Greetings, Everyone...
As this year closes, there is much to be grateful for, and much to look forward to in 2011. I hope that each of you has had a special time with family and friends over this holiday season, and that we can all carry forward the peacefulness, patience and goodwill throughout the coming year.
The lyme journey continues on, and I find myself in a rhythm of "pulsing" the Salt and Vitamin C, since during the holidays we not only took the cruise, but had lots of company at the house, which means it was a challenge to stay the course with my personal eating and supplementation plan. Today my daughter, Ariana and her dear friend, Monique, will be heading home and the house will be empty. This means I am back to upping my Salt/C doses so I can herx, and back to my saunas every other day, as well as diligence with my supplements that has fallen somewhat by the wayside over the past week. I have been feeling SO good, so healthy and pain-free, and that's been awesome! Yet last week I pushed the salt levels up high for 2 days and wow, I got real sore real fast, which says my work with the lyme bacteria is very much unfinished. Who knows how long it will take to really break the numbers down and reduce the bacterial load to the point that the body takes it all under control and handles it without my constant attention.
At any rate, this continues to be my challenge for awhile, and the winter is the best time to focus on things like that, when there isn't so much competing for attention. That being said, I have much to do this winter...... my mother's cancer has returned, and she is going to be going into intensive treatment for a few weeks. I will be spending time with her every day, helping her to be as comfortable as possible and inspiring her to keep her spirits up. For this reason, I have made the difficult decision to bring this blog to a close, at least for now. I need to be able to focus all of my attention on my mom, and really be there for her during this time of her life.
When all is said and done with the lyme journey (a year from now? Two?), I may consider writing a book about the Salt/C protocol and my healing process. If I do that I will surely let everyone know. If you are one who would like to stay in touch in between times, you may feel free to email me at reiki4innerpeace@yahoo.com with any questions or comments. I hope my journey so far has been some inspiration for others with lyme, or for those who are supporting people with lyme, as well as helping to keep my friends and family informed of my healing process. As I mentioned in a recent blog, "I'm back!" I feel better than ever and amazingly, I have the energy now to be there for my mom in her time of need. As I always say, "The Universe knows what it's doing...." Had my mom needed this treatment a year ago, I don't know how I would have mustered up the energy or ability to help her. Thankfully, my health has returned and I'll be able to provide daily support to her.
Thank you for keeping up with this blog, and for your kindness and enthusiasm. I wish everyone well, and at some point in the future, I may log back onto the blog and begin again, we'll see..... And when I am clear of the bacteria to the point I can dramatically reduce the Salt/C levels, I will find a way to let the world know.
Namaste' - the spirit in me honors the spirit in you. May many beautiful blessings fall upon you in this new year ripe with potential,
Sukie
Showing posts with label cancer. Show all posts
Showing posts with label cancer. Show all posts
Monday, December 27, 2010
Friday, December 3, 2010
Holiday Spirit + important article
Greetings ~
Hope this finds everyone in the holiday spirit. The TRUE spirit of the season, of course, not just grappling with all the hype and stress created by greed energies of those who see Christmas commercially and materially. I think our society has gone a little askew in terms of what the season is truly about. I always strive to focus my energies upon what I feel is the true message of the season: Love and peace are what matter, and how we treat our fellow humans... as well as the respect and love we give to all creatures, nature, all of life. For me it's a time to remember what is important and what my values and priorities are, and then to strive to behave in a way that matches my personal ethics and integrity throughout the coming new year. While I personally do not belong to an organized religion, I view Jesus as an extremely evolved being who set a selfless and beautiful example of how to love others unconditionally. He was a humble, mindful man who not only spoke from his heart, but actually lived what he spoke - he walked his talk. That's what this season reminds me to do - to walk my talk - and to be true to what my own heart and spirit tell me is the way to behave and act in this world.
Just wanted to put that out there. Erick and I both love the Christmas season for the same reasons, and so for us it is a particularly joyous time of year. We love the lights, the music, the magic, and most of all time spent with our loved ones.
This holiday season finds me feeling a WHOLE LOT BETTER than the last one! For that I am truly grateful. I am overcoming the little setback of the cruise dining, and feeling really good, overall, although I still have hives that have not run their course. For some reason, they are focused upon my hips and my chest, so at least they aren't all over my body this time. But they sure do itch.
It's good to be back in my particular rhythm again, also, as the way to work with lyme disease and the Salt/C protocol, for me, is to hold steady, which means really being focused on when and how I take the salt and vitamin c, as well as my supplements, and what/how I eat, AND working in some exercise and of course, sleeping at night on my beloved earthing sheet!
I'm starting to mull over in my head what to cook for Christmas dinner this year, since Erick and I will be out-numbered by four carnivores at the dining table. We'll probably purchase an organic turkey breast for them, and then do a traditional meal the vegan way - stuffing, mashed potatoes, greens, sweet potatos, rolls, cranberry sauce, pumpkin pie... and Erick is really wanting us to try making a flourless chocolate cake. If anyone has a good recipe for any of the above that is vegan or could be converted, let me know!
I hope you are able to walk in balance during the holidays and truly enjoy what is beautiful about this time of year. I think another reason I love Christmas is that the colorful lights stand out so dramatically against the darkness, signifying a knowingness that no matter how dark things may seem, there is always light, always hope. I actually welcome the darkness and honor the Winter Solstice as a time to tuck into my dark, welcoming cave, like the bear who hibernates, to get some extra rest and relaxation so that my body, mind and spirit can rejuvenate and I can poke my head out into the sun once again come springtime and rejoice in all the flowers and signs of new life. I appreciate all four seasons even more now that I live on Whidbey Island, where the seasons are clearly delineated. I can feel the natural rhythm of things here much more easily, and I really love and appreciate that.
Before closing today, I'm going to paste-in below an article by Dr. Mercola that I feel is a must-read, whether or not you agree with some or all of these concepts, since some of it challenges what the medical world has told us to be true. I remember the old adage "Question Authority!" and I really do believe it's important to do that. Only I would say, "Question So-Called Authority!" Like any other large institution, there are pros and cons about the medical world, and we tend to think whatever a doctor says is gospel. One thing I've really learned through this process of healing through lyme disease, is how important it is to educate myself and to follow what my own inner compass guides me to do, in concert, when necessary, with healthcare providers of my choosing. I believe there is much in this article of value, so I hope you will find it useful, as well.
In the spirit of joy, peace, and unconditional love,
Sukie
CANCER IS A MAN-MADE DISEASE by Dr. Mercola
According to the latest statistics compiled by the American Heart Association, cancer surpasses heart disease as the top killer among Americans between the ages of 45 to 74. The odds are very high that you or someone you know has cancer or has died from it.Cancer rates for various types of cancer are on the rise, and environmental/lifestyle factors are increasingly being pinpointed as the culprits, such as:
•Pesticide- and other chemical exposures
•Pharmaceutical drugs
•Processed and artificial foods (plus the chemicals in the packaging)
•Wireless technologies, dirty electricity, and medical diagnostic radiation exposure
•Obesity, stress, and poor sleeping habits
•Lack of sunshine exposure and use of sunscreens
This not an all-inclusive list, of course, but as the research into the health of our ancient ancestors shows, cancer is not a "natural" disease, and genetics are not a primary factor.
What Ancient Mummies and Prehistoric Fossils Tell Us about Cancer
Cancer is, by and large, the tragic result of humans veering too far off course – avoiding health-sustaining diets and activities, while embracing a highly unnatural lifestyle and continually dousing your insides and outsides with excess chemicals.
The Daily Mail reports:
"Tumors were rare until recent times when pollution and poor diet became issues, the review of mummies, fossils and classical literature found... Despite slivers of tissue from hundreds of Egyptian mummies being rehydrated and placed under the microscope, only one case of cancer has been confirmed.
Dismissing the argument that the ancient Egyptians didn't live long enough to develop cancer, the researchers pointed out that other age-related disease such as hardening of the arteries and brittle bones did occur.
Fossil evidence of cancer is also sparse, with scientific literature providing a few dozen, mostly disputed, examples in animal fossil... Even the study of thousands of Neanderthal bones has provided only one example of a possible cancer."
According to Professor Rosalie David, co-author of the recently published study stated:
'There is nothing in the natural environment that can cause cancer. So it has to be a man-made disease, down to pollution and changes to our diet and lifestyle."
The good news is, medical science is finally starting to catch up with common sense, and studies are emerging showing the powerful potential of food and lifestyle to both prevent and treat cancer.
