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Broccoli and Watercress Sprouts Fight Cancer

In Alternatives Cancer Treatment, Alternatives to Anti-Hormone Therapy For Breast Cancer, Alternatives to Hormone Therapy for Breast Cancer, Alternatives to Tamoxifen, Anticancer diet, Anticancer foods, foods for colon cancer, foods for breast cancer, antioxidants, aromatase inhibitors, Books for Cancer Patients, Breast Cancer, Cancer, Cancer Coach, cancer stem cells and recurrence, colon cancer, COVID-19, Integrative Oncology, Iodine, Natural Aromatase Inhibitors, prostate cancer, Uncategorized on March 28, 2020 at 9:12 am

[Editor’s note] This post was originally published in February 2017. It has been updated and republished in March 2019

It is well known that cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli and watercress contain powerful anticancer compounds. But did you know that eating their respective sprouts can supercharge the health benefits? Sprouts are high in vitamins C, A, and phytonutrients that support the immune system.

In sprout form these little three to four day old plants contain almost 100 times the level of cancer-fighting sulforaphane than the mature plants. The phytonutrients in these sprouts up-regulate antioxidant enzymes and detoxification processes which clear toxic compounds from the body. And, that is just the beginning—read on to find out how sprouts knock the socks off cancer.

 What’s in a Sprout

Isothiocyanates (ITCs), such as sulforaphane, are sulfur-containing compounds found in cruciferous vegetables. They support matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) activity which reduces the breakdown of connective tissue within a cell that impede the expansion of existing tumors. Matrix MMP-9 plays important roles in tumor invasion and angiogenesis. Secretion of MMP-9 has been reported in various cancer types including lung, colon, and breast cancer.

ITCs also kill off cancer cells, including cancer stem cells, which is essential for combating cancer metastases. Isothiocyanates restrain certain pro-inflammatory compounds that are associated with chronic inflammation and cancer.

The ITC sulforaphane helps support the anti-inflammatory Nrf2 pathway which protects cells against oxidative and free radical activity. It supports the detoxification process by inducing Phase 2 detoxification enzymes, inhibiting the activation of pro-carcinogens, and  by boosting cellular glutathione levels.  Sulforaphane promotes cancer cell death and inhibits cancer cell proliferation. It also supports the immune system and in particular, increases Natural Killer Cell activity.

Sulforaphane also inhibits Helicobacter pylori, the bacterium that increases one’s risk of stomach and colorectal cancer.  It is also anti-viral and has been found effective against the Epstein Barr Virus and may be helpful against Coronavirus (COVID-19).

Quercetin, another potent antioxidant highly concentrated in sprouts, is a strong anti-inflammatory and prevents tumor cell growth.  It also aids in the removal of excess estrogen from the body — it stimulates liver function to detoxify estrogen and other carcinogenic agents.

Lutein is another powerful antioxidant that neutralizes cancer-causing free radicals (it is also essential for many things, including eye health, protecting against macular degeneration, and for maintaining strong eye tissue). Lutein (and zeaxanthin) may be beneficial to cardio health by preventing hardening of the arteries.

Glutathione has been labeled the ‘mother of all antioxidants” due to its incredible ability to disarm free radicals, detoxify the body, and boost the immune system.

Broccoli Sprouts

broccoli-sproutsBroccoli sprouts are extremely high in cancer fighting activity, particularly against lung, colon, and breast cancers. Compounds in broccoli speed up the removal of estrogen from the body, helping to suppress breast cancer. They also target cancer stem cells, the cells responsible for metastasis.

Broccoli sprouts contain a high amount of the cancer-busting and immune boosting substance sulforaphane. They are also abundant in quercetin, glutathione, beta carotene, indoles, vitamin C, lutein, glucarate, and the metabolic substance DIM, which is a natural aromatase inhibitor.

Broccoli sprouts are rich in cholesterol reducing fiber and have anti-viral and anti-ulcer activity. They are also a super source of chromium that helps regulate insulin and blood sugar.

 

Watercress Sproutswatercress-sprouts

Sometimes called peppergrass, watercress is delicious and pungent. It is also one of the most nutrient-dense foods known. It is rich in beta-carotene and other carotenoids, including lutein. Watercress also offers significant quercetin, EGCG (Epigallocatechin Gallate), flavanols such a kaempferol, lycopene, indole-3 carbinol (13C), sulforaphane, as well as DIM. It is a good source of riboflavin, vitamin C, A and K, calcium, magnesium, vitamin E, and contains trace amounts of omega 3’s. Watercress is one of the best food sources of iodine for vegans.

Watercress also contains a high amount of PEITC (phenylethylisothiocyanate) which has been shown to protect DNA from damage. PEITC reduces the growth of breast cancer cells, triggers apoptosis (cancer cell death), and decreases angiogenesis. It inhibits the growth of HER2 expression as well as cancer metastasis.

PEITC (also found in some other cruciferous vegetables, including broccoli) deactivates mutant p53 in tumor cells but leaves normal p53 alone. P53 regulates cell division by keeping cells from growing and dividing too fast or in an uncontrolled way. A mutation in p53 is a permanent change in the nucleotide sequence of DNA. Loss of p53 function can be deleterious, and about 50% of all human cancers have a mutated p53 gene.

Watercress has antioxidant, antigenotoxic (the process by which chemical agents damage genetic information within a cell causing mutations), and anti-inflammatory properties.

Studies show that a regular intake of watercress has been associated with protection against breast, colon, and other cancers.

Watercress and broccoli affect all stages of cancer: initiation, proliferation, and metastasis. So, what’s not to love about these sprouts? Plus, it is a lot easier to consume a handful of sprouts than it is to down a pound and a half of broccoli or an enormous plate of watercress– which, for example,  is the amount it would take to get an equivalent amount of sulforaphane.

Add sprouts to your smoothies; use on sandwiches, on top of pizza, in salads, and as a garnish for soups. I make wonderful gluten-free pizza crusts using cauliflower or garbanzo bean flour, and pile the pizza high with arugula and sprouts just before serving.  Yum!

Just a reminder that while  eating cruciferous vegetables is a important for overall optimal health, it may support you during the COVID-19 pandemic. Choose to consume cruciferous vegetables (broccoli, Brussels sprouts, radish, and kale). It is necessary to have sufficient iodine in the diet when consuming high quantities  (including DIM).

Can’t find sprouts locally or worried about others handling your raw vegetables?  Grow your own. You can grow your own sprouts and now it is easier than ever (no changing the water several times a day, just add water to the tray day one and done. Here is my first tray of Hamama salad green sprouts.. Next up are broccoli sprouts.  Order your own Hamama sprout kit.

Hamama Sprouts

Hamama Salad Green Sprouts

Here is a great book if you wish to learn more about growing your own sprouts: Year-Round Indoor Salad Gardening: How to Grow Nutrient-Dense, Soil-Sprouted Greens in Less Than 10 days

Curcera-SGS is an excellent supplement if you cannot find or grow broccoli sprouts.

In your everlasting good health,

Elyn

~~If you don’t know your options, you don’t have any~~

Elyn Jacobs is a breast cancer survivor and holistic cancer strategist who helps people make better, healthier, non-toxic choices. She emphasizes the critical nature of addressing the root cause of cancer and not just its presenting symptoms (such as the tumor). Elyn specializes in understanding the role of estrogen in breast cancer and debunks the myths associated. She is a Contributing Editor for The Truth About Cancer and was creator and host of the Survive and Live Well Radio Show on the Cancer Support Network. Elyn is on the Medical Advisory Board for BeatCancer.Org and is on the Advisory Board to the Radical Remission Project. Elyn was the former Executive Director of the Emerald Heart Cancer Foundation. Contact Elyn via her website. Elyn offers consults via Skype, phone or in person.

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 DISCLAIMER:
Elyn Jacobs does not provide medical advice. The information provided is for general information only. No online site should be used as a substitute for personal medical attention.

This information is for educational purposes only and is not a recommendation to forgo medical advice and treatment.  This post is not intended to treat, cure, prevent, or diagnose any disease or condition. This post does not represent medical advice nor should it be considered to be medical advice or a replacement for medical advice.  I encourage you to discuss this information with your integrative oncologist, naturopathic doctor, or conventional oncologist. The information provided is from my research and not to be taken as scientific evidence.

Affiliate Links Disclosure:

Some product links on some posts are affiliate links. This website is monetized in part through the use of affiliate links. This means that if you were to click on a link that is an affiliate link and purchase an item after clicking on that link, I may receive a small percentage of the sales price. I only recommend products that I love and use often. Thank you for your support!

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You Can Beat Lung Cancer: Using Alternative Interventions

#1 Best Seller on Amazon for Lung Cancer Books

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Why Cancer Returns

In Affirmations, Alternative Cancer Therapies, Books for Cancer Patients, Breast Cancer, Cancer, Cancer Coach, cancer stem cells, chemotherapy, Emotional Healing, Energy Healers, Epstein-Barr Virus, Healing Cancer Naturally, Mind Body Therapies for Cancer, Uncategorized on February 10, 2020 at 2:54 pm

Cancer returns because treating cancer typically does not resolve the reasons for the cancer. 

Cancer returns because often the treatments for cancer spread the cancer.

Cancer returns because your MIND could be making you sick or believes you want to be sick.

Cancer Treatment Does Not Resolve the Reasons for the Cancer

German scientist and physician R.G. Hamer, founder of Germanic New Medicine, did considerable research in the field of psychosomatic cancer therapy. He examined some 20,000 cancer patients with all types of cancer and discovered that every cancer in the body has a different emotional cause. He believed that cancer occurs when an individual suppresses for long periods toxic negative emotions (primarily anger, hate, resentment and grief). This creates cell changes within the body leading to cancer.  There is a strong correlation between emotional patterns and the progression of cancer.

     “Cancer does not begin in the body; cancer begins in the brain”  R.G.Hamer

The power of repressed emotions, anger, and resentment as well as a lack of self-love is not to be overlooked in the creating and healing of our cancer. Emotional challenges can develop into physical ones. Emotions not expressed in words or actions find expression in physical ailments.

When I discuss the past with my clients, there is always the ‘ah-ha’ moment when he or she looks at me and says “yep, that’s me”, and this applies to cancers across the board. So much of healing comes from inside, by healing past hurts. It is therefore critical to uncover and release these toxic negative emotions (or relationships) in order to heal  and reduce the risk of the return of cancer.

There are many ways to heal the mind. EFT tapping, EMDR, psychotherapy, the Emotion Code and the Healing Code are a few suggestions.

           Epstein Barr Reactivation and Cancer

Scientists now know how viruses such as Epstein Barr (EBV) reprogram healthy cells into cancer cells. It has become clear that EBV is involved with most cancers, especially for those who have impaired immune system (if you have cancer, that is likely the case). It seems that a protein component of the virus itself (Latent Membrane Protein 2A) promotes the development of cancer.[i] EBV infects the cell-signally mechanism of B cells. As a result, these cells have a greater chance of transforming into cancer cells.[ii]   

Thankfully, more and more oncologists are now testing for EBV reactivation. If yours has not, you might request it and follow the recommendations on my EBV page.

Cancer Treatments Spread Cancer

Cancer Surgery

Although surgical removal of tumors can reduce tumor load, it has long been acknowledged that the surgery itself may precipitate or accelerate tumor recurrence.

