I know my blog is a little off the beaten path today, but I think this information is so important, as it comes from a very reputable institution.   One of my friends sent me this information from John Hopkins University..I have to share this with you:

LATEST CANCER INFORMATION from John Hopkins University

AFTER YEARS OF TELLING PEOPLE CHEMOTHERAPY IS THE ONLY WAY TO TRY AND ELIMINATE CANCER, JOHN HOPKINS IS FINALLY STARTING TO TELL YOU THERE IS AN ALTERNATE WAY:

1. Every person has cancer cells in the body.  These cancer cells do not show up in standard tests until they have multiplied to a few billion.  When doctors tell cancer patients there are no more cancer cells in their bodies after treatment, it just means the tests are unable to detect the cancer cells because they have not reached the detectable size. 
2. Cancer cells occur between 6 to more than 10 times in a person's lifetime.  
3. When the person's immune system is strong, the cancer cells will be destroyed and prevented from multiplying and forming tumors.
4. When a person has cancer it indicates the person has multiple nutritional deformities.  These culd be due to genetics, environmental, food and lifestyle factors.
5. To overcome the multiple nutritional deficiencies, changing your diet to include more fruits and vegetables will strengthen the immune system.
6. Chemotherapy involves poisoning the rapidly-growing cancer cells and also destroys rapidly-growing healthy cells in the bone marrow, gastrointestinal tract, etc., and can cause organ damage like liver, kidney, heart, lungs, etc.
7. Radiation, while destroying cancer cells, also burns, scars and damages healthy cells, tissues and organ.
8. Initial treatment with chemotherapy and radiation will often reduce tumor size.  However, prolonged use of chemotherapy and radiation do not result in more tumor destruction.
9. When the body has too much toxic burden from chemotherapy and radiation, the immune system is either compromised or destroyed, hence, the person can succumb to various kinds of infections and complications. 
10. Chemotherapy and radiation can cause cancer cells to mutate and become resistant and difficult to destroy.  Surgery can also cause cancer cells to spread to other sites. 
11. An effective way to prevent cancer from starting, STARVE THE CANCER CELLS.  

WHAT CANCER CELLS FEED ON:

• SUGAR.  Sugar is a cancer-feeder.  By cutting off sugar, it cuts off one important food supply to the cancer cells.  Note:  Sugar substitutes like NutraSweet, Equal, Spoonful, etc., are made with Aspartame and it is harmful.  A better natural substitute would be raw honey or molasses, but only in small amounts.
• MILK.  Milk causes the body to produce mucous, especially in the gastrointestinal tract  Cancer feeds on mucus.  Cancer feeds on casein, the protein in all dairy products.  By cutting off milk and substituting with a plant-based milk, such as Almond milk, cancer cells will be starved.  
• Cancer cells thrive in an acidic environment.  A meat-based diet is acidic.  Meat also contains livestock antibiotics, growth hormones and parasites, which are all harmful, especially to people with cancer. 
• A diet made of 80% fresh vegetables and fruits, whole-grains, seeds and nuts help put the body in an alkaline environment.  About 20% can be from cooked foods, including beans.  
• Avoid caffeine:  coffee, tea and chocolate have high amounts of caffeine.  Green tea is a better alternative and h as cancer-fighting properties.  Water--best drink.

12.   Meat protein is difficult to digest and requires a lot of digestive enzymes.  Undigested meat remaining in the               intestines will become putrefied and leads to more toxic buildup.
13.   Cancer cell walls have a tough protein covering.  By refraining from or eating less meat, it frees more enzymes to attack the protein walls of cancer cells and allows the body's killer cells to destroy the cancer cells.
14.   Cancer is a disease of the mind, body and spirit.  A proactive and positive spirit will help the cancer warrior be a survivor. 

Anger, unforgiving and bitterness puts the body into a stressful and acidic environment.  Learn to have a loving and forgiving spirit.

Cancer cells cannot survive in an oxygenated environment.  Exercising daily and deep breathing help to get more oxygen down to the cellular level.

PLEASE SHARE THIS WITH PEOPLE YOU CARE ABOUT!

Instead of all the commercials we see, and all the advertisements we hear everyday about fast foods, milk, beef, etc., we should be told about the most nutrient-rich, powerhouse foods on the planet--GREENS!  People don't realize just how good greens are for us.  They are packed with phytochemicals (protection from free radicals), vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.  

I read this information in an article from the journal, Current Opinion in Gastroenterology.  What research shows is resistant starch, something that ends up in our bowel, in pretty much the same form it entered into your mouth, is a powerhouse at work.  As unappetizing as that may sound, once the starch gets into our bowel it does some really important things including promoting the growth of good bugs and keeps the bad bugs away.  Research showed that resistant starch helps the body resist colorectal cancer through mechanisms including killing pre-cancerous cells and reduces inflammation that can promote cancer. 

Resistant starch is found in peas, beans and other legumes, green bananas, and also in cooked and cooled starchy products like rice and pasta salad.  You have to consume it at room temperature or below--as soon as you heat it, the resistant starch is gone.  But eaten correctly, it kills pre-cancerous cells in the bowel.  Resistant starch also has implications for the prevention of breast cancer, and remember, what research shows is what prevents breast cancer also prevents prostate cancer.  

These studies continue to show why a diet high in protein, (animal protein) and low in carbohydrates is so detrimental to our health.  When I say carbohydrates I do not mean the white bread, rice, pasta, etc...everything we know is really not good for our health or our weight.  We need to include brown rice, whole-wheat pasta and bread, beans, peas and other legumes.  These foods are the powerhouses fighting off all the toxins that end up in our intestines.  Dr. John McDougall has always promoted keeping "good starches" front and center of your diet for just this reason.  Keep these foods on the menu!

When I told my husband four years ago that I was not eating anymore animal products, he thought I lost my mind.  I first stopped all meat which included beef, chicken, turkey, pork, and yes, fish too.  There are many more people today eating a plant-based diet than there were back in the 80's, but some people still feel that those of us eating vegetables are sort of weird.  Ironically, there are many vegetarians that do not eat a very healthy diet.  They become vegetarians for ethical reasons without fully understanding the health-promoting part of the diet.  To eat a healthy diet, a person needs to maximize their consumption of whole plants...nature's package.  Simply avoiding animal-based foods does not constitute a healthy diet.  

Animal foods are not needed to maintain good health.  However, many people have trouble believing this because, in this country, it has been ingrained in our brains that we must drink milk for strong bones and eat meat to build muscles.  This is simply not true.  There has been so much scientific research done all resulting in the same conclusion, eating a whole-food plant based diet will give you optimal health.  Unfortunately, the American people are not given this information readily because the meat and dairy industries stand to lose too much...their money.  It doesn't seem to matter that the American people are heavier and sicker today than any other time in history.  

The good news is, we can take control of our health...prevent obesity, diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, cancer, and all the other chronic diseases we live with today.  It's all about the food that's on the end of our fork!  By eating a whole-food plant based diet, nature has packaged everything we need in just the right quantities.  It is nothing short of amazing.  We just need to make sure we eat a wide variety of vegetables, fruits, beans, whole-grains and a little nuts and seeds...our bodies will get everything it needs.

During the week if you are really crunched for time, pass that fast-food restaurant, go home, and make this in less time than waiting in line.  Simple, easy and fast!

SPEEDY INTERNATIONAL STEW

1  15 oz can black beans, drained and rinsed
1  14 oz can diced tomatoes with zesty mild green chilies
frozen corn, enough to fill the empty tomato can

Heat all the ingredients together and serve over brown rice or any other whole-grain you may have left over.  No left overs, just eat it the way it is!  

VEGETABLE CHOWDER

3 1/2 c water
1 medium onion
2 cloves of garlic, minced
2 stalks of celery, sliced
2 carrots, scrubbed and chopped
1 medium green bell pepper, chopped
2 large potatoes, peeled and chopped
3 T soy sauce
1 T thinly sliced fresh basil
1/4-1/2 t pepper
2 cups frozen corn
2 medium tomatoes, seeded and chopped
3 c Almond milk

1. Place 1/2 cup of the water in a large pot.  Add the onion, garlic, celery, carrots and green pepper.  Cook, stirring over medium-low heat for 5 minutes.  
2. Add the remaining 3 cups of water, the soy sauce, basil, and pepper.  cover and cook for 20 minutes.
3. Add the corn and cook for an additional 10 minutes.  Add the tomatoes and Almond milk.  Cook 10 minutes longer and serve.

