There is a link between processed meat and breast cancer. Eating bacon, sausage, ham, deli meats, and hot dogs puts you at increased risk. If you've had or have breast cancer, cutting out or cutting down on eating these high fat, processed meats and eat more fruits and vegetables can reduce your risk of breast cancer recurrence. To optimize your diet, I highly recommend adopting a whole food, plant based-diet. If you're not sure where to start, check out the 21 Day Vegan Jumpstart at https://kickstart.pcrm.org/en. It's free and will give you everything you need to start a plant-based diet. ​

If you wait for motivation to help you achieve your goals, you will fall short every time.  Motivation is a myth. That is why most new year's resolutions fail. That is why most people don't stick to their workout plan or new diet and ultimately reach their goals.  They wait to feel motivated and when they don't, they quit.  The key to achieving any goal is consistency. Consistency means doing your workout or staying on your diet plan even when you're not motivated to do it.  Because here's the secret...most days you're NOT going to feel motivated. There is always a reason NOT to do what you said you were going to do. Do it anyway. Motivation is a myth.  If you're having trouble with consistency, then re-evaluate your goal. Is it too big? Start smaller. Start by showing up every day. Create the habit of consistency. A 10 minute workout is better than none. A half mile jog is better than none. Eating one healthy meal a day is better than none. Start the habit of consistency every day and build on it. That is the goal. Don't wait for motivation. Your goal is within reach!

Fall is pomegranate season! Here's why you should be eating (and drinking) more of these beautiful red "gems."  Researchers at the City of Hope found that pomegranates contain six compounds that may prevent breast cancer growth by blocking aromatase, an enzyme known to play a key role in most breast cancers. Aromatase converts androgens to estrogens, and most breast cancers depend on estrogen to grow.  “By suppressing the production of estrogen, urolithin B and other phytochemicals found in pomegranates can prevent hormone-responsive breast cancer tumors from growing,” said researcher, Shiuan Chen, Ph.D. Phytochemicals are naturally occurring plant compounds that may benefit health.  The other phytochemicals in pomegranates found to inhibit aromatase activity are urolithin A (UA), methylated UA, acetylated UB, methylated UB and UB sulfate.  Previous research has shown that pomegranate juice is rich in active antioxidants and its compounds may slow growth of human breast and prostate cancer cells.

Fasting has received all kinds of attention in the media these days. In 2018, it was one of the most searched for diet terms on Google.
As you may know, there are many health benefits of fasting.
But did you know that fasting turns the immune system against cancer. In fact, cancer in calorie-restricted monkeys is about 50 percent reduced. Cardiovascular disease is about 50 percent reduced as well.
Fasting not only protects against immune system damage — a major side effect of chemotherapy — but also triggers immune system regeneration.
Isn't this exciting news?  So how and when should you fast?
There are several types of fasting, from prolonged (2+ consecutive days) to intermittent (i.e. 5:2 or alternate day) to time-restricted eating (i.e. 12:12 or 16:8).  For time-restricted, intermittent fasting, It is important to stick close to 12 hours of feeding and 12 hours of fasting. If you eat 15 hours a day or more, that starts to be associated with metabolic problems, gallstone formation, sleep disorders, etc.  Prolonged, periodic fasting, done for several consecutive days has many incredible health benefits but strict, prolonged fasting is hard to stick to and can be dangerous if not done properly.
To help you get through a prolonged fast, you can get many benefits of a 5-day fast with food.  The ProLon® 5-day Fasting Mimicking Diet® has been clinically tested and studied and found to promote beneficial effects in a wide variety of health conditions ranging from excess weight and fasting blood sugar, to growth factors associated with DNA damage and aging.
Not everyone is healthy enough for a prolonged fast.
Message me or visit https://prolon.com/ if you would like more information on The ProLon® Fasting Mimicking Diet and to see if it's right for you.

Let's spice it up!  One of my favorite herbal spices is Za'atar.  Za'atar is an aromatic, tart and nutty spice blend that originated in the Middle East and it always includes Hyssop, Sumac, Sesame Seeds and Salt, which are rich in antioxidants with antiseptic, antimicrobial, cancer-fighting, and potentially mood and brain boosting properties.  The use of herbal remedies, including Za'atar, is prevalent in breast cancer patients in Palestine.  Mix za'atar with olive oil and spread it over bread (or dough) before baking. Sprinkle on vegetables before roasting and add to your favorite soups. There are lots of recipes for Za'atar online. Try using Za'atar in these plant-based recipes at http://ow.ly/IZi450BzGAT.  Za'atar can be hard to find. To purchase on the internet, visit https://thespiceway.com/products/real-zaatar-with-hyssop... and https://thrivemarket.com/p/thrive-market-organic-zaatar.

How resilient are you? Resilience is more important than ever today. Resilience means to be able to bounce back from life developments or adversity that may feel totally overwhelming. Resilience is an essential skill to not only survive but to thrive in breast cancer remission.  "Our attitude determines our well being more than our circumstances." -Dr. Al Siebert.  When you are hit with life-disrupting events, such as cancer, you will never be the same again. You either cope or you crumble; you become bitter or better; you emerge stronger or weaker. If you would like to learn more about resiliency, how resilient you are and how to strengthen your resiliency, visit https://thrivenet.com.