Cancer surgery can be curative in some cases, but other times it can actually activate tiny, distant tumors that had been held in check by the immune system. (Note: biopsies can also spread cancerous cells). In many cases micrometastases from a primary tumor have traveled long before that tumor was detected.

Therefore when your surgeon says “We got it all”, that might not be the case.

    “Surgery promotes the growth of micrometastatic and residual disease.”[vii]

Metastatic cancer cells that leave the primary tumor can form clinically undetectable micrometastases at distant sites. A study published in Science Translational Medicine found that “About 35% of women diagnosed with breast cancer already have thousands of micrometastases, but only half of them eventually develop metastatic, life-threatening cancer.”[iii] In those who do not go on to develop metastatic breast cancer, the body’s cell-killing white blood cells known as CD8+T cells have been able to eliminate the cancerous cells.  

The researchers found that “surgical wounding”, either through biopsy or surgery, can promote the growth of these metastasized cancer cells. The scientists labeled this as “surgery-driven interruption of dormancy in breast cancer.”[iv]They found that surgical wounding triggers a substantial increase in the outgrowth of previously immunologically restricted tumors. Their results indicate that systemic inflammation initiated as part of the wound-healing process contributes to distant recurrence.

The research, performed at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Department of Surgery, concluded that “Surgery which is intended to be a curative option to remove and reduce tumor mass, can paradoxically also augment development of metastases.”[vi]

As a cancer and wellness coach, I can not advocate for taking damaging NSAIDS or aspirin used in the study (aspirin being the lesser of the two evils, but taken routinely can damage the stomach lining). There are many non-toxic, safer ways to target inflammation and help prevent the immune system from letting down its anti-cancer guard (such as curcumin, but a comprehensive protocol would be optimal).

 Chemotherapy and Radiotherapy

While doctors often recommend chemo and radiation to target stray cancer cells, they are toxic to healthy cells. Further, increasing evidence suggests that chemotherapy and radiation can promote cancer, fueling metastasis and making malignant cancer stem cells (CSCs) more aggressive.[viii]

Cancer stem cells are virtually resistant to chemo and radiation, and are often responsible for drug resistance, tumor recurrence, and the progression of cancer.

Normal stem cells are capable of self-renewal and multi-differentiation. Cancer stem cells are no different. They have the ability to reconstitute tumors and proliferate slowly. Cancer recurrence and progression are often due to the fact that therapies are aimed at the tumor bulk without targeting CSCs. [ix]  (For more information, including recommendations for targeting CSCs, see my articles on CSCs, links to which are in the footnotes below).

The Mind is the Healer, The Mind is the Killer   

No matter what you believe in, know this — the mind is powerful.

Having faith in your chosen therapy is very, very important. Whether it is chemo, radiation or any of the plethora of holistic remedies, you must believe in it and do it 100%. If you allow fear to get the better of you, if you are in a state of panic, it is almost impossible to make good choices. Importantly, if you remain in a state of panic, it will not matter what therapy you choose, the cancer may win.

The worst scenario is when there is doubt and becoming overwhelmed by all the choices. Choose something and just DO IT. People who jump from one thing to another just end up in a perpetual state of anxiety, and the result is rarely good.

The late Dr. Nicolas Gonzalez wrote an excellent article Four Reasons Why Cancer Patients Routinely Die. He spoke about how panic, inability to make a decision, the Myth of Authority, and the Myth of Credentials make it very difficult to survive.[x] I cannot stress how important it is to choose a treatment plan and believe in it.   

        “The Mind is the Healer, The Mind is the Killer”  Ze’ev Kolman  

The mind is more powerful than the body. The cancer may return because the mind believes you want to be sick.

The Mind is the Healer the Mind is the KillerHealer Ze’ev Kolman wrote the book, The Mind is the Healer, The Mind is the Killer. In it he details how the mind can heal you and how the mind can destroy you. Everything you think, say, and write makes a difference in your healing. Say and think only positive thoughts, affirm that you are happy, healthy, and worthy of love.

Even cancer lingo can hinder life. For example, the word ‘remission’ implies you are expecting the cancer to return. When you focus on recurrence, cancer has a better chance to revisit you. When you believe you can heal, or  have healed, you have a better chance of doing so. Conversely, if you believe you will not survive, likely you will not.

There are many reasons why cancer returns. Cancer is not a battle, we don’t ‘fight’ cancer or conquer it.  We heal from it. We make the necessary changes and correct the imbalances to alter the terrain to one inhospitable to cancer. 

As Albert Einstein so correctly said, you can’t keep doing the same things and expect different results. Cleaning up our diet, detoxifying, and avoiding cancer-promoting substances and activities is critical. However, it is not always about what you are eating, but what is eating you. Emotional toxins, fear, and past traumas are often the issue and can be the biggest hurdle.

So what can you do about your mind, CSCs and mircomets from surgery? There are plenty of supplements and foods that improve immune function and target cancerous cells. Healers and therapists can help with the traumas (see the suggestions above). If you would like to discuss your options to reduce the risk of your cancer returning, please request a consult.

In your everlasting good health,

Elyn

~~If you don’t know your options, you don’t have any~~

ej portrait 150res for PrueElyn Jacobs is a breast cancer survivor and holistic cancer strategist who helps people make healthier, less-toxic choices for their healing. She emphasizes the importance of not just surviving cancer, but surviving well and reducing the risk of recurrence. She is a Contributing Editor for The Truth About Cancer and is on the Medical Advisory Board for BeatCancer.Org and the Advisory Board to the Radical Remission Project. Elyn has written for numerous journals and publications. She was the former Executive Director of the Emerald Heart Cancer Foundation and the creator and host of the Survive and Live Well Radio Show. To contact Elyn, visit www.elynjacobs.com. Elyn offers consults via Skype, phone, or in-person. Elyn does not provide online advice.