I cannot stress enough how important it is to take this information to heart, and apply it in your own life. Don't wait for the "definitive scientific" proof You don't have to wait to incorporate these changes into your life and benefit immediately, and save you and your family so much unnecessary grief...
The medical industry as a whole is resistant to change, and you likely will not see any major revisions to conventional cancer treatments anytime soon. Widespread adoption of many of these recommendations will take many decades at best.
Remember the words of German philosopher Arthur Schopenhauer who, 200 years ago, said all truth goes through three stages:
•First it is ridiculed
•Then it is violently opposed
•Finally it is widely accepted as self evident
Are Drugs Really the Answer?
A case in point: ten of the 12 "major cancer advances" named by the American Society for Clinical Oncology (ASCO) in 2008 involved drugs.
Not food, not lifestyle changes, just drugs.
They claim these drug-based "advances" have made cancer treatments and prevention "a lot better," but what are they basing that opinion on? Certainly not statistics!
That same year, about 12.4 million people from all over the world were diagnosed with some form of cancer and 7.6 million people died from the disease.
In the last 30 years of the 20th century the global cancer burden has doubled, and it will likely double again between 2000 and 2020 and nearly triple by 2030. Projected mortality estimates for 2030 range from just over 13 million, to 17 million people dying from the disease.
With statistics like these, how can anyone talk about cancer treatment "advances," particularly when they have completely overlooked the methods that can actually turn the cancer trend around!
Below I will review three major cancer strategies that, according to researchers' estimates, could have a FAR greater impact on cancer statistics than any cancer drug or treatment currently available.
I strongly recommend implementing these strategies rather than relying on the drug cartel to concoct "better drugs."
There is a Better Way
I am firmly convinced that you don't have to die from cancer if you follow a healthy lifestyle. I'm fairly convinced that cancer or heart disease will not be the cause of my death. If you follow these strategies and start at an early enough age your body will be able to limit the progression of any malignant cells.
We see dramatic reversals in so many people with advanced cancers that apply these strategies, but what we fail to see are the millions of miracles that occur every day that eliminate cancers that have yet to surface because the body's healthy immune response suppresses them.
Remember it is exponentially easier to prevent cancers than it is to treat them. So just what are some of these strategies that can insulate you from ever developing cancer?
Anti-Cancer Strategy #1: Optimize Your Vitamin D Levels Year-Round
It is estimated that if people around the world optimized their vitamin D levels, cancer deaths could be slashed by 30 percent -- which amounts to 2 million worldwide and 200,000 in the United States -- each year.
On a personal level, you can decrease your risk of cancer by MORE THAN HALF simply by optimizing your vitamin D levels with sun exposure! I can't think of any other strategy that can offer this level of protection. You may even be able to significantly boost your chances of survival if you already have cancer, by maintaining vitamin D levels of around 80-90 ng/ml.
Vitamin D has a protective effect against cancer in several ways, including:
•Increasing the self-destruction of mutated cells (which, if allowed to replicate, could lead to cancer)
•Reducing the spread and reproduction of cancer cells
•Causing cells to become differentiated (cancer cells often lack differentiation)
•Reducing the growth of new blood vessels from pre-existing ones, which is a step in the transition of dormant tumors turning cancerous
Vitamin D, which is created in your skin after exposure to sunshine, is even of extreme importance for preventing skin cancer. It's important to realize that the risk of skin cancer from the sun comes only from excessive exposure, which can damage your skin.
The fact is that countless people around the world have an increased risk of cancer – including skin cancer -- because their vitamin D levels are low or deficient due to lack of appropriate sun exposure...
For example, in the US, the late winter average vitamin D level is only about 15-18 ng/ml, which is considered a very serious deficiency state that can cause a wide variety of health problems, from an acute bout of cold or flu, to an increased risk for cancer, long-term.
In fact, low levels of vitamin D may increase your risk of dying from ANY illness by 150 percent!
If you still find this hard to believe, I highly recommend watching my one-hour vitamin D lecture to clear up any confusion you may have about this essential nutrient.
Anti-Cancer Strategy #2: Optimize Your Insulin Levels
Normalizing your insulin levels is yet another powerful action you can take to lower your risk of cancer.
Otto Warburg actually received a Nobel Prize in 1934 for his observation of cancer cell physiology, which clearly demonstrated that cancer cells require more sugar to thrive. Unfortunately, virtually no oncologists appreciate or apply this knowledge today.
Your pancreas releases insulin -- produced by beta cells -- after you eat carbohydrates, and this is why numerous studies have linked refined carbohydrates with cancer. Over time, if you eat too many grains and sugars, and your body is constantly releasing an abundance of insulin, your body will become resistant to it. This means you will require even more insulin to produce the same effects, and it starts you on a vicious cycle.
Many people now have insulin levels that are too high, courtesy of our modern day's sugar-laden diet and lack of exercise, and this can cause major damage to your body.
The most recognized of these is diabetes, but that is far from the only one. As Ron Rosedale, M.D. said in one of my most popular articles, Insulin and Its Metabolic Effects:
"It doesn't matter what disease you are talking about, whether you are talking about a common cold or cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis or cancer, the root is always going to be at the molecular and cellular level, and I will tell you that insulin is going to have its hand in it, if not totally control it."
The good news is that controlling your insulin levels is relatively straightforward.
First, limit your intake of processed foods, grains and sugars (particularly fructose!) as much as possible to prevent your insulin levels from becoming elevated in the first place.
Next, exercise regularly, as this will drive your insulin levels down.
Anti-Cancer Strategy # 3: Opt for a Safer, More Effective Cancer Screen
As I mentioned in the beginning, the danger inherent in radiation exposure from medical screens such as mammograms is increasingly being revealed. Yet most physicians continue to recommend yearly mammograms for women as a breast cancer screening tool.
This is to be expected, I guess, considering the fact that the American Cancer Society – one of the main proponents for mammograms -- has close financial ties to the makers of mammography equipment.
This financial bias hypes mammography, even though it is clearly a cause of breast cancer itself...
According to a recent World Wire press release:
"Routine mammography delivers an unrecognized high dose of radiation, warn Drs. Epstein and Bertell. If a woman follows the current guidelines for premenopausal screening, over a 10 year period she would receive a total dosage of about 5 rads.
This approximates the level of exposure to radiation of a Japanese woman one mile from the epicenter of atom bombs dropped on Hiroshima or Nagasaki."
The risks of mammograms far outweigh their benefit, which is why I encourage you to think for yourself and consider safer, more effective alternatives.
The option for breast screening that I most highly recommend is called thermographic breast screening, which measures the radiation of infrared heat from your body and translates this information into anatomical images.
Thermography uses no mechanical pressure or ionizing radiation, and can detect signs of breast cancer as much as 10 years earlier than either mammography or a physical exam – before a tumor has even formed!
This is made possible because it can image the early stages of angiogenesis -- the formation of a direct supply of blood to cancer cells, which is a necessary step before they can grow into tumors of size.
More men's lives could also be spared from the disease as mammography is not frequently used on men, which leads to most men with breast cancer being diagnosed at a very late stage.
To find out more about this safe and highly effective method of cancer detection, you can read my free report on the topic or visit my Thermography Diagnostics Center now.
Winning the War Against Cancer is Simpler than Anyone Might Think
There is a lot that you can do right now to significantly impact your cancer risk. Even the conservative American Cancer Society states that one-third of cancer deaths are linked to poor diet, physical inactivity, and carrying excess weight. So making healthy lifestyle changes is one of the most important ways to protect yourself from cancer.
A "cure for cancer" is not impossible -- it's mostly just common sense!
I've detailed my comprehensive list of what you can do, right now, to virtually eliminate your cancer risk many times before, but for those of you who haven't seen it, the entire list is printed at the end of this past article.
Hope this finds everyone in the holiday spirit. The TRUE spirit of the season, of course, not just grappling with all the hype and stress created by greed energies of those who see Christmas commercially and materially. I think our society has gone a little askew in terms of what the season is truly about. I always strive to focus my energies upon what I feel is the true message of the season: Love and peace are what matter, and how we treat our fellow humans... as well as the respect and love we give to all creatures, nature, all of life. For me it's a time to remember what is important and what my values and priorities are, and then to strive to behave in a way that matches my personal ethics and integrity throughout the coming new year. While I personally do not belong to an organized religion, I view Jesus as an extremely evolved being who set a selfless and beautiful example of how to love others unconditionally. He was a humble, mindful man who not only spoke from his heart, but actually lived what he spoke - he walked his talk. That's what this season reminds me to do - to walk my talk - and to be true to what my own heart and spirit tell me is the way to behave and act in this world.
