chemicals are absorbed straight into your blood. If you can’t eat them you probably shouldn’t be rubbing them into your skin.
• De-stress. Chronic stress takes a serious toll on your body and keeps cortisol elevated. When cortisol is chronically elevated, your risk for breast cancer is significantly increased. Treat yourself to a relaxing massage or maybe a yoga class. Learn to meditate. Yoga and meditation improve mood and decrease stress by increasing the levels of GABA, an antidepressant neurotransmitter, in the brain.
22 Essential Living Maine ~ September/October 2016
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