 DISCLAIMER:
Elyn Jacobs does not provide medical advice. The information provided is for general information only. No online site should be used as a substitute for personal medical attention.

This information is for educational purposes only and is not a recommendation to forgo medical advice and treatment.  This post is not intended to treat, cure, prevent, or diagnose any disease or condition. This post does not represent medical advice nor should it be considered to be medical advice or a replacement for medical advice.  I encourage you to discuss this information with your integrative oncologist, naturopathic doctor, or conventional oncologist. The information provided is from my research and not to be taken as scientific evidence.

Affiliate Links Disclosure:

Some product links on some posts are affiliate links. This website is monetized in part through the use of affiliate links. This means that if you were to click on a link that is an affiliate link and purchase an item after clicking on that link, I may receive a small percentage of the sales price. I only recommend products that I love and use often. Thank you for your support!

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[i] https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/08/180822131041.htm

[ii] https://elynjacobs.com/epstein-barr-management/

[iii] https://www.statnews.com/2018/04/11/cancer-tumor-cells-mice-metastasis-nsaid; https://stm.sciencemag.org/content/10/436/eaan3464

[iv] https://www.statnews.com/2018/04/11/cancer-tumor-cells-mice-metastasis-nsaid/

vi] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5380551/

[vii] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5380551/

[viii] https://www.statnews.com/2018/04/11/cancer-tumor-cells-mice-metastasis-nsaid/; https://elynjacobs.com/2015/04/27/what-your-oncologist-neglected-to-tell-you-about-conventional-cancer-treatment/; https://elynjacobs.com/2015/07/08/cancer-stem-cells-and-progression-of-disease-what-you-need-to-know-now/

[ix] http://ar.iiarjournals.org/content/33/3/747.full

[x] https://thegonzalezprotocol.com/four-reasons-cancer-patients-routinely-die-nicholas-gonzalez-m-d/

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What You Need to Know About High TSH Levels and Iodine

In Alternative Cancer Therapies, Alternatives Cancer Treatment, Books for Cancer Patients, Breast Cancer, Cancer, Hyopthyroidism, Iodine, Uncategorized on October 4, 2019 at 10:29 am

It is often believed that iodine shuts down the thyroid and that elevated TSH levels are unequivocally indicative of hypothyroidism.  However, as with many things, there are two sides to every story, and many untruths to be told and righted. If you are supplementing with iodine and have been told your TSH is elevated, here is what you need to know.

               “Who Stole the Iodine?” Lynne Farrow

Iodine was used for over a hundred years to treat a huge list of conditions. Importantly, iodine is essential for the optional functioning of all of the cells in the body, and can actually improve thyroid function as well as immune function. Studies also show that it promotes cancer cell death, suppresses tumor growth, and performs other chemo-therapeutic activities.[i] As Lynne Farrow, author of The Iodine Crisis, so aptly states, “it couldn’t suddenly stop working, so what turned the world against iodine?” 

            “They must know what they are doing.” Lynne Farrow

The claim that iodine shuts down the thyroid is clearly one of those cases where the ‘they must know what they’re doing’ mindset results not only in unfortunate medical advice, but spreading ‘untruths’. According to Farrow, the idea that iodine shuts down the thyroid gland ‘was neither fundamental nor a law’ but was accepted as so. Farrow speaks of an article written in 2005 by Guy Abraham, M.D., The Wolff-Chaikoff Effect: Crying Wolff, that answers the million-dollar question of ‘who stole the iodine?’ In the article Abraham identifies an influential paper published in 1948 by Wolff and Chaikoff ” which persuaded physicians that iodine was dangerous and would stop the thyroids of iodine-takers from working.” (Farrow pg 150). This theory was mistakenly enforced as a ‘fundamental law of physiology’ and thus actively practiced. 

The problem, according to Farrow, was that no one ever fact-checked or replicated the study, yet its warning to avoid iodine supplementation was incorporated into medical practice. According to Abraham, the authors made a mistake in their rat study. Apparently, they never checked the rats’ thyroid levels and actually did not observe thyroid enlargement or disease from high doses of iodine. Further, it seems the mistake was repeated by Wolff in 1969 when another paper extrapolated the findings to a human study.

The influence of Wolff-Chaikoff conclusions were so wide, the phenomenon was institutionalized by calling the fear-mongering event, “The Wolff-Chaikoff Effect.” Medical textbooks perpetuated this mistake and it was taught it to at least three generations of doctors. According to Farrow, it was all an assumption from an influence-leader with credentials from UC Berkeley and the NIH, therefore ‘they must know what they are doing.’

On the contrary, through the works of Guy Abraham, M.D., Jorge Flecha, M.D.,  David Brownstein, M.D., Lynne Farrow, and others, we now know that iodine is indeed essential for the thyroid and that a deficiency can lead to cysts, nodules, fibrocystic breast disease, cancer, and more (for more information on their work, see the suggested reading at the bottom of this post).

TSH and Iodine

One of the leading pioneers in iodine research and application, Dr Jorge Flechas, M.D., explains in his paper Orthoiodosupplementation in a Primary Care Practice,  how TSH levels may appear abnormal during iodine supplementation, but those anomalies are unlikely to reflect hypothyroidism. He essentially debunks the notion that iodine shuts down the thyroid gland and believes that iodine deficiency can result in the manifestation of hypothyroidism.

Flechas explains that most of the time iodine supplementation lowers TSH and T4 levels and free T3 stays steady. However, he says TSH sometimes goes up, while T4 and T3 may remain stable, rise, or decline. Importantly, this does not necessarily mean that a person has or is developing hypothyroidism. According to Flechas, it can be that the brain is directing the body to make more sodium iodide symporters (NIS). The NIS are channels in the cell membrane that transport sodium iodide into the cells. Iodide (iodine) is an essential nutrient that is absorbed by all cell lines, but particularly in the thyroid. TSH (along with prolactin and oxytocin) has been found to stimulate the making of NIS. Flechas further explains that elevated TSH might not be a bad thing as it has many actions outside the thyroid that have been discovered.