Just wanted to put that out there. Erick and I both love the Christmas season for the same reasons, and so for us it is a particularly joyous time of year. We love the lights, the music, the magic, and most of all time spent with our loved ones.
This holiday season finds me feeling a WHOLE LOT BETTER than the last one! For that I am truly grateful. I am overcoming the little setback of the cruise dining, and feeling really good, overall, although I still have hives that have not run their course. For some reason, they are focused upon my hips and my chest, so at least they aren't all over my body this time. But they sure do itch.
It's good to be back in my particular rhythm again, also, as the way to work with lyme disease and the Salt/C protocol, for me, is to hold steady, which means really being focused on when and how I take the salt and vitamin c, as well as my supplements, and what/how I eat, AND working in some exercise and of course, sleeping at night on my beloved earthing sheet!
I'm starting to mull over in my head what to cook for Christmas dinner this year, since Erick and I will be out-numbered by four carnivores at the dining table. We'll probably purchase an organic turkey breast for them, and then do a traditional meal the vegan way - stuffing, mashed potatoes, greens, sweet potatos, rolls, cranberry sauce, pumpkin pie... and Erick is really wanting us to try making a flourless chocolate cake. If anyone has a good recipe for any of the above that is vegan or could be converted, let me know!
I hope you are able to walk in balance during the holidays and truly enjoy what is beautiful about this time of year. I think another reason I love Christmas is that the colorful lights stand out so dramatically against the darkness, signifying a knowingness that no matter how dark things may seem, there is always light, always hope. I actually welcome the darkness and honor the Winter Solstice as a time to tuck into my dark, welcoming cave, like the bear who hibernates, to get some extra rest and relaxation so that my body, mind and spirit can rejuvenate and I can poke my head out into the sun once again come springtime and rejoice in all the flowers and signs of new life. I appreciate all four seasons even more now that I live on Whidbey Island, where the seasons are clearly delineated. I can feel the natural rhythm of things here much more easily, and I really love and appreciate that.
Before closing today, I'm going to paste-in below an article by Dr. Mercola that I feel is a must-read, whether or not you agree with some or all of these concepts, since some of it challenges what the medical world has told us to be true. I remember the old adage "Question Authority!" and I really do believe it's important to do that. Only I would say, "Question So-Called Authority!" Like any other large institution, there are pros and cons about the medical world, and we tend to think whatever a doctor says is gospel. One thing I've really learned through this process of healing through lyme disease, is how important it is to educate myself and to follow what my own inner compass guides me to do, in concert, when necessary, with healthcare providers of my choosing. I believe there is much in this article of value, so I hope you will find it useful, as well.
In the spirit of joy, peace, and unconditional love,
Sukie
CANCER IS A MAN-MADE DISEASE by Dr. Mercola
According to the latest statistics compiled by the American Heart Association, cancer surpasses heart disease as the top killer among Americans between the ages of 45 to 74. The odds are very high that you or someone you know has cancer or has died from it.Cancer rates for various types of cancer are on the rise, and environmental/lifestyle factors are increasingly being pinpointed as the culprits, such as:
•Pesticide- and other chemical exposures
•Pharmaceutical drugs
•Processed and artificial foods (plus the chemicals in the packaging)
•Wireless technologies, dirty electricity, and medical diagnostic radiation exposure
•Obesity, stress, and poor sleeping habits
•Lack of sunshine exposure and use of sunscreens
This not an all-inclusive list, of course, but as the research into the health of our ancient ancestors shows, cancer is not a "natural" disease, and genetics are not a primary factor.
What Ancient Mummies and Prehistoric Fossils Tell Us about Cancer
Cancer is, by and large, the tragic result of humans veering too far off course – avoiding health-sustaining diets and activities, while embracing a highly unnatural lifestyle and continually dousing your insides and outsides with excess chemicals.
The Daily Mail reports:
"Tumors were rare until recent times when pollution and poor diet became issues, the review of mummies, fossils and classical literature found... Despite slivers of tissue from hundreds of Egyptian mummies being rehydrated and placed under the microscope, only one case of cancer has been confirmed.
Dismissing the argument that the ancient Egyptians didn't live long enough to develop cancer, the researchers pointed out that other age-related disease such as hardening of the arteries and brittle bones did occur.
Fossil evidence of cancer is also sparse, with scientific literature providing a few dozen, mostly disputed, examples in animal fossil... Even the study of thousands of Neanderthal bones has provided only one example of a possible cancer."
According to Professor Rosalie David, co-author of the recently published study stated:
'There is nothing in the natural environment that can cause cancer. So it has to be a man-made disease, down to pollution and changes to our diet and lifestyle."
The good news is, medical science is finally starting to catch up with common sense, and studies are emerging showing the powerful potential of food and lifestyle to both prevent and treat cancer.
I cannot stress enough how important it is to take this information to heart, and apply it in your own life. Don't wait for the "definitive scientific" proof You don't have to wait to incorporate these changes into your life and benefit immediately, and save you and your family so much unnecessary grief...
The medical industry as a whole is resistant to change, and you likely will not see any major revisions to conventional cancer treatments anytime soon. Widespread adoption of many of these recommendations will take many decades at best.
Remember the words of German philosopher Arthur Schopenhauer who, 200 years ago, said all truth goes through three stages:
•First it is ridiculed
•Then it is violently opposed
•Finally it is widely accepted as self evident
Are Drugs Really the Answer?
A case in point: ten of the 12 "major cancer advances" named by the American Society for Clinical Oncology (ASCO) in 2008 involved drugs.
Not food, not lifestyle changes, just drugs.
They claim these drug-based "advances" have made cancer treatments and prevention "a lot better," but what are they basing that opinion on? Certainly not statistics!
That same year, about 12.4 million people from all over the world were diagnosed with some form of cancer and 7.6 million people died from the disease.
In the last 30 years of the 20th century the global cancer burden has doubled, and it will likely double again between 2000 and 2020 and nearly triple by 2030. Projected mortality estimates for 2030 range from just over 13 million, to 17 million people dying from the disease.
With statistics like these, how can anyone talk about cancer treatment "advances," particularly when they have completely overlooked the methods that can actually turn the cancer trend around!
Below I will review three major cancer strategies that, according to researchers' estimates, could have a FAR greater impact on cancer statistics than any cancer drug or treatment currently available.
I strongly recommend implementing these strategies rather than relying on the drug cartel to concoct "better drugs."
There is a Better Way
I am firmly convinced that you don't have to die from cancer if you follow a healthy lifestyle. I'm fairly convinced that cancer or heart disease will not be the cause of my death. If you follow these strategies and start at an early enough age your body will be able to limit the progression of any malignant cells.
We see dramatic reversals in so many people with advanced cancers that apply these strategies, but what we fail to see are the millions of miracles that occur every day that eliminate cancers that have yet to surface because the body's healthy immune response suppresses them.
Remember it is exponentially easier to prevent cancers than it is to treat them. So just what are some of these strategies that can insulate you from ever developing cancer?
Anti-Cancer Strategy #1: Optimize Your Vitamin D Levels Year-Round
It is estimated that if people around the world optimized their vitamin D levels, cancer deaths could be slashed by 30 percent -- which amounts to 2 million worldwide and 200,000 in the United States -- each year.
On a personal level, you can decrease your risk of cancer by MORE THAN HALF simply by optimizing your vitamin D levels with sun exposure! I can't think of any other strategy that can offer this level of protection. You may even be able to significantly boost your chances of survival if you already have cancer, by maintaining vitamin D levels of around 80-90 ng/ml.
Vitamin D has a protective effect against cancer in several ways, including:
•Increasing the self-destruction of mutated cells (which, if allowed to replicate, could lead to cancer)
•Reducing the spread and reproduction of cancer cells
•Causing cells to become differentiated (cancer cells often lack differentiation)
•Reducing the growth of new blood vessels from pre-existing ones, which is a step in the transition of dormant tumors turning cancerous
Vitamin D, which is created in your skin after exposure to sunshine, is even of extreme importance for preventing skin cancer. It's important to realize that the risk of skin cancer from the sun comes only from excessive exposure, which can damage your skin.
The fact is that countless people around the world have an increased risk of cancer – including skin cancer -- because their vitamin D levels are low or deficient due to lack of appropriate sun exposure...
For example, in the US, the late winter average vitamin D level is only about 15-18 ng/ml, which is considered a very serious deficiency state that can cause a wide variety of health problems, from an acute bout of cold or flu, to an increased risk for cancer, long-term.
In fact, low levels of vitamin D may increase your risk of dying from ANY illness by 150 percent!
