Reflecting on Your Diet and Exercise Habits
Reflecting on Your Diet and Exercise Habits Take a moment to consider your diet and exercise habits. What are you doing in your current situation? What feelings arise when you think about it? Can you acknowledge that you’re doing your best? Or do you feel guilty, ashamed, or angry about your eating habits and exercise level? Examine your situation and accept where you are. If you’re not satisfied with your efforts, consider your expectations. Are they realistic and appropriate for your circumstances? If you’re unsure or feel stuck in one way of thinking or acting, don’t hesitate to ask for help. If you’re cancer-free as you read this, prepare your body and mind for the future. This approach might help prevent cancer and will strengthen you if you ever need treatment. Medical professionals often reminded me, “Your fitness level and overall health help your body respond well to treatment.” It takes various types of stamina to endure treatment week after week, month after month. Are you unconsciously anticipating cancer’s return? This could be an subconscious decision, or it might stem from lack of focus, excessive stress, or different priorities. Are you content with your lifestyle, or are there areas you’d like to change? Seek help if needed. You deserve a healthy life, both physically and emotionally. THIS moment is always the RIGHT moment to start looking after yourself! References: Book – Jane McLelland: How to Starve Cancer without starving yourself. www.howtostarvecancer.com www.dcaguide.org https://www.webmd.com/balance/ayurvedic-treatmentshttps://www.webmd.com/balance/ayurvedic-treatments
Tina’s Personal Journey: Nutrition and Exercise During and After Cancer Treatment
Tina’s Personal Journey: Nutrition and Exercise During and After Cancer Treatment During my cancer treatment, the medical staff focused mainly on preventing weight loss. When I asked about foods to avoid, they said I could eat anything I craved, even joking that French fries were fine. Their main concern was that I ate, not what I ate. Chemotherapy can make eating difficult, let alone eating healthily. My treatment ward didn’t emphasize nutrition. I had to research on my own using leaflets and personal searches. After treatment, I delved deeper into nutrition, examining: What I ate When I ate How food made me feel During treatment, I lacked the energy for thorough nutritional research. Once cured, I asked myself: How can I prevent cancer from returning? Nutrition plays a big role in this, as well as in regaining energy. After visiting Plantation Villa in Sri Lanka, I adopted Ayurvedic eating habits. The difference was remarkable. I had more energy, didn’t need naps, could concentrate longer, many chemo side effects disappeared, and I felt great overall. Diet and emotional health are linked, and we can do much to live healthily. Some people slow cancer growth with diet and supplements; others find healing. Post-cancer, when treatment stress eases, a healthy diet can boost energy and positivity, improving life quality. During my cancer journey, I walked 6 km daily but couldn’t manage other exercises. I focused on a reasonably healthy diet, fish oil, collagen, and vitamins. Looking back, I feel I did my best with the knowledge I had. After recovery, I joined a personal training group with other breast cancer survivors. Later, I started yoga strength training, and joined a running club for beginners. It felt great to run again. References: Book – Jane McLelland: How to Starve Cancer without starving yourself. www.howtostarvecancer.com www.dcaguide.org https://www.webmd.com/balance/ayurvedic-treatmentshttps://www.webmd.com/balance/ayurvedic-treatments
Exploring Ayurveda: An Ancient Approach to Cancer Prevention and Wellness
Exploring Ayurveda: An Ancient Approach to Cancer Prevention and Wellness Ayurveda, which means ‘science of life’ or ‘knowledge of life’, is a holistic system that addresses diet, energy, mind, spirituality, and environment. This overview focuses on the dietary aspect. The main goal is to promote good health and prevent disease. While Ayurveda primarily aims to prevent illness, many people report improved health or extended lifespans after adopting this diet. Ayurveda encourages enjoying food in a calm state, rather than eating when overwhelmed by emotions. It recognizes that we’re all unique, with different needs for thriving or recovery. Ayurvedic practitioners assess each person individually to plan meals, herbs, and supplements. However, some common dietary guidelines include: Well-cooked foods (avoid processed and raw foods) Warm foods and drinks (avoid cold items) Water and herbal teas (avoid caffeine and alcohol) Ayurveda also emphasizes herbs and spices to boost natural immunity. For personalized recommendations, consult an Ayurvedic specialist. The practice suggests eating at consistent times daily to establish a good routine. It recommends three meals a day, with lunch as the largest and dinner the lightest. Staying well-hydrated throughout the day is crucial for overall well-being. References: Book – Jane McLelland: How to Starve Cancer without starving yourself. www.howtostarvecancer.com www.dcaguide.org https://www.webmd.com/balance/ayurvedic-treatments
The Power of Exercise in Cancer Prevention and Recovery
The Power of Exercise in Cancer Prevention and Recovery Exercise is crucial in ‘starving’ cancer cells. It’s not just about exercising, but also about timing. Exercise reduces cancer progression and recurrence, making it a vital part of cancer management. Jane McLelland suggests the best time to exercise is 20-30 minutes after eating. She recommends: 5 times a week for 30 minutes: • Brisk walking• Swimming• Running• Cycling• Exercise classes 3 times a week for 30 minutes: • Resistance training (weights, resistance bands, eccentric exercises) If you’re new to exercise or unwell, seek advice on how to start and progress safely. We all know exercise is important for physical and emotional well-being, but making it a habit can be challenging. If you struggle to exercise regularly, don’t hesitate to ask for help in overcoming obstacles to self-care. References:Book – Jane McLelland: How to Starve Cancer without starving yourself.www.howtostarvecancer.comwww.dcaguide.orghttps://www.webmd.com/balance/ayurvedic-treatments