Flechas does make it is very clear that nutritional status and overall thyroid health must be evaluated prior to high-dose iodine supplementation. Ideally, all patients should have an iodine loading test prior to high dose supplementation.

    “TSH levels may appear abnormal on iodine supplementation, but those anomalies are unlikely to reflect hypothyroidism”  Lynne Farrow per Dr Jorge Flechas

Farrow, through her work with the Breast Cancer Choices Iodine Investigation Project reports that a supplement called ATP CoFactors helps speed iodine absorption and normalize TSH levels.  ATP CoFactors is a supplement with a cooperative combination of vitamins and minerals that support the synthesis of ATP for ADP to better promote energy production.

If you have elevated TSH but no other indications or symptoms of being hypothyroid, I suggest you work with an iodine-literate doctor before you take a drug that can actually increase your risk of breast cancer*.  Iodine deficiency is often the cause of Hashimoto’s, especially in the presence of selenium deficiency (Farrow, p.51) so again, seek out an iodine-literate doctor to see if iodine might be right for you. Note: those on a high-dose iodine protocol may need companion supplementation of magnesium, selenium, vitamin c, riboflavin, niacin, and unrefined salt, so please discuss this with your physician. 

For more on the importance of iodine, please listen to my interview with Lynne Farrow and read The Iodine Crisis. You may also want to read Iodine: Why You Need It, Why You Can’t Live Without It, by David Brownstein, MD., and The Safe and Effective Implementation of Orthoiodosupplementation in Medical Practice, Guy E. Abraham, MD.

This information is for educational purposes only and is not a recommendation to forgo medical advice and treatment.  Always use caution when taking any supplement. including iodine. This post is not intended to treat, cure, prevent, or diagnose any disease or condition. This post does not represent medical advice nor should it be considered to be medical advice or a replacement for medical advice.  I encourage you to discuss this information with an iodine-literate doctor or integrative doctor. The information provided is from my research and not to be taken as scientific evidence.

In your good health,

Elyn

~~If you don’t know your options, you don’t have any~~

ej portrait 150resElyn Jacobs is a holistic cancer strategist and speaker specializing in the prevention and treatment of cancer. She is a Contributing Editor for The Truth About Cancer and is on the Medical Advisory Board for BeatCancer.Org and the Advisory Board to the Radical Remission Project. Elyn has written for numerous journals and publications. She was the former Executive Director of the Emerald Heart Cancer Foundation and the creator and host of the Survive and Live Well Radio Show. To contact Elyn, visit www.elynjacobs.com. Elyn offers consults via Skype, phone, or in person. Elyn does not provide online advice.

DISCLAIMER:
Elyn Jacobs does not provide online medical advice. The information provided is for general information only. No online site should be used as a substitute for personal medical attention.

This information is for educational purposes only and is not a recommendation to forgo medical advice and treatment.  This post is not intended to treat, cure, prevent, or diagnose any disease or condition. This post does not represent medical advice nor should it be considered to be medical advice or a replacement for medical advice.  I encourage you to discuss this information with an iodine-literate doctor, integrative doctor, naturopathic doctor, or conventional oncologist. The information provided is from my research and not to be taken as scientific evidence.

Affiliate Links Disclosure:

Some product links on some posts are affiliate links. This website is monetized in part through the use of affiliate links. This means that if you were to click on a link that is an affiliate link and purchase an item after clicking on that link, I may receive a small percentage of the sales price. I only recommend products that I love and use often. Thank you for your support!

Follow Elyn on Facebook

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[i] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3752513/; https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5327366/

[ii] https://www.optimox.com/iodine-study-10

*https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29961136

 

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The Power of Affirmations in Cancer Healing

In Affirmations, Alternative Cancer Therapies, benefits of Yoga Nidra, Books for Cancer Patients, Breast Cancer, Cancer, Cell Phones, EMFs and Health Risks, Emotional Healing, Healing Cancer Naturally, Uncategorized, Yoga Nidra on October 30, 2018 at 9:08 am

An affirmation is really anything you say or think. Every thought you think and every word you speak is an affirmation. All of our self-talk, our internal dialogue, is a stream of affirmations. Our subconscious hears everything we think, say, and hear. It will work hard to make thoughts become reality. Affirmations serve as a part of the psychological immune system, and can have a significant impact on your quality and quantity of life.

The mind is powerful and controls the body. The healer Ze’ev Kolman titled his book The Mind is the Healer The Mind is the Killer.  He says that if you heal the mind the body will follow. When I spoke with him about it and did a few sessions with him (and other healers), it all made perfect sense. People are only just beginning to learn that our thoughts are powerful and contribute not just to our mental well-being but also our physical health. 

You may not realize it because perhaps your medical doctors have instilled fear and doubt, but it really is a choice. Now, right now, this moment and all moments — you can choose to change your thinking and ignore theirs. Your life, your health, won’t turn around overnight, but if you’re consistent and make the choice on a daily basis to think thoughts that you are healthy and happy, it can make a difference in every area of your life and your healing. Importantly,  negative thoughts will have the opposite effect. If we don’t believe or have confidence that we can be healthy and happy, we won’t be. In other words, if we have doubtful thoughts it will be harder for the mind to make us healthy. 

These days so many people are angry, really angry and express this anger and negative thoughts on social media, believing somehow the world or situation will change by harsh words.  Anger is a strong emotion, often misdirected and rarely useful and causes a cascade of negative thoughts and statements that contribute to stress and ill health.  According to Louise Hay, “Every complaint is an affirmation of something you think you don’t want in your life. [But] every time you get angry, you’re affirming that you want more anger in your life. Every time you feel like a victim, you’re affirming that you want to continue to feel like a victim.”  She says that when people say their affirmations once a day but complain the rest of the time, the complaining affirmations win. They are typically more of them and the are said with great feeling. 

