Breast Cancer & Your Lifestyle
Reminders that Make a Difference
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October is the National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. It is a great way to remind ourselves of risk, options to deal with this diseases under grim circumstances, connect with others who have dealt or are dealing with it, and be acutely aware of our own lifestyle.
I have invited Lisa Turner, one of the best in her expertise are on intuitive eating, to share her perspective on Breast Cancer – or any cancer – and how she herself views this disease under the prism of her knowledge base and all she is learning on the daily basis.
We are here to learn and reflect on what we learn, and apply it to our own circumstances to the best of our intuitive selves.
Cancer is the leading cause of death in the United States, and more than 600,000 deaths from cancer are projected to occur in the US in 2017. Of those, breast cancer is one of the most prevalent types, and an estimated one in eight women will, at some point in their lives, develop breast cancer.
Though the statistics are grim, the good news is, an estimated 90 to 95 percent of cancers are preventable through diet and lifestyle. Some ways to reduce your risk:
• Emphasize Fruits and Vegetables
• Be Mostly Vegan
• Weight Management
• Exercise Routine
• Supplements
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It’s already been an intense month. Lots of stories, lots of sharing on the personal level what a person endures when going through the breast cancer, or any cancer, diagnosis.
What we can do is to be aware of the risks and lifestyle that can make a huge difference in our well-being and early diagnosis.
I believe in a strong community that has emotional support and the warmth of hearts and souls.
Today, let’s dive into some things we’ve heard about breast cancer. However, these will be one person’s perspective, meaning, she brings her expertise and personal experience in to a general knowledge on the subject.
LISA TURNER IS OUR GUEST FOR AM COFFEE TODAY. PLEASE WELCOME AND ENGAGE WITH HER. SHE IS A GEM.
So happy to see you today here! Come over when you can. AM Coffee is for early birds and not-so, too! It is open all-day-long, as we do have different schedules we live with.
Stay with us every morning, win prizes, but mostly, make awesome friends!
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Good MOrning LIsa!! Happy MOnday!!!
Hello. My Auntie was diagnosed a year ago. It has been a long journey but as of right now she is cancer free. She has made extreme changes to her diet.
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Done. I loved seeing the firsts posts I have ever contributed to. Exciting.
EMPHASIZE FRUITS & VEGETABLES
Fruits and vegetables are packed with fiber, cancer-protective nutrients, and thousands of phytochemicals, many of which have powerful anti-properties. They also include compounds that reduce inflammation, a key driver of cancer.
The best choices for cancer prevention include:
– cruciferous vegetables (broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, kale, Brussels sprouts, arugula, radishes)
– leafy greens (collards, chard, spinach, arugula, cabbage, beet greens, turnip greens, kale, lettuce)
– yellow-orange fruits and vegetables (sweet potatoes, carrots, pumpkin, mangoes, butternut squash, peaches, papaya)
– red and purple fruits and vegetables (beets, cherries, pomegranates, tomatoes, red peppers, watermelon, red grapes, blueberries, blackberries)
– alliums (red, yellow and white onions, chives, garlic, leeks, scallions, shallots)
I think we all need to go back to basics and get back to eating off the land! Seems to be that answer to many of the battles we face daily
Wendi,
Yes to Back to Basics.
Only right now, we have such a “pollution” of the GMO crops that going back to basics needs to be radical to the core.
But we should do it for the sake of our planet and the survival of the genome.
Fresh is best. I’m sad the summer season is leaving us just because we won’t have access to all these locally grown produce.
What About VEGAN?
Plant protein, like beans and legumes, contain compounds that inhibit tumor growth and cause cancer cell death, and have been shown to reduce breast cancer risk.
Meat, on the other hand, has been linked with increased risk of cancer.
Grilled, broiled and fried red meat are the worst; exposing red meat to high temperatures creates a chemical reaction that forms heterocyclic amines (HCAs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) which are known carcinogens.
Chicken and poultry also form HCAs when cooked at high temperatures. And processed meats (hot dogs, salami, ham, bacon and sausage) contain nitrites; bacteria in your GI tract turn nitrites into nitrosamines, a potent class of carcinogens.
Eat meat sparingly: limit red meat to 18 ounces per week, and avoid processed, grilled or charred meat.
Fish is a better choice: population studies link higher fish consumption with lower breast cancer rates, and omega 3-fats in fish reduce inflammation.
And sadly I will never be able to go Vegan…and sadly Im not a big fish eater! But I am a huge veggie and salad eater!
Wendi,
What you do is already a huge plus – eating a lot of vegetables and including fruit in your daily diet. That balancing does make a huge difference.
Just keep going.
I wish I liked sea food. I never cook it for my family because I cannot stand the smell. Most of the meat we eat is very small portions though.
