Listen & Learn to Be Healthy

This past spring I listened to the 2016 Food Revolution Summit created by bestselling author John Robbins and his son Ocean Robbins. At the summit, John interviewed 24 of the world’s top food experts, including 16 medical doctors. More than 230,000 summit participants heard these enlightening interviews. For me they were very instructional and I learned new stuff. For others it was surely helpful for discovering a healthy lifestyle.

For the next week (and maybe longer), the Food Revolution Network is replaying for FREE three of those interviews—In fact, the three most popular presentations from the summit.

• You’ll hear Joel Fuhrman, M.D. offer penetrating insights into exactly what foods to eat to achieve optimum nutritional excellence.

• Mark Hyman, M.D. will tell you about the science of nutrition and how to take advantage of the best elements of paleo and vegan diets.

• And Neal Barnard, M.D. will share breakthroughs in scientific understanding of how to not only prevent disease, but also to expand vitality and joy.

These interviews are available to listen to FREE for the next week.

Enjoy and be enlightened.

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Join the Food Revolution With Me

I hope you were able to watch and learn from The Truth About Cancer: A Global Quest docu-series. Perhaps you even invested in the videos—I did—and plan on watching again to get the maximum benefit and so you can pass the videos on to friends and family.

I hope you got that there is not just one way to heal from cancer without harm to your body, but multiple. You can put together a protocol that works for you—with or without the help of a practitioner.

I told you I would be passing on valuable educational opportunities so you could be as knowledgeable as me about your health. If you look to the so-called healthcare system (really should be called disease management) you may not succeed in getting healthy.

You really are in control of your health.

Talk About Food
Getting to the heart of how we become healthy and heal from disease or avoid disease in the first place, we must look at food. Coming up this weekend is the start of the Food Revolution Summit.

Are you worried about what’s happening with our food? About the pesticides and GMOs in meals your family may be eating, and how they might affect you in the long term?

The statistics show an alarming rise in health issues that parallels the spread of harmful chemicals in our food supply.

The good news is there are so many ways to eat deliciously and see your health improve—if you know what to watch out for.

Check out the Food Revolution Summit here.

The food industry has hijacked the marketplace and processed junk food is pretty much everywhere. Even many so-called “natural” foods actually turn out to be hazardous to your health.

And now we’re even seeing genetically modified ingredients showing up in “health” foods, even those labeled “all-natural”!

Enough is enough!

From April 30- May 8, my friends, John and Ocean Robbins, are interviewing 25 of the top doctors, activists, and scientists in the food world—including speakers like Christiane Northrup, MD; Mark Hyman, MD; Joel Fuhrman, MD; Jane Goodall Ph.D; David Perlmutter, MD; and Vani Hari.

You can get it all online, from anywhere on earth—for no cost. FREE! You’ll discover tips and tools to keep you and your loved ones healthy for life. So if you want to feel good about your food, enjoy more energy, vitality and increased immunity, this is the place to be!

When it comes to your health and the lives of those you love, the time to get informed and take action is NOW. And this is the place to do it.

Check it out and sign up for the Food Revolution Summit here.

I’ll see you there!


P.S. Remember, The Food Revolution Summit is free! Now you can enjoy inspiration and support from the top 25 food experts, showing you how to eat safe, healthy and delicious food. I hope you’ll join me! Just click the link to reserve your spot and get the truth about the connection between food and your health.

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Forget Everything You Know About Fat

Forget everything you’ve heard about FAT…

For decades, medicine and pop culture have told us that eating less fat (and exercising more) is the secret to sustained weight loss, health, and longevity.

Yet Americans are sicker and fatter than ever!

Clearly, something isn’t adding up.

My good friend, New York Times bestselling author Dr. Mark Hyman is on a mission to separate the FAT from Fiction during his upcoming event, The Fat Summit January 25 - February 1.

Register for Free now!

In The Fat Summit January 25 - February 1, Dr. Hyman will interview 30+ of the world’s top experts, as they reveal the truth about fat—and what it really takes to lose weight, feel great, and reverse chronic disease.