If you still find this hard to believe, I highly recommend watching my one-hour vitamin D lecture to clear up any confusion you may have about this essential nutrient.
Anti-Cancer Strategy #2: Optimize Your Insulin Levels
Normalizing your insulin levels is yet another powerful action you can take to lower your risk of cancer.
Otto Warburg actually received a Nobel Prize in 1934 for his observation of cancer cell physiology, which clearly demonstrated that cancer cells require more sugar to thrive. Unfortunately, virtually no oncologists appreciate or apply this knowledge today.
Your pancreas releases insulin -- produced by beta cells -- after you eat carbohydrates, and this is why numerous studies have linked refined carbohydrates with cancer. Over time, if you eat too many grains and sugars, and your body is constantly releasing an abundance of insulin, your body will become resistant to it. This means you will require even more insulin to produce the same effects, and it starts you on a vicious cycle.
Many people now have insulin levels that are too high, courtesy of our modern day's sugar-laden diet and lack of exercise, and this can cause major damage to your body.
The most recognized of these is diabetes, but that is far from the only one. As Ron Rosedale, M.D. said in one of my most popular articles, Insulin and Its Metabolic Effects:
"It doesn't matter what disease you are talking about, whether you are talking about a common cold or cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis or cancer, the root is always going to be at the molecular and cellular level, and I will tell you that insulin is going to have its hand in it, if not totally control it."
The good news is that controlling your insulin levels is relatively straightforward.
First, limit your intake of processed foods, grains and sugars (particularly fructose!) as much as possible to prevent your insulin levels from becoming elevated in the first place.
Next, exercise regularly, as this will drive your insulin levels down.
Anti-Cancer Strategy # 3: Opt for a Safer, More Effective Cancer Screen
As I mentioned in the beginning, the danger inherent in radiation exposure from medical screens such as mammograms is increasingly being revealed. Yet most physicians continue to recommend yearly mammograms for women as a breast cancer screening tool.
This is to be expected, I guess, considering the fact that the American Cancer Society – one of the main proponents for mammograms -- has close financial ties to the makers of mammography equipment.
This financial bias hypes mammography, even though it is clearly a cause of breast cancer itself...
According to a recent World Wire press release:
"Routine mammography delivers an unrecognized high dose of radiation, warn Drs. Epstein and Bertell. If a woman follows the current guidelines for premenopausal screening, over a 10 year period she would receive a total dosage of about 5 rads.
This approximates the level of exposure to radiation of a Japanese woman one mile from the epicenter of atom bombs dropped on Hiroshima or Nagasaki."
The risks of mammograms far outweigh their benefit, which is why I encourage you to think for yourself and consider safer, more effective alternatives.
The option for breast screening that I most highly recommend is called thermographic breast screening, which measures the radiation of infrared heat from your body and translates this information into anatomical images.
Thermography uses no mechanical pressure or ionizing radiation, and can detect signs of breast cancer as much as 10 years earlier than either mammography or a physical exam – before a tumor has even formed!
This is made possible because it can image the early stages of angiogenesis -- the formation of a direct supply of blood to cancer cells, which is a necessary step before they can grow into tumors of size.
More men's lives could also be spared from the disease as mammography is not frequently used on men, which leads to most men with breast cancer being diagnosed at a very late stage.
To find out more about this safe and highly effective method of cancer detection, you can read my free report on the topic or visit my Thermography Diagnostics Center now.
Winning the War Against Cancer is Simpler than Anyone Might Think
There is a lot that you can do right now to significantly impact your cancer risk. Even the conservative American Cancer Society states that one-third of cancer deaths are linked to poor diet, physical inactivity, and carrying excess weight. So making healthy lifestyle changes is one of the most important ways to protect yourself from cancer.
A "cure for cancer" is not impossible -- it's mostly just common sense!
I've detailed my comprehensive list of what you can do, right now, to virtually eliminate your cancer risk many times before, but for those of you who haven't seen it, the entire list is printed at the end of this past article.
Friday, August 27, 2010
Lyme life...
Greetings to all ~
We had a fabulous trip up to Whistler, BC - amazing scenery, gorgeous views from our condo, awesome waterfalls, rivers and lakes, peaceful canoeing, a visit to Olympic Park, a spa experience, zip-lining for Erick..... it was a wonderful week! My goal is to feel well enough to zip-line next time we go back up there!
Fortunately, we had a full kitchen and cooked almost all of our meals in the condo. We stopped at the co-op on the way up and picked up fresh, organic produce. I was still getting over hives (3 weeks of non-stop fun!), and so really had to watch my eating while up there. I also spent the week ramping back up on my Salt/C intake (back up to 8 grams of each, per day), and I experienced a few aches and pains, but nothing too serious.
Since I've been home, however, the lyme bacteria have been making their presence known, and I spent the last few days herxing harder than I have in quite some time. I had kind of forgotten how awful that felt, since I was in "coast" mode during July and August with my protocol, and was feeling remarkably healthy and pain-free.
So what does this mean? It means that even though I've come a long way with the protocol, to the point of being nearly pain-free when I'm not on high levels of Salt/C, the bacteria are still very present in my system, and when challenged with the higher levels of Salt/C, they are responding to that aggressively, and also with toxic die-off symptoms. It means I must really stay the course and continue to go the distance until I can remain pretty much symptom-free over time. I'm thinking at least another year of diligence with the protocol, and then I will taper off again and see how I feel.
I've been really tired.... it's been good to catch up on sleep and rest. As much as I would like to be working more hours and bringing in more income at this point, my body is clearly letting me know that we are still very much in healing mode. As they say, patience is a virtue..... and being patient has been one of my life's lessons. I tend to want things now.....
So that's the scoop for today. Envisioning bliss and radiance surrounding us all in all that we do.
Shanti,
Sukie
ps - I'm pasting in an article that came from Dr. Mercola today that I feel is important for us all to consider.....
DOES SUGAR FEED CANCER?
Are all sugars equal in terms of the health effects they produce?
Sooner or later, science will put this debate to rest once and for all. It's already been conclusively shown that fructose, most commonly consumed in the form of high fructose corn syrup (HFCS), is FAR more hazardous to your health than regular sugar, but the corn industry still vehemently denies such claims.
Through successful PR campaigns, industry has managed to pull the wool over your eyes for some time now, but eventually even they will have to surrender to the scientific evidence...
Until then, propaganda machines like the Corn Refiners Association's site, SweetSurprise.com, will continue telling you that "research confirms that high fructose corn syrup is safe and no different from other common sweeteners like table sugar and honey. All three sweeteners are nutritionally the same," and that "though the individual sugars are metabolized by different pathways, this is of little consequence since the body sees the same mix of sugars from caloric sweeteners, regardless of source."
But are these metabolic differences of little consequence?
Far from it!
Fructose Speeds Up Cancer Growth
Research just published in the journal Cancer Research shows that the way the different sugars are metabolized (using different metabolic pathways) is of MAJOR consequence when it comes to feeding cancer and making it proliferate.
According to the authors:
" Importantly, fructose and glucose metabolism are quite different... These findings show that cancer cells can readily metabolize fructose to increase proliferation."
In this case, the cancer cells used were pancreatic cancer, which is typically regarded as the most deadly and universally rapid-killing form of cancer.
The study confirms the old adage that sugar feeds cancer because they found that tumor cells do thrive on sugar (glucose). However, the cells used fructose for cell division, speeding up the growth and spread of the cancer.
If this difference isn't of major consequence, then I don't know what is.
Whether you're simply interested in preventing cancer, or have cancer and want to live longer, you ignore these facts and listen to industry propaganda at your own risk.
How Does Sugar Feed Cancer?
Controlling your blood-glucose and insulin levels through diet, exercise and emotional stress relief can be one of the most crucial components to a cancer recovery program. These factors are also crucial in order to prevent cancer in the first place.
It may surprise you, but the theory that sugar feeds cancer was born nearly 80 years ago. Even more shocking, most conventional cancer programs STILL do not adequately address diet and the need to avoid sugars.
In 1931 the Nobel Prize was awarded to German researcher Dr. Otto Warburg, who first discovered that cancer cells have a fundamentally different energy metabolism compared to healthy cells.
Malignant tumors tend to use a process where glucose is used as a fuel by the cancer cells, creating lactic acid as a byproduct.[i] The large amount of lactic acid produced by this fermentation of glucose from cancer cells is then transported to your liver. This conversion of glucose to lactic acid generates a lower, more acidic pH in cancerous tissues as well as overall physical fatigue from lactic acid buildup.[ii] [iii]
This is a very inefficient pathway for energy metabolism, which extracts only about 5 percent of the available energy in your food supply. In simplistic terms, the cancer is "wasting" energy, which leads you to become both tired and undernourished, and as the vicious cycle continues, will lead to the body wasting so many cancer patients experience.
