LIVING AN EXCEPTIONAL LIFE #75

By Rhonda Jones

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Across the nation, people will be seen wearing pink ribbons and carrying signs to honor friends and family who have been lost to this scary disease.

My own mother developed breast cancer in her mid-70s. She had decided not to have any more mammograms, but after two years, she changed her mind, and the cancer was detected. It was very small, and minor surgery was performed to remove the tumor. She had some radiation treatments and was declared free of cancer, and, indeed, she lived another 15 years cancer-free. She was one of the lucky ones.

Breast cancer—any cancer—strikes terror when the doctor reveals that it is present. Early detection is critical in finding cancer and eradicating it from the body before it does harm. Regular check-ups and cancer screenings are important for everyone. Additionally, there are steps we can take to reduce our risk of developing cancer.

I was thrilled several months ago to learn that the American Medical Association now endorses a whole-food, plant-exclusive diet for breast cancer patients. They have found that eating plants may have a significant impact in slowing down the growth of cancer. This was an encouraging statement from the AMA, which lends credibility to the plant-exclusive diet.

The other recommendation is to eat a diet rich in soy, as soy can also slow the progression of cancer and help prevent or greatly reduce the risk of getting all types of cancer.

Soy has been praised and maligned for many years. Many people claim to be allergic to soy, yet only one in 2,000 people actually has a true allergy to soy. Many more people have allergies to milk and milk products than to soy.

Soy has phytoestrogens and selective estrogen receptors that can actually decrease the incidence of endometrial, ovarian, and breast cancers by 30 percent. Soy can improve menopause symptoms and has actually been shown to protect bone mineral density. Some may even improve their bone density by simply drinking one glass of soy milk a day or consuming one serving of edamame or tempeh daily. Increasing or lessening bone loss also decreases the chances of fractures.

A diet rich in fruits, vegetables, leafy greens, beans, nuts, and soy products is the best way to prevent or treat cancer. When cancer is present, consuming raw fruits and vegetables, as well as raw juices, can help slow the progression of cancer. And soy products are essential. If you do have cancer, talk to your doctor about a plant-exclusive diet.

It is a good idea to start incorporating soy into your diet now, and it is easy to do. I do recommend eating soy as unprocessed as possible. Soy protein powders and protein bars containing soy protein isolate are not the best choices.

Try a tofu scramble for breakfast. Simply water sauté some onions, bell pepper, celery, and whatever veggies you want to include. Then crumble a block of soy (drained) into the mixture. I add garlic powder, salt substitute, smoked paprika, black pepper, or whatever spice sounds good, and then cook the mixture until it browns a bit. Add turmeric for color, and you will swear it is scrambled eggs.

Make a chocolate pudding with one box of silken tofu, two tablespoons of cocoa powder, one teaspoon of vanilla, and 1/3 cup of maple syrup. Mix in a blender and chill. Serve with fresh berries, and it is great.

Add soy milk to your coffee, morning cereal, or oatmeal to start the day.

Start now to decrease your risk of cancer. You will be glad you did.