Here’s a look at what you’ll discover:

• Why eating more fat (and less sugar) actually leads to weight loss 
• Whether or not children should eat a high-fat diet 
• How carbohydrates impact hunger 
• The research on red meat (does “grass-fed” really make a difference?) 
• How wellness impacts the financial health of our nation 
• The connection between toxins and weight gain How to enjoy healthy meat (with minimal environmental impact) 
• The best sources of plant-based fat
• The role of fat in aging
• And much more…

This event airs for FREE online January 25 - February 1. But you have to RSVP to save your spot.

Register Today

P.S. Forget about New Year’s Resolutions… If you’re ready to lose those extra pounds for good, have more energy immediately, and prevent conditions ranging from heart disease and cancer to diabetes and dementia, you won’t want to miss this FREE event.

Register for FREE

See you there!

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Your Gut: Where Health Starts & Healing Begins

Gut dysfunction can be linked to virtually every disease and can cause conditions like fatigue, depression, food sensitivities, chronic pain, allergies and more. The Heal Your Gut Summit from January 18-25, will help you understand how these conditions are by and large preventable!

Why Attend? 
Your gut is the cornerstone of true health, which is why Dr. Josh Axe, Donna Gates and Dr. Eric Zielinski have gathered together more than 30 gut health experts from around the globe to share the evidence-based tools you need to regain control of your health!

Register for FREE here!

The Heal Your Gut Summit will teach you about: 

• Healing the gut to boost immunity and fight cancer 
• Losing weight by improving digestive health 
• Solutions to recover from irritable bowel syndrome 
• Balancing hormones and increasing libido 
• Reversing allergies and autoimmunity with foods and herbal remedies 

Attend and listen to the following experts (over 30 in all!): 
Josh Axe, DNM, DC, CNS: 5 Steps to Heal Leaky Gut 
Leo Galland, MD: Why Allergies Could Be Signaling Bigger Problems 
David Perlmutter, MD: Heal Your Gut by Going Grain Free 
Ty Bollinger: Boost Immunity with Gut-Immune-Cancer Connection 

Register today and you’ll get the following free gifts: 
Expert Talk #1: 5 Steps to Heal Leaky Gut, Josh Axe, DNM, DC, CNS 
Expert Talk #2: Boost Immunity with Gut-Immune-Cancer Connection, Ty Bollinger 
Expert Talk #3: Getting to The Root Cause of Thyroid Disease, Izabella Wentz, PharmD, FASCP 
Expert Talk #4: Secrets to Overcome Candida & Yeast, Donna Gates, MEd, ABAAHP 

The Heal Your Gut Summit is online and FREE from January 18-25, 2016! 

Register for FREE today!


I’ll see you at the summit!

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Now Appearing: Cure Today Online Magazine

I'm happy to announce that I am a new contributor at Cure Today online magazine. Catch my debut article Being Passionate About Health Saved My Life. You may learn a bit more about me you didn't already know.

As you might guess, I provide a different approach than most contributors to the site, who offer stories of survival while undergoing the conventional treatment of surgery, radiation and chemotherapy. Take a look around and read a few other posts.

Look for future articles at Cure Today that provide motivation and support for a different approach to cancer. Something you (my faithful readers) would expect from me.

Note: If you haven't gotten to see The Truth About Cancer: A Global Quest 9-part video series, you would have missed my interview in Episode 9. You'll hear me speak to being an example of epigenetics. Look for epigenetics to be the subject of a future post. Some viewers of the series wrote me and expressed a hope for their genetic cancer condition after watching me.

What would you like to see me address in this blog or at Cure Today?

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Kevin Benkowski—Prostate Cancer Survivor Revisited

The interview with Kevin last month brought questions about what supplements he included in his protocol to address the prostate cancer. Needing to compose the list for himself to take to his doctors, he happily obliged.

But first, "What's going on in the photo?" you ask. During the Integrated Health Conference—Cure to Cancer Summit, Kevin, like myself, was interviewed by Ty Bollinger (shown in the photo with Kevin) for the next edition of the Quest for the Cures... Continues. Ty wanted Kevin to tell his amazing story how he healed his prostate cancer with diet, supplements and lifestyle changes in just three months!