Additionally, carbohydrates from glucose and sucrose significantly decreases the capacity of neutrophils to do their job. Neutrophils are a type of white blood cell that help cells to envelop and destroy invaders, such as cancer.
In a nutshell, ALL forms of sugar are detrimental to health in general and promote cancer, but in slightly different ways, and to a different extent. Fructose, however, clearly seems to be one of the overall most harmful.
Connecting the Dots: Fructose—Uric Acid—Cancer and Chronic Disease Risk
One particularly interesting tidbit I noticed in this latest study is the mention of how fructose metabolism leads to increased uric acid production along with cancer cell proliferation.
In my first interview with Dr. Johnson, he explained just how detrimental the impact of fructose is on your uric acid level. Interestingly, ONLY fructose, NOT glucose, drives up uric acid as part of its normal metabolic pathways
And, the connection between fructose, uric acid, hypertension, insulin resistance/diabetes and kidney disease is so clear that your uric acid level can actually be used as a marker for toxicity from fructose -- meaning that if your levels are high, you're at increased risk of all the health hazards associated with fructose consumption and you really need to reduce your fructose intake.
For more information about this topic, please see this link.
Dr. Richard Johnson has written one of the best books on the market on the health dangers of fructose, called The Sugar Fix, which explains how fructose causes high blood pressure, heart disease, obesity, diabetes and kidney disease. As I've mentioned previously, he does promote the use of artificial sweeteners in this book, which I cannot recommend. His research on fructose, however, is unsurpassed in my opinion.
Now it's safe to say that cancer, at least pancreatic cancer, is also definitely on the list of diseases that are directly linked to excessive fructose consumption.
So are Fruits Good or Bad for You?
This recommendation has created much controversy among many who regularly consume fruit and believe this recommendation does not apply to them.
Many who eat large amounts of fruit have no symptoms, just as those with high blood pressure may not have any symptoms. However lack of symptoms is no assurance you are not exposing yourself to some danger.
Please remember that over three-quarters of the population has insulin resistance.
How do you know if you have insulin resistance? If you have any of the following conditions it is a safe bet you have it:
Diabetes
High blood pressure
Overweight
High Cholesterol
Cancer
If you have insulin resistance it would be strongly recommended to limit your total grams of fructose from fruit to below 15 grams per day (see the table below). If you believe you are very healthy and are an exception to this recommendation, then you can easily confirm if this is true for you by measuring your uric acid level.
If your uric acid level is greater than 5.5 than you have a risk factor and should limit your fructose consumption. The higher over 5.5, the stronger the risk factor is.
Keep in mind that fruits also contain fructose, although an ameliorating factor is that whole fruits also contain vitamins and other antioxidants that reduce the hazardous effects of fructose.
Juices, on the other hand, are nearly as detrimental as soda, because a glass of juice is loaded with fructose, and a lot of the antioxidants are lost.
It is important to remember that fructose alone isn't evil as fruits are certainly beneficial. But when you consume high levels of fructose it will absolutely devastate your biochemistry and physiology. Remember the AVERAGE fructose dose is 70 grams per day which exceeds the recommend limit by 300 percent.
So please BE CAREFUL with your fruit consumption. You simply MUST understand that because HFCS is so darn cheap, it is added to virtually every processed food. So even if you consumed no soda or fruit, it is very easy to exceed 25 grams of hidden fructose in your diet if you are consuming anything processed.
If you are a raw food advocate, have a pristine diet, and exercise regularly, then you could be the exception that could exceed this limit and stay healthy. But in my experience that is certainly the exception and not the norm.
So please, carefully add up your fruits based on the table below to keep the total fructose from fruit below 15 grams per day.
Fruit Serving Size Grams of Fructose
Limes 1 medium 0
Lemons 1 medium 0.6
Cranberries 1 cup 0.7
Passion fruit 1 medium 0.9
Prune 1 medium 1.2
Apricot 1 medium 1.3
Guava 2 medium 2.2
Date (Deglet Noor style) 1 medium 2.6
Cantaloupe 1/8 of med. melon 2.8
Raspberries 1 cup 3.0
Clementine 1 medium 3.4
Kiwifruit 1 medium 3.4
Blackberries 1 cup 3.5
Star fruit 1 medium 3.6
Cherries, sweet 10 3.8
Strawberries 1 cup 3.8
Cherries, sour 1 cup 4.0
Pineapple 1 slice
(3.5" x .75") 4.0
Grapefruit, pink or red 1/2 medium 4.3
Restricting Fructose Consumption is Crucial Part of a Comprehensive Cancer Treatment Plan
Reducing (or preferably eliminating) fructose and other added sugars, as well as limiting grain carbohydrates from your diet, is usually a primary priority on my list of cancer reducing strategies, and for good reason.
This dietary strategy should also be part of your comprehensive cancer treatment plan.
By severely reducing your intake of fructose and carbs in your diet, you help stave off any potential cancer growth, and "starve" any tumors you currently have.
It also bolsters your overall immune function, because sugar decreases the function of your immune system almost immediately.
Unfortunately, few cancer patients undergoing conventional cancer care in the US are offered any scientifically guided nutrition therapy beyond being told to "just eat healthy foods." I believe many cancer patients would see major improvement in their outcome if they controlled the supply of cancer's preferred fuel, glucose, and stayed clear of fructose to significantly reduce tumor proliferation.
Starving Cancer – Another Up-and-Coming Strategy
Before I go into further cancer prevention strategies, I'd like to remind you of another recent cancer research development I recently wrote about, namely 'starving' cancer by eating foods that prevent angiogenesis.
Angiogenesis (too many blood vessels) is a hallmark of cancer as the tumor actually needs blood in order to grow (this is how it feeds on the glucose in your bloodstream). But angiogenesis appears to be preventable by consuming foods that are natural inhibitors of excessive blood vessel growth.
When you regularly consume these foods, you can effectively starve any microscopic cancerous growths, effectively preventing them from growing further and becoming dangerous.
According to Dr. Li, who is currently leading this research, resveratrol from red grapes, for example, have been shown to inhibit abnormal angiogenesis by 60 percent. Even more potent is the ellagic acid found in strawberries.
Other potent anti-angiogenetic foods include:
Green tea Berries: strawberries, blackberries, raspberries, blueberries Cherries
Citrus: oranges, grapefruit, lemons Kale Turmeric
Nutmeg Artichokes Parsley
Garlic Tomato Maitake mushroom
Logically, different foods contain different potencies of anti-angiogenetic compounds. Some foods have even been found to be more potent than current anti-angiogenetic drugs! These include parsley and garlic.
But interestingly, when researchers evaluated a combination of two of the LEAST potent teas, for example, they discovered that this combination tea had greater potency than any given tea by itself.
"There's synergy," Li states, which should come as no surprise to those of you who are well-versed in holistic nutrition.
It is this synergy that makes fresh, whole foods so potently nutritious!
The sum is far greater than the individual parts, and this is why it's far more important to focus on eating a diet of whole, organic foods, rather than obsessing about individual nutrients.
Other Cancer Prevention Strategies
Aside from avoiding fructose and other added sugars (which means cutting out not only soda and sugary beverages, but also processed foods since most are loaded with HFCS), and incorporating more anti-angiogenetic fare into your diet, here are several additional strategies you can incorporate to virtually eliminate your cancer risk:
Normalize your vitamin D levels with safe amounts of sun exposure. This is one of the most effective, and least expensive, cancer prevention strategies available to most people. Ideally, you'll want to monitor your vitamin D levels to make sure your levels stay within a therapeutic range year-round.
Get appropriate amounts of animal-based omega-3 fats.
Exercise. One of the primary reasons exercise works is that it drives your insulin levels down. Controlling insulin levels is one of the most powerful ways to reduce your cancer risks.
Have a tool to permanently erase the neurological short-circuiting that can activate cancer genes. Even the CDC states that 85 percent of disease is caused by emotions. It is likely that this factor may be more important than all the other physical ones listed here, so make sure this is addressed. My particular favorite tool for this purpose, as you may know, is the Emotional Freedom Technique.
Only 25 percent of people eat enough vegetables, so by all means eat as many vegetables as you are comfortable with, preferably fresh and organic.
Ideally, you'll also want to determine your nutritional type, as some veggies are better than others, depending on your type. In addition, if you are a carb nutritional type, for example, you may need up to 300 percent more vegetables than a protein nutritional type.
Maintain an ideal body weight.
