Hello, My Lovelies! I’ve been approached recently by several people asking about cancer, so today’s post covers a brief history, diet, naturopathic options, and mental health approach. As a reminder, this is informational, not prescriptive. I am not a Naturopathic Doctor and can only provide insight in this blog post. Until recently, cancer had never touched my family and I want to share some background on the why of that as well as hopefully guide others to a healthier, longer life.
Brief History of Cancer. Cancer has been around at least since the time of Hippocrates (460BC – 370BC), some suggest much earlier – upwards of 7,000 years ago. In his time, it was called the Greek version of carcinoma. Hippocrates taught us two main lessons about cancer: (i) cancer is a systemic (“humoral”) disease, i.e., a disease that affects the whole body, and not just a specific organ; (ii) a cancer cure can only be achieved by rebalancing the whole organism through a multidisciplinary, holistic approach, and not just by eradicating the tumor.
Cancer Cases Begin to Rise. Around 1950, pesticides became widespread in the US. In the 70s artificial colors became quite popular and several were finally banned in the US due to their carcinogenic properties. Plastics began being mass-produced for food consumption in the 1970s. Big Pharma began around 1977. In the late 1970s, Big Food began adding large amounts of sugar to foods creating sugary drinks, candy, and sweets for mass consumption. Big Food became a thing around 1980. The influx of manmade products, additives, and preservatives set off a chain reaction and cancer diagnoses began to rise worldwide in 1990.
By the end of the 1990s, a dramatic increase in cancer was seen in children and young adults.
In 2010, The President’s Cancer Panel warned that up to 80% of the US cancer cases currently striking 48% of men, 38% of women, and increasing numbers of children are DIRECTLY caused by poisons in our environment and food.
Genetic Markers. Genetic traits are handed down from parent to child. If the parent has a “weakness” or has a “marker” for a specific illness, the child will have the potential for the same illness. This does not mean that every child will have the same illnesses, only that they have the potential.
Only 5% – 10% of all cancers may be caused by inherited genetic changes according to the National Institute of Health.
Families with high numbers of similar types of cancer, need to consider that they have the genetic markers for specific types of cancer. If the family does not, their cancer is likely due to nutritional imbalance, pesticides, herbicides, food colorings, preservatives, and other man-made additives in their food. A change in diet is recommended to eradicate the cancer.
Families with little or no cancer in their background are highly unlikely to have any genetic markers for cancer, rather they have other types of markers.
Other Markers. Other markers for cancer include inactivity, diet, and stress with nutrition playing the largest part. The Western diet and all the fad “diets” that are prevalent in Western culture increase the likelihood of chronic illnesses, including obesity, heart disease, autoimmune diseases, thyroid disease, diabetes, stroke, and various other diseases due to the imbalance of their nutritional content and the “additives” found within.
“There’s a clear link now that insulin resistance is a key driver of many of the cancers, particularly prostate cancer in men and breast cancer in women, absolutely clear. But the final point is, it’s the sugar in the diet that’s driving the cancers via the insulin resistance” ~Professor Tim Noakes
Beginning the Healing Process. You’ve been diagnosed. You’ve been labeled. Your heart is breaking and you feel completely mortal. Now what? Are you going to die? How can you tell your family? Adrenaline is dumped into your system and you feel like you are going to pass out or throw up, or maybe both.
Breathe. Stop where you are. Take a deep breath. This panic attack will likely not be the last. So start now to manage them appropriately. Put your hand over your heart. You are still here. You are still breathing. You are still alive. Slow your heart rate – focus there. Slow long breaths. Find your happy place and force your body to relax.
Take Charge. Time to make a very important decision. Are you going to give up? Or, are you going to live? If you decide you are going to live the next decision is – will you live healthy or will you live with poison in your veins? These aren’t easy questions to answer and take time. Read everything you can. Learn everything you can. And above all, remember you are in charge. If you don’t like the direction your doctor is pushing you, find another. If that one doesn’t suit you, move on. Find the right fit for you. This is your life and your body. Just because the doctor has a degree doesn’t mean they will listen to or understand your needs, and your decisions.
Positive Self-Talk. The most critical part of your healing begins in your mind. Don’t label yourself. Don’t say you are sick. Instead say you are healing. You must remind your head that you are NOT sick because that weakens your immune system and all the chemicals in your brain. Reminding yourself that you are healing changes the chemicals in your brain and your immune system changes the way it affects your body.
Recommended reading: Overcoming Illness with the power of positive self-talk
More recommended reading: Positive Self-Talk: How talking to your self is a good thing
Journaling. Take time each morning to meditate – however suits you best – mine is by walking – and then journal. Pour out all your fears, desires, hopes and dreams. Make plans for the positive ones and release the negative. This journal is part of your journey and will help you find the path you were always meant to walk.
Diet. If you are a reader of my blog, you will have read the article differentiating “diet” from “dieting” found here. We are not talking about dieting here. This will be a lifelong change to how you view food, what you eat, and when you eat. The most important change you can make today is to remove all sources of sugar from your diet – raw sugar, flour, bread, pasta, processed foods, etc.
PET Scans for cancer are ways for Allopathic or Western practitioners to determine where cancer is in the body. Did you know that they inject patients with radioactive glucose because it activates the cancer cells? They are drawn to it and consume it at a greater rate than anything else in the body.
Exercise. This will help you destress, build strong muscles, and strengthen your immune system. Walking for 30 minutes, Yoga, Pilates, PIYO, belly dancing, dancing, biking, hiking, etc. It doesn’t need to be heavy strength building, though lifting weights is very good for building a strong core to help maintain a long healthy life.
You’ve got this!
Blessings – E