After my cafe con chaga, I like to wake up all the muscle groups. This is a great little workout and Master Shi Heng Yi has much wisdom to share.
P.S. Sedentary lifestyles are killing us.
Category: Uncategorized
The first thing I did after reading my diagnosis was to Google this particular type of cancer I have. I’d never heard of CLL before!
Immediately, I found that it is linked to glyphosate, also known as roundup. Of course, I knew roundup was not good — for people and bees and Monarch butterflies… for the environment in general.
I had avoided it, never purchasing it for my own yard. How could I have a disease caused by something I’ve always avoided?
Back to the Google search bar… this time to search for foods with glyphosate residue. Number 1 is Cheerios. Well, I’ve eaten a bowl of Cheerios for breakfast for many, many years! Damn. And here I thought it was a healthy choice!
Also on the list, Nature Valley Granola bars. I bought those hundreds of times, a lunch box staple for the kids… and it’s poison. Friggin poison.
I’m going to stay positive and just say, for now, please be aware that mainstream food sources carry a heavy pesticide/herbicide load and many of these chemicals have links to cancer and other chronic diseases, such as Parkinson’s. I’ll write more in the future… but for now I just want to say a couple of things:
● Many chemicals are used in industrial farming, which is the source of all processed foods. In the US, these chemicals are “innocent until proven guilty,” meaning that they can be used until they are scientifically proven to cause harm. In many other countries, chemicals are “guilty until proven innocent,” resulting in a much healthier population.
● Organic food can be more expensive but it is worth it. Aldi and Trader Joe’s are great places to explore, and the prices are pretty good.
● Many imported foods are free of glyphosate and adhere to higher food safety and quality standards. Find yourself a good Italian grocer and look for “Made in Italy” on the label. Aldi carries many “Made in Germany” items, especially in October, and some imported pastas from Italy.
● Find a local farm or farmer’s market, ask them how they farm and what pesticide/herbicide/fertilizer they use, if any. Find someone you know and trust, and then support them with the money you used to spend on processed food.
● Glyphosate is used as a drying agent for foods when they are harvested. So, at the moment of harvest, a big dose is sprayed on foods like oats, wheat, beans, legumes, etc. This keeps harvested food from becoming moldy. Did you know this? I didn’t.
● I really wish I could travel back in time and stop eating Cheerios and other non-organic foods, but I can’t, so I’m telling you, in the hope that you can avoid my fate.
Changing your food sources is a very big step in defensive living… what you eat is really what you are, on a cellular level. You and your family are WORTH IT!
In Praise of Stainless Steel
Had to text my Mom the other day, and thank her for buying me these amazing kitchen tools years ago, when Jimmy and I got married. I’m sure they cost a bit … certainly more than the plastic and Teflon crap that’s caused so much cancer, IBS, etc.
I’m so glad we had stainless steel to use instead. And I urgently implore YOU to search your own kitchen and throw away any plastic or Teflon materials, especially pans and things that are heated.
While you’re at it, get rid of any plastic cups. Just fling ’em. Use glass, steel, pottery… There’s plenty of great stuff to choose from at your local Goodwill. Most of our drinking glasses are just old sauce and jelly jars.
Look at your storage containers and consider trashing the plastic and replacing with glass or steel. Your health is worth it! Your family’s health is worth it! Again, lots of great options at Goodwill.
If you want to know more about the dangers of Teflon, there’s a fairly recent film called “Dark Waters” starring Mark Ruffalo & Anne Hathaway. Here’s the trailer:
Mushrooms
We had watched Paul Stamets’ TED Talk years ago and always encouraged others to seek out medicinal mushrooms when they found out they were facing cancer.
Now it was our turn to check into it.
First thing we did was buy this mushroom hot chocolate. Within a week, my sister sent a care package including the Chai flavor. While these are both delicious (and non-GMO, organic, etc.) I see them now as processed, high-sugar treats in plastic containers.
Know Better, Do Better
Today, I’m getting fresh mushrooms at the farmers market from a nice guy named Botanical Ben. I’m using fresh mushrooms in dinners and salads and dried mushrooms as soup starters.
Chaga
Ok, hippy-dippy name aside, I found this chaga mushroom product at Lori’s Natural Foods and have been adding a spoonful to my coffee every day since. It’s got an amazing flavor (Jimmy says it’s musty, but I love it). Also, it has lots of anti tumor and anti cancer properties. It’s actually made from a fungus that grows on mushrooms.
BTW, a lot of chemotherapy drugs start this way, organic compounds pulled from nature.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38116085/
https://www.thisislifeitself.com/blogs/blog/chaga-101
Paul Stamets will Save the World
Let’s hear it from the man himself:
There’s also a long form program available on Netflix called Fantastic Fungi all about this fascinating man and his research. I highly recommend exploring the world of mushrooms for medicinal use and integrating them into your diet.
A Postcard from the Universe
Last year, a few days before my birthday, I received a card.
It wasn’t a birthday card.
More of a membership card.
To a club nobody wants to join.
And I couldn’t send it back.
At first, I was scared, then sad, then angry. It was a panic to tell my family and close friends. I cycled and re-cycled thru all the stages of grief.
But, from the very first hour, there were ideas, tips, and strategies shared. Things I could do to improve my health, lessen the burden on my body, and see glimmers of hope.
I’m so grateful for the suggestions and support I’ve received all along from my loved ones. One year later, I do feel healthier and more in control of things.
The purpose of this blog is to share the knowledge I’ve gained and the positive steps I’ve taken in the hope that it can help someone else. Welcome!
The Cancer Canary 