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Eating For Cancer
How I modify my diet to defeat this disease
I woke up this morning craving pizza. The thing is, I have cancer. In order to beat it, I have to control what I eat.
Once upon a time, I’d have ordered my favorite type and Mom and I would have enjoyed it. But that is a serious cheat on my cancer diet.
Things I avoid these days — processed foods, GMO foods, vegetable oils, high fructose corn syrup, maltodextrin, grains laden with pesticides, factory farm produced meats and fish… all the stuff most Americans consume more of than they should.
Many years ago, I tried being a vegan because I hated how they treat animals in American agriculture. However, when I got cancer, I did more research, and small to moderate amounts of animal protein are very healthy IF they are the right type.
So I might have 3 ouces of grass fed, grass finished steak or 4 ounces of pastured chicken or 6 ounces of wild-caught fish with several servings of organic veggies.
I have a hierarchy for my produce.
Something I grew in my own garden is at the top. Something a friend grew in her garden is just under that. Organic produce from farmers’ markets is next. Organic produce from a supermarket is still fine. Non-organic produce is to be avoided.
As far as cooking oil — organic olive oil, avocado oil, or coconut oil are fine. I avoid all vegetable oils. I supplement with fish oil.
I try to eat clean and most of my meals are cooked by either myself or my mother. A few times I’ve had friends drop off healthy meals.
Does that mean I never cheat? No, but I try to keep it minimal. I know how fragile my health is and I want to beat the cancer, not feed it.
So today when I craved pizza, I asked myself — how much do I want it? Is it worth the potential damage to my health?
Then like a miracle, a good friend dropped off eggplants from her garden along with a cucumber and fresh basil. All of it fresh picked, and organic.
I made ratatouille with the eggplants and basil along with several cloves of organic garlic and a jar of organic pasta sauce. I served over rice and topped with raw pastured cheese.