However,  saying affirmations is only part of the process. The secret to having your affirmations work quickly and consistently is to prepare an atmosphere for them to grow in. Affirmations are like seeds planted in soil. You will hear that from Lizzy Hill in her Yoga Nidra guided meditations (I relax, I release, I let go). She says that the intention (affirmation) you make in the beginning of the session plants a seed for transformation in your body.  You can say something like ‘I am happy and healthy’ or ‘I am calm and relaxed’ or some other short, positive statement in the present tense. Feel your intention throughout your body and know it to be true. For more on the effects that Yoga Nidra has on the mind and body, read Yoga Nidra: The Key to a Better Night’s Sleep and Optimal Health.

The benefits of daily affirmations have been scientifically supported and can help a lot of people. Optimistic people tend to be healthier, more productive, and generally happier than those who view themselves less positively.  People who practice daily affirmations don’t sweat the small stuff because they have a better grasp on what is important in their life. They are able to think about the big picture and not get overwhelmed with minor nuisances.

The more you choose to think positive thoughts, the quicker the affirmations work. Consciously choose words that will either help eliminate something from your life or help create something new in your life. Think happy, healthy thoughts — it’s that simple. You can do it! The way you choose to think right now is your choice. Believe you can be healthy, that you are healthy.

One of my wonderful healers, April Fontana, recommends adding a ‘why’ before each affirmation. For example, ‘why is it so easy for me to be 100% healthy?’ or why is it so easy for me to understand that I control my body with my mind?’ and ‘why is so easy for me to love myself and be happy?’ You can come up with others.  She says when you don’t put a negative word in there and start it with the word “why”, there is no resistance in your subconscious.  She believes you can have complete control over your life if you do this. Say each one three times out loud. Do this as often as you need to.

You may also wish to write your affirmations down. Saying good things about yourself aloud is good, but writing them down increases their potency. Writing an affirmation down allows your mind one more way to absorb the positive message.

“Be mindful of your self-talk. It’s a conversation with the Universe” – David James Lees 

It might seem silly or trivial at first, but the outcomes are real. People are just happier  and more productive when they practice daily affirmations. Many years ago in my Wall Street-days my boss sent everyone to a Dale Carnegie training session. We learned just how powerful affirmations could be. I still remember the yellow sticky notes on my bathroom mirror (you may wish to do that too).  Sales increased and we all had a more positive attitude. 

Here are some sample affirmations to help you get started:

  • I am calm and peaceful
  • I am grateful and at peace
  • I am healthy and happy
  • I am thankful for my family and friends
  • I am confident and able to handle any obstacle thrown in front of me
  • I am a being of light, love, and bliss I radiate love in every cell if my body

Your body is listening to everything, everything you are thinking and saying. Do you really believe you have self-worth, believe you are healing? Can you talk to your own body and know it is listening? Every day you can talk to your body and tell it you can feel it healing. It is your choice, it is up to you! remind yourself with conscious intent. You can heal, just believe in yourself.

For more about the healers I have and still used and learned from, please read my healing story.

In your good health,

Elyn

~~If you don’t know your options, you don’t have any~~

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Elyn Jacobs is a holistic cancer strategist and speaker specializing in the prevention and treatment of cancer. She is a Contributing Editor for The Truth About Cancer and is on the Medical Advisory Board for BeatCancer.Org and the Advisory Board to the Radical Remission Project. Elyn has written for numerous journals and publications. She was the former Executive Director of the Emerald Heart Cancer Foundation. To contact Elyn, visit www.elynjacobs.com. Elyn offers consults via Skype, phone, or in person.

This information is for educational purposes only and is not a recommendation to forgo medical advice and treatment. It is not intended to treat, cure, prevent, or diagnose any disease or condition. This post does not represent medical advice nor should it be considered to be medical advice or a replacement for medical advice.  I encourage you to discuss this information with your integrative oncologist, naturopathic doctor, or conventional oncologist. Consult your doctor before beginning any supplement program. The information provided is from my research and not to be taken as scientific evidence.

Affiliate Links Disclosure:

Some product links on some posts are affiliate links. This website is monetized in part through the use of affiliate links. This means that if you were to click on a link that is an affiliate link, and purchase an item after clicking on that link, I may receive a small percentage of the sales price. I only recommend products that I love and use often. Thank you for your support!

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Cauliflower Makhani

In Anticancer foods, foods for colon cancer, foods for breast cancer, Books for Cancer Patients, Cancer, Uncategorized on February 25, 2018 at 9:12 am

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I first fell in love with Dal Makhani at Saaz, an Indian restaurant in Southampton (NY).  Dal makhni, a popular dish from the Punjab region, is decadent, creamy, buttery, and fantastic. The primary ingredients are whole black lentil, red kidney beans, butter, cream, and spices. When I saw this recipe in Vegan Richa’s book using the spice sauce with cauliflower instead of beans, I just had to try it.  While I love dal, sometimes I just want that decadence without so many carbs. Richa also swaps the cream for coconut milk and cashews, and it is even more amazing.

You can make it as she does with whole-roasted cauliflower, but it is equally as good stove-top (which she also mentions in the book), which is how I made it.  I added chopped parsley and spinach, but feel free to omit and/or add other green vegetables such as chopped broccoli or cilantro. I also used a jar of diced tomatoes instead of fresh, as tomatoes this time of year have little taste. I used coconut oil instead of safflower oil, and more onions and coconut milk than the recipe calls for (I really like onions and they are so good for you). Feel free to add in some beans for a healthy protein boost.makhani with parsley

One word of caution –if you blend the sauce in a pan with an immersion blender (which I recommend rather than transferring to a blender), be sure you are using a deep pan to reduce splattering.

