Did you know the average home contains over 500 chemicals?

Many of these are invisible, unregulated, and often labeled as “safe”, but they can quietly affect our hormones, immune system, and even increase our long-term cancer risk.’Im going to give you some peace of min though- you don’t need to overhaul everything at once! I took one thing at a time.

Today, I’m sharing 5 sneaky sources of toxins and some simple swaps we’ve made in our own home that you can try too!

1. Drinking Water

What to do: Start filtering your water with a high-quality system. I break it down in this water guide! (I love Boroux the most! Use code ACM at checkout for a discount)

2. Mattress Off-Gassing

Hidden toxins: Flame retardants, formaldehyde, VOCs
What to do: Go organic when possible! Here’s what we decided on 16 years ago after hours of comparison research! My Savvy Rest mattress is HEAVENLY. It comes in customizable layers and has a 20 YEAR warranty! That is amazing and unlike any other mattress. Check in seasonally as they run their 20% off every few months. Also look into just getting one of their organic mattress toppers and wool pillows if a full mattress isn’t in the budget, although I think it’s a wise purchase that you can spread out over the course of several years. You spend ⅓ of your day on your mattress!

3. Scented Candles & Air Fresheners

Hidden toxins: Phthalates, artificial fragrance, benzene
What to do: Opt for essential oil diffusers or essential oil beeswax candles. You’ll still get the cozy vibe – without the toxic load.

4. Plastic Food Storage

Hidden toxins: BPA, BPS, microplastics (especially when heated)
What to do: Swap for glass or stainless steel. We slowly built our collection over time by watching for sales and secondhand finds, but these are a great set to start with and also are large enough for my anti-cancer salad.

5. Cleaning Products

Hidden toxins: Ammonia, bleach, sulfates, synthetic fragrances
What to do: I use Norwex cleaning cloths and sometimes a water/vinegar mix for cleaning my home! For laundry I use Truly Free laundry! This is a non-toxic laundry detergent that smells AMAZING and cleans great! You also mix the detergent at home in reusable jugs, saving SO MUCH plastic!)

Final Thoughts:

You don’t have to be perfect. Just pick one area to start. One small swap can mean less exposure and more peace of mind for your family.

Let me know if one of these stood out in the comments!

The post ♥️✨ The 5 Most Overlooked Toxins in Your Home—and How to Ditch Them Naturally! appeared first on Anti-Cancer Mom.

When it comes to cleaning, I’ve noticed people tend to settle into two different camps. They love it or they hate it. They let it build up until they can’t stand it anymore (or they have guests over), OR they have a militant cleaning schedule and can’t do anything for the day until the cleaning is done. Learning how to clean your house with Norwex products brings a joy and simplicity to cleaning that I’ll talk about in this post.

Since we were both raised in a stricter cleaning environment, my husband and I tend to lean the other way- towards TIDY but “oh, there’s a pink mold ring in the toilet? Ok, I’ll get the toilet brush…” mentality.

We have always struggled with maintaining a cleaning schedule because with the little amount of downtime we have, we don’t want to spend it cleaning!

Until now. Cleaning is SO MUCH EASIER and FASTER and I love Norwex.

**GO STRAIGHT TO NORWEX CATALOG HERE**

Post updated November, 2022. Originally published March, 2017.

Toxic Cleaning Products and Cancer

It is well known that conventional cleaning products are horrible for both us and the environment. Like REALLY REALLY awful. Over 80,000 new chemicals have been introduced into our homes and environment in the last 50 years. That’s CRAZY. Even crazier is that the majority of them have never been tested for their long-term impact on human or environmental health.

When I was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma in 2008, my husband and I came upon study upon study linking lymphomas to chemical exposure. All of our household cleaning products had to GO, especially after we decided to purse non-toxic treatment.

Ineffective Natural Products

You can see in an older post I wrote, that for years I used basic, non-toxic ingredients to clean my home. The problem was that these products took a lot of WORK to become effective. Since a vinegar and water mixture was my main cleaning product, I couldn’t reuse kitchen cloths because they would leave my house constantly smelling like vinegar. This meant we went through A LOT of paper towels each day to wipe down counters.

Scrubbing with baking soda and Dr. Bronner’s soap was effective in the shower, but it took a LONG TIME and tons of scrubbing (which I avoided for way too long.)

Cleaning just wasn’t fun and took a lot of work and time to be semi-effective.

