FOR MOTHERS COMBATING CANCER

When I thought about how I could honor Mothers,  I decided to share information that could help them be at their best for as long as possible.  If you know someone with cancer or who wants to prevent cancer, then please share this with them! If you would like more information, you can invite me to speak to your Women’s group or I can give you an individual consultation.                                                                                                           Contact   HLS@nancyparlette.com

Happy Mother's Day!      

Here are steps you can take to keep your immune system strong. There have been thousands of studies that support the same conclusion - we can cut our chance of getting degenerative diseases by at least 50%!!  How? All you have to do is get 7 + servings of fresh fruits and vegetables a day!  You will want to eat the rainbow of colors of fruits and vegetables to get all the different nutrients, phytochemicals and antioxidants. 

1.  Fruits and Vegetables - Get 7+ servings of fresh fruits and vegetables a day!  We especially want to include dark leafy greens like kale, collards, chard, spinach and leaf lettuces. Other powerful cancer fighters are the cruciferous vegetables like cabbage, Brussels sprouts, broccoli and cauliflower. For fruit, think apples, avocadoes, red grapes, berries, pineapple, etc.  Juicing and Green Smoothies are GREAT ways to get concentrated nutrients into the body. 

2.    Sleep  – Adults need 7-8 hours a night in order to restore, cleanse, and rejuvenate our cells.  We need time for the body to focus on fighting disease and it can’t do that if we are always pushing it to the limit with physical and emotional activity long into the night. Melatonin is a potent antioxidant hormone that is active when you sleep.

3.       Exercise – Getting 30 minutes or more 6 days a week will strengthen your overall health & immune system. A good aerobic (huffing and puffing) workout boosts the hormone serotonin which helps us feel relaxed and happy.

4.      Deep breathing – cancer hates oxygen.  Another reason to exercise and do Hatha yoga.

5.   De-stress – Take time to relax and allow the body to restore and rejuvenate. Emotional and physical stresses initiate an inflammatory reaction in the body.

6.   Healthy fats-  Adding the good for you omega 3 fats such as flax seeds, avocado, olives, raw nuts and seeds, and fatty fish like salmon helps reduce inflammation which helps fight cancer, as well as protecting your heart, skin, cognitive function, and more.

7.   Herbs & Spices – Add these powerful antioxidants to your diet to help fight off the free radicals that cause cancer.  Use plenty of garlic, fresh ginger, onions, turmeric, rosemary, paprika, parsley, curry, cinnamon, etc.

8.    Add Essential Oils – Plants have so many amazing qualities that protect and help us heal!  Oncology departments in over 50 hospitals, such as the Mayo Clinic, Duke Univ. and Sloan Kettering, are using essential oil aromatherapy.  Frankincense is extremely powerful as are

       Oregano, Myrtle, Sandalwood, Tsuga, Lemon, Orange and more.  My friend Linda can help you at http://www.gogreengal.org/.

9.   Maintain a healthy weight  -  By doing all of the above plus drinking plenty of water and eating a high fiber diet rich in fruits, vegetables, beans, legumes & whole grains you will easily keep a good weight. The more fat you have the more estrogen you make, which can lead to cancer.

10. Avoid saturated animal fats (especially smoked, fried or processed meats),  and trans fats (hydrogenated oils) -    A study of over 3,000 Chinese women between the ages of 25 and 64 was written up in the Journal of Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention.  It tells the women who changed from their traditional vegetable-soy-fish diet to a more western diet rich in meat and sugary foods doubled their chance of getting breast cancer!

Eat more plant based with lots of beans and legumes instead of dairy or animal protein. Organic Edamame is great! The phytoestrogens bind to our receptor sites keeping away the stronger human estrogens so there is a decrease in cell division.  Plus, they are quickly broken down and actually help more estrogens to be excreted in the urine.

11.  Avoid refined sugar – White sugar and high fructose corn syrup found in beverages, candy, baked goods, canned goods, etc. all suppress your immune system.  They also raise your blood insulin level which stimulates fat storage and weight gain.  They also lack fiber which helps reduce cancer.

