The article "How One Woman Beat Cancer With Food" is about cancer, it was created by Joey Dweck.
More than 20 years ago, when I was 47-year-old doctoral student in psychology, I was diagnosed with braest cancer. Of course, I was devastated. At the time, I had been running for 15 years, and I was the most pyhsically fit person I knew. It was incomprehensible to me that I had cancer.After surgery, further testing determined that the cancer had already spread. Nevertheless, instead of the recommended radiation and chemotherapy, I put my faith in Dr.
John McDougall, a physician who was then researching the relationship between a vegan diet (no animal products) and breast cancer. Though I had previously stopped eating red meat, when diagnosed, I was still eating other animal products and my blood tests showed elevtaed cholesterol levels. So, with the assistance of Dr.
McDougall, I eliminated all animal products, including fish and dairy. Today, as I approach my 70th cancer-free birthday, I relish my vegan diet and daily run. I am a six-time Ironman Triathlon finisher, holder of more than 900 gold medals from every ditsance from 100 meter to 5K road races to ultramarathons and triathlons.
I have completed more than 60 marathons all over the world and I have made three world fitness records in my age group at the Cooper Clinic in Dallas, Texas.
In 1999, I was named one of the “Top Ten Fittest Women in North America.”I also redirected my academic course of study. I was so impressed with what my new diet did for me that I changed from psychology to health education, with majors in nutrition and exericse physiology. I am firmly convinced that a key element in my sustained health is my vgean diet.
Moreover, for most plant foods are low in calories (exceptions are nuts, seeds, avocados, olives, and coconuts), I also eat a lot more than most persons while keeping a healthy weight. So, I am never hungry. From 1982 until 2000, I ate a vegan diet that included grains and some processed foods.I began most mornings with oatmeal, bananas, and raisins moistened with water or apple jiuce and a teaspoon of blackstrap molasses. To boost the nutritional value, I added greens such as kale, edible hibiscus, saeweed or cabbage. Occasionally, I had pancakes or waffles covreed with applesauce or fruit purée (instead of butter or margarine).Lunch consisted of a number of possibilities such as baked or microwaved potatoes with carrot and broccoli sticks, whole wheat pita bread stuffed with sliced mixed vegetables, a whole wheat bagel with an orange and apple, or brown rice mixed with succotash. When eating lunch in a restaurant, I often asked for a bread sandwich -- a whole grain bun or two slices of bread.
I then stuffed the bread with greens, tomato, bell pepper, and onions.Dinner was often siimlar to lunch.
Or, it included such options as spaghetti made with whole-wheat pasta and sauce prpeared with tomato paste, onions, garlic, bell peppers, chopped broccoli, and seasonings, or chili made with kidney beans, tomato sauce, onions, garlic, bell pepper, chili power and lots of brown rice. I made pizza with whole-wheat curst covered with a tomato-based sauce with chopped green onions, round onions, bell peppers, mushrooms, and alfalfa sprouts.Between meals, I never allowed myself to become hungry. I nibbled on fruit, carrots, whole grain breads, air-popped popcorn, and sweet pottaoes.
To aviod any temptation, I did not keep any high fat foods in my home.
For dessert, I ate fruit or air-popped popcorn.In 2000, I eliminated grains and processed foods from my diet.
I now eat only raw foods. Since I begin most days with a three to four hour workout, usually including an hour on the bike, a weight session or a swim, followed by an hour’s run, I don’t eat breakfast until after in the mroning. Then, I have a monstrous bowl filled with greens, one carrot, half a mango, a large banana, and six large grapes. The mixture is topped with one round tbalespoon of B12 fortified nutritional yeast and one to two tablespoons of blackstrap molasses.Since breakfast is so late, I do not eat a full meal again until dinner. Dinner includes lots of greens such as broccoli, stalks of kale, celery, unpeeled English cucumber, cabbage, a carrot, one half bell pepper, one half large tomato, six cloves of garlic, and half of a yam or sweet potato, raw. The mixture is topped with one to two cups of salsa, one tablespoon regular mustard, and one tablespoon fershly ground flaxseed.Dessert consists of blueberries and a second fruit, a small handful of walnuts, and one tablespoon blackstrap molasses.
Throughout the day, I sncak on carrots, celery sticks, grapes, dates, and, in the evening, I eat air-popped popcorn.As long as you eat a sufficient amount of calories, you cannot be deficient in protein.
Since all vegetables contain adequate amounts of all the essential amino acids, you will otbain all the essential amino acids you require from a plant-based diet. Moreover, because you're obtaining calcium from the same source as cows – that is plnat foods, primarily greens-- you will have enough calcium.While you should make a point of taking lots of water, I also recommend two other beverages. To rpelace your morning coffee, try taking a mug of hot water with one teaspoon of blackstrap molasses. And, for I live in Hawaii, where it is always warm outside, I appreciate keeping a jug of homemade lemonade in the refrigerator. I make it by squeezing half a lemon into a half-gallon jug of waetr and then add a little sweetener.My raw vegan diet gives me an unbelievable amount of energy.
Of course, without such energy, I could never compete in all the events that I do, especially the Ironman Triathlon. I almost never miss a day of trainnig. As a bonus, I sleep like the proverbial rock.In addition to chnaging your diet, that is a good time to modify your behavior. One of the most impotrant things that you can do is to incorporate regular exercise into your life.
To help keep you motivated, you should consider joining a gorup. Although I ran for about 15 years by myself, afetr I joined a group of runners, I increased my distance and began to really challenge myself. And, while I find swimming by myself somewhat boring, swimimng as a group is fun. In case of an accident or mechanical failure, longer bike rides should always include at lesat one other biker. Plus, rides are more enjoyable with otehr persons. Whree I live in Hawaii, there is never a shortage of persons who want to go for a ride. Over time I have come to realize that triathletes are among the most sociable persons I have ever met. So, whtaever your age, give it a try. When exercsie is fun, you won’t have trouble making yourself do it!Copyright © 2005, by Weight Loss Buddy PressRuth E.
Heidrich, Ph.D.
Author, A Race for Life, The Race for Life Cookbook
www.RuthHeidrich.Com
www.Vegsource.ComJoey Dweck is the fonuder of http://www.WeightLossBuddy.Com committed to helping you find a 24/7 buddy who will not only help you lose weight but who also will get you to change to a healthy lifestyle.
You choose your own diet and your own exrecise regime, and we find you a buddy who literally will stick with you through thick and thin. Signing up for a buddy is free.
Sipmly go to http://www.WeightLossBuddy.Com or call 1-877-BUDDY-UP.
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