Get enough high-quality sleep.
Reduce your exposure to environmental toxins like pesticides, household chemical cleaners, synthetic air fresheners and air pollution.
Boil, poach or steam your foods, rather than frying or charbroiling them.
References
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[i] Warburg O. On the origin of cancer cells. Science 1956 Feb;123:309-14.
[ii] Volk T, et al. pH in human tumor xenografts: effect of intravenous administration of glucose. Br J Cancer 1993 Sep;68(3):492-500
[iii] Digirolamo M. Diet and cancer: markers, prevention and treatment. New York: Plenum Press; 1994. p 203
We had a fabulous trip up to Whistler, BC - amazing scenery, gorgeous views from our condo, awesome waterfalls, rivers and lakes, peaceful canoeing, a visit to Olympic Park, a spa experience, zip-lining for Erick..... it was a wonderful week! My goal is to feel well enough to zip-line next time we go back up there!
Fortunately, we had a full kitchen and cooked almost all of our meals in the condo. We stopped at the co-op on the way up and picked up fresh, organic produce. I was still getting over hives (3 weeks of non-stop fun!), and so really had to watch my eating while up there. I also spent the week ramping back up on my Salt/C intake (back up to 8 grams of each, per day), and I experienced a few aches and pains, but nothing too serious.
Since I've been home, however, the lyme bacteria have been making their presence known, and I spent the last few days herxing harder than I have in quite some time. I had kind of forgotten how awful that felt, since I was in "coast" mode during July and August with my protocol, and was feeling remarkably healthy and pain-free.
So what does this mean? It means that even though I've come a long way with the protocol, to the point of being nearly pain-free when I'm not on high levels of Salt/C, the bacteria are still very present in my system, and when challenged with the higher levels of Salt/C, they are responding to that aggressively, and also with toxic die-off symptoms. It means I must really stay the course and continue to go the distance until I can remain pretty much symptom-free over time. I'm thinking at least another year of diligence with the protocol, and then I will taper off again and see how I feel.
I've been really tired.... it's been good to catch up on sleep and rest. As much as I would like to be working more hours and bringing in more income at this point, my body is clearly letting me know that we are still very much in healing mode. As they say, patience is a virtue..... and being patient has been one of my life's lessons. I tend to want things now.....
So that's the scoop for today. Envisioning bliss and radiance surrounding us all in all that we do.
Shanti,
Sukie
ps - I'm pasting in an article that came from Dr. Mercola today that I feel is important for us all to consider.....
DOES SUGAR FEED CANCER?
Are all sugars equal in terms of the health effects they produce?
Sooner or later, science will put this debate to rest once and for all. It's already been conclusively shown that fructose, most commonly consumed in the form of high fructose corn syrup (HFCS), is FAR more hazardous to your health than regular sugar, but the corn industry still vehemently denies such claims.
Through successful PR campaigns, industry has managed to pull the wool over your eyes for some time now, but eventually even they will have to surrender to the scientific evidence...
Until then, propaganda machines like the Corn Refiners Association's site, SweetSurprise.com, will continue telling you that "research confirms that high fructose corn syrup is safe and no different from other common sweeteners like table sugar and honey. All three sweeteners are nutritionally the same," and that "though the individual sugars are metabolized by different pathways, this is of little consequence since the body sees the same mix of sugars from caloric sweeteners, regardless of source."
But are these metabolic differences of little consequence?
Far from it!
Fructose Speeds Up Cancer Growth
Research just published in the journal Cancer Research shows that the way the different sugars are metabolized (using different metabolic pathways) is of MAJOR consequence when it comes to feeding cancer and making it proliferate.
According to the authors:
" Importantly, fructose and glucose metabolism are quite different... These findings show that cancer cells can readily metabolize fructose to increase proliferation."
In this case, the cancer cells used were pancreatic cancer, which is typically regarded as the most deadly and universally rapid-killing form of cancer.
The study confirms the old adage that sugar feeds cancer because they found that tumor cells do thrive on sugar (glucose). However, the cells used fructose for cell division, speeding up the growth and spread of the cancer.
If this difference isn't of major consequence, then I don't know what is.
Whether you're simply interested in preventing cancer, or have cancer and want to live longer, you ignore these facts and listen to industry propaganda at your own risk.
How Does Sugar Feed Cancer?
Controlling your blood-glucose and insulin levels through diet, exercise and emotional stress relief can be one of the most crucial components to a cancer recovery program. These factors are also crucial in order to prevent cancer in the first place.
It may surprise you, but the theory that sugar feeds cancer was born nearly 80 years ago. Even more shocking, most conventional cancer programs STILL do not adequately address diet and the need to avoid sugars.
In 1931 the Nobel Prize was awarded to German researcher Dr. Otto Warburg, who first discovered that cancer cells have a fundamentally different energy metabolism compared to healthy cells.
Malignant tumors tend to use a process where glucose is used as a fuel by the cancer cells, creating lactic acid as a byproduct.[i] The large amount of lactic acid produced by this fermentation of glucose from cancer cells is then transported to your liver. This conversion of glucose to lactic acid generates a lower, more acidic pH in cancerous tissues as well as overall physical fatigue from lactic acid buildup.[ii] [iii]
This is a very inefficient pathway for energy metabolism, which extracts only about 5 percent of the available energy in your food supply. In simplistic terms, the cancer is "wasting" energy, which leads you to become both tired and undernourished, and as the vicious cycle continues, will lead to the body wasting so many cancer patients experience.
Additionally, carbohydrates from glucose and sucrose significantly decreases the capacity of neutrophils to do their job. Neutrophils are a type of white blood cell that help cells to envelop and destroy invaders, such as cancer.
In a nutshell, ALL forms of sugar are detrimental to health in general and promote cancer, but in slightly different ways, and to a different extent. Fructose, however, clearly seems to be one of the overall most harmful.
Connecting the Dots: Fructose—Uric Acid—Cancer and Chronic Disease Risk
One particularly interesting tidbit I noticed in this latest study is the mention of how fructose metabolism leads to increased uric acid production along with cancer cell proliferation.
In my first interview with Dr. Johnson, he explained just how detrimental the impact of fructose is on your uric acid level. Interestingly, ONLY fructose, NOT glucose, drives up uric acid as part of its normal metabolic pathways
And, the connection between fructose, uric acid, hypertension, insulin resistance/diabetes and kidney disease is so clear that your uric acid level can actually be used as a marker for toxicity from fructose -- meaning that if your levels are high, you're at increased risk of all the health hazards associated with fructose consumption and you really need to reduce your fructose intake.
For more information about this topic, please see this link.
Dr. Richard Johnson has written one of the best books on the market on the health dangers of fructose, called The Sugar Fix, which explains how fructose causes high blood pressure, heart disease, obesity, diabetes and kidney disease. As I've mentioned previously, he does promote the use of artificial sweeteners in this book, which I cannot recommend. His research on fructose, however, is unsurpassed in my opinion.
Now it's safe to say that cancer, at least pancreatic cancer, is also definitely on the list of diseases that are directly linked to excessive fructose consumption.
So are Fruits Good or Bad for You?
This recommendation has created much controversy among many who regularly consume fruit and believe this recommendation does not apply to them.
Many who eat large amounts of fruit have no symptoms, just as those with high blood pressure may not have any symptoms. However lack of symptoms is no assurance you are not exposing yourself to some danger.
Please remember that over three-quarters of the population has insulin resistance.
How do you know if you have insulin resistance? If you have any of the following conditions it is a safe bet you have it:
Diabetes
High blood pressure
Overweight
High Cholesterol
Cancer
If you have insulin resistance it would be strongly recommended to limit your total grams of fructose from fruit to below 15 grams per day (see the table below). If you believe you are very healthy and are an exception to this recommendation, then you can easily confirm if this is true for you by measuring your uric acid level.
If your uric acid level is greater than 5.5 than you have a risk factor and should limit your fructose consumption. The higher over 5.5, the stronger the risk factor is.
Keep in mind that fruits also contain fructose, although an ameliorating factor is that whole fruits also contain vitamins and other antioxidants that reduce the hazardous effects of fructose.
Juices, on the other hand, are nearly as detrimental as soda, because a glass of juice is loaded with fructose, and a lot of the antioxidants are lost.
It is important to remember that fructose alone isn't evil as fruits are certainly beneficial. But when you consume high levels of fructose it will absolutely devastate your biochemistry and physiology. Remember the AVERAGE fructose dose is 70 grams per day which exceeds the recommend limit by 300 percent.
