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| Image via biohealingweb.com |
The word 'cancer' is a scary, scary word. And with the current statistics declaring that half of all men and one-third of all women in the United States will develop some sort of cancer, the word feels even more terrifying.
But instead of focusing on the negative, this statistic can shed light on and increase our awareness of a very important topic - prevention. And, while I understand the urgency and importance of finding a cure for cancer, I believe cancer prevention is grossly overlooked and underfunded. I believe in supporting companies that are sharing a message about cancer prevention, while also offering a program to educate people about healing through nutrition.
Why am I such an advocate?
Because my father overcame cancer using nutrition and alternative medicine. He can truly credit his recovery to the plant-based diet he ate, the green juices he drank, the natural supplements he took and the mind-body work that he did.
So... this success got me thinking. If cancer can be cured with nutrition and supplements, is it really that crazy to think that it can also be prevented? I think not.
While studying under some of the world's brightest minds in the world of health and wellness, I have discovered that there are certain 'staples' of successful healing programs. Here is my list of the top 12 things you can do to prevent chronic illnesses:
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| Image via justjuice.org |
1) DRINK GREEN JUICE
Drinking cold-pressed, raw, organic juice is one of the best things you can do daily to give your body the nutrition that it needs to heal. It also makes it much easier to get your recommended servings of fresh produce without eating pounds of kale and broccoli.
2) FUEL THE BODY WITH BLENDED NOURISHMENT
Unlike juicing, blending soups and smoothies uses the entire fruit or vegetable - including the skin and all the fiber. The blending process breaks the fiber apart, which makes the fruit and vegetables easier for your body to digest and the nutrients easier to absorb.
3) EAT LIVING FOODS
Living foods are high-enzyme, chlorophyll-rich and easy to digest foods from which your body can easily receive optimal nourishment. Living foods include young organic greens, sprouted nuts, seeds and grains, fruits and vegetables, lightly fermented preparations and dehydrated crackers and snacks. Adding these to your diet is an important component of healthy living.
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| Image via fredericpatenaude.com |
4) STRUCTURE YOUR DIET AROUND RAW FOODS
Adopting a back-to-nature diet of raw foods is extremely important to the healing process. Raw foods that are prepared correctly (to maintain or unlock their life-giving nutrients) are high in enzymes, vitamins and minerals that the body needs AND are so much more nutritious than cooked foods!
5) TAKE ORGANIC WHEATGRASS SHOTS
Wheatgrass is truly nature's finest medicine. It contains an impressive array of minerals, amino acids, vitamins and enzymes. This nutrient content is significant because the human body is made up of similar components. Wheatgrass helps regulate all our bodily functions and balances the body naturally.
7) CLEANSE THE COLON
The colon is the body's major organ for elimination, so poor functioning of the colon causes sickness. Some doctors go as far as to say that disease begins in the colon. Cleansing the colon through cleanses, enemas, colonics and/or the proper fiber intake is key to preventing sickness.
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| Image via vivawoman.net |
8) USE ESSENTIAL OILS
Essential oils have been used for thousands of years to heal the body while also positively affecting our spiritual, emotional, mental and physical body. Using Certified Therapeutic Grade essential oils on a daily basis can have tremendous healing benefits. Learn more about essential oils here!
9) JUMP ON A REBOUNDER
Jumping in place daily on a rebounder (a small personal 'mini-trampoline') is a great way to exercise because it supports lymphatic circulation. Stimulating the lymphatic system is extremely important in detoxifying and cleansing the body. Rebounding puts gravity to work for you with minimum muscular effort! Learn more here!
10) HAVE A DAILY MEDITATION/YOGA PRACTICE
Committing to a meditation or yoga practice is very important, as it helps reprogram your thoughts and your deep subconscious. I've learned that, without a doubt, shifting the way you think and reprogramming your subconscious mind is the most important thing you can do when facing any health challenge.
11) UNDERSTAND THE MIND-BODY CONNECTION
Thoughts become things; therefore, your body will become sick without a mind that is focused on health and happiness. It is very important to stay focused on positive thinking and having joyful experiences.
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| Image via tenayalodge.com |
12) ATTENDING WELLNESS-RELATED RETREATS
We tend to hang onto what we know and what has given us a sense of security in the past, so I believe it's often very beneficial to remove ourselves from our current circumstances. Attending a wellness retreat where we can disconnect in a safe, peaceful environment can empower us to bring forth a newfound sense of health and wellness. Learn more about these types of retreats here!
I will always be a strong supporter of 'awareness' movements that re-educate those who believe in 'quick-fix' solutions for cancer and other chronic illnesses. Luckily, there is now more and more scientific evidence supporting the idea that with the proper diet, supplements and lifestyle adjustments, healing can take place from the inside out.
So, I encourage you to stop waiting for the government to step in with new standards or for the medical industry to discover 'cures'. Instead, be the change-makers. Lead by example and take responsibility for your own health today.
To support these movements or learn more, please visit: Creative Health Institute, Gerson Institute and Hippocrates.
(reference: cancer.org)
Connect with her at Introducing Wellness, like her on Facebook at http://facebook.com/introducingwellness, and stay updated on Instagram @stewartsarahanne and Twitter @sarahannes.