Other DIETARY FACTORS
To decrease cancer risk, increase your intake of tea, especially green tea. It’s rich in antioxidants that protect against breast and other cancers.
Also, increasing your use of anti-inflammatory cooking herbs and spices, especially rosemary, sage, curry, ginger, cayenne, cinnamon and cloves, can significantly reduce your risk of breast cancer.
Low-fat yogurt is protective in several ways: calcium and vitamin D reduce cancer risk, and probiotics in fermented foods decrease the body’s exposure to ingested carcinogens, inhibit tumor growth and support immune function.
Sugar and refined carbs may increase tumor growth and cancer proliferation; high blood sugar also leads to insulin resistance and weight gain, which are associated with inflammation.
By contrast, healthy carbohydrate-containing foods like legumes, non-starchy vegetables, fruits and whole grains were collectively associated with a 67 percent lower risk for breast cancer.
Avoid drinking alcohol; it irritates tissues, and damaged cells may try to repair themselves, leading to DNA changes. Even a few drinks a week is linked with an increased risk of breast cancer in women. Drink very sparingly, if at all.
I love cooking with fresh herbs. I want to start an indoor herb garden.
More Thought On Our Weight
Most studies agree: being overweight is a significant risk factor in breast cancer and other cancers, for several reasons.
First, excess fat produces hormones and growth factors that can raise the risk of cancer, especially hormonal cancers like breast cancer.
Inflammation, which increases cancer risk, is also more common in people who are overweight.
In addition, obesity is linked with high insulin, which promotes cancer; abdominal or belly fat is especially dangerous and is linked with increased risk of most cancers.
Check Out Our Amazing AM Coffee Discussions On:
1. Inflammation Concept
2. Fighting Body Inflammation with Foods
3. Inflammation And What Its Manifestation In Our Bodies
i love red grapes we eat them weekly!! better than candy better than any snack!!! And I must say I am lucky that I am very aware of my weight I hate to even think i have grown out of a pair of jeans u always start eating better!
Hi Wendi,
Yes, our clothes are very good and kind leash to make us more aware of what’s going on.
And if we respond to it – we are better off.
Yes, RED grapes are the best, as they contain the most amount of anti-inflammatory phytochemicals.
I’ve been struggling with my weight ever since my son was born 5 years ago. My body completely changed and I have never been able to catch up. I just started “renting” work out/yoga DVDs from my local library.
Should I Bother About Exercise?
You Bet, You Should!
A sedentary lifestyle is associated with increased risk of 13 specific cancers, including breast cancer, and exercise has been shown to lower cancer risk by controlling weight, balancing hormones, reducing insulin and lowering inflammation.
Research shows women who were inactive early in life but became active after menopause had a 40 percent decreased risk of breast cancer.
The American Institute of Cancer Research recommends being active every day for at least 30 minutes.
I have a hard time with this sometimes on days when I am not feeling well. I take it one day at a time.
Stories We Celebrate This Month
I would love you to check out this story about a Woman and A Ring.
All dedicated to Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
What a beautiful story behind a beautiful ring.
I LOVED THIS!!!!!
WENDI,
I thought you would!
SUPPLEMENTS
There are dozens of supplements that claim to prevent cancer. Some of the best-researched include:
– CBD (cannabidiol), a non-psychoactive compound found in them hemp plant, is one of the most powerful anti-cancer compounds available. CBD is made from a type of hemp that’s very low in TCH (tetrahydrocannabinol), the component that’s responsible for marijuana’s mood-altering effects. Many varieties of CBD are 0.0 percent THC-free, and are safe enough for children. Studies have shown CBD reduces breast cancer cell proliferation, invasion and metastasis, slows tumor growth, and includes apoptosis—cellular suicide—in cancer cells. It’s important to choose the right kind: water-soluble, full-spectrum CBD extracts have been shown to be most effective.
Other well-researched cancer-protective supplements include:
– Boswellia, an anti-inflammatory Ayurvedic herb, can inhibit the growth and metastasis of cancer
– Glutathione, a sulfur-containing compound, protects the cells and mitochondria from oxidative damage, which can lead to cancer
– Oligomeric proanthocyanidins (OPCs), natural antioxidants a found in plants, inhibit cancer cell proliferation and induce apoptosis, or cancer cell death
– Curcumin, the active component in turmeric, is a powerful anti-inflammatory that reduces cancer risk
– Cordyceps, a type of mushroom or fungus, has been shown to boost immunity and kill cancer cells
I strongly believe in CBD. I wish it was more accepted by people. They see THC and instantly think weed or pot. Not the same at all.
October is a powerful month. I’m glad we are focusing on this topic. Thank you.