I couldn’t possibly let the whole entire month go by (aka Breast Cancer Awareness Month) without a post on holistic tips for preventing breast cancer. There are simple things you can do to prevent cancer and keep the girls happy.
So much emphasis is put on “finding a cure” in our society. Don’t get me wrong here, I’m not against finding a cure. But let’s face it, there are so many risk factors that we must pay attention to and minimize to reduce our risk. We can start by taking better care of ourselves and the 2 feet around us. Here’s my top 10:
1. Reduce your exposure to xenoestrogens. These chemicals with estrogen-like activity are found in common pesticides found on fruits and veggies, industrial pollutants and as hormone residues in meat, poultry and dairy products.
2. Avoid canned foods. Bisphenol A is a chemical used in the lining of cans and a known hormone disruptor. Only use canned foods in an absolutely emergency. Eat real food!
3. Eat your veggies, especially the cruciferous kind. Broccoli, caulifower, kale, brussels sprouts, cabbage all fall into this family and research shows that a chemical called sulforaphane targets and kills cancer stem cells and prevents new tumours from starting. As well, these veggies are all hormonally balancing due to indole-3-carbinol, yet another reasons to eat them!
4. Dry skin brush. Not just because it’s invigorating and uplifting, but it’s healthy for your girls! Dry skin brushing stimulates the lymphatic system which is so very intimately connected with your immune system. A strong healthy body with an efficiently functioning immune system is better equipped to ward of disease.
5. Drink green juice, a green smoothie or lemon and water. Every single morning on an empty stomach. Greens and lemon both have incredible liver detoxifying properties. Your liver has over 500 functions and one very important job is to get rid of toxins from your cosmetics, pollutants you breathe in, bad fats. Give you liver a little love and support by starting the morning off right, (instead of shocking it with coffee), energize and revitalize with any one of the above 3!
6. Eliminate processed foods. I have written extensively about this on my blog, so I encourage you to take a look around at my recipes and learn more about what eating real foods means. I’m not insulting your intelligence here, but I will tell you when I go to the grocery store, that 90% or higher of what the average person buys has been so modified from it’s original state that it barely resembles food anymore and this means that foods are being fortified (yes, they are refined and processed so much so, that the goodness needs to be artificially added back in).
Whole grains don’t come in a box, they come in bulk. Real food doesn’t need a health claim – have you ever seen the produce section with signs that read: “Hello there, I’m an apple! I will prevent asthma, keep your heart healthy, clean your liver”. No way! The aisles with packaged foods scream: “Zero trans fat, high fibre, lower your cholesterol”. Real food doesn’t need a health claim, end of story. Here’s a list of a real food grocery list: http://www.thatsfit.ca/2010/09/15/real-food-shopping-list/
7. Avoid excess alcohol. More than 4 servings of alcohol per week increases breast cancer risk. The risk is especially higher when several drinks are consumed at one time. So those weekend parties are not going to help your girls one bit.
8. Sleep in complete darkness. Melatonin is the hormone released only when we sleep in pitch black. It is very protective agent against breast cancer. If your bedroom isn’t dark enough, get yourself an eye mask.
9. Let the girls free! Don’t wear underwire bras. The underwire may compress the lymphatic drainage of the breast. While it’s not supported by scientific studies, there is still suggestion that the two may be linked. Why risk it? And of course, never ever wear a bra to bed.
10. Take your vitamin D supplement daily. I’m proud to say the research that came out of my hometown University of Toronto proves vitamin D supplementation reduces your risk for breast cancer. In fact, a quote from one of the researchers said this: Vitamin D could eradicate breast cancer”. That’s a pretty bold statement. How much D? Ask you qualified nutritional practitioner or Naturopathic doctor. Or get sunshine on your beautiful face every single day.
What is your healthy boob tip? Please share with everyone and tell us how you love your boobs and keep them healthy!
I want this post to empower you and inspire you to take charge of your health. Remember it’s the little things you do every day, from the food you eat to the thoughts you manifest that will promote disease or health. My heart goes out to anyone who has lost someone from breast cancer and I don’t want that to be you. Take care of you and incorporate these tips starting today.
I think I’m set! I follow all of your tips already
I love the green smoothie!! I just didn’t think of green as that delicious before….especially having kale which always reminds me of bitterness.
Thank you, Joy!
I drink it everymorning for my lovely liver
My tip? Don’t wear a bra to bed – it cuts off circulation which promotes cysts and stagnation. For this reason, breast massage is also excellent.
Great tip – that sounds really uncomfortable too! I couldn’t imagine keeping the girls in a prison all night!
Superb blog post, I have book marked this internet site so ideally I’ll see much more on this subject in the foreseeable future!
Great blog! I like how everything is well written. I will be back to check for new posts. Thanks!!
To support breast health, have them massaged. Women can do this themselves or request it as part of their treatment plan from a Registered Massage Therapist (RMT). It promotes circulation (including lymphatic circulation) and by treating muscles of the chest it can help address breast pain which tends to originate from muscle, not the breast tissue.
Also moisturizing them with a non-toxic moisturizer.
I heard that if I don’t wear a bra all the time my boobs will fall! Is that true?
Absolutely not true!