Edible Cancer Cures

There is an article on AOL today (by Prevention Magazine) about an M.D. who set out to find a cure for his cancer. He was diagnozed with a brain tumor over 15 years ago and was told by his own doctor (an oncologist) that changing his diet would NOT do him any good.


Read the article here about his journey to finding a cure and how changing his diet DID indeed help him.

This read is a wonderful example of how spices and whole foods are powerful cures.

http://www.aolhealth.com/condition-center/cancer/food-cures-healing?icid=100214839x1213442557x1200844285

Quote from article:
"I've learned that the anticancer diet is the exact opposite of the typical American meal: mostly colorful vegetables and legumes, plus unsaturated fats (olive, canola, or flaxseed oils), garlic, herbs, and spices. Meat and eggs are optional. Through extensive research, I devised a list of the most promising cancer fighters, along with recommendations on how to make the most of their potential. Include at least one, and preferably two, at every meal, to maximize your protection.

The List given in the article: (read article for more details about each)

Turmeric
Found in curry powder, this spice is the most powerful natural anti-inflammatory available today. It encourages cancer cell death, inhibits tumor growth, and even enhances the effectiveness of chemotherapy. Some research shows that turmeric is most effective in humans when it's mixed with black pepper and dissolved in oil (olive or canola, preferably). In store-bought curry mixes, turmeric represents only 20% of the total, so it's better to obtain ground turmeric directly from a spice shop.
How to Use It: Mix a teaspoon of turmeric powder with a teaspoon of olive oil and a generous pinch of ground black pepper and add to vegetables, soups, and salad dressings. Use a tablespoon if you already have cancer. If it tastes too bitter for you, add a few drops of honey or agave nectar.

And others:
Ginger

Japanese Green Tea
Sip 2 to 3 cups a day within an hour of brewing. Green tea must be steeped for at least 5 to 8 minutes -- ideally 10 -- to release its catechins, but it loses its beneficial polyphenols after an hour or two.

Pomegranate Juice
Have 8 ounces daily with breakfast.

Brussels Sprouts, Bok Choy, Chinese cabbage, Broccoli, and Cauliflower
Cover and steam briefly or stir-fry rapidly with a little olive oil. Avoid boiling cabbage and broccoli, which destroys their cancer-fighting compounds.


Garlic, Onions, Leeks, Shallots, Chives
The active compounds in garlic are released when you crush the clove, and they're much more easily absorbed if they're combined with a small amount of oil. Sauté chopped garlic and onions in a little olive oil, mix with steamed or stir-fried vegetables, and toss with black pepper and turmeric. They can also be consumed raw, mixed in salads, or layered on sandwiches.
(note: I personally have read that it is best to eat these raw.)


Soy Products
Replace conventional milk products with soy milk or soy yogurts for breakfast. Also, use tofu, tempeh, and miso in soups and stir-fries.


Fatty Fish
Have a seafood-based meal two or three times a week. Choose small fish, such as anchovies, small mackerel, and sardines (including canned sardines, provided they are preserved in olive oil and not in sunflower oil, which is too rich in pro-inflammatory omega-6 fats). Small fish contain fewer environmental toxins such as PCBs and mercury. Wild salmon is also a good source of omega-3 fats, and the level of contamination is still acceptable. Choose fresh over frozen whenever possible, because omega-3 content degrades over time.

Oranges, Tangerines, Lemons, and Grapefruit
Sprinkle grated citrus zest (from organic fruits) into salad dressings or breakfast cereals, or steep in tea or hot water. Eat whole fruits out of hand, toss with other fruits in a salad, or use in a salsa to season grilled fish.


Berries
At breakfast, mix fruit with soy milk and multigrain cereals. (The best cereal options combine oats, bran, flaxseed, rye, barley, spelt, and so on.) Frozen berries are just as potent as fresh.


Chocolate
Enjoy about one-fifth of a dark chocolate bar a day guilt free. Milk chocolate isn't a good alternative because dairy cancels out the cancer protection of the polyphenol compounds.
(note: Also check out pure raw chocolate, without the sugar, called cacao)

Read more of the article here:
http://www.aolhealth.com/condition-center/cancer/food-cures-healing?icid=100214839x1213442557x1200844285




--Stay tuned...

