The anti-cancer diet GOMBS

The Pink Wave know as BCRF is coming and I too care about the breast cancer awareness but more importantly how we can prevent and heal this awful disease; in fact any disease that keeps us for living a healthy and fun life.  I find it really hard to buy things like fried chicken or other processed food items that most likely contribute to this cause of cancer when there is plenty of education around how whole foods can prevent and heal.

Yes, I know there are genetic components; I just happen to believe we have more control, by the choices we make, on how these genes express themselves.  We have powerful choices that will make a difference.  Recently I had the opportunity to hear Dr. Joel Fuhrman, author of “Eat to Live” give his thoughts on what he calls “the anti-cancer diet” and I was once again encouraged.  Some information I heard was not so surprising, like greens, onions and berries; but I was quite please to hear mushrooms were also gaining a powerful place in the fight against cancer.

I particularly appreciated how Dr. Fuhrman simplified his “anti-cancer diet” to five main foods and an acronym to help me remember: GOMBS

Greens: no surprise here, greens are a powerhouse of nutrients and Kale leads the pack in nutrient density.  Eat more greens and increase your energy and starve out cancer and a variety of other conditions.

Onions: Nature’s pharmacy, onions are the allium of choice for it’s high content of polyphenols.  Sautee them to carmelize and throw in  a handful of cranberries for a fun, delicious and healthful side dish

Mushrooms: A recent study published in the international Journal of Cancer showed women who regularly consumed mushrooms are 64% less likely to develop breast cancer. That was about 10 g of mushrooms daily. That same study showed that the women who ate 10 g of mushrooms and simultaneously consumed green tea had 89% less likely to develop breast cancer.    Now that’s something that caught my attention.

Berries: high in antioxidants.  We eat “ice cream” made from frozen berries and my Blendtec at least 4 times a week.

Seeds and nuts: toss some sesame seeds in your salad dressing and absorb more of the cancer fighting properties from the greens.

I already try to eat greens EVERY day, now I will be adding some more mushrooms and onions to my food life.

Turns out there are even pink mushrooms.  See one here.   And for those of you who are recovering from (or know someone who is) check out this amazing new resource: The After Cancer Diet by Suzanne Boothby and her father Richard Boothby, MD available at Amazon and Barnes and Noble.