Here is the extensive list of Kevin's supplements, which he continues to take. Please note this is not a recommendation for what to take. Every person should do their own research as Kevin has done. The list is for educational use only and should not be used as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

• Acetyl-L-carnitine: 500 mg (supports memory, energy and nerve function)
• Beta-carotene: 25,000 IU (antioxidant to support immune function)
• Beta 1,3D Glucan: 1500 mg (boosts the immune system)
• Beta-Sitosterol Complex: 800 mg (lowers cholesterol, enhances effects of natural killer cells and reduces prostate enlargement)
• Co-enzyme Q10: 400mg
• Curcumin: 500 mg (anti-inflammatory, inhibits cancer and enhances cancer cell death, aka  apoptosis)
• Di-indolyl methane (DIM): 200 mg 
• Ellagic acid: 50 to 200 mg (inhibits cancer and enhances apoptosis)
• Flaxseed oil: 2500 mg
• Inulin FOS: 750 mg 
• Fruit pectin: 3 grams 
• Garlic extract: 500 mg 
• Glucosamine: 500 mg to 1,000 mg 
• L-glutamine: 1,000 mg 2X 
• Milk thistle: 600mg 2X (stimulates liver regrowth, inhibits cancer and enhances apoptosis)
• Zinc: 22mg 
• Selenium: 800mg 
• N-Acetyl Cysteine: 600 mg 
• Phosphatidyl serine (PS): 100 mg 
• Quercetin: 1000 mg 
• Resveratrol: 500mg 
• Soy isoflavones: 40 mg of daidzein and genistein 
• Vitamin C: 500 mg 
• Vitamin D3: 20,000 IU 
• Vitamin E: 400 IU 
• Vitamin B17 (Leatrile) (safe and effective cancer killer)
• Vitamin B Complex 
• Iodine: 225 mcg 
• Fulvic/Humic Acid 
• Astaxanthin: 12mg 
• LDN (low-dose Naltrexone): 5mg 
• Cat’s Claw: 1000 mg 
• Spirulina/Chlorella 
• Reishi, Shitake, Maitake mushrooms 
• Alpha Lipoic Acid: 600mg 
• Essiac Tea: 2X daily 
• Melatonin: 20mg 
• Raw Fresh Vegetable Juice w/ Max Vibrance as daily meal replacement 
• Noni Juice 
• Dandelion root 
• Digestive Enzymes 
• Probiotics 
• Daily green coffee enema (part of Gerson Therapy regimen)

Kevin also recommended the book Cancer Free! Are You Sure? by Jenny Hrbacek. This book is unlike any other cancer book. It covers the latest tests available, which are far more effective at detecting cancer than conventional diagnosis methods like mammograms, biopsies or PET scans. Read all about the book on the Cancer Free! Are you Sure? website.

If you have more questions for Kevin, he invites you to contact him at the following address: kb[at]intraderma[dot]net.

Thank you, Kevin, for being an advocate for change in how cancer is treated and healed.

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Interview with Anna Parr—Breast Cancer Survivor

Here's another wonderful seeker of optimum health I had the pleasure of meeting at the Integrated Health Conference—Cure to Cancer Summit this past March. Like many, Anna dealt with cancer using diet and alternative treatments. Anna's story began before her own as she came along side her sister who had breast cancer and took the conventional treatment route. When Anna found herself with the same diagnosis, she chose differently.

I met Anna in a workshop. She sat next to me typing notes on her laptop. Like most at the conference, we were taking in as much as we could. But it was a bit like drinking from a fire hose—lots of information to digest.

Anna told me she was a chemical engineer, which explained her ferocious note-taking. But she really wanted to do what I do—coach people through the process of healing their cancer with good nutrition and targeted therapies. She really endeared herself to me when she whipped out her reworked schedule (not a small task to accomplish) showing all the talks and workshops by time of day, rather than location. She found their program very confusing and made it right. Yep—my kind a gal!

I know you'll find Anna's story very compelling... and thorough.

How did you learn you had cancer?
Believe it or not I had a clear mammogram only a year and a half before my diagnosis (Oct 2011). In April 2013, my husband discovered a lump in my right breast and alerted me that I should get it checked out. At first I thought that it may have been normal breast tissue that I just could never feel before because I had been losing weight.

I had just returned from Colorado Springs the week before with my sister who was battling breast cancer that had spread to her bones. I was caring for her at the time and was under a tremendous amount of stress. I had a breast exam (4/18/2013) followed by a mammogram and ultrasound (4/19/2013). There was a 1 cm tumor clear as day and three tiny suspicious specks. Since I had just learned the week before how to do a juice fast and cleansing for treating cancer the healthy way, I immediately started my detox. I did not wait for a biopsy before starting the healing journey. I was glad I did too because 10 days into my detox is when I had the biopsy (5/1/2013).