Understanding Cancer Nutrition: Insights from Jane McLelland’s ‘How to Starve Cancer’
Understanding Cancer Nutrition: Insights from Jane McLelland’s ‘How to Starve Cancer’ Jane McLelland explains how she developed her own cancer-starving strategy. She developed her cancer-starving strategy after her mother’s death from cancer. During her mother’s illness, she began researching what cancer cells need to thrive and what nutrients can prevent their spread. This research became the foundation for her book, her personal cancer-free strategy, and her own recovery. For years, doctors misdiagnosed McLelland. Eventually, they found she had stage IV cervical cancer that had spread to her lungs. They told her it was terminal. But McLelland combined conventional treatments with her own strategy and became cancer-free. The book is science-based and explains how the body works, how cancer cells grow and spread, and what’s needed to starve them. It’s a detailed read, so if time is short, consider seeking local resources. McLelland’s work is inspiring and scientifically sound. Look for a local expert in cancer nutrition and supplements, or search online. If you’re low on energy, ask for help from friends, family, hospital staff, or charities. McLelland’s main point is that it’s all about metabolism. Different cancers thrive on different metabolic pathways. We need to tailor our diet and supplements to the specific type of cancer. Lifestyle changes are as crucial as medical treatment. Expert advice may be necessary here. McLelland believes we have access to the right ‘off-label’ drugs and supplements to beat cancer. It’s about finding the right combination at the right time. There’s no one-size-fits-all approach, so professional help might be needed if you lack the necessary knowledge. Some basics: Eat a low glycemic index diet Avoid high levels of dairy, meat, and sugar Avoid inflammatory foods Skip processed foods Try short-term fasting; it slows glucose uptake Include juicing Drink green tea Jane’s top cancer-starving supplements: Quercetin Berberine Vitamins C and D Curcumin EGCG (green tea extract) Niacin Sea buckthorn oil Bergamot Artemisinin (pulsed) Silibinin Polydatin Indole-3-carbinol Ursolic acid Sodium selenite Hydroxycitrate Omega 3 and 7 Luteolin McLelland’s website lists doctors worldwide who follow her approach. If you find it confusing or time-consuming to figure out yourself, contact a doctor from her list for help. References: Book – Jane McLelland: How to Starve Cancer without starving yourself. www.howtostarvecancer.com www.dcaguide.org https://www. webmd.com/balance/ ayurvedic-treatments
Cancer recovery – where the shift happened
Cancer recovery – where the shift happened Trip to ‘Plantation Villa’, Kalutara, Sri Lanka – 2023 I got the all clear from Cancer March 2023, but still couldn’t really find myself after the treatments ended. I was tired, lacked the impulses to get things done, my body was hurting, especially my feet and back. Getting into a routine again and starting work again was essential for me but I still wasn’t feeling great. So I did one of the best things I have ever done. I booked a 10 days detox retreat in Plantation Villa. Reading about the Owner (Ishara De Silva) and her Cancer journey convinced me to go. It was a remarkable trip that made a significant and much needed change in me. In plantation Village we are back to nurturing our basic needs: Healthy food and drinks, healthy human connections, touch (massage), exercise, rhythm and routines, nature and sounds from nature – A no-stress place!. It was like being in an Avatar movie, the colors and sounds there were therapy in itself. The staff, who are mainly local people, all do their utmost to make you feel welcome and nurtured. The yoga and meditation Teacher, Bernardo is outstanding in skills and presence. It was like his presence opened a door into myself, a door I had been looking for or couldn’t find the key to. He is such an inspiration because he dares to talk about what is important in life. Some people talk and you don’t really listen, but with Bernardo you listen and hear even when he doesn’t talk. My schedule at Plantation Villa: Yoga session 06:30-07:30 Breakfast 07:30 Treatments 10:00-12:00 Lunch 12:30 Yoga 17:00-18:00 Meditation 18:00-18:30 Dinner 18:30 All meals in Plantation Villa are Ayurvedic meals, there is no coffee, no sugar, no gluten, no animal products, no cold food or drink (room temperature) and very limited wifi. This was just what I needed – healthy, plant based food served at exactly the same time each day. On top of that I took all the prescribed supplements the Ayurvedic Doctor had lined up for me. Rhythm and routines are very important when nurturing our basic needs. We often use the wrong food/drinks, work and ‘wifi’ to calm our system so we can’t feel how we truly are feeling. Well, take all the junk away and you will feel what you feel, and when you dare to stay with what you are feeling, it will shift. The first 5 days were not easy as I was detoxing, but on the 4th day it all started to shift. I felt so much better physically and emotionally. My energy level raised, my body started being flexible and pain free again and my emotional ups and downs had gone. The trip was such a turn around for me in my recovery from Cancer. When I returned home I kept up as many routines as possible and I am still feeling great. We all need to take breaks and fuel our body and mind with good nurturing food, sun, exercise and lovely people. Cutting out processed food and sugar has made a big difference for me post Cancer. A healthy life is many things and sometimes we just need to get away and let somebody else serve us, just like we are serving others in our everyday life. www.plantationvilla.com A power meal to start my day.