Makhani offers anticancer, health-boosting ingredients, such as cumin, turmeric, fenugreek, garlic, onions, and ginger (and in this case, cauliflower!)

You can find the recipe, Whole Roasted Cauliflower with Makhani Gravy, in her book, Vegan Richa’s Indian Kitchen: Traditional and Creative Recipes for the Home Cook. You may also enjoy Vegan Richa’s Everyday Kitchen: Epic Anytime Recipes with a World of Flavor.

Cauliflower supports digestion and detoxification. The sulforaphane in cauliflower curbs inflammation and inhibits tumor growth.

Red onions are anti-fungal, anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory, and contain powerful anticancer abilities, inhibiting inhibit tumor growth and metastasis.  They also provide allicin, a potent health-promoting, anticancer compound produced when onions are cut or crushed. Red onions are packed with quercetin, a bioflavonoid that suppresses tumor cell growth and has strong anti-inflammatory properties. Quercetin also stimulates liver function to detoxify estrogen and other carcinogenic agents, helping to remove them from the body.

Garlic offers many health benefits, including protecting organs from heavy metal toxicity. It is also a significant source of manganese, vitamin B6, and selenium. Garlic contains antioxidants that protect against oxidative damage from free radicals. It has also been found to lower high blood pressure.

Ginger is loaded with nutrients and bio-active compounds that have powerful benefits for your body and brain. It is anti-inflammatory and antiviral, and has been found to improve risk factors for heart disease and diabetes.

Cumin is a good source of cancer- fighting apigenin and many other biologically active components. It is rich in antioxidants and is a natural immunity booster. Cumin also has anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties.

Fenugreek has strong anti-cancer abilities, killing cancer cells, but leaving healthy cells alone. It has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties as well.

Elyn

~~If you don’t know your options, you don’t have any~~

Elyn Jacobs is a breast cancer survivor and holistic cancer strategist who helps people make better, healthier, non-toxic choices. She emphasizes the critical nature of addressing the root cause of cancer and not just its presenting symptoms (such as the tumor). Elyn specializes in understanding the role of estrogen in breast cancer and debunks the myths associated. She is a Contributing Editor for The Truth About Cancer and was creator and host of the Survive and Live Well Radio Show on the Cancer Support Network. Elyn is on the Medical Advisory Board for BeatCancer.Org and is on the Advisory Board to the Radical Remission Project. Elyn was the former Executive Director of the Emerald Heart Cancer Foundation. Contact Elyn via her website. Elyn offers consults via Skype, phone or in person.

Affiliate Links Disclosure:
Some product links on some posts are affiliate links. This website is monetized in part through the use of affiliate links. This means that if you were to click on a link that is an affiliate link, and purchase an item after clicking on that link, I may receive a small percentage of the sales price. I only recommend products that I love and use often. Thank you for your support!

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Coconut Flaxseed-Crusted Tofu

In Anticancer foods, foods for colon cancer, foods for breast cancer, Books for Cancer Patients, Uncategorized on January 1, 2018 at 10:10 am

Happy 2018! It is time for a new start, new beginnings, and delicious, nourishing food.  Today is the first day of the year, but also the first day of the rest of your life. Make it a good day, and make every meal count.  Coconut has been found to be antiviral and anti-inflammatory, and targets the Epstein Barr Virus, which is linked to most cancers. Coconut (and its oil) is also loaded with minerals such as calcium, magnesium, and iodine. Studies have found that the lauric acid in coconut is associated with a reduced risk for breast cancer. Flaxseed, cumin, ginger, and coriander are anticancer powerhouses. Eaten in moderation, organic tofu is an excellent source of plant-based protein.

tofu flax

Coconut-Flaxseed Crusted Tofu

 

Ingredients:

1 package extra firm organic tofu (12 ounces)

1/8 cup finely (or medium) shredded unsweetened coconut

1/8 cup freshly ground flaxseed

½ teaspoon ground cumin

½ teaspoon ground ginger

½ teaspoon ground coriander

dash cayenne pepper, or to taste

½ teaspoon coarse Celtic sea salt

2 tablespoons organic coconut oil

Directions:

  1. Place tofu on one half of a clean kitchen towel. Fold the towel over to cove the tofu. Put the towel-wrapped tofu on a plate and top with a heavy item, such as a can or frying pan.  Chill for two hours. Slice tofu horizontally into ¾ inch slices. Cut each piece in half to make two triangles out of each.
  2. Combine coconut, ground flaxseed, spices, and salt. Dredge tofu triangles in coconut mixture until well coated.
  3. Heat coconut oil over low heat until lightly browned, about 3-5 minutes per side.

 

Serve with curried rice,  risotto, dal (and Indian dish typically made from lentils) or an Indian-inspired colorful medley of vegetables. An excellent resource is Vegan Richa’s Indian Kitchen, which offers easy-to-make vegan Indian recipes. The tofu can also be served over salad greens for a light meal.

Indian dishes offer incredible flavor, but also numerous anti-cancer and overall health benefits, so enjoy often!

You may also enjoy this article, Demystifying Flaxseed and Estrogen.

Elyn

~~If you don’t know your options, you don’t have any~~

ej portrait 150resElyn Jacobs is a breast cancer survivor and certified holistic cancer strategist who helps people make better, healthier, non-toxic choices. She emphasizes the critical nature of addressing the root cause of cancer and not just its presenting symptoms (such as the tumor). Elyn specializes in understanding the role of estrogen in breast cancer and debunks the myths associated. She is a Contributing Editor for The Truth About Cancer and was creator and host of the Survive and Live Well Radio Show on the Cancer Support Network. Elyn is on the Medical Advisory Board for BeatCancer.Org and is on the Advisory Board to the Radical Remission Project. Elyn was the former Executive Director of the Emerald Heart Cancer Foundation. Contact Elyn via her website. Elyn offers consults via Skype, phone or in person.

