12 Tips To Help You Prevent Breast Cancer

During 2013, a whopping 232,340 new cases of invasive breast cancer are expected to be diagnosed among women in the US; about 2,240 new cases are expected in men (yes, men!). Breast cancer is related to a state of excess estrogens, known as estrogen dominance. Uterine fibroids, breast cysts, PMS, infertility, migraines, and even prostate cancer in men can be related to estrogen dominance.
We really are what we eat, drink, breathe, think, and cannot eliminate! While food most certainly is to be regarded as the best medicine, it can also be the biggest poison. When there's diminished elimination of physical and emotional toxins, they build up, which may lead to DNA damage and ultimately cancer.
Some of the best strategies for breast cancer prevention are:
1. Food is always first!
Eat antioxidant-rich foods like organic fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds, and healthy fats and oils like avocado and extra virgin olive oil. Eat your rainbow of 8-10 servings of vegetables and fruits every day to get optimal phytonutrient benefit. Especially include cruciferous vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower, brussels sprouts, kale, cabbage, and bok choy, which provide indole-3-carbinol (I3C), a phytonutrient which helps metabolize estrogen.
Remember: Sugar is cancer’s best buddy! It activates cancer genes and fuels growth of cancer cells. Eliminate sugar from your diet in every shape or form.
2. Quit smoking.
A study published in early 2013 in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute showed that smokers have a 24% higher risk and former smokers have a 13% higher risk of invasive breast cancer than non-smokers.
3. Avoid alcohol.
Alcohol changes the way estrogen is metabolized in our body, which can lead to estrogen dominance. Women who drink alcohol have higher body estrogen levels than those who don’t.
4. Consume a diet low in animal-based foods.
Animal-based products are extremely inflammatory and expose the body to a high dose of arachidonic acid, an inflammatory mediator. Fill half your plate with veggies!
5. Exercise regularly and develop a yoga practice.
Any amount of exercise, mild or intense, will reduce the risk of breast cancer. Aerobic exercise reduce the risk of breast cancer development, by changing the metabolism of estrogen in our body and increasing the ratio of “good” (2-hydroxyestrone) to the “bad” (16alpha-hydroxyestrone) estrogens.
Yoga balances and regulates the endocrine system, and thus our hormones. It also builds the immune system, while promoting lymph flow, the latter being extremely important for drainage of toxins from the breast and the lymph nodes in the axilla (arm pit).
6. Do regular breast self-exams and breast massage.
They can be life saving! Get clinical breast exams at your yearly physicals, and mammograms if appropriate.
7. Maintain the right body composition and fat percentage of your body.
Obesity and visceral adipose tissue (VAT, i.e., the fat accumulated around your abdominal organs) are extremely inflammatory! Find a Functional Medicine practitioner who is trained in First Line Therapy/ Therapeutic Lifestyle Change, a special program specifically targeted to reduce this fat factory of our body.
8. Reduce other inflammation-causing issues in your body.
It's important to get tested for food sensitivities and eliminate from your diet all foods to which you may have allergies or sensitivities. Get checked for, and treat chronic infections in the gut, mouth and sinuses.
Remember, inflammation makes the immune system less effective in doing its job, and a less effective immune system leads to progression of cancer cells!
9. Avoid toxins.
These can take the form of:

• Inflammatory foods that are filled with trans fats, artificial coloring and preservatives.
• Household cleaning chemicals, pesticides and insecticides.
• BPA-containing plastics, which can be used for storing food and water.
• Personal care products and perfumes: these may contain hormone-disrupting chemicals like pthalates and parabens.

10. Consume a good-quality protein at each meal.
Your body needs essential amino acids at every step to function optimally. Work with your physician to get a comprehensive stool analysis, which will tell you whether the protein you're eating is getting digested and absorbed as effectively as it should.
11. Balance mind, body and emotions with meditation, breath control and emotional freedom exercises.
Here are a few tips:

• Meditate daily.
• Learn and practice yogic breathing exercises.
• Practice forgiveness every day!
• Journal before going to bed to detoxify the mind.

12. Sleep is your best friend!
A study published in August 2012 showed an association between less sleep and development of aggressive forms of breast cancers in women.
If you suffer from chronic sleep issues, work with your physician to find the underlying cause and correct it. Using drugs isn't the answer!
I hope to have given you a message of empowerment that you can do something to prevent breast cancer. I would love to hear from you if you've used any of these measures.
You can look for a Functional Medicine practitioner in your area here.

This blog first appeared in MindBodyGreen

Do You Have Chronic Inflammation & What Can You Do About It?

Seems like everyone's talking about inflammation these days! More and more studies are coming out linking chronic inflammation to a vast majority of chronic diseases, even cancer.
But, is all inflammation bad?
Not at all! Some inflammation is absolutely necessary for our survival. It helps us overcome any acute insult or injury to the body. For example, if you cut your finger, cells are recruited to the wounded area, and through a very complex mechanism, the body heals itself quite efficiently. That's an example of inflammation working to heal you.
Similarly, if you contract a bacterial infection, the body quickly produces inflammatory chemicals known as cytokines, which help kill the foreign invaders. During this fight between the bugs and your immune system, you feel terrible, but only for a short time. Soon, you're up and on your merry way again with little long-term botheration from the incident.
It's only when this inflammation becomes chronic or long term—like a low-grade smoldering fire which does not die out—that it leads to major problems.
Normally, during a period of low-grade inflammation, the body tries to warn us that something is wrong. It does this by producing many nagging signs and symptoms, like:

• Aching of joints and muscles
• High blood pressure
• Rising blood sugars
• Headaches
• Sleep issues
• Allergies
• Skin issues
• Frequent abdominal pain and other gut issues
• Mood swings
• Difficulty with sleep
• Low energy levels

If we do not heed these symptoms and allow the inflammation to persist unchecked, after years (yes, years!), the inflammation becomes evident in the form of a heart attack, stroke, Alzheimer's disease, cancer, or an autoimmune disease like multiple sclerosis, ulcerative colitis or rheumatoid arthritis, which can no longer be ignored by us.
Some signs of chronic inflammation are:

1. Chronic fatigue and low energy.
2. Mood issues including anxiety, depression, and panic attacks.
3. Memory problems, brain fog, or loss of focus.
4. Difficulty falling asleep, waking up in the middle of the night, or unrestful sleep.
5. Gut symptoms including acid reflux, IBS, constipation, diarrhea, blood or mucus in stools, intermittent abdominal pain, gas and bloating.
6. Chronic muscle and joint pain, swelling, redness.
7. Chronic allergies and asthma requiring frequent medications.
8. Chronic skin issues like eczema, psoriasis, redness of face and cheeks, or hives.
9. Frequent or daily headaches, tremors, easy loss of balance, tingling and pain along nerves in the extremities, dizziness.
10. High blood pressure.
11. Metabolic syndrome, abdominal obesity, or diabetes mellitus.
12. Low bone density or osteoporosis.
13. Heart disease, peripheral vascular disease.
14. Diagnosis of cancer: Yes, taking action is possible even after being diagnosed with a cancer as you can still try to prevent future development of new cancers at other sites.

What should you do if you have any any signs of chronic inflammation?
1. Find a functional medicine physician who is well versed in evaluating your symptoms.
This person can help you eliminate the root cause of the chronic inflammation, rather than focusing on just suppressing symptoms.
2. Avoid all inflammatory foods.
This includes refined sugars, sugar substitutes, juices and sodas, trans-fats, dairy products, non-organic eggs and meats from grain fed animals. I also suggested you eliminate any foods to which you may be sensitive/ allergic, all GMO foods, and foods with a high glycemic index.
3. Eat real foods.
Incorporate large amounts of antioxidants, phytochemicals, and fiber-rich fruits and vegetables, nuts and seeds, small amounts of grass fed meats and wild small fish, healthy spices like turmeric, ginger, garlic, and herbs like cilantro, parsley, oregano and rosemary in your diet.
4. Stop eating microwavable lunches or dinners.
Don't eat dead packaged and processed foods which have no life force!
5. Sip green tea on a regular basis.
It cuts inflammation and calms the mind!
6. Try to avoid toxins as much as possible in your daily life.
You'll give your liver a much-needed break.
7. Incorporate a daily exercise regimen.
Do yoga, tai chi or some other form of movement exercise. Move the body whenever you get a chance!
8. Meditate daily and breathe deeply.
Who doesn't love peace of mind? It's also great for your nervous system.
9. Focus on optimal sleep.
Your body restores and regenerates itself daily when you sleep!
10. Find time for rest and rejuvenation on a regular basis.
Try to make time for mini-vacations and spending time in nature!
11. Get regular massages.
Better yet: learn the technique of self-massage and practice it daily!
12. Get your vitamin D levels checked and maintain optimal levels.
Use supplements if needed. Vitamin D is not just a vitamin, it functions as a hormone messenger molecule in crucial body processes!
13. Maintain a positive mental attitude about life and people!
Remember, just like your gut affects the brain, the brain in turn affects the gut, where the majority of our neurotransmitters are made.
Cutting down your risk of inflammation will most certainly reduce your chances of developing chronic diseases, so I urge you to take corrective action, one baby step at a time.

This blog was first published on MindBodyGreen