So please BE CAREFUL with your fruit consumption. You simply MUST understand that because HFCS is so darn cheap, it is added to virtually every processed food. So even if you consumed no soda or fruit, it is very easy to exceed 25 grams of hidden fructose in your diet if you are consuming anything processed.
If you are a raw food advocate, have a pristine diet, and exercise regularly, then you could be the exception that could exceed this limit and stay healthy. But in my experience that is certainly the exception and not the norm.
So please, carefully add up your fruits based on the table below to keep the total fructose from fruit below 15 grams per day.
Fruit Serving Size Grams of Fructose
Limes 1 medium 0
Lemons 1 medium 0.6
Cranberries 1 cup 0.7
Passion fruit 1 medium 0.9
Prune 1 medium 1.2
Apricot 1 medium 1.3
Guava 2 medium 2.2
Date (Deglet Noor style) 1 medium 2.6
Cantaloupe 1/8 of med. melon 2.8
Raspberries 1 cup 3.0
Clementine 1 medium 3.4
Kiwifruit 1 medium 3.4
Blackberries 1 cup 3.5
Star fruit 1 medium 3.6
Cherries, sweet 10 3.8
Strawberries 1 cup 3.8
Cherries, sour 1 cup 4.0
Pineapple 1 slice
(3.5" x .75") 4.0
Grapefruit, pink or red 1/2 medium 4.3
Restricting Fructose Consumption is Crucial Part of a Comprehensive Cancer Treatment Plan
Reducing (or preferably eliminating) fructose and other added sugars, as well as limiting grain carbohydrates from your diet, is usually a primary priority on my list of cancer reducing strategies, and for good reason.
This dietary strategy should also be part of your comprehensive cancer treatment plan.
By severely reducing your intake of fructose and carbs in your diet, you help stave off any potential cancer growth, and "starve" any tumors you currently have.
It also bolsters your overall immune function, because sugar decreases the function of your immune system almost immediately.
Unfortunately, few cancer patients undergoing conventional cancer care in the US are offered any scientifically guided nutrition therapy beyond being told to "just eat healthy foods." I believe many cancer patients would see major improvement in their outcome if they controlled the supply of cancer's preferred fuel, glucose, and stayed clear of fructose to significantly reduce tumor proliferation.
Starving Cancer – Another Up-and-Coming Strategy
Before I go into further cancer prevention strategies, I'd like to remind you of another recent cancer research development I recently wrote about, namely 'starving' cancer by eating foods that prevent angiogenesis.
Angiogenesis (too many blood vessels) is a hallmark of cancer as the tumor actually needs blood in order to grow (this is how it feeds on the glucose in your bloodstream). But angiogenesis appears to be preventable by consuming foods that are natural inhibitors of excessive blood vessel growth.
When you regularly consume these foods, you can effectively starve any microscopic cancerous growths, effectively preventing them from growing further and becoming dangerous.
According to Dr. Li, who is currently leading this research, resveratrol from red grapes, for example, have been shown to inhibit abnormal angiogenesis by 60 percent. Even more potent is the ellagic acid found in strawberries.
Other potent anti-angiogenetic foods include:
Green tea Berries: strawberries, blackberries, raspberries, blueberries Cherries
Citrus: oranges, grapefruit, lemons Kale Turmeric
Nutmeg Artichokes Parsley
Garlic Tomato Maitake mushroom
Logically, different foods contain different potencies of anti-angiogenetic compounds. Some foods have even been found to be more potent than current anti-angiogenetic drugs! These include parsley and garlic.
But interestingly, when researchers evaluated a combination of two of the LEAST potent teas, for example, they discovered that this combination tea had greater potency than any given tea by itself.
"There's synergy," Li states, which should come as no surprise to those of you who are well-versed in holistic nutrition.
It is this synergy that makes fresh, whole foods so potently nutritious!
The sum is far greater than the individual parts, and this is why it's far more important to focus on eating a diet of whole, organic foods, rather than obsessing about individual nutrients.
Other Cancer Prevention Strategies
Aside from avoiding fructose and other added sugars (which means cutting out not only soda and sugary beverages, but also processed foods since most are loaded with HFCS), and incorporating more anti-angiogenetic fare into your diet, here are several additional strategies you can incorporate to virtually eliminate your cancer risk:
Normalize your vitamin D levels with safe amounts of sun exposure. This is one of the most effective, and least expensive, cancer prevention strategies available to most people. Ideally, you'll want to monitor your vitamin D levels to make sure your levels stay within a therapeutic range year-round.
Get appropriate amounts of animal-based omega-3 fats.
Exercise. One of the primary reasons exercise works is that it drives your insulin levels down. Controlling insulin levels is one of the most powerful ways to reduce your cancer risks.
Have a tool to permanently erase the neurological short-circuiting that can activate cancer genes. Even the CDC states that 85 percent of disease is caused by emotions. It is likely that this factor may be more important than all the other physical ones listed here, so make sure this is addressed. My particular favorite tool for this purpose, as you may know, is the Emotional Freedom Technique.
Only 25 percent of people eat enough vegetables, so by all means eat as many vegetables as you are comfortable with, preferably fresh and organic.
Ideally, you'll also want to determine your nutritional type, as some veggies are better than others, depending on your type. In addition, if you are a carb nutritional type, for example, you may need up to 300 percent more vegetables than a protein nutritional type.
Maintain an ideal body weight.
Get enough high-quality sleep.
Reduce your exposure to environmental toxins like pesticides, household chemical cleaners, synthetic air fresheners and air pollution.
Boil, poach or steam your foods, rather than frying or charbroiling them.
References
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[i] Warburg O. On the origin of cancer cells. Science 1956 Feb;123:309-14.
[ii] Volk T, et al. pH in human tumor xenografts: effect of intravenous administration of glucose. Br J Cancer 1993 Sep;68(3):492-500
[iii] Digirolamo M. Diet and cancer: markers, prevention and treatment. New York: Plenum Press; 1994. p 203
Friday, May 14, 2010
Interesting times...
There is nothing like a beautiful, sunny day to put a smile on your face. We're having a gorgeous week and I hope you are, too. I've gotta squeeze in some serious deck-time today in my lounger.... as well as a walk along the waterfront.
So... those couple of days after Mother's Day were rough, but by Wednesday I had bounced back to "normal" - whatever that really means right now. I was back to a "3" on the pain scale as opposed to a "9". What I'm really noticing is how much more resilient my body seems since I started the Salt/C protocol. I'm on my 7th week now, and I feel better overall, and when I do have a rough spot, I bounce back much more quickly. I'm been at my max dosage for a couple of weeks now - taking 10-12 salt capsules and C capsules each day (three each, four times per day). People ask me all the time if I feel bloated from the salt. The answer is NO. Using sea salt in its un-iodized, natural form doesn't seem to cause water retention for most folks. I do feel a little water-logged sometimes because when taking that much salt you do need to drink a lot of water. I drink about 16 ounces of water with each dose, and then 20-30 minutes later I drink another glass or two. And I drink water in between times, too. So right after taking the salt/C I feel full, which is a different feeling from being bloated. I still have the tiny little red dots appearing in various spots on my body, which I haven't figured out yet. They don't hurt or bother me in any way; I'll ask my doctor about them when I see her on the 27th.
I've been engaging in conversations lately with a wide variety of folks about the illnesses going on all around us. It seems like we all know several people with cancer, arthritis, or some type of immune-related disorder like fibromyalgia, lupus, lyme, MS, chronic fatigue, Epstein-Barre, etc. What I'm hearing is that most people think, as I do, that we have been way over-exposed to toxic chemicals, heavy metals, electromagnetic fields, pollution of all types, etc. for so many years now that it's becoming glaringly obvious that something is really wrong. I think most of us have known that in our hearts for a long time. It's not normal for so many people to be "sick". And we're talking about folks in their 30's, 40's and 50's, not just seniors.
A doctor I know who has cancer was recently sharing with me that when he was a youth he lived on an apple farm. When DDT came out, they started spraying their orchards with it. "We didn't know of the dangers then," he said, "We didn't wear masks or gloves or anything. Just sprayed in on the trees. Imagine how much of that stuff I breathed in and absorbed through my skin."
Last night I was speaking with a wise young man who said, "We are at the end of a 50-year experiment. It's been about 50 years since all the chemicals and pollutants came into play in a big way." His reasoning is that all we need to do is "turn the clock back" to the way things were 50 years ago. He spoke of the renaissance in consciousness that is happening on the planet; the awareness levels of people rising to meet the challenges and looking for healthier ways of life, creating win-win situations for all and respecting all of life.
