Helpful Hints - Friday, February 19, 2010

I thought it might be appropriate at this part of the journey to share what has been helpful to me along the way. The diet the naturopath recommended included organic chicken or turkey twice a week and two slices of cheese along with organic fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. In addition, good fats like avocados, olive oil, nuts, and seeds were permitted. I know being on this type of diet reduced the amount of inflammation caused by the chemo, even though two slices of cheese per week is almost unbearable for an Italian.

As far as the supplements are concerned, taking digestive and pancreatic enzymes, betaine HCL, l-glutamine, and omega 7 were the most important supports to my digestive system. CoQ10, green tea, and B-complex increased my stamina. I took an adrenal complex to support that system. Ashwaghanda aided the effects of the chemo and helped me sleep at night. I discovered that ginger relieved the mysterious stomach pains I encountered on occasion. Turmeric and Zyflamend have helped reduce the inflammation. (Turmeric has anti-cancer, anti-tumor, and anti-inflammatory properties.) Umeboshi plum paste kept me from getting nauseous after the chemo treatments. The reason is that it is very alkalizing, so it helped to balance the acidifying effects of the chemo. There are a number of other supplements I have taken which were specific to the protocol I followed that I will not take the time to mention. Lastly, I believe that exercise, juicing daily, and most of all, the scriptures were essential to facing this trial successfully. Wait a minute. How could I forget organic/natural makeup? That was a must for me! I really hope this list provides some ideas for others who are facing cancer also.