OMG! I just woke up sweating! What a horrible nightmare! Knock on wood, I don't have cancer...
This is a reality thousands of Americans are told daily!
What if it happened? What would be going through my mind the moment my Doctor gave me the bad news? Would I say, "The heck with it and I'm going out with a bang! Let's party!" or would I fight it?
I am and will always be a warrior......
There are a lot of obstacles a cancer patient must endure. Chemotherapy is brutal on the body because it wipes out all your cells. It destroys your immune system. It will make you chronically fatigued and ruin your appetite. For sure-chemotherapy kills the cancer cells but there are other ways to stop them. Chemotherapy is necessary.
I would battle cancer in three ways! First, I would alter my nutrition regimen. Second, my exercise plan would change and finally, I would introduce stress reduction techniques.
Nutrition is most important because certain foods will nourish the body but also prevent cancer cell growth. I believe an alkaline environment in the blood and tissues will inhibit cancer cells. It makes sense. Most alkaline foods are vegetables and fruits. Plant foods contain many valuable components such as folate, fiber, carotenoids, saponins, phytic acid, protease inhibitors, isothiocyanates, indole-3-carbinol, ellagic acid, polyphenols, lignans, allium, isoflavones and lycopene. This cocktail of components contained in a delicious powerful meal would be a cancer cell's worst nightmare! Do your research. These components have all been shown to stop cancer cell growth. I would continue my warrior diet but eliminate coffee and meats. I might have to consider a protein supplement. My meal would be a combination of leafy green vegetables(kale, spinach, romaine lettuce), cruciferous vegetables(broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage), legumes(beans, peas, lentils, soybeans), whole grains(quinoa, wild rice, ezekiel bread), walnuts and tomatoes. The meal would be flavored with olive oil and Bragg's amino acids. During the day, I will drink a powerful shake of organic fruit to include berries and flaxseed oil. Water will always be flavored with lemon juice to increase it's alkalinity. DIE CANCER DIE!!!!
Next, chemotherapy will cause chronic fatigue and appetite loss. If I do not eat, I will become energy restricted and more fatigued. It takes more calories to maintain muscle than it does to maintain fat. I would start weight training at least 3 to 5 days a week to increase or maintain my lean muscle mass. I have clients who report losing their appetite when they go on vacation for more than a week. Believe me, building muscle will build your appetite! I recommend hiring a personal trainer to start a muscle building program.
Last, I would try to eliminate stress from my life. Try laughing more. Laughing has been shown to have healing effects. I try to laugh everyday. I would stay away from situations that are usually stressful. Stress and the immune system are not good co-workers. Go to a comedy act monthly! I will drink wine daily. Wine contains resveratrol. Resveratrol has potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. It has also been shown to inhibit the formation of tumor cells in the lymph, stomach and breast! When I drink wine, my stress levels drop and I'm in a better mood. I will limit myself to 1 to 2 glasses though....Too much alcohol has been linked to cancers of the mouth, esophagus and throat.
In summary, this is how I would battle cancer:
-eliminate meat and coffee
-continue to eat green leafy and cruciferous vegetables
-add more legumes, whole grains, tomatoes and walnuts to my daily meal
-have a daily fruit shake with flaxseed and berries
-continue to drink lots of water spiked with lemon juice
-wine will still be around but in moderation
-try to build muscle in order to maintain or increase my appetite
-laugh more and eliminate all negativity from my life
Life is so beautiful and short. Don't let the "C" word ruin it. We have the knowledge and a miraculous body system to defeat it. We can defeat cancer! I BELIEVE IN YOU!