I know I have touched on nutrition previously, but I wanted to get a little deeper into this as I explore the vast amount of information circulating on how you eat to fight. Overall, I have shifted to a primary diet of lean protein (fish, chicken, turkey) and lots of veggies and fruits. I feel it’s a lot easier to eat healthy when it’s not about weight anymore. It’s about your life being dependent on it. In addition to the overall diet overhaul, I figured I would share some of the power foods that are a must. This is not only valuable in fighting the “C” word, but also in preventing it as it helps promote healthy cell division.
Cruciferous Vegetables: Hope you like you broccoli and cauliflower. These bad boys activate enzymes that detox carcinogens and reduce inflammation. If you are not a fan of the old-fashioned steamed version, you can make some great soups with these. Soups are easy to freeze in serving sizes for easy lunch grabs.
Berries and Watermelon: Antioxidants from berries are key in fighting “C” cell growth and they also support your overall immune system. Watermelon is high in lycopene which helps neutralize free radicals. Watermelon is also great for hydration.
Walnuts: These are my friend Katie’s favorite on my list, and she has now been throwing them in her cart as well. Studies have shown that walnut consumption can slow the growth of “C” cells, inducing apoptosis in breast tumors. They are also a natural source of melatonin. Sleep is also super important in healing.
Flaxseed: I grind these up daily in my morning shakes. The lignans in flaxseeds effect hormones like estrogen by binding to receptors and interfere with growth signals that promote “C” cell division.
Green Tea: Get in three cups of this a day. The catechins inhibit “C” cell growth and reduce tumor spread. This does have caffeine, so be mindful of when you drink it.
Red Beets: It is shown that beets can slow down the growth of “C” cells or induce “C” cell death, reducing tumor size. As you can see below, I have mastered a tolerable version of blueberry, beet, and watermelon juice for the morning. It takes some courage to get it down, but the benefits are worth it.
Protein is most definitely your friend per the doctor. My target is about 70g per day. I have been instructed to drink three shakes a day for seven days prior to surgery, and five days after surgery. This will help optimize my recovery time. My supply is lined up and ready. Bottoms up!
Of course there are many other power foods out there, such as carrots and leafy greens. I do incorporate those as well, but the ones above are the power foods I have intentionally made sure in incorporate into my diet as much as possible.
You will adhere to a healthy diet more consistently if you plan ahead and meal prep in small portions for easy grab and go. If you don’t put the time into this, you’ll tend to stray due to convenience. If I do have to eat on the run, I look for the healthiest option I can find on the menu. I know most say that the “not go good” stuff can be eaten in moderation, but until this thing has been formally evicted April 15th, I don’t want to give it any chance to keep growing.
Monday is MRI day. I will get a bilateral view with and without contrast to make sure we have not missed anything in the mammographic imaging and ultrasound. If you have never seen it, they put you face down in this fancy contraption and slide you into a tiny tube. The prep with IV is about thirty minutes, and the scan takes about an hour to complete. I am sure drinking a bunch of liquids ahead is strongly discouraged, and I always get itchy every time I lay on my stomach. I am sure this will be no sweat right? After the MRI, I will grab some pre-op bloodwork to make sure I am healthy as an ox.
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