I loved hearing him speak about this, for it is what I also feel. It's clear there are solutions out there. And while there are other types of things that can also be factored in to illness and disease, I think it's very clear that we have created a toxic world. Erick was talking about the recent BP oil spill possibly being the worst toxic disaster in history, to date. Things seem to really be coming to a head.... we're at a "make it or break it" point. We are either going to have a shift in consciousness that will allow us to clean up our act, or we will continue to suffer the consequences. That shift isn't coming easily.... mainly due, I believe, to our greed-and-power economy. Our large corporations won't go down without a fight, and they sure don't want their vast income streams to dry up. I could go on and on about this, but I'll stop here. I think the imbalances on the planet can tip us in either direction. I do believe we have the capability to stop it, but it will take a pretty radical change in thinking and action for those who are a part of the greed mentality. I actually find it rather fascinating to watch from a distance... whoever said "May you live in interesting times" must have been giving us a heads-up..... it doesn't get much more "interesting" than this.
If you haven't already, I hope you look into the whole issue of EMFs - electromagnetic fields. When I was first experiencing the seriousness of the lyme symptoms, I was very weak and worn-out. I was VERY sensitive to EMFs as well as all kinds of chemicals (car exhaust, household cleaners, etc.). I still am, although they don't bother me nearly as much (and of course I stay away from them). Many people are sensitive to EMFs and don't realize what the problem is. There is a lot of well-documented info out there about the dangers of cell phones, as well the EMFs in our houses and work environments. Many people don't want to hear about this, because they don't want to make changes in their lifestyles. I nearly drove Ariana crazy for a few years with all the info I gave her about cell phones. Her generation lives to talk on the phone and text message. She finally did get a phone with a headset. I'm not sure if it's the kind of headset that is safe or not, but I'm happy that she now recognizes the problem and is striving to create a safer environment for herself.
There are devices out there that measure the EMFs in homes and workspaces. I was shocked to find out that when I was Director of a local non-profit a year ago, my office was absolutely over-the-top in EMFs. We took some steps to help resolve it, but it could still use some work to bring it into true compliance (I am now a Board member with the same organization - and I no longer have to sit in that office!). :-)
There are certain rooms in our home that are higher in EMFs than others. We purchased a few Stetzerizers, which are gadgets that plug into outlets in houses and help balance and re-distribute the EMFs. I learned the importance, especially, of having these in the bedroom. Both my doctor and acupuncturist echoed the literature on this.... when we are sleeping our bodies are at their most vulnerable, energetically. We want our sleeping space to be as EMF-free as possible.
The other change we have made is to build an office behind our house for our computer, printer, fax, etc. I want the EMF-soup out of the house altogether, or at least as much as possible. We can't live without electricity very well in this day and age, but there are safe levels and un-safe levels, and I feel much better in a space that has low EMFs.
Just thought I would share in case it's something that resonates with you. I don't live in fear and I don't wish to instill fear-thinking in anyone. It's not about being afraid, it's about being informed and then taking whatever actions are needed to create a healthy environment for ourselves. Everyone is different and has their own needs.
I wish you wonderful health and unbridled joy on your journey. Thanks for checking in and following the blog.
Sukie
So... those couple of days after Mother's Day were rough, but by Wednesday I had bounced back to "normal" - whatever that really means right now. I was back to a "3" on the pain scale as opposed to a "9". What I'm really noticing is how much more resilient my body seems since I started the Salt/C protocol. I'm on my 7th week now, and I feel better overall, and when I do have a rough spot, I bounce back much more quickly. I'm been at my max dosage for a couple of weeks now - taking 10-12 salt capsules and C capsules each day (three each, four times per day). People ask me all the time if I feel bloated from the salt. The answer is NO. Using sea salt in its un-iodized, natural form doesn't seem to cause water retention for most folks. I do feel a little water-logged sometimes because when taking that much salt you do need to drink a lot of water. I drink about 16 ounces of water with each dose, and then 20-30 minutes later I drink another glass or two. And I drink water in between times, too. So right after taking the salt/C I feel full, which is a different feeling from being bloated. I still have the tiny little red dots appearing in various spots on my body, which I haven't figured out yet. They don't hurt or bother me in any way; I'll ask my doctor about them when I see her on the 27th.
I've been engaging in conversations lately with a wide variety of folks about the illnesses going on all around us. It seems like we all know several people with cancer, arthritis, or some type of immune-related disorder like fibromyalgia, lupus, lyme, MS, chronic fatigue, Epstein-Barre, etc. What I'm hearing is that most people think, as I do, that we have been way over-exposed to toxic chemicals, heavy metals, electromagnetic fields, pollution of all types, etc. for so many years now that it's becoming glaringly obvious that something is really wrong. I think most of us have known that in our hearts for a long time. It's not normal for so many people to be "sick". And we're talking about folks in their 30's, 40's and 50's, not just seniors.
A doctor I know who has cancer was recently sharing with me that when he was a youth he lived on an apple farm. When DDT came out, they started spraying their orchards with it. "We didn't know of the dangers then," he said, "We didn't wear masks or gloves or anything. Just sprayed in on the trees. Imagine how much of that stuff I breathed in and absorbed through my skin."
Last night I was speaking with a wise young man who said, "We are at the end of a 50-year experiment. It's been about 50 years since all the chemicals and pollutants came into play in a big way." His reasoning is that all we need to do is "turn the clock back" to the way things were 50 years ago. He spoke of the renaissance in consciousness that is happening on the planet; the awareness levels of people rising to meet the challenges and looking for healthier ways of life, creating win-win situations for all and respecting all of life.
I loved hearing him speak about this, for it is what I also feel. It's clear there are solutions out there. And while there are other types of things that can also be factored in to illness and disease, I think it's very clear that we have created a toxic world. Erick was talking about the recent BP oil spill possibly being the worst toxic disaster in history, to date. Things seem to really be coming to a head.... we're at a "make it or break it" point. We are either going to have a shift in consciousness that will allow us to clean up our act, or we will continue to suffer the consequences. That shift isn't coming easily.... mainly due, I believe, to our greed-and-power economy. Our large corporations won't go down without a fight, and they sure don't want their vast income streams to dry up. I could go on and on about this, but I'll stop here. I think the imbalances on the planet can tip us in either direction. I do believe we have the capability to stop it, but it will take a pretty radical change in thinking and action for those who are a part of the greed mentality. I actually find it rather fascinating to watch from a distance... whoever said "May you live in interesting times" must have been giving us a heads-up..... it doesn't get much more "interesting" than this.
If you haven't already, I hope you look into the whole issue of EMFs - electromagnetic fields. When I was first experiencing the seriousness of the lyme symptoms, I was very weak and worn-out. I was VERY sensitive to EMFs as well as all kinds of chemicals (car exhaust, household cleaners, etc.). I still am, although they don't bother me nearly as much (and of course I stay away from them). Many people are sensitive to EMFs and don't realize what the problem is. There is a lot of well-documented info out there about the dangers of cell phones, as well the EMFs in our houses and work environments. Many people don't want to hear about this, because they don't want to make changes in their lifestyles. I nearly drove Ariana crazy for a few years with all the info I gave her about cell phones. Her generation lives to talk on the phone and text message. She finally did get a phone with a headset. I'm not sure if it's the kind of headset that is safe or not, but I'm happy that she now recognizes the problem and is striving to create a safer environment for herself.
There are devices out there that measure the EMFs in homes and workspaces. I was shocked to find out that when I was Director of a local non-profit a year ago, my office was absolutely over-the-top in EMFs. We took some steps to help resolve it, but it could still use some work to bring it into true compliance (I am now a Board member with the same organization - and I no longer have to sit in that office!). :-)
There are certain rooms in our home that are higher in EMFs than others. We purchased a few Stetzerizers, which are gadgets that plug into outlets in houses and help balance and re-distribute the EMFs. I learned the importance, especially, of having these in the bedroom. Both my doctor and acupuncturist echoed the literature on this.... when we are sleeping our bodies are at their most vulnerable, energetically. We want our sleeping space to be as EMF-free as possible.
The other change we have made is to build an office behind our house for our computer, printer, fax, etc. I want the EMF-soup out of the house altogether, or at least as much as possible. We can't live without electricity very well in this day and age, but there are safe levels and un-safe levels, and I feel much better in a space that has low EMFs.
Just thought I would share in case it's something that resonates with you. I don't live in fear and I don't wish to instill fear-thinking in anyone. It's not about being afraid, it's about being informed and then taking whatever actions are needed to create a healthy environment for ourselves. Everyone is different and has their own needs.
I wish you wonderful health and unbridled joy on your journey. Thanks for checking in and following the blog.
Sukie
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