Ginger Healing Detox Tea

Ginger Healing Detox Tea recipe from cooking class @ the Aesthetic Acupuncture Clinic in Orlando Fl "Cooking With Turmeric"...

Ingredients:
2 c. water
1/2 tsp. powdered ginger
1/2 tsp. powdered turmeric
1 Tbsp. maple syrup
juice of 1/2 lemon

Bring water to a boil, then add powdered herbs. Simmer for 10 minutes. Strain tea into a mug. Add maple syrup and lemon, stirring to combine. Drink warm.

Haven't tried it yet, but looks delicious!


-Stay tuned...

Apple Cider Vinegar Poll

Forgive the lengthy time that has gone between now and my last post. I have been working on the final pages of a writing project (that I told myself I would finish by the end of this month, 7 days to go!) and have neglected posting the info on the ACV. For now, I wanted to at least go ahead and post the poll, to find out how you and everyone are using ACV for health. To the right is a survey on whether or not you have used ACV and how it worked for you. I have listed various ways in which people use it and also a separate question on whether or not you get benefit.

For now, some great info on ACV can be found here on one of my favorite health sites:
http://earthclinic.com/Remedies/acvinegar.html

Stay tuned....

Results of Last 2 Polls

I've just taken down the last 2 polls and am recording the results here to keep them on record.
I will be posting another poll tomorrow about the use of apple cider vinegar as a cleanser and another article on ACV. Stay tuned.


Poll 1 (ended January 31, 2008)
How much water do you drink daily? (32 votes)
0 glasses - 2%
1-2 glasses - 11%
3-4 glasses - 29%
5-8 glasses - 38%
9 or more - 17%


Poll 2 (ended January 15, 2008)
Have you tried any of the following diet/detox plans?
The Master Cleanse/Lemonade Diet - 37%
Juice Fasting - 12%
Water Fasting - 18%
Martha's Vineyard Diet Detox - 0%
Spiritual Fasting - 12%
Other Fast - 6%
Other detox - 18%
Never, but want to try - 25%
Never and never will - 0%


#

Water Rocks!!!

I know it has been a while since I have last posted. This is New Year's Eve and so I am resolving to post more the coming few months. But before I wander off to my own little personal celebration I wanted to post this to usher in the New Year. Why? Because it is so simple. I love simple cures. Simple remedies. Simple ideas. Things that are so simple that we tend to forget how transforming they can really be. Water is one of those things.

This is a post from one of my favorite posters on one of my favorite life changing forums. Thanks Cassandra for letting me post this here.


"...Ever see the movie \"defending your life\"? In it Albert Brooks character is told that the \"meaning of life is to keep getting smarter\". I have to agree. Sometimes I kick myself over how stupid I can be only to learn something that is so obvious and has been staring me in the face but I was too ignorant or resistant to change that I completely ignored it.

My whole life I never drank water. I'm not kidding. I mean I'd have water in my soda, coffee, whatever vegetables or fruit I'd eat, but never fill a glass with H20, except if I was hungover. Why? I just didn't see the point. I've always heard and rolled my eyes at the mental, digestive, health, weight benefits of drinking water, but always just thought that too was bogus. Meanwhile almost all my life I've walked around ignorantly dehydrated living on sugar, caffeine, alcohol, and preservatives. Is it any wonder I could never concentrate, dragged my ass around tired, irritated, quick tempered and lethargic. I never ever thought for a minute that I was suffering from dehydration and malnutrition. I never really believed that was a factor.

Recently I was talking with a good friend and her and her boyfriend told me they drink water constantly. Again, I rolled my eyes. I just didn't see the point. I mean I was alive so obviously I had enough to live on. I told her I thought it was B.S. and did not believe the claims that water is nothing short of miraculous.

Well for once in my life I'm thrilled to be wrong!!!!!!!!! About a week ago rather late in life (I'm very stubborn) I discovered the joys of water. I made a point to just drink and see what would happen. To be honest; I was trying to disprove my friends theory. Low and behold; I literally spang to life like the flower in the movie \"ET\" after \"ET\" touches it and the dead flower blooms. I literally WOKE UP. I felt energized, calm, clear, focused, even, relaxed, had no cravings for sugar, caffeine, or starchy foods. My moods evened out. My work improved. My mind just got in gear. The more water I drank the more I'd want. I even lost a few pounds and my tummy looks really flat! All this from water! Isn't that crazy????