Why I Love Norwex Microfiber Products

Enter Norwex. A friend of mine bought me a simple Norwex Envirocloth and Window Cloth as a thank you and I haven’t turned back. I became obsessed with how much just these two cloths could clean!

They replaced both my glass cleaner (think: Windex) and my all-purpose cleaner (think: Fantastic, Clorox Clean-Up, or in my case vinegar/water mix) which during my pre-cancer days cleaned the majority of my house.

I also love because you only use WATER with them, they are completely non-toxic and you ONLY BUY THEM ONCE! No need to buy a bunch of cleaning products every few months.

How does it work you wonder?

Norwex microfiber is woven with microfiber 1/200th the width of a human hair. It clings and grabs EVERYTHING. Once wet with water, it works to pick up bacteria by actually GRABBING it and holding it in the cloth until you rinse the cloth under very warm water. It removes up to 99% of bacteria and contaminants.

Even more fascinating to me is that antibacterial silver is woven throughout the microfiber to create a self-purifying fabric. My microfiber usually lasts a week without stinking or washing! It’s. Just. Plain AWESOME.

Norwex microfiber can be used on all surfaces you currently use your all-purpose cleaners: kitchen, bath, shower, external toilet area, floors, cars, and outdoor furniture.

***Here are some AMAZING before and afters using Norwex microfiber.***

My Norwex Favorites!

1. Basic Package (Envirocloth + Window Polishing Cloth)
2. Safe Haven 5 Set with Ultra Power Plus Laundry Detergent (envirocloth, window cloth, dusting mitt, laundry detergent, cleaning paste)
3. Superior Mop Starter System w/Rubber Brush – Blue/Green
4. Tile Mop Pad- Large
5. Just Add Water Package w/Ultra Power Plus Laundry Detergent (Envirocloth, Window Cloth, Dusting Mitt, Detergent, Mop, dusting Mop, Dryer Balls, Mop Brush)
6. Fruit and Veggie Scrub Cloth
7. Bottle Brush and Envirosleeve
8. EnviroSponges (for washing dishes)
9. Counter Cloth Set + Kitchen Cloths
10. EnviroScrub (for bathroom and shower)
11. Body Cloth for Body or Face (Takes all of my makeup off and cleans my crusty-faced kids SO easily!)
12. Facial Makeup Remover Pads
13. Optic Scarf for Glasses Cleaning
14. Pet to Dry – Unicorn (comes in different designs)

Did you know Norwex Consultants earn 35% on all sales or personal purchases?

Interested in getting more involved with Norwex? As a consultant, you have the opportunity to earn the $200 starter kit for FREE and also earn 35% on personal purchases and sales you make. See more info on that HERE.

Clean Your House with Norwex Products

Which Norwex Products Should I Start With?

That is definitely up to you and your household’s individual needs, but here’s a run down of what I love and how I use it to make my cleaning routine simple, 100% non-toxic and QUICK.

For a more in-depth demonstration of the Norwex products I use in my home, check out this Facebook LIVE video where I talk about all of these products and see them in action with all the quirkiness that comes along with me. You can see quick individual demos in the descriptions of the products below.

My Must-Have/Replaces-All-Your-Cleaning-Products Favorites:

EnviroCloth + Window Cloth:

The Basic Package: This includes a Norwex Envirocloth and purple Window Cloth. This alone will reduce your household chemical use by 70%. (This is also the package I was gifted when I was first introduced to Norwex- I definitely had the “Where has this been all of my life!!?” reaction. See a video of me using the Envirocloth and Window Cloth HERE.

The Dusting Mitt:

The Dusting Mitt: Although you can use the Envirocloth wet or dry to dust, the Dusting Mitt is really nice and ergonomically molded to your hands subtle movements to get in the tiniest little areas to dust around picture frames, etc. I feel like a dusting MACHINE when I have the mitt on, lol. Gets the job done very quickly! See a video of how to use the dusting mitt HERE.

(You can also get the above Envirocloth + Window Cloth + Dusting Mitt in the Household Package.)

UPP Laundry Detergent:

Ultra Power Plus Detergent: All Norwex cloths maintain their integrity best when used with a laundry detergent with no fillers, dyes, fragrances, phosphates, or preservatives. I have found that the Norwex Ultra Power Plus detergent works the absolute best in keeping my Norwex products from deteriorating and holding onto kitchen smells. One of these bags will last you 100 loads in an HE machine and 66 loads in a top loading machine.

