October is Breast Cancer Awareness month and November is devoted to men’s health (focusing on testicular and prostate cancer), and as with all diseases, prevention is indeed far better than cure. Good eating habits can go a long way to warding off a range of illnesses, including certain types of cancers.
Regulating Acidity to Improve Health
This includes ensuring that you are feeding your body with the things it needs at the times it needs them. One way to do this is to focus on the acidity, or rather, the alkalinity of your meals.
The trick here is not to focus on the pH of the food before consumption, but rather the pH AFTER digestion – this is called the “Ash Effect”. Case in point – milk would seem to most of us to be an alkaline ingredient, yes? No. Milk, once digested becomes increasingly acidic. The opposite is true for lemons; while they are acidic, digestion causes lemons become extremely alkaline.
So why are we focusing on the pH of our food? Acidity can cause any number of ailments from the mild, and uncomfortable, like bloating, tiredness, acne to more serious illnesses like cancer, diabetes, heart disease and obesity.
The American biologist, Dr Robert Young, who pioneered alkaline eating, reaffirmed that eating a plant-based diet (that means avoiding processed foods) can indeed go a long way in curing some terminal diseases.
Here are some handy day-to-day ideas that can be incorporated into your routine to boost your body and vitality.
You’ve heard of people drinking warm lemon water first thing in the morning? They’re on to something! Lemon first thing in the morning will restore alkalinity in your body.
A healthy gut will go a long way in boosting your energy, metabolism, and overall health. Try a daily probiotic supplement to balance intestinal bacteria.
Herbal teas are a great way to eliminate toxins from the body as an overall cleanse. Try a refreshing cup of peppermint, or fennel tea. Nettle tea is one of my personal favourites.
At the end of a long day, a long soak in a warm bath is always a great way to unwind for a good night’s rest. Try adding magnesium flakes to your bath water. Your skin will absorb the magnesium making this possibly the most luxurious way to get magnesium in.
The benefits of a healthy gut cannot be overstated. A colon-cleansing supplement taken at night with warm water will keep things moving along in your gut and prevent constipation, which can lead to a number of related ailments.
Brassica Boost for Vitality
Brassicas are a family of greens that are known for their potency in fighting off all sorts of nasty ailments, including cancer, diabetes and heart disease.
Broccoli, cabbage, kale, cauliflower and Brussels sprouts are all members of this potent family of vegetables that should without a doubt feature in your arsenal of nutritious disease-fighters.
They’re high in Vitamin C and soluble fiber (great for keeping that gut healthy!) and contain a number of anticancer properties. It should be noted that boiling your brassicas reduces their cancer-smashing benefits, so try to steam or stir-fry rather.
Get your seeds here, and grow your very own organic brassicas:
