DNA Does NOT Repair in Cancer Cells

As I finalize my presenation for cancer prevention night, coming up Thursday, Oct. 30 at the local coffeehouse in Cross Plains at 6:30 (open to the public) - my son and I had a discussion on food choices, and cancer cells.

You see, they are learning about DNA in biology class ...and he tells me that broken strands of DNA repair itself...it is how the body is programmed.  He would argue that it is okay to eat toxic food now and then because the body will "heal thyself".  In a healthy individual, that eats primarily an 80% vegetable and fruit diet...yes, this is likely a true statement.

However, in searching for an illustration comparing healthy vs cancerous cells for my slide show - I came across a link that describes cancer. You can find the entire list here, but I have cut and pasted the article leading up to the point of disucssion above.
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What is cancer?
- cancer comes from cells in a part in the body that begin to grow out of control
- normal body cells grow, divide, and die in a set system and pattern
- as humans grow older the cell division slow down... cells in adults only divide to replace old or dying cells or to repair injuries
- cancer cells continue to grow and divide- instead of dying they outlive the normal cells and form new abnormal cells
- the damage in the cancer cells that make them abnormal comes from damage in their DNA
- most normal cells with damaged DNA are easily repaired by the body
- cancer cells the DNA is not repaired by the body
- damage can come from genetics... or exposure to something... in the environment or an action (like smoking)
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I also left the last line in - because EXPOSURE to SOMETHING, as in processed foods, acidic foods, chemically laden hygiene products...  factors that WE HAVE CONTROL OVER will be the topic of discussion this coming Wednesday evening at Crossroads Coffeehouse.
Make no mistake...we ALL have cancer cells in our body...the question is...are you going to FUEL them with your choices, or give your body the FUEL it needs to go to "battle" on your behalf and kill off the cancer cells?


To your health,
Rita S.

Gluten Free Crepes made with Almond Flour

I have decided to repost my Christmas crepes recipe, because when I search "recipes" I realized I did not name the post title anything to do with Crepes.  For those who are looking for this recipe, I realized it could be a challenge. So I am simply cutting and pasting from my original December 2012 post to make it easier for those wanting delicious gluten free crepes.

Gluten & Dairy Free Christmas Crepes
5 eggs, organic and from cage free chickens
1/2 cup almond flour
2 T. honey or agave nectar
2 T. almond milk
1/2 t. pure vanilla extract
Pinch of Celtic Sea Salt
1 tsp. coconut oil

Beat eggs in large bowl. Add in and stir remaining ingredients. Melt coconut oil on hot surface of cooking pan. Pour in 1/4 cup of batter, depending on the pan you are using, and desired size of crepes.

The key, I found, was to allow the crepes to cook thoroughly, and be fairly brown on the first side down to help stabilize  the crepe for flipping.

Ironically, the Test Kitchen show on Create is cooking crepes as I type this. Not gluten free, of course, but their tips are:
1. Heat pan properly  - DO not use vegetable oil (avoid hydrogenated oils!) as they say, EVOO or coconut oil is preferred
2. Test skillet to ensure it has reached proper temperature (leave on medium for a minute)
3. Right amount of batter - use 1/4 cup to a 12" skillet
4. Know when to flip - when you see a little browning around edge of crepe it is time to flip it.

The beauty of crepes is that so little flour is used that it doesn't really matter what kind - per the Test Kitchen. Using almond flour is a sweet delight for fruit topped, breakfast crepes. We topped our Christmas Crepes with fresh strawberries, and processed berries to make an all natural syrup as well. If dairy is not an issue for your - top with organic whipped cream.

Savory crepes.  Use brown rice or quinoa flour with some herbs in the batter, and you will have a homemade, savory wrap perfect for sandwiches, beans and greens, or whatever you might wish for a gluten free meal. I absolutely love spinach, fresh tomatoes and striips of grilled organic chicken in a wrap toped with fresh guacamole.  Crepes can be made ahead of time and refrigerated, separating with wax paper in between each crepe. I encourage you to think outside the box when it comes to adding foods to the inside of your crepes.

Happy gluten free cooking!

To your health,
Rita S.

Are Your Genes Controlling Your Health

Nutrigenomics can overcome your genetic predisposition. Diseased cellls are FUELED by the choices you make, and unfortunately, sometimes those choices are made for us. (As an example, a lawn or city park that is sprayed by chemicals that drift into your "intake zone".  