12. Avoid chemical additives –  Additives like Monosodium Glutamate (MSG), preservatives, fried foods, artificial flavors, colors, and sweeteners all are toxic to our body. READ labels!! 

13.   Cut alcohol – I don’t care how many “experts” say one glass a day is good for you.  It’s the phytochemicals and antioxidants in the grapes that are good for you - NOT the alcohol.  So eat grapes or make some fresh grape juice.  The alcohol elevates estrogen levels and increases your cancer risk!

14.   Stop smoking – a no-brainer! All the research evidence is there.  It’s only bad news!

15.   Avoid environmental pollutants and toxins – occupational (such as asbestos) and environmental; like pesticides, household cleaners, lawn chemicals, etc. 

16.  Breastfeed your babies Ladies - Nothing is better to provide our babies with the immune system and digestive system they need to stay healthy than breast feeding AND it protects you from getting breast cancer. Do it for a year, at least in the morning and night if that’s all you can manage.

REMEMBER! My Busy Mom's 10 Minute Guide to a Happy Healthy Family is available on my website! A GREAT Mother's Day gift!  www.nancyparlette.com 

Natural Healing that can Revitalize Your Health!

    Our body is an amazing creation!  If you put into it all it needs and place it in a safe environment, it will keep you healthy and youthful.  If you neglect to feed the body all it needs, if you put into it toxic substances, and/or stick it in an stressful environment, your health will quickly become compromised.

    Most diseases are preventable, but our nation has made a huge mistake by focusing on relieving symptoms without addressing the root cause of disease.  What this is doing is creating a sicker and weaker society in which fewer and fewer people are doing the work and more and more people unable to work and instead requiring others to care for them.  I believe this is one of the reasons we are going deeper and deeper into debt.  Our government, in desiring to help relieve suffering, is actually creating more and more needy people because they never actually help the people get better. Plus, they help create illness by continuing to allow harmful ingredients to be added into our food. This ought not to be so!!

     Let’s change that picture and start putting into our bodies what they need to heal!  Here are five steps you can take to assist your body in rebuilding and rejuvenating itself. Eating like this for 30-60 days can be a great way to start the new year!

1. Drink water, green smoothies, or freshly juiced vegetables instead of caffeinated beverages, soda, alcohol, or sugar filled juices.
2. Delete junk food from your diet.  If you want to make huge leaps in your health then you must go 30-60 days without added sugar, salt, preservatives, artificial colors, sweeteners, or flavors.  This covers most snacks and desserts! Remember, during this time fruit is your friend!  It will give you the sweetness you miss in a natural form that includes lots of antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, and fiber! Miss your salt and crunch? Chew on a celery stalk!
3. Cut out fried foods and rich sauces and soups.  Dairy is known to add lots of congestion to the lungs and sinuses so it is good to leave that out for the 30-60 days as well. Add in healthy fats like unsalted nuts, seeds,  avocado, olives, and coconut.
4. Replace animal protein with plant protein.  Two great books to read are, The China Study and Eat to Live. These both explain how the typical American diet of daily animal protein is the very diet that is behind many cancers and heart diseases.  Going vegetarian for a few months will be powerful in letting your body heal.  You certainly want to get protein every day, but organic Edamame, Tofu, Peas, Beans, and Lentils are a great replacement during this time.  You can also add plant based protein powders into your green smoothies.  
5. Eat a larger amount of raw, uncooked food than cooked food.  Juicing, Smoothies, Salads, fruit, and raw veggies should be about 60-75 % of your daily intake.  Add in vegan Soups, Stews, and casseroles to satisfy the desire for something warm and cooked.                                                    

Do you want some inspiration? Watch films like Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead , Forks over Knives, along with this presentation from the Mom of a child with Autism- Daughter Transformed with Change in Diet. These are three amazing examples of what healthy eating can do for you!!