The Norwex Mop:

The Norwex Mop: Just when I thought my life was completely changed by the Envirocloth and Window cloth, I discovered that if you use your Envirocloth on your floors, MAGIC happens. I didn’t know it was possible to get my floors so clean WITH JUST WATER. The mop offers all of the brilliance of the Envirocloth but in mop form to save your back. And the included dry mop pad is BRILLIANT, using static electricity to draw dirt and dust into the mop. This has changed my life, cutting down sweeping and mopping time by 75% and allowing me to sweep my downstairs floors in 5 minutes and mop in 10. I am so GRATEFUL. See a video of how to use the mop HERE.

*****You can get the mop and the rest of the above items included in the Just Add Water Package which includes my top 4 favorite products above + the rubber brush for the mop and 3 wool dryer balls HERE. You won’t have to buy a cleaning product again for 5 years or more! This is my MUST HAVE bundle to begin to clean your house with Norwex. (See pic below.)**

You can also view some of the other Norwex Collections HERE.

You can also check out the entire Norwex catalog online HERE. It’s like Christmas morning year-round for crunchy folks like us.

-Cortney

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See more posts on anti-cancer lifestyle and diet and alternative cancer treatments HERE.

The post How to Clean Your House With Norwex (non-toxic cleaning) appeared first on Anti-Cancer Mom.

I have been wanting to write about Essiac Tea and its role in healing cancer for practically forever. This post is a long time coming and I’m excited to share this easy Essiac tea recipe with you! For history, how to make, and instructions, see below

BUY ESSIAC HERE (Use coupon code ACM10 for 10% off!)

Nurse Rene Caisse

The History of Essiac Tea:

Essiac tea is named for Canadian nurse, Rene Caisse (pronounced “Reen Case”,) who developed the formula for her Essiac tea recipe from an ancient remedy used by Canadian first nation tribes, (possibly Ojibwa.) It literally means “Tea of Life.”

“Essiac” is Rene’s last name spelled backwards. She learned of the Essiac tea herbs from one of her patients who had recovered from advanced breast cancer 30 years prior (this was in the 1920’s.)  This patient had learned of the herbs from a native medicine man and recovered from her cancer while only drinking the tea from the herbs.

Rene began using the Essiac tea blend on some of her cancer patients who were deemed “lost causes” (starting with her own aunt) and had great and surprising success. She opened and ran her own clinic for over 30 years (which was eventually forced to close by authorities.) Read Rene Caisse’s own words about this HERE. She helped thousands of patients heal using her Essiac tea recipe and became known as “Canada’s Cancer Nurse.”

How It Works:

The traditional Essiac tea recipe used by Rene Caisse is made from 4 herbs:

Burdock Root: Reduces mucus, helps maintain a healthy gastrointestinal tract, stimulates a healthy immune response, used for weak digestion, as a diuretic for waste retention and to sweat out toxins through the skin. It has vitamin A and selenium to help reduce free radicals and its chromium content helps maintain normal blood sugar levels.

Slippery Elm (inner bark): Helps dissolve mucus deposits in tissue, glands and nerve channels. The inner bark, rich in calcium, magnesium and vitamins(A,B,C,K) helps to nourish and soothe organs, tissues and mucus membranes and is helpful to the lungs. It also helps neutralize acids from indigestion.

Sheep Sorrel Root: Used in traditional folk herbalism to cool the body, creates sweating and detoxification through the skin: as a diuretic useful in maintaining healthy kidney and urinary functions. It is rich in vitamins and trace minerals (ascorbic acid, mineral oxides, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, and silicon. It is thought to nourish the glandular system.

Indian Rhubarb Root: Used traditionally in small amounts, this herb acts as a gently laxative and helps purge the liver of toxic buildup and waste. It helps neutralize acids due to indigestion. Its malic acid also carries oxygen to all parts of the body, aiding in healing and promoting a positive and balancing effect upon the whole digestive system.

(Thank you to www.essiacinfo.org for this!)

***Any Essiac tea recipe can be made with a 4-herb or 8-herb blend, but the 8-herb blend is believed to be even more effective than the original 4-herb. Later in life, Nurse Caisse preferred the 8-herb after studying its effects alongside Dr. Charles Brusch. The additional herbs in the 8-herb formula are not diluting the original 4-herbs but are ADDING to the amount of total herbs. Because of this, you will see below that you actually take MORE liquid with the 8-herb version and it is more bitter and potent.