VARIATION:  Before adding the tomatoes and milk, puree half of the soup in a blender.  Return to the pan and proceed as directed.  

I love herbs!  They can transform an ordinary dish into something delectable.  Herbs are the leaves of various annual or perennial plants and are very fragrant.  Spices, on the other hand,  come from the seeds, buds, fruit, roots, stems or barks of various plants and trees.  Herbs have a nutritive value, and, either fresh or dried,  they contain antioxidants that help protect us from diseases such as cancer and heart disease.  Using  herbs as flavoring can be a tremendous help when cutting back on salt, fat and sugar.  

Now, I know fresh herbs are so expensive.  I can't tell you how many times I used a portion of fresh herbs in a dish and then ended up throwing some away.  However, I just read a really good tip on how to prevent this.  Take a few minutes to freeze them!  I never thought about this....puree them in a blender with a small amount of water.  Pour the puree into ice cube trays and freeze until solid.  Transfer to a freezer bag.  (Remember to label it!).  Then when you are ready to use the herb, just drop a frozen cube or two directly into a pot of soup or sauce, or whatever it is you are making.  Obviously, this will only work while using herbs in cooking.  But I thought this was a great idea!!  Let me share some information on a few of my favorite herbs:

Parsley:  Rich in iron, vitamin C, vitamin A, folate, potassium and calcium.  What's more, parsley is known for its cancer-fighting potential.  In herbal medicine, it is used as a diuretic and is used for treating kidney and bladder inflammation, irritable bladder and edema.  So, eat your parsley!!  Sprinkle on any kind of salads, I put it in my soups, in my bean burger mixtures, etc.  It gives whatever you are using it in a "fresh" taste.  

Cilantro:  Cilantro is said to be the most consumed fresh herb in the world, more than double all other fresh herbs combined, because so many cultures cook with it...Chinese, Asian, Indian, African and Latin cuisines.   Cilantro is a very good source of fiber, Vitamins A, C, E and K, riboflavin, niacin, vitamin B6, folate, calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, copper and manganese.  It's also a good source of thiamin and zinc.   Can you imagine...all these vitamin and minerals in that little herb....However, I find people either love cilantro or hate it...I LOVE IT!!

Basil:  Where would Italian cooking be without basil?  Basil is really fragrant and one of the most recognizable fresh herbs out there.  It is usually green, but there are some varieties that can be red or purple.  There are more than 60 varieties, all of which differ in appearance and taste.  The flavor of sweet basil, (the most common found in our markets),  is bright and pungent; other varieties such as lemon (really good), anise and cinnamon have flavors that reflect their names.  Basil is a good source of fiber, vitamins A, C, K, and B6, folate, calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium zinc, copper and manganese.  It is also a good source of protein, vitamin E, riboflavin and niacin.

Who knew all the health benefits available to us from these little leaves packed with so much flavor?  

SWEET POTATO PUFFS


1/4 c millett
1 1/2 c water
5 medium sweet potatoes, peeled and cubed
1 large garlic clove, minced
1 medium onion, finely chopped
1 small stalk celery, with leaves, sliced thinly
1 carrot, scrubbed and grated
1/4 t dried basil

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
2. Place the millet in a saucepan with 3/4 c of water.  Cook over low heat for 30-40 minutes, or until softened.  Meanwhile, steam the sweet potatoes until soft, about 15 minutes.  Mash them well.
3. Saute the garlic, onion, celery and carrot in the remaining 1/2 c of water until tender, about 7 minutes.  Combine the millet, potatoes, vegetables and basil, mix well.
4. Drop the mixture by the tablespoons onto a nonstick baking sheet, being careful not to flatten the puffs.  Bake for 20 minutes or until lightly browned.  

SAUTEED ITALIAN ZUCCHINI


1/4 c water
1 clove garlic, minced
5-6 small zucchini, trimmed and sliced
2 T soy sauce
2 T chopped fresh parsley
1/2 t dried oregano
1/2 t dried basil

Put the water and garlic in a pan.  Add the remaining ingredients.  Saute, stirring occasionally, until softened but not mushy, about 10 minutes.  

