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You’re going about your busy days, taking care of your kids (and maybe their kids - depending on your age), aging parents, the house, the grocery shopping, laundry, and still squeezing time in for your spouse and the dog… all while also holding down a job. Phew! Life is freaking hectic! Sound familiar? Then the day comes as you attend your routine mammogram, and suddenly life changes. A call from your doctor turns into weeks of the waiting game from test to test. And you come to the realization that YOU are now the 1 of every 8 women to get Breast Cancer. Two of my dearest and favorite people in the world have experienced this disease, one of them just this summer. Fortunately, they both detected it early enough and their treatments were thankfully a success. As many of you know, October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, an annual campaign to increase awareness of the disease. The mission of the National Breast Cancer Foundation is to help those affected by breast cancer through early detection, education and support services. I’m sure many of you know someone affected by this disease. I wanted to bring this up, not only as a reminder to schedule your annual mammogram (mine is due next month), but to also remind you that our busy lives on-the-go call for strong, solid nutrition. Ensuring good nutrition and a healthy lifestyle can contribute significantly to women's health throughout our lives. Failure to eat enough of the right foods can lead to poor nutrition and health. Now a healthy diet is not a wonder drug to prevent getting cancer, but there is a lot of research out there that proves it can definitely help. As a woman in my 40’s, good nutrition is always on my forefront just for this very reason. I’m not perfect, but I have made a decision to live a healthy lifestyle that will not only prolong my life, but the lives of my family. It is no longer about just wanting to look good, but I’ll take the added bonus. "But Nat, I feel fine?" I’m glad you feel fine now, but my hope for you is to teach you how to live a healthy lifestyle so you live a long life, free of pain and disease. Nutrition pays such a huge role that I wanted to share with you 8 foods to incorporate into your diet to help you prevent disease and cancer. 1. Fruits and Vegetables contain phytochemicals and chemo-preventative properties that may prevent cancer. Eat cruciferous vegetables such as Broccoli, Brussels sprouts, Cauliflower, Kale, and Red or Curly cabbage. 2. Nuts and Seeds are a great natural source of vitamins, minerals, protein, fat and fiber. Almonds, Walnuts, Flax and Chia seeds are tops on my list. 3. Coconuts are rich in Lauric Acid, which is anti-viral, anti-fungal and anti-bacterial. Coconut oil and other unrefined oils are a healthy alternative for cooking. 4. Fiber, Fiber, Fiber. Adequate amounts of fiber in a diet not only normalizes bowel movements, but aids in lowering cholesterol, controlling blood sugar levels and achieving healthy weight. 5. Add a Little Spice. Spices such as Oregano, Garlic, Cayenne and Turmeric are powerful cancer-fighting spices. The benefits are numerous from reducing inflammation, detoxification, the slow down of cell reproduction and much more. 6. Avoid Sugar. Sugar drives your insulin levels up, alters your metabolism, and causes those calories to turn right into belly fat. 7. Eat Sprouted Grains. Eating sprouted grains such as buckwheat, brown rice and sprouted wheat have been found to have amazing benefits such as fighting diabetes, decreasing blood pressure, reduced cardiovascular risk, reducing common allergens and overall better health. 8. Avoid Processed Carbohydrates. Limiting these foods will help decrease inflammation and your chances of having heart disease, obesity and diabetes. If you haven’t made your annual mammogram appointment, don’t forget to get it on the books! Your biggest cheerleader, Nat P.S. Are you looking for a “one-size-fits-all” nutritional plan? No? Good -- Why would you? With my Nutrition Only coaching program, you’ll find a nutrition plan that works for YOU. I want to help you be the BEST version of yourself -- giving you an outer and inner strength to be fit! If you feel like you’ve got consistent movement in your day, but just can’t figure out your nutrition, this is the program for you. I can help you implement healthy habits that last and guide you with simple ways to eat better for the results that you want. I don't believe in gimmicks, quick fixes or the use of questionable supplements, but I will get you to your goals by holding YOU accountable while cheering you on pound-by-pound and inch-by-inch! Schedule your complimentary Fitness Success Session now and let’s see how a personalized plan will improve your nutrition for your individual body type and lifestyle.
