Did you know that October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month?
My husband asked me recently if breast cancer is something that women think about much. I can say that I certainly do. If we haven’t personally had breast cancer, we all know someone who has or whose life has been touched by it. This can cause us to live in fear.
Instead of that negative emotion, I prefer to put a positive spin on it: let’s find ways to increase and secure our breast health.
What follows are a few ideas to approach breast health from a natural and holistic perspective:
- Improve mindset. You can implement lifestyle practices to create good health. Let hope and empowerment lead you… not fear.
- Remove/reduce toxins.
- Cut or eliminate processed foods made with a long list of chemicals.
- When possible, choose organic.
- Limit use of plastics (they can impact hormones in the body).
- Replace cosmetics, perfumes, lotions, and anti-perspirants containing phthalates, parabens, formaldehydes, FD&C Blue 1 and FD&C Green 3 (found in mouthwashes). Many of these chemicals have hormone-mimicking properties and can upset the balance of our hormones.
- Household cleansers often contain chemicals. Window cleaners, tile cleaner, and weed killer are all known offenders.
- Candles, air fresheners, and room sprays can all be toxic.
- Sweat! Toxins are removed from our bodies when we sweat.
- Drink plenty of water and eat lots of veggies and fruit. These help remove waste (and toxins) from the body.
- Upgrade your diet.
- Cut the C.R.A.P. (Calorie Rich And Processed)
- Eat whole, real foods. Leafy greens and cruciferous veggies are your new BFFs.
- Consume foods rich in Omega-3 fatty acids, such as fish, chia seeds, avocado, walnuts, cod liver oil. Ugh, cod liver oil? I just can’t. But maybe you can.
- Avoid added sugars.
- Reduce or remove alcohol. It affects estrogen levels. Too high of estrogen levels or estrogen dominance are linked to breast cancer. Compared to a woman who consumes no alcohol, a woman who consumes three alcoholic drinks in a week increases her risk of breast cancer by 15%.
- Get to a healthy weight. Fat produces estrogen (weird, eh?). This can lead to estrogen dominance.
- Manage stress. Stress raises cortisol levels, which sets of a cascade of hormonal imbalances.
- Exercise. It increases immune function, stimulates the lymphatic system, reduces stress, and may help you fit into that cute little black dress this holiday season.
- Get good sleep. I get it, sometimes this is uber-hard. But our bodies need it to function well.
- Add supplements. A few to consider are: Vitamin D, Vitamin C, turmeric, probiotic.
These suggestions can feel overwhelming, I know. Instead of throwing in the towel, pick a few things on the list and work on them until they become habit. Then pick a few more and implement them. Make this your own prescription.
I love approaching wellness from a “fork first filosophy,” and using food and other holistic and natural approaches.
What about you?
Have you been able to implement any of the things on this list? Share your tips!