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Recommended Cookbooks for Cancer Patients

In Alternative Cancer Therapies, Alternatives Cancer Treatment, Anticancer foods, foods for colon cancer, foods for breast cancer, Books for Cancer Patients, Breast Cancer, Uncategorized on November 29, 2017 at 9:53 am

With the holidays soon upon us, you may be looking for the perfect gift for a loved one with cancer. Clients ask me all of the time, what can I eat? What should I eat? Or they lament that healthy eating doesn’t taste good.  Well, here are a few fantastic books that will be sure to dazzle taste buds and inspire trips to the kitchen.

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Some of My Favorites:

The Oh She Glows Cookbook: Over 100 Vegan Recipes to Glow from the Inside Out  

Nutrition Stripped: 100 Whole-Food Recipes Made Deliciously Simple 

Whole World Vegetarian 

Medical Medium Life-Changing Foods: Save Yourself and the Ones You Love with the Hidden Healing Powers of Fruits & Vegetablesbooks 2

Eat Drink Shine: Inspiration from Our Kitchen: Gluten-free and Paleo-friendly Recipes by the Blissful Sisters 

Plenty: Vibrant Vegetable Recipes from London’s Ottolenghi

Eating Well Through Cancer: Easy Recipes & Tips to Guide you Through Treatment and Cancer Prevention 3rd Edition

Here’s a new book that might be the perfect gift for one who is short on time, but craves healthy meals.  The Healing Slow Cooker: Lower Stress * Improve Gut Health * Decrease Inflammation

Elyn

~~If you don’t know your options, you don’t have any~~

Elyn Jacobs is a breast cancer survivor and certified holistic cancer strategist who helps people make better, healthier, non-toxic choices. She emphasizes the critical nature of addressing the root cause of cancer and not just its presenting symptoms (such as the tumor). Elyn specializes in understanding the role of estrogen in breast cancer and debunks the myths associated. She is a Contributing Editor for The Truth About Cancer and was creator and host of the Survive and Live Well Radio Show on the Cancer Support Network. Elyn is on the Medical Advisory Board for BeatCancer.Org and is on the Advisory Board to the Radical Remission Project. Elyn was the former Executive Director of the Emerald Heart Cancer Foundation. Contact Elyn via her website. Elyn offers consults via Skype, phone or in person.

Follow Elyn on Facebook

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Must Reads for Every Cancer Patient or Survivor

In Alternative Cancer Therapies, Books for Cancer Patients, Cancer, Healing Cancer Naturally, High Dose Vitamin C and Cancer on November 28, 2016 at 2:23 pm

Right now Amazon is taking $10 off book purchases over $25. Just use the code HOLIDAYBOOK.

My Recommendations:

LifelinesLifelines to Survival: A New Approach to Personalized Care $17.  To read my review of this book, click HERE.

Orthomolecular Medicine for Everyone  A great read for those who value nutrition as good medicine.  You will learn about high-dose vitamin therapies and why they work for many. $15.

childhood-disruptedChildhood Disrupted: How Your Biography Becomes Your Biology, and How You Can Heal. While we cannot change what happened in our childhood, we can alter its effects on us –something most oncologists completely overlook as a critical part of treatment and recovery. Childhood Disrupted also explains how to cope and heal from these emotional traumas. $11. To read my post on this book, click HERE.

Radical Remission: Surviving Cancer Against All Odds $10

Breast cancer booksWaking the Warrior Goddess, Third Edition: Dr. Christine Horner’s Program to Protect Against & Fight Breast Cancer $22

The Whole-Food Guide for Breast Cancer Survivors: A Nutritional Approach to Preventing Recurrence (The New Harbinger Whole-Body Healing Series) $13

Eat Dirt: Why Leaky Gut May Be the Root Cause of Your Health Problems and 5 Surprising Steps to Cure It $17

The Truth about Cancer: What You Need to Know about Cancer’s History, Treatment, and Prevention $15

Essential oils and Cancer  $7

Life Over Cancer: The Block Center Program for Integrative Cancer Treatment $22

The Iodine Crisis: What You Don’t Know About Iodine Can Wreck Your Life $17

gaynor GTPThe Gene Therapy Plan: Taking Control of Your Genetic Destiny with Diet and Lifestyle $14

Beyond the Magic Bullet $30

Beating Cancer With Nutrition  $19

More …

Cancer Report: The Latest Research – How Thousands are Achieving Permanent Recoveries

The Etiology of Breast Cancer: Endogenous and Exogenous Causes

Killing Cancer Not People New 3rd Edition

 You Are the Placebo.  Is it possible to heal by thought alone—without drugs or surgery? The truth is that it happens more often than you might expect. In You Are the Placebo, Dr. Joe Dispenza shares numerous documented cases of those who reversed cancer, heart disease, depression, crippling arthritis, and even the tremors of Parkinson’s disease by believing in a placebo.

The Hidden Connection: Discover What’s Keeping You from Feeling Happy, Healthy and Symptom-Free

Miracle Survivors: Beating the Odds of Incurable Cancer

Cancer Free!Cancer Free, Are You Sure? While many people are comforted by the words “you are cancer free”, it is imperative to know that an all-clear PET or CT is often meaningless.  Read this amazing book to learn more.

 Recommended Cookbooks:

The Oh She Glows Cookbook: Over 100 Vegan Recipes to Glow from the Inside Out

The Cancer-Fighting Kitchen: Nourishing, Big-Flavor Recipes for Cancer Treatment and Recovery

Vegan Richa’s Indian Kitchen: Traditional and Creative Recipes for the Home Cook