Create a Body Cancer Doesn't Like

Dr Lise Alschuler, a naturopathic doctor with board certification in naturopathic oncology, and Karolyn A. Gazella, the publisher of theNatural Medicine Journal, an innovative peer-reviewed medical journal for holistic-minded healthcare practitioners, started Five to Thrive®. Five to Thrive is a multi-media educational initiative that features an informational website, books, radio show, videos, social networks, and a digital magazine.  It promotes an integrative approach to cancer prevention and treatment that aim to positively transform the health of those affected by this disease. Their mission is to educate people about lifestyle-based, integrative, and scientifically sound health promotion strategies, and in this way create deeper and more widespread wellness.

The five strategies to thrive after cancer are:

Spirit - joy, hope, laughter, service, love

Being grateful stabilizes the chromozomes.  To truly feel grateful you need to work on your ability to be in the moment. Great tools to achieve this are meditation and the gratitude journal

Movement - strength training, aerobic activity, flexibility, proper timing, optimal hydration.

Exercise is a wonderful tool to stay healthy. Our bodies are meant to move. Most of us are spending a lot of time sitting and we need to change that. We need to take brakes and move by doing for example knee bends or just walk around. Number of hours watching TV is  a predictive factor for getting cancer. When muscles contract they release chemicals that regulate key bodily functions. They act as an antidote to insulin resistance and are anti inflammatory. If we don't exercise we don't get the benefit from these chemicals.

Diet - engage your senses, add more color, eat organic, eat whole foods, spice it up.

Plant based, non processed foods offer a risk reduction.  Mediterranean type diet with plants, lean protein, good quality oils, fruit at the end of the meal, minimal alcohol. Eating in a relaxed social setting is very beneficial. You need to take time to eat making it a possibility for having fun with family and friends.

Environment - personal care items, cleaning products, toxins, water filtration, air purification.

Use natural, organic personal care products and use organic cleaning products to reduce exposure to toxins. You can find tips on DIY alternatives for cleaning here, and for skin care here and here
Dietary supplements can be helpful since we don't usually get all the nutrition we need from our food since the soil is nutrient depleted. There are five supplement  categories:
Antioxidants, fish oil/fatty acids, vitamin D, flavenoides and probiotics.
But don't get the cheap synthetic vitamins! Then it is better to stick with good food.

Rejuvenation - rhytm, rest, relax, replenish, remediate.

Being healthy before diagnosis means that you will probably take treatment better.

"The Definitive Guide to Thriving After Cancer, a five step integrative plan to reduce the risk of recurrence and build lifelong health" is available at Amazon and Kindle.

Just be happy!

Many health gurus teach us that if you are happy and relaxed the body goes into repair mode and gives you a much better chance to recover from disease and become healthy. When we are upset or stressed out our bodies are busy being prepared for fight or flight so there's not much resources left for repairs. If we stay in this state for a long time the back log of needed repairs is getting longer and longer and your health can be (probably will be) affected. If you already have a health problem it will be harder to recover.

But all you need to do is to be happy, right?  Preferably all the time! Easy peasy...or not... let’s see if we got this one right. Soooo... if you just got diagnosed with a possibly fatal disease… or if you are extremely stressed out and depressed... you just make sure to be happy and your body will fix itself. There we go, problem solved!  We just have a tiny detail to figure out before our body starts doing all that repairing. How do you manage to start getting into happy mode and make more frequent visits there until you manage to stay happy most of the time? 

This may seem nearly impossible for a person that is in chock or in a depression. But if you manage to take one small step at a time to get you closer to more frequent visits to happiness mode you can improve how you perceive life. The simple procedure of writing a list of the things that you love to do and that makes you smile can help.  Just writing the list can put a smile on your face because it puts your mind on situations that makes you feel good. If you make it a priority to incorporate at least one or two of the listed items in your everyday activities you are on your way to become happier!  It's not the hard to reach activities, like parachuting or taking a trip to Galapagos that you put on the list, but the simple things like a walk in the park, enjoying a cup of your favourite tea, hugs from your loved ones, a pet you love, spending a moment with a close friend or reading an uplifting book. 

The items on your list can also be an inspiration for creating a gratitude list. Isn't everything that makes you feel great something to be grateful for? If you recognize simple things to be grateful for each day, you are moving even more towards a happier life! 
Dan Buettner explores happy populations to see what they can teach us. His results may help you on your way if you want to try happiness the Blue Zones way?

Be happy and shine your light for all to see!