I know this sounds preachy, like a P.S.A. I'm sorry to preach. I just have to shout this from the rooftops for anyone who's been feeling physically and mentally exhausted and lives on coffee and sugar and can't seem to function without it. I never thought i could either. I'm not looking to give up either 100%, but not as a mainstay anymore. The energy I was seeking is in water. I don't need the jolt of coffee when I can feel hydrated, calm, peaceful and relaxed. Water!!!!! Who Knew?????????; )..."



Until next time...

Water Cure...?

Just a little something to ponder until next time...

The Water Cure...The Body's Cries for Water

Your body and cells are only thirsty...not sick.

At least that is what F. Batmanghelidj, M.D. says.

"Who in his/her right mind would want to take toxic chemicals when all that their body needs is water -- free water -- natural water, the ultimate medication of choice to cure pain and prevent disease?" says Dr. Batmanghelidj, researcher and author of Your Body's Many Cries for Water.

Read more here:
http://www.watercure.com/medical_discovery/medical.html


stay tuned...

Three Cleansing and Detoxifying Herbs

If you have ever had a visit to a naturopath (physician that uses natural remedies) or an herbalist for any illness or ailment then you may already know that cleansing and detoxifying is number 1 in their protocol for any healing program. All the good healthy foods, exercise and positive thinking you may do means absolutely nothing if your body is toxic. Good foods can not even begin to do their job until you have first cleansed the body by eliminating excess mucus and toxins that have collected in our bodies from lifeless foods, pesticides and pollutants, etc.

There are many ways to detoxify your body using natural fruits and vegetables, however this article is about the abundance of herbs that can be made into teas (capsules are fine too, but my personal preference are teas) for cleansing and as supplements to other detoxifying and cleaning programs.

Here are quick highlights of 3 wonderful cleansing herbs for your pantry. Read more about them in the book that follows:

Dandelion (root and leaves) -
An amazing detoxifier. The dried root can be used in teas and the fresh leaves in salads. Chronic toxic conditions have been treated with dandelion, specifically dandelion root.
Dandelion is 28 parts sodium. The natural nutritive salts in dandelion purify the blood and help to neutralize the acids in the blood. It is a mild laxative, thereby cleansing the colon. Dandelion leaves are a safe and healthy diuretic, because of their potassium content. (Most diuretics cause your body to lose potassium, but dandelion leaves restore it.) Dandelion leaves improve digestion and elimination which are important factors in any cleansing program.
Dandelion root is also a well known liver tonic and cools and cleans the liver.


Plantain -
A common roadside and meadow plant you may even have some in your own backyard. Plantain was a familiar ingredient in early remedies, and many old-time herbalists believed it could cure all diseases. In medieval England, it was called slan-lus, "plant of healing".
Plantain tea is one of the best cleansers to remove toxins from the blood. (It is even used as an antidote to venom and poisons, including snake and spider bites, because of its blood cleansing properties.
Plantain is also a deobstruent, meaning it unclogs passageways, particularly lung plugs and liver obstructions (imbedded phlegm).
Plantain is a "specific" for infections and inflammations of the mucous membranes. It pulls toxins from the tissues and fights infections lingering there. It has silica to repair damaged tissue in mucous linings. It gets your body in better shape to heal itself.

Sarsaparilla -
Sarsaparilla is considered one of the best cleansing herbs for the body. Its magic comes from saponins which deep clean the body, removing toxins through the skin (by sweating), through the urine (with its diuretic nature), from the intestines (by stimulating bowel movements) and by vacating mucous from the lungs. Use as a tea.
Caution: Not recommended if you have kidney or liver weakness.
We all know sarsaparilla as one of the main ingredients in old-time root beer.


Also, a wonderful book on healing herbs is The 20,000 Secrets of Tea by Victoria Zak. Mine is worn with half the pages falling out. An engaging book for novice and seasoned herbal tea drinkers and herbal enthusiasts. You may be able to find a copy in your local library. If not, then you most definitely will find it at Amazon.

Stay tuned...