As I'm sure you are aware puncturing a tumor multiple times gives cancer cells a means of escape to spread further. I wanted my body to be stronger and less cancer-friendly before I did such a procedure. Only 10 days into my detox they could not find the suspicious specs that appeared on my first mammogram so they could not biopsy that area. That alone was comforting knowing what I was doing was already moving in the right direction. They did biopsy the 1 centimeter tumor and determined that it was breast cancer. Invasive ductal carcinoma and ductal carcinoma. I got those results Friday May 3, 2013.

What did you think and do following your diagnosis?
I was one of the fortunate few that was already aware of what cancer actually is before being diagnosed myself. My sister already walked the road of conventional medicine which did not do anything at all to heal her condition. Although she had chemo and a double mastectomy, her cancer spread quickly to her bones within the year after her surgery. It was clear to me that conventional medicine did not have the answer.

Fortunately we got connected with a group in Colorado Springs called HealthQuarters who were well aware of things that ARE effective—things that boost your immune system rather than demolish it. I consider myself very fortunate that God saw fit to show me that cancer is NOT some mysterious illness that strikes people at random with no identifiable causes. Because of all of the health tips I was learning, I myself was already planning on making incremental changes to the way I eat and other lifestyle changes. But when I received a cancer diagnosis, the incremental plan turned into the immediate and extreme plan.

I am a mother of three lovely girls and have every intention of being around for their future. I was not going to wait to cut out sugar. I was not going to wait to eat more vegetables and juice and detox and make relationship changes and sleep better and breathe deeply and all those wonderful things. I will admit that although I knew those things were effective, I was still a little afraid because of the stigma that cancer carries along with it. But it just didn't make sense to me that God would teach me all about these wonderful and carefully orchestrated healing mechanisms that are already in place in my body only for them to fail me.

Did you follow any conventional doctor prescribed treatments, if so what were they?
Being what I call "immune system power enlightened," I had a little bit of fun with my doctors. I knew that what I was doing with my detox and my deep breathing and my gratitude journal and my forgiveness journal WAS in fact fighting cancer... Probably more than anything conventional medicine had to offer. But I did still see medical oncologists to hear what they would have to say about my case. Sadly, they all said the same thing.

First of all, they were all nervous that I wasn't rushing to the operating room or the poison center for killing cancer (and good cells). It’s not what they’re used to. They’re used to telling the patient what he/she is going to do – not asking them what they have decided. It was very much like an assembly line – just follow along and don’t ask questions. I could tell that my doctors were NOT used to meeting someone who did not automatically fall in line with what THEY thought I should be doing right away. But I was taking my time because I knew that I was already fighting cancer.

It felt weird to experience firsthand how one-sided and limited conventional treatments really are. Part of me wanted to hear more than just surgery, radiation or chemo - but it didn't surprise me that's really all they have to offer to this day. I was very forthright with the doctors I saw about all of the supplements I was taking and my juice fasting and my deep breathing for oxygen intake and all those things including healthy relationships and emotional healing. The doctors that I saw were really able to do no more than say, "Well, it can't hurt."

I finally found a surgical oncologist who acknowledged the effectiveness of what I was doing more so with his attitude than with his words. He did not pressure me to rush into surgery or anything like that. I did not do chemo or radiation but I did eventually have a lumpectomy five months later. I did not believe that by delaying my surgery I delayed my healing because I believed strongly and still do that healing begins with repairing your immune system.

For me I believe that spiritual agony and emotional dysfunction were huge contributors to the breakdown of my immune system. So I focused a lot of my energy on those areas and it was hard work. I believe that more often than not emotional healing can be harder than cutting out sugar or eating more raw veggies. All the while the tumor in my breast went from hard like a marble too "mushy."