The additional herbs in the 8-herb formula are: watercress, blessed thistle, kelp, and red clover.

My Essiac Story for Hodgkin’s Lymphoma:

Essiac is an EXCELLENT natural therapy for lymphomas since it helps release and flush toxins from the lymph system, altering the environment that encouraged circulating cancer cell activity in the first place. (See above herb descriptions.)

My experience with Essiac was pretty incredible. I added Essiac into my daily natural cancer protocol about 6 weeks after I started my anti-cancer diet. Its results were noticeable within 2 weeks.

I had a walnut-sized lymph node in my neck that began shrinking quite rapidly to the touch within days after beginning Essiac. I was grateful it was palpable from the surface and we could gauge my progress from its behavior.

Two months after beginning my natural cancer treatment (and about 3 weeks after starting Essiac,) I went to a local living foods center to receive detox therapies and was asked ONLY to consume the foods and juices there for my 12 days there. So, in keeping with the instructions I stopped consuming two parts of my protocol: the Budwig mixture and Essiac.

After my 12 days there I actually noticed an obvious INCREASE in the size of my lymph node. It was coming back! I immediately began Budwig and Essiac again and never turned back. My cancer has been in remission since 2009 and that lymph node has NEVER increased in size again.

 Who Should NOT Use Essiac:

• People receiving chemotherapy should consult with an experienced naturopath or herbalist to address interactions and detoxification during or after chemotherapy. However, I have read testimonies of Essiac users going through chemo and it actually made them feel BETTER, so consider this case by case. The official Genuine Essiac page says that there are no known drug interactions with Essiac
• Pregnant and nursing women should use caution with any Essiac tea recipe. The main concern is that the herbs will cause toxins to be released into the mother’s bloodstream which could pass into baby. With this said, I have heard of women using Essiac during pregnancy and nursing. I also think about the fact that oncologists easily prescribe chemotherapy to pregnant women, and there’s no way that Essiac could cause more harm than that!  If I were faced with cancer during pregnancy again, I would consider Essiac, ramping up slowly to the full dose.
• People with major kidney and liver problems should consult their doctor before using Essiac.

My Favorite EASY Essiac Tea Recipe:

Genuine Essiac is the brand I recommend, as it is the most affordable and closest to the original recipe and work of Nurse Rene Caisse. You can read their entire story on their website. (Make sure to use promo code ACM10 for 10% off!)

When I drank Essiac during my cancer season, I didn’t feel confident enough to make my own and ended up buying REALLY expensive (but awesome) pre-made Essiac (see bottom of post.)

Nowadays I definitely feel better about making my own, homemade Essiac tea. It turns out it wasn’t really that hard to make in the first place!

After much research, my favorite version of pre-blended dry Essiac is from Genuine Essiac.

You can purchase a 1 lbs bag HERE and the 3 lbs bag HERE. My favorite are the individual 4 ounce bags that equal one gallon of Essiac tea HERE. That way you don’t need to measure anything, just pour out the bag into the water!

How to Make:

To make 1 gallon of Essiac tea: This will easily cover 2 weeks of twice to three times a day of Essiac consumption.

Step 1: Around bedtime, use a large pot with lid and bring 1 gallon + 3/4 cup of filtered water to a boil.

Step 2: Stir in 4 ounces Essiac Tea blend, stir in, and boil on medium for 10 minutes (set your timer.)

Step 3: Turn off heat and let cool and brew overnight for 12 hours. (Lid is optional but I always fear a bug will get in so I put a lid on.)

Step 4: After 12 hours, stir tea and pour into a one gallon glass pitcher or store in separate containers with lid. I prefer to use stainless steel or glass. There is no need to put in amber glass bottles (like I’ve suggested in the past) since your homemade Essiac will be stored in a dark refrigerator.

If you have old Essiac bottles, you could still use them to store your homemade Essiac, but I prefer the simpler method of using a glass 1 gallon pitcher.

Step 5: Drink your Essiac batch within 2-3 weeks. Before each pour from the container or bottle, give your Essiac a stir to mix the herbs up. Unlike past recipes I’ve shared, this Essiac recipe is the closest to Nurse Caisse’s method and she had her patients drink the gritty herbs along with the liquid for extra benefit.

To Drink Essiac Tea:

• Measure out 3 ounces of the Essiac tea, making sure you stir before pouring. For years I used to