Genetic tendencies, a family tree laden with cancer, does not mean you are assured of getting the disease - unless you continually think about it and as in many areas of our life, including our health "what you think about, you bring about". Fact is, a very small percentage of cancers are actually from genetic make-up - less than 5%. The majority of cancer is caused by environmental exposures.  This is a topic I have written about in great lengths - if any of you have beared with me on those particular posts.

For those concerned about genetic make up and disease - there is GREAT NEWS!  The field of Nutrigenomics has made great strides in recent years.  Holsitc wellness is CURING cancer whereas traditional treatment continues to poison the human body so that it often manifests as another disease, or different cancer, years later - per the holistic and alternative medicine books and newsletters that  I read.  A book I highly recommend is "Cancer is Not a Disease, It's A Survival Mechanism"..

Our genetic mapping begins in the womb, obviously, and it comes in part from the hormones of both parents...a lack thereof of one hormone or another will affect offspring. Some babies already have predispositions to certain traits, such as brain triggers, type 1 diabetes, from birth and early on in their lives.  This is one reason why, as an adult, having hormones tested is a good place to start if you have a concern of family health history.   DNA chains become genes and many many thousands of genes become cells.  

CELLS DIE. CELLS POPULATE.   100 billion red cells, 400 million white cells are produced every hour.

Back to cell death...apoptosis.  This is healthy...we WANT cells to die.  The trouble starts when cells do not die after they do their job.  This happens 94% of the time, because of environmental factors.  Genetics, as I mentioned, accounts for a scant percentage of cancer. In addition to the chemicals in our foods and hygiene products, X-rays, radiation and medication also play a role in contributing to cancer.  It stands to reason that if new cells are generating and "old" cells are dying and excreting from the body - that we can become a new being over and over again, and healthier every day if we cease exposure to environmental toxins and foods.

This article is three years old, and from all that I have read the science of nutrigenomics has advanced. There are nutrients that can flip the switch on a gene "just like that". 

Hormones also play a role - with estrogen producing the Bcl-2 cancer-causing gene, whearas progesterone produces p-53, the cancer-protective gene (1990 Formby and Wiley research published Annals of Clinical Laboratory Science)

Progesterone, a natural hormone made by both men and women, is the only hormone that can counter excess estrogen. Most people are out of balance, with the body containing more estrogen than progesterone.  Women are usually imbalanced by age 35. For one, we tend to use more hygiene products than  men, most of which have endocrine disruptors. 

Men's progesterone levels decrease by age 50 - allowing estrogen to get out of hand. Testosterone alone does not cause prostrate cancer...a common sense statement by Dr. Michael Platt in his book "The Miracle of BioIdentical Hormones", states that if prostrate cancer were caused by too much testosterone we would have an epidemic amongst 17 yr old boys. The first time I read that it was an AHA moment - makes a lot of sense, don't you agree?  I do believe that traditional medicine is finally catching one a little bit, as they give drugs that prohibit estrogen.  It's too bad, in my opinion, that more oncologists and men don't know that bio identical progesterone can do JUST THAT - keep the estrogen levels in check.    One study referenced in a book shows that enlarged prostrate reduces and prostrate cancer cells die when progesterone is added and brought back into balance.

Many auto immune diseases are also caused in large part by hormone imbalance and dietary choices.  A family history of disease does NOT DICTATE a future of the same.  Educate yourself on the particular "disease", or as author Moritz describes, a SYMPTOM you may be prone too.  THEN change your DNA by nutrigenomics.  Find a knowledgeable naturopath, and if one is not available to you - the books certainly are.  Many are found in your local library for FREE.

Take an ATTITUDE CHECK.  If it is "woe is me....I come from a line of XYZ disease so I know I will get it" - YOU WILL.  I encourage you to be an OVERCOMER!!   Take control of your CELLS - yes, you can! Fuel them with anti-oxidants that can overcome the free radicals that mutate cells.  Avod the endocrine disruptors.  Make healthy choices 80% of the time. Use pH strips to monitor your body's acidic vs. alkaline status, and if is on the acidic side - consume more anti oxidants n the form of vegetables to tip the scale towards alkaline.  Disease cannot survive an alkaline state. Which is another topic I will not get into...thanks for reading, I hope that this post gives you HOPE if you feel you have been dealt a deck of diseased. genes. It's how you play those cards that will determine if you WIN and enjoy health!

To your health, 
Rita S.