Tag: breast cancer prevention

I mustache you a question… let’s talk prostate prevention!

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movember[Photo Credit: AussieGall]

The famous Movember movement is upon us and I really do love how much awareness this has created for men’s health over the last several years. Based on a little research I did from the Movember official website, they state that prostate cancer is the third leading cause of death in men in Canada, and 1 in 8 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime. That is a pretty high statistic if you ask me! Too high of a number for us to not do anything about it.

Since it’s prostate cancer awareness month, let’s really dig into prevention. That’s what we aim for right? Disease and illness is not something we need to be faced with, so creating awareness and living as healthy as possible is vital for overall health. I absolutely love and am passionate about holistic medicine because it’s practices are rooted in prevention! How empowering is that? To know you have the power to prevent a potential illness based on your decisions today. I know that is a scary concept for some, but that’s really what holistic nutrition is all about!

So, let’s talk prostate cancer prevention…

There is so much convincing evidence on the role of diet in prostate cancer that Dr. William Fair and colleague from Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Centre went so far to suggest that prostate cancer may be a nutritional disease. Wow! A nutritional disease that can be prevented if we put a bit of effort into what we choose to consume most of the time. Remember, it’s what we do most of the time, not ALL of the time. I too have my days, but it’s important to not beat yourself up over it and simply commit to choosing the healthiest options MOST of the time.

So gentlemen (and loving wives, girlfriends, partners and daughters), here are 8 tips to live a healthy lifestyle and reduce your risk of prostate cancer:

  1. Increase intake of omega-3 fatty acids- wild caught fish, hemp seeds, chia, quality fish oil supplement
  2. Increase intake of isothiocyanates from vegetables in the brassica family – such as broccoli, cauliflower, brussel sprouts, chard
  3. Increase intake of grape seed extract or other sources of proanthocyanidins – grape see extract is a great anti bacterial and strengthens immunity
  4. Increase intake of green tea polyphenols – simple, just drink some green tea!
  5. Introduce more Mediterranean-style foods – such as wild caught fish, fresh fruits and vegetables, quality olive oil, lots of herbs and spices
  6. Increase intake of lycopene rich foods – easy! Enjoy some delicious tomatoes
  7. Eliminate or reduce intake of processed, grilled or broiled meats – unfortunately charred meats can increase cancer risk
  8. Eliminate or reduce intake of dairy products – unless you can get your hands on organic raw sources, go for it. Otherwise, most dairy today is loaded with antibiotics and hormones, so it’s best we avoid it. 

 If you have an important male in your life, share this short blog with them and maybe it will inspire them to practice prevention instead of reaction. I truly believe if we put as much effort, time and resources into prevention as we do with finding a cure, those statistics mentioned earlier would be a heck of a lot lower!

Check out our delicious Prostate Cancer Prevention Tomato Sauce recipe with mushrooms and swiss chard! It’s easy to make and loaded with cancer protective nutrients. 

If you would like more detailed information on prostate cancer and further tips for cancer prevention, check out The Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine by Michael T. Murray N.D and Joseph Pizzorio N.D.

 

Happy Movember! 

Stephanie xo

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Pink M&M’s, Football & Estee Lauder – Are They Really Preventing Breast Cancer?

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Pink is everywhere this month. 

From toxic pink coloured M&M’s, to football jerseys, and carcinogenic Estee Lauder make up, Breast Cancer Awareness Month is really giving the push to buy more products. 

But what do these products (with their toxins and all) really have to do with preventing Breast Cancer? 

More importantly, with more than $200 million dollars raised in 2013 for Breast Cancer Awareness, where is all the new research, progress and breakthroughs?

I have a lot of mixed feelings when it comes to different cancer organizations, as I find that at the root of it all, big pharma and marketing companies are really the ones cashing in. Not to mention, not-for-profit CEO’s that have overflowing pockets and salaries in the $600,000 mark! 

Awareness is vital! But more importantly, prevention is where our dollar needs to go. I don’t need to chew on M&M’s, watch a football game and smear on blush to show my support for Breast Cancer Survivors and women currently undergoing treatment. 

Collectively we need to come together, and as individuals, we need to empower ourselves with the right information, ask the right questions and seek out alternatives if we want to find effective solutions for preventing, treating and supporting breast cancer and any other disease for that matter. 

In the past 40 years, and with billions of dollars in funding annually, treatments have barely improved and survival rates are no better. Thirty years ago the World Health Organization declared that up to 90% of all cancers are caused by pesticides, radiation, and other toxic chemicals in our environment. 

Hold on. Let me repeat that…

Thirty years ago the World Health Organization declared that up to 90% of all cancers are caused by pesticides, radiation, and other toxic chemicals in our environment. 

Global production of man-made chemicals increased from 1 million to 400 million tonnes between 1930 and 2000, each year! And these chemicals are deemed as posing no “unreasonable” risk of harm?

If we want to talk about addressing a “cure,” then let’s address the known carcinogenic (cancer causing) chemicals that are lurking in our environment. 

Let’s ask our government to take action against the pesticides, herbicides, and chemicals sprayed on our food.

To ban the sulfates, parabens, sodium benzoate, PEG, FD&C colors and pigments, alcohols, urea and fragrances in our personal care products..

To request that all patients, suffering with cancer or any disease, work in conjunction with allopathic and naturopathic medicine, so that an all encompassing protocol and treatment can be designed to truly heal and support people. 

Let’s reduce our exposure to BPA plastics and water bottles that are disrupting our endocrine (hormone) system which can increase our risks for hormone dependant cancers such as breast, prostate and testicular cancer. 

Let’s demand that organic food be accessible to everyone and cost effective.

Let’s demand for more time off work to enjoy with our families and do the things that bring us joy. 

Let’s become more proactive and make our health a priority today!

As a woman, a friend, a sister, a daughter, I have been deeply affected by the loss of friends and family to cancer. It is painful, it is heartbreaking, and it is all encompassing. 

I am not writing to offend anyone that partakes and donates to the breast cancer foundation. I am simply saying that we can all do better. 

“We are living in a collective society where everything you do affects me and everything I do affects you. We are all responsible, all culpable. The same can be said about the cancer dilemma. We are the cause of the present state of affairs, but we are also the cure.” – author unknown

With love, with compassion and truthfully, anger at political and corporate forces,

Samantha Gladish xo

Resources:
http://wwf.panda.org/about_our_earth/teacher_resources/webfieldtrips/toxics/
http://www.ewg.org/enviroblog/2014/09/top-ten-problems-industry-s-chemical-safety-bill
http://investigations.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/06/10/18869742-susan-komen-ceos-salary-draws-fire-as-donations-drop-races-are-canceled

Resources

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