Interesting side-note... when my sister was doing chemo the year before and the tumor in her breast went from hard to "mushy," the doctors boldly proclaimed that it was a sure sign that "it's working"—the tumor is responding positively to the chemo treatments!! I was in the doctors office with my sister and heard them say that to her myself. There were no lab tests or anything like that done to prove the tumor was responding. It just got "mushy." You could clearly feel the difference in the tumor, which they proclaimed as a positive response to treatment. But when I was doing my detox and taking steps for emotional healing, the tumor in my breast got "mushy" too... the doctors were silent. They could not conclude anything at all about that because I was not undergoing any medical treatments. Hhhmmmm... 

Anyway, I was confident that my healing steps were working—but I still thought that removing a few billion cancer cells from my breast might help in the battle. So I finally had a lumpectomy later that year to remove that mushy and dying tumor (Sept 2013). My surgical oncologist was also recommending I take Tamoxifen because he said the side effects are less severe for premenopausal women. Considering the fact that it does—in some way—mess with your hormones, I saw no need to go that route because it seemed to work against the philosophy that every choice I make should STRENGTHEN my immune system—not compromise it. Cancer doesn't stand a chance against a fully functional immune system. 

I followed up with an MRI and later with an ultrasound because those are the only screening methods accepted by conventional medical care. At the Intergrative Health Conference in San Diego, I had thermography done on my torso which showed no abnormal patterns in my breast tissue (woohooo!!), but [thermography] is not currently prescribed by conventional doctors that I know of—especially in Chicago.

I know I am cancer free because I am still living a healthy lifestyle and because there is nothing forming in my breasts, but I am still searching for better cancer screening options that are currently not available with conventional medicine.

What alternative treatments did you incorporate into your healing journey? Did you visit a particular alternative or integrated health clinic for treatment? 
Finding an integrated health clinic in the Chicago area is extremely difficult. Prior to my diagnosis, I traveled to Colorado Springs with my sister to attend what's called a "lodge program" at HealthQuarters. The program they teach was the basis for the detox (juice fast) I did when I received my own diagnosis. It included deep breathing, gratitude and forgiveness journals, coffee enemas, juicing, and supplementation. I have a naturopathic doctor that tests me for weaknesses and recommends supplements as needed. I do not recommend figuring out supplements on your own.

The part of my "non-conventional" treatments that I believe made all the difference in my healing journey was the emotional healing. I received personal counsel on a regular basis from two close friends and mentors. They helped me through extremely difficult changes in relationships and self-realizations. Changing how you relate to the people you love—for the better—was the most difficult thing I had to do, especially when it's not well received by those you love. I encourage those who have received a cancer diagnosis to ALWAYS look at the impact emotional health has on your healing journey because it can make all the difference in the world. Neglecting emotional health can truly sabotage anyone's healing regimen.

Are there books or websites you found particularly helpful that you can list for us?
Oddly enough the first book I read is the one I still love the most and the first time I read it was before I even had a cancer diagnosis myself. It's called The Cancer Battle Plan by Anne Frahm. I like it because it's very straightforward, easy to remember and it lays out a great strategy for regaining your health.

Another book that helped me immediately after my diagnosis was the famous Beating Cancer With Nutrition by Patrick Quillan.

Today my favorite website help is www.TrulyHeal.com. They have a free online cancer guide that gives you a plethora of information on several different categories. Their free documentary is also very good. What I particularly appreciate is their emphasis on attitude, life outlook and emotional health as an integral part of the healing journey. This often gets missed in the search for the right diet, supplements and treatments.

Did your cancer heal? What do you attribute your healing to (diet, herbs, alternative therapies, attitude, exercise, sleep)?
Yes. Just as expected, by making the changes that I made, God's perfect design for healing (AKA my immune system) slowly repaired and began to work as it should. In general, I believe that everything you do to strengthen your body's healing mechanism contributes to your healing. Knowing that makes it difficult to discern what part made the biggest difference. However, I presume the most effective part of your healing would be reversing what you believe is making you sick the most.

When you receive a cancer diagnosis, I recommend looking at your life and being honest about what could be making you sick. Ask yourself what area in your life is lacking the most attention and care? I think the patient knows more than the doctor what isn't right in their lives. It could be stress. It could be loneliness. You may be an emotionally healthy person who simply eats garbage!

The primary cause of cancer is not the same for everyone. For me, I believe the largest factor that caused a breakdown in my immune system was spiritual agony and emotional stress. I spent a year and a half not being able to trust God after my sister was diagnosed with cancer. It's a long story how, but God met me where I was and gave me a faith I never had before—go figure—on the day I had a troublesome mammogram. A spiritual burden was lifted from me that day and I was no longer in spiritual agony.

