This past weekend I witnessed many of the 6500 riders who travel across Massachusetts for the purpose of raising funds for research at the Dana Farber Cancer Institute. This annual event, the Pan Mass Challenge, has raised many millions of dollars over the years. As I watched them ride by it struck me that it’s unlikely any one of them has not been touched in some way by cancer. A friend, a neighbor, a loved one, or even themselves. It is truly a scourge in our society.
As a health and wellness coach, I like to think of prevention as a most important goal. If we can find ways to prevent the onset of cancer, going forward we will save friends, neighbors and loved ones from going through the suffering so many have endured. It may seem daunting to think of preventing cancer, but if we tackle it in small bites, and remember that even small changes can lead to improvements, we can each make a difference.
My suggestions
Start with your food. Eliminate as many processed foods as you can. If you grow vegetables, use only organic products on them. Buy organic as much as you can; it’s good for you and the planet.
Use purer household cleaning products. A woman on the west coast has been doing my 6 Weeks to Diet Freedom program to further improve her nutrition habits. She shared with me the great success she’s having with Dr. Bronner’s household products, cheat sheet and all, to keep her home air and surfaces clean without using harsh products.
Avoid chemical fertilizers and pesticides on your lawns. Those chemicals are absorbed into the soil and drained into the water supply. It leads to a vicious cycle of adding chemicals to our water supply to kill other harmful chemicals.
Follow Environmental Working Group’s research on food, personal care products, water quality and other topics that impact your exposure to toxins.
You’ll begin to notice that as you make improvements in one aspect of your environment, you will naturally look at more ways to get other areas less toxic.
A Gift for Those in Recovery
If, despite your best efforts to stay healthy, or if you know someone who has experienced cancer, building a positive mindset is of utmost importance. For that reason I recorded a series of guided meditations designed to create a calmer mind and body as one moves beyond active treatment into the recovery phase. When you sign up for my newsletter I will send you these recordings at no charge. They include preparing for screenings, preparing for appointments and building a healthy life.