TASTY BLENDER SALSA


1  15-16 oz can whole tomatoes
2 cloves garlic
1/4 cup fresh cilantro leaves
1 fresh jalapeno pepper, seeded, stem removed

Place all of the ingredients in a blender or food processor.  Process until smooth. Serve with burritos, baked pita chips, etc. 

I'm really late in posting my blog today because, like every other morning, I start out reading my emails and was shocked to read an article that was sent to me.  It's subject was GMO foods.  Now, I know what GMO foods are, (genetically modified organisms---which means, this is not from nature, it's man-made), and I try to diligently avoid them, but I had no idea what a wide spread problem this has become and how "the powers that be" keep this information hidden.  I literally have just spent 5 hours reading reports, articles, journals, etc., on GMO foods and the ramifications it's causing to our health...especially our children's health as they are growing and developing into adults.  I can honestly say I am sick to have discovered what goes on in regards to the United States' food supply.  I will try and summarize what I've learned about GMOs...I will try to keep it short...I could go on and on about this because GMO foods are so detrimental to our health.

It's Friday...the last day of a long week.  I wanted to give you some recipes that you might be able to try over the weekend.  Look the recipes over and make your grocery list.  Again, a really good time-saving tip is to get your fruits and vegetables home, wash them, cut them up and store in ziplock bags ready to use during the week.  Maybe plan on soaking some beans overnight, cook them the next morning, (about 1 hour), and store in ziplock bags... ready to go when you are during the week.  Same with whole-grains, i.e., quinoa, brown rice, millett, barley, etc.  Make a batch and store.  

When I mention giving up virtually all animal products--meat and dairy--which includes beef, chicken, fish, cheese, milk and eggs--people look at me like I am absolutely crazy!!  The whole idea seems absurd.  Most people who hear about this do not seriously consider it, despite the truly impressive health benefits.  If you are one of these people--if you are curious about these findings, but know in your heart that you will never be able to give up meat, then I can talk until I'm blue in the face....I will never be able to change your mind.  YOU HAVE TO TRY IT.  I tell people all the time, give it one month...one month won't hurt anyone.  If you have been eating cheeseburgers, fries, drinking soda, then one month without them won't kill you.  

One month isn't enough time to give you long-term benefits, but it is long enough for you to realize four things:

1. There are some great foods you can eat in a plant-based diet that you otherwise may never had discovered.  You may not be eating everything you want, (the desire for meat may last longer than one month), but you will be eating lots of delicious foods.
2. It's not all that bad.  Some people start this and very quickly love it!  Other may take months to fully adjust.  But almost everyone will find that it's a lot easier than they thought.
3. You will feel better.  Even after only a month, most people will feel better and likely lose some weight.  Try having your blood work done before starting this way of eating....then have blood work done again a few months into it...you will be so surprised!
4. Most importantly, you will realize it is doable!  You can do this if you choose to.  All the health benefits that go along with this way of eating money CANNOT BUY.  It's your choice.

This first month may be challenging, but it gets easier after that.  I know this sounds hard to believe, but your taste buds will change when you are on a plant-based diet.  You not only lose your taste for meat, but you begin to discover new flavors.  Food actually tastes better!!

With that being said, during the first week or two, you may have some stomach upset as your digestive system adjusts.  This is natural...it's nothing to worry about and doesn't usually last long. You will need to put some time into this.  You will need to learn new recipes, (how exciting!), and you will be trying new dishes.  Also, no matter how full your plate is, we are all "trained" to think we are not eating a meal without meat.  This too shall pass.  

This recipe is from the book, Moosewood Restaurant Cooking for Health.

