Cancer
- Sunny-Side Wellness
- May 6, 2020
- 4 min read
Updated: Jan 10, 2022
Cancer affects approximately 2 million Americans every year. Interestingly, the curve has shown a slight decline in the past couple of years. This could be due to modern medicine or it could be due to the personal motivation, determination, and adherence society has adopted in its goal towards health & wellness.
Nothing can guarantee a cancer-free life, but the following recommendations are given to promote a lifestyle of health and wellness.
Exercise - 30 minutes/day
Do Not Smoke
Do Not Drink in Excess: more than 2 drinks/day for women, more than 3 drinks/day for men
Manage Stress
CANCER IN THE BLUEGRASS
People of the Bluegrass region are particularly affected by Cancer. Kentucky is number one in the nation in cancer deaths, with 10,000 Kentuckians dying every year from this disease, particularly, lung cancer (Rodriguez, Vanderford, Bin Huang, Vanderpool, & Huang, 2018). This is 50% higher than the national average. Other common forms of cancer plaguing the bluegrass are breast, colorectal, and cervical, and all are mainly related to three major factors: obesity, smoking, and lack of medical care (Ungar, 2015). Cancer also referred to as malignancy, is the abnormal growth of cells. With over 100 types, cancer can be tricky to diagnose, as symptoms fluctuate regarding the type of cancer. For Kentucky, the rate of cancer coincides with socioeconomic, behavioral, environmental and policy influences. An astounding 30% of Kentuckians smoke tobacco compared to the 17% national average and thirty counties in Kentucky are considered high radon zones, which is the second cause of lung cancer (Rodriguez, Vanderford, Bin Huang, Vanderpool, & Huang, 2018).
Recently, in April 2018, researchers at the University of Kentucky conducted a review using McLeroy’s Socio-Ecological Model to explain cancer disparities in Kentucky, taking into account the cancer-control research and community outreach initiatives designed by the state’s National Cancer Institute (Rodriguez, Vanderford, Bin Huang, Vanderpool, & Huang, 2018). They found that community outreach intervention programs were extremely beneficial and necessary for eliminating the severe health disparities experienced by the state of Kentucky. Additionally, Kentucky nutritional patterns do not favor cancer resistance. Certain foods that have been linked to cancer are processed meats, like hot dogs and bacon, high amounts of red meat, and alcohol (Underferth, 2019). Alternatively, cancer-fighting foods consist of foods loaded with phytochemicals, powerful cancer-fighting plant compounds that strengthen the immune system, reduce inflammation, repair DNA damage, slows cancer cell growth, and regulates hormones (Brammlet, 2017). Gravitate towards apples, apricots, broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbage, carrots, soybeans, garlic tomatoes and cauliflower for this nourishing chemical.
TYPES BY GENDER
MEDICINAL RECIPES
Pro Foods: parsley, wheatgrass, blueberries, strawberries, walnuts, tomatoes, chili peppers, mushrooms, nuts, kale, citrus, spinach, pomegranate, blackberries and raspberries, onions, papayas, melons, green tea, ginger, leafy greens, carrots
Con Foods: red meat, bbq meat, processed meats, salt, sugar, rice, bread, pasta
Quinoa Tabouleh with Wheatgrass
1 c. raw quinoa, 1 bunch parsley, 1 bunch mint,1 bunch wheatgrass, 1/2 cucumber, 1/2 green bell pepper, 2 tomatoes, 1 bunch scallions, 2 lemons, 1 cup oil, salt
rinse quinoa, add to 2 cups boiling water, reduce to simmer, cook for 10 minutes, fluff and refrigerate, finely chop ingredients, squeeze juice from lemon, add salt & oil, toss in quinoa, chill.
Smoothie Queen:
carrot, parsley, wheatgrass, frozen blueberries, frozen strawberries, chili pepper, kale, orange juice, pomegranate juice, frozen blackberries, frozen raspberries, frozen papaya, frozen cherries and vanilla yogurt or ice cream
Blend all ingredients until smooth and well blended.
Raw Kale Salad
2 bunches raw kale, tomato, sweet onion, feta, lemon, salt, sesame seed, oil, garlic powder
wash & dry kale, quarter tomato, thinly slice onion, mix all ingredients until coated
Mixed Mushroom Potstickers
1/4 cup button, 1/4 cup portabello, 1/4 crimini, 1/4 oyster, 1 egg, 2 scallions, whole wheat wonton wrappers, 3 cloves garlic, ginger, vegetable stock, oil, salt & pepper, soy sauce, teriyaki sauce, sesame seed
fill small cup with warm water and set up clean working space on counter. chop mushrooms, garlic, scallion & ginger, mix with egg, salt & pepper, fill each wrapper with 1/2 T mushroom mix, brush 2 consecutive edges of wrapper with warm water, fold over & press edges together, place on floured baking pan
heat 3 T oil in large wide pan or griddle on medium heat, fry potstickers on both sides until lightly golden brown, turn heat to medium high, after 30 seconds add 1/4 cup stock & immediately cover, lower heat to medium low. Remove potstickers once all stock has evaporated off dumplings are slightly sticking to pan. Prepare in batches if needed. serve with soy teriyaki mix garnished with sesame and chopped scallion.
Moroccan Mushroom Soup
2 cups button mushroom, 1 qt stock, 1 onion, 3 cloves garlic, chili powder, coriander, cumin, sage, 1 T parsley, flour, 4 T butter, lemon wedges, whole wheat bread
slice mushrooms, onion & garlic, heat butter on medium heat, saute onion until soft, add mushroom & garlic and spices, cook until fragrant about 2 - 3 minutes, shake in flour while stirring, add stock, turn to medium high & continue to stir until flour and spices are well blended into stock. lower heat and simmer until thickened. Serve with lemon wedges and crusty whole wheat bread.
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