The spiritual unrest and chronic emotional stress due to unhealthy relationships were clear contributors to my illness. So I believe the emotional healing and God given faith were the primary contributors to my healing. I wasn't going to take any chances, so I was sure to do anything else I could to repair my broken down immune system that was clearly not strong enough to keep cancer at bay. To list a few:

• Daily coffee enemas
• LOTS of juicing
• Cutting out sugar
• Continued exercise
• Breathing deeply (2-3 times per day)
• Massage therapy

Looking back what would you do differently?
If I were to do it all over again I would try to be less anxious about doing EVERYTHING I learned all at once. I did feel a bit anxious about not having done IR saunas or hyperbaric chambers or not adding curcumin and other supplements, etc.

Looking back I recommend just breathing easy and having confidence that the diet and lifestyle changes you are making WILL work for the better. You can always add to your regimen in due time. I recently added acupuncture and IR sauna treatments—but that’s only after I got used to all the supplements and coffee enemas.

I also have plans to do colonics which I've never done before. Some day I'll increase my raw food intake with a dehydrator. But not yet. One thing at a time. I know now that I don't have to do it ALL right away.

Do you have thoughts on why you had cancer?
Yes. I believe that my body was already loaded with toxins because I had never done any kind of detoxing and anyone who lives in this country and eats the standard American diet (SAD) is loaded with toxins. I exercised regularly, but my diet was low in nutrients because most of what I ate was cooked foods and I definitely had more than my share of sugary sweets. That just laid the groundwork for a breakdown of my immune system.

I believe—for me—that the breakdown came as a result of chronic emotional stress and an inability to trust God as I described in my previous answers. Spiritual unrest (lack of peace) or unresolved emotional issues can shut down your immune system. I think that was definitely the case for me.

Are there things you continue to do? What are they?
Yes. Pretty much every change I made in life is permanent. The things I started to do to rebuild my health are the things I still do to keep my health: 

• Exercise gratitude and forgiveness
• Regular checks with naturopath for supplement schedule (I go to Trinity Holistic Health Center)
• Acupuncture for stress reduction (Deerfield Community Acupuncture is my favorite)
• Daily coffee enemas for detoxing
• Juicing especially after a workout (green juice and carrot juice)
• High intensity training (I LOVE working out to dance music with Dzika Fitness in Chicago)
• Deep breathing

The things I started to do to rebuild my health are the things I still do to keep my health. ~ Anna Parr

What words of comfort or wisdom do you have for those facing a cancer diagnosis?
Your body has a perfectly designed healing mechanism that DOES work when you give it what it needs to function properly. If you have a cancer diagnosis, conventional medicine will treat you like you've been given a death sentence with X number of years to live and—only if you're lucky—you might beat the odds. But that couldn't be further from the truth.

The truth is, nothing fights cancer better than your own immune system. Cancer is an invitation (or mandate if you will) to change—and change for the better. Cancer is reversible if and only if you accept that invitation and make the changes your immune system needs to fight cancer and win. If you can overcome the common belief that cancer is random and untreatable apart from conventional medicine, then you CAN beat cancer.

I view cancer as a sign that the body has BEEN in need of help, but we just weren’t listening. It whispers, “I need better sleep,” “that meal didn’t go well,” “I need more nutrients,” “please stop overloading me with stress,”… in small ways, it’s telling us that we need to take better care of ourselves, but we’re usually not listening.

Cancer is when our body stops whispering and starts screaming, “Stop putting off better choices for your health. The time for change is NOW!” Many cancer survivors like myself view cancer as the best thing that ever happened to them because it ushered in long awaited healthy changes for the better—and now, we’re healthier than we’ve ever been in our lives. I am healthier now as a 39-year-old woman than I was as a 19-year-old girl!!

I urge you to reject the common view of cancer as a death sentence—instead, let cancer be a wake up call for better health.
_________________________

Mmmmmm! Washed with the wise and refreshing words of someone who knows firsthand how it feels to be healed.

Thank you, Anna. I know readers have been truly blessed with what you've shared.

Are there any questions you might have for Anna?

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Interview with Kevin Benkowski—Prostate Cancer Survivor

When I attended the Integrated Health Conference—Cure to Cancer Summit this past March, I had the opportunity to meet many folks who dealt with their cancer using diet and alternative treatments. It's very encouraging to see many sought alternative treatments instead of the conventional procedures. They saw, usually first-hand, that conventional therapies often left the cancer patient weak and sick with a seriously compromised immune system—later face a recurrence of cancer and then die.

I met Kevin at lunch. We were both seeking the organic vegan lunch choice offered to conference attendees. Vegan tomato soup. Delicious!

Kevin came to the conference to learn what more he could do to continue enjoying his cancer-free life. Here is Kevin's story.

How did you learn you had cancer?
I began to experience urinary issues a few years ago and just considered it somewhat normal as I was over 50 and understood that the prostate enlarges in most men my age. Though my PSA numbers were in the normal range they were still on the high side, but about a year ago it creeped up to just above 4, which is the threshold for “normal.”

Upon my primary physician’s advice, I decided to see a urologist. When I did, an MRI was prescribed which showed a small dark spot on the anterior side of the prostate, but this was not definitive…and so I somewhat reluctantly agreed to a biopsy. The procedure confirmed that there was cancer present in 2 of the 14 biopsies. This was in September of 2014. 

What did you think and do following your diagnosis?
I wasn’t shocked, as my father and brother both had prostate cancer. But I was surprised that the urologist immediately advised me that my best option at that point was a radical prostatectomy—to be performed by him using his DaVinci four-armed robot. I left the office with my wife quite confused. My only option, according to this urologist, was to have a surgical procedure with a 30% risk of both incontinence and impotency, not to mention having a bag attached to my leg with a catheter inserted for 6 months so I could urinate. I wasn’t thrilled with those odds, even though my brother had the surgery done successfully ten years previously.

Did you follow any conventional doctor prescribed treatments, if so what were they?
The urologist did not prescribe any treatment, conventional or otherwise [except the surgery]. He only advised me that because my Gleason score was a 7 (3+4) out of 10, I really couldn’t wait too long as the cancer had progressed beyond the “watch and wait” stage. I had to decide within a matter of months. My decision was made about a week later, when it was decided that I would find natural treatments to boost my immune system and fight it on my own. I was certain I could do it.

What alternative treatments did you incorporate into your healing journey? Did you visit a particular alternative or integrated health clinic for treatment?
I knew of a few people in the alternative healing world who offered some advice, mostly suggestions on websites to look at…which I did for weeks on end (and still do)! A friend of my wife’s offered me his “Quest for the Cures” library in November of last year and I watched it beginning to end, fascinated by everything I didn’t know about cancer, the science and the business. What this video series made me realize was that there ARE cures out there for cancer…but big medicine simply doesn’t want you to know about them!

Are there books or websites you found particularly helpful that you can list for us?
www.treating-cancer-alternatively.com
www.cancertutor.com
www.gerson.org
www.livingfuel.com
www.chrisbeatcancer.com
www.beating-cancer-gently.com

These are just a few! There are also links on these sites to many others, including ones on social media.

Did your cancer heal? What do you attribute your healing to (diet, herbs, alternative therapies, attitude, exercise, sleep)?
Well, after making major discoveries on how to detox and boost my immune system through diet and supplements, I embarked on a massive shift in my attitude towards food, while taking bits and pieces of numerous therapies, treatments, and protocols that resonated with me. There are definitely some contradictory opinions out there. After a month of detoxing and 3 months of eating an organic diet (and eliminating meat, dairy, coffee, alcohol and sugar), I took a Red Drop blood test which indicated no detectable signs of cancer.

Looking back what would you do differently?
I would have declined the biopsy as I found out subsequently it is not a safe procedure, at least not in the case of the prostate.

Do you have thoughts on why you had cancer?
I’m quite certain it was due to high stress levels during the bad economic times several years ago, during which I divorced, filed for bankruptcy, and lost my home. My diet at the time was also less than ideal…I was taking pharmaceuticals and drinking alcohol and coffee daily. I was an emotional train wreck.

Are there things you continue to do? What are they?
Today I look at this ordeal as a blessing…and a wakeup call. I have a new attitude on food and life in general. It’s definitely helped me spiritually…I’ve learned to meditate and to be at peace with myself and those around me. I will continue to eat clean organic food (in the process I lost 35 lbs!), and I will also continue to take immunity building supplements, as I have truly never felt better than I do now, at 60.