TUNISIAN CHICKPEA STEW

2 cups of chopped onions
1/4 t salt
2 T minced or pressed garlic
1-2 fresh chiles, minced
2 t ground cumin
2 t ground coriander
1 t caraway seeds, whole or ground
1/2 t ground black pepper
4 cups peeled and cubed butternut squash ( I buy the already peeled and cubed, much easier!)
1 cup water or vegetable broth
1 bell pepper, diced (red, orange, yellow or green)
1  15 oz can chickpeas, rinsed and drained
1  15 oz can diced tomatoes
2 T soy sauce
1/4 cup chopped cilantro (optional)

1. In a soup pot on medium heat, saute the onion and salt in a small amount of water, cover and cook until the onions soften, about 7 minutes, stirring occasionally.
2. Add the garlic, chiles, cumin, coriander, caraway and black pepper and cook for another 2 minutes, stirring often.  Add the butternut squash and stir to coat with the spices.  Add the water and stir well.  Cover, bring to a simmer and cook for 7 minutes.
3. Add the bell peppers, cover and gently simmer for another 7 minutes.  Stir in the chickpeas, tomtaoes, soy sauce and cilantro and simmer until the squash is quite tender.  If the stew is gently simmered for an extra 15-20 minutes, the flavors develop and mellow.  

If you have any questions or concerns, or found a really good recipe to share, please email me.  I love feedback

I know I go on and on about how a Whole Food Plant Based diet, (WFPB) can help us lose weight, prevent and stop heart disease, but the same diet can prevent and stop the progression of cancer.  Americans dread cancer more than any other disease.  I think it's because we envision ourselves being consumed by cancer slowly and painfully. The rates at which we die from cancer are among the highest in the world, and it's getting worse.  We are not winning the war on cancer as the pharmaceutical companies would like us to believe.  However, I am here to tell you, IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE LIKE THIS!!  The toxicity of our diet is the single most cause of cancer.  


Contrary to what many believe, cancer is not a natural event.  Eating a healthy diet and having a healthy lifestyle can prevent the majority of cancers in the United States.  Believe it or not, we all have "cancer cells" in us.  The initial cancer cells will not grow and multiply unless the right conditions are met.  If these conditions are met and the cancer cells are able to grow, the next stage in cancer development is called promotion.  Promotion is REVERSIBLE , depending on whether the early cancer growth is given the right living conditions.  This is where certain dietary factors become so important.  If the cancer cells are given the right living conditions, the third stage is called progression.  Progression begins when a bunch of advanced cancer cells progress in their growth until they have done their final damage.  The cancer cells take over our healthy cells.  

Extensive research has been done by T. Colin Campbell, PhD, and many of his colleagues.  In his book, The China Study, (in my opinion, this is a MUST READ by everyone), Dr. Campbell  shows us the research done with cancer and how animal protein can literally turn cancer cells on and off.  When a diet increases in animal protein, (meat and dairy), cancer cells are turned on...when animal protein is taken out of the diet, cancer cells are turned off.  This research is absolutely stunning!!  

When you give your body what it needs, it will heal itself.  I cannot emphasize this enough.  Flood your body with vegetables, fruits, beans, and whole-grains, you give your body the ammunition it needs to fight off all the toxins we ingest, breath, drink and come in contact with.  Your body can preform amazing feats when given the proper nutrition. I know this sounds very simplistic, but there is a boat load of scientific evidence to back this up. This evidence, I might add, comes out of Harvard, Cornell, and the Cleveland Clinic, just to name a few.  

So, the same "diet" that I have been going on and on about in regards to heart disease, is the same diet that will help prevent cancer, strokes, diabetes, Alzheimer's disease, kidney disease, etc., etc.  This is the optimal diet for optimal health, and the beauty of it is, it's never too late to start.  The sooner you begin eating this way, the quicker your health can and will be restored....your body will thank you!!

This recipe is from the book, The New McDougall Cookbook.  This is a really easy recipe that only takes about 10 minutes to cook!

TOFU STIR-FRY

1/3 c water
3 T soy sauce
2 cloves of garlic, minced
1 1/2 t grated fresh ginger
1/2 pound firm tofu, cut into strips
2 small zucchini, sliced
3 small yellow squash, sliced
1/2 pound snow peas, trimmed
1 small baby bok choy, sliced
1 bunch scallions, sliced into 1 inch pieces
1/4 pound mushrooms, sliced
1/2 c bean sprouts

1. Combine the water, soy sauce, garlic and ginger in a wok or large pan and bring to a boil.
2. Add the tofu, zucchini, squash, snow peas and bok choy to the pan.  Saute for 4-5 minutes.  Add the scallions, mushroom and bean sprouts. 
3. Saute for another 3-5 minutes.  Serve over brown rice or any whole-grain.