What words of comfort or wisdom do you have for those facing a cancer diagnosis?
Listen, but be skeptical of what the doctors tell you. You would like to think they have your best interest in mind, but I have concluded otherwise. Doctors are trained, not educated. They know one way, and that is to treat the symptom, not the cause. They need our business. Assuming there was a cure that was endorsed by big medicine, and they couldn’t then treat (or manage) cancer, they’d be out of work! My advice is to look at cancer as an opportunity to grow, heal, and change your life for the better, all the time knowing that your body has all the tools it needs to heal, while mother earth provides us with all of the “medicine” we need!

Well said, Kevin.

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Interview by Jill Bernard of WellBEing Resource

I was recently interviewed by Jill Bernard of the WellBEing Resource online and in print guide to health practitioners in the Sacramento region.

I hope you'll take the time to read the interview and tell me what you think. You may learn something you didn't know about me.

Interview with Chris Pedersen, Health Coach | Blogger | Cancer Conquerer, Healthy Journey Cafe

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How to Live a Healthy Life Podcast

A few months ago I was interviewed by Kamala Appel for her Reasons for Being Healthy project. The project seeks to find and tell the story of everyday folks achieving extraordinary results in their health.

Ms. Appel's interview covers the roots of my passion for health, my challenge with the discovery of genetic colon cancer and my extraordinary results with a cancer-fighting diet.

What motivates me to be healthy:

• Staying alive
• Family support system
• Taking measures that fit my capacity

I think you'll find this a valuable 20-minute listen:

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Interview with a Detox Expert

Today we’re chatting with Sandy Halliday, a former nurse, who now blogs about nutrition, natural remedies and how to detox to regain your health at www.thedetoxspecialist.com. Sandy wrote The Definitive Detox Diet ebook to help people regain their health and stay healthy in a toxic world.

Tell us about your background in the health industry?
I was very interested in human biology at school and fascinated (still am) by how the body works. I originally thought I would like to study medicine, but was put off by my teachers. In those days, it was difficult and unusual for women to get into medical school. So I decided to train to be a nurse instead.

Working in hospitals was a great eye opener for me. I was amazed to learn that the human body is such an incredible machine and so very complicated. I discovered there was still a lot not known about how it all worked.

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Dealing With Depression

Today we’re chatting with Jennie Zraick who recently contributed to HJC with a post on Animal vs. Plant Protein. Depression is all too familiar to many as evidenced by the use of antidepressants. They have become the most frequently prescribed drug. Here is Jennie’s story:

Tell us a bit about yourself.
Where does one start with this question?!? I’m 47 years old, mother of two small dogs, Emma and Sammy. I’ve been married 24 years to an amazing man, my biggest blessing. In my “previous life” I was a CPA for AT&T Wireless. Now I’m kept busy with our home, and caring for my Mom who has dementia and lives close by in Cameron Park. My hobbies include beading jewelry, knitting, quilting, crocheting and scrapbooking.

When did you realize you were depressed? Tell us what that was like.
Looking back, I see signs of depression as young as 12 or 13. I have clinical depression. When people think of depression they think of someone who is weepy and sad. My symptoms are a complete physical exhaustion that makes everything seem completely overwhelming. As a result I just freeze up and can’t do anything. Some days getting off the couch was a challenge.

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Interview with a Former Sugar Addict

I interviewed Sara, a 28 year-old mother of two energetic boys, ages four and two. She described herself as a sugar addict. Here is her story:

What was it like before you cut out sugar?
I’ve been a candy addict most of my life. I’d go to the gas station and get loads of candy that was really bad like Peach Rings and Gummy Bears. My husband called it “gross candy.” I could sit and eat an entire package of something and want more. After I’d eat dinner, I would crave candy.

I got to the point where I was extremely tired and impatient with the boys, my husband and I would fight and I was always grumpy. I would sleep-in in the morning, I would sleep in the afternoon, and even when I’d take a nap, I’d wake up feeling exhausted and tired. Also, I felt the sugar was making my heart beat really fast. I couldn’t catch my breath and felt sluggish. Not feeling good at all. I was just a mess.

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