Weight loss....it's what everyone wants.  The problem is, we spend so much  money trying to achieve this as fast as possible, we miss what's right in front of us.  It doesn't take rocket science to achieve weight loss, it takes some planning and some moving. 

Anyone that knows me, knows what my philosophy is on eating...the best "diet", (way of eating), is a Whole Food Plant Based Diet.  To achieve weight loss and health, you need to find a way of eating and living that is healthy and is an easy fit for your life.  Weight loss should be a natural result of eating what's best for your body while you still enjoy what you are eating.  There is no weighing food, measuring quantities, counting carbs, fats, calories, etc.  Let me repeat myself, this is not a diet...it's a new way of living!  Dieting means deprivation, will power and lack of food enjoyment.  This is why most diets fail, and if they work in the short-term, people end up gaining all the weight back, and usually even more.  

So, if you want to lose weight you need to create changes that you can sustain for a lifetime.  You need to change how you eat permanently and a  Whole Food Plant Based Diet is the absolute healthiest way of doing it.  Again, as I have said before, you first must get rid of processed foods, white flour and white sugar.  This way of eating centers on eating foods that are as close to  their natural state as possible.  Apples off a tree, beans off the vine, lettuce out of the soil.  A Whole Food Plant Based Diet, (WFPB) consists mainly of:

• Vegetables
• Fruits
• Beans
• Whole grains
• Nuts and seeds

What you will try to avoid are:

• Animal based foods, (all meat and dairy, eggs)
• Fish, seafood
• Processed, packaged foods
• Junk and fast foods
• Sugar
• White flour
• Chemicals and additives
• Store-made baked goods
• GMO's

Notice I used the word "mainly".  This doesn't mean that you will never again have the "avoided" foods; it means that the bulk of your diet comes from a WFPB diet.  I'm telling you, when you are able to make this transition, your weight will just come off naturally...when you get into an exercise routine, not only will the weight drop even quicker, but you will feel like a new person...literally.  Your energy will soar!!

So, if you are thinking about trying to make this change, I suggest starting with getting rid of the processed, artificial, junk foods.  All the pre-packaged foods, cookies, chips, soda, sugary cereals, packages of "food" that have an ingredient list longer than your grocery list with chemicals in it you cannot pronounce.  Once you have cleaned all that out, the second step is to cut way back on meat and poultry.  Add in more vegetables, fruits, beans, and whole-grains while eliminating meats.  The third step, which I think is the hardest, is to cut back on dairy.  Because many dairy products have the same effect on our brain as opiates, (the biggest culprit is cheese), it takes patience and real effort to eliminate dairy.  However, once you do, so many chronic "issues" disappear.  For some people this will not happen in a day, it will take as long as it takes.  For others, they go cold turkey and never look back.  You need to do what is right for you.  

However, let me say this....if you continue to have small amounts of meat and dairy continually, you will never "get over" the "craving" for it.  When you no longer are eating meat and dairy, the "craving" goes away and you wont even miss it.  I know it sounds unlikely, but try it...your body will reward you for it.

Recipe for today is from the book, The New McDougall Cookbook.  This is an easy, on the table in minutes, quick dinner.

BURRITOS de  LEGUMBRES


1 bunch scallions, cut into 1/2 inch pieces
2 zucchini, cut in half, then sliced 1/2 inch thick
1/4 pound mushrooms, sliced
1 c small broccoli florets
1 leek, washed and sliced, or 1 small onion, chopped
3/4 c water
1/8 c packed chopped cilantro, (optional)
1  7 oz can Mexican green sauce
1 T cornstarch, mixed with 2 T water
8 whole-wheat tortillas
Salsa

• Saute all of the vegetables in 1/2 cup of the water for 5 minutes, until tender-crisp.  Add the cilantro, green sauce, and the remaining 1/4 cup of water, mix well.  Add the cornstarch mixture.  cook, stirring until thickened. 
  
• Place a line of  the vegetable mixture down the center of a tortilla.  Add a spoonful of salsa, if desired.  Roll up and eat. 

Serve this with a big salad or maybe a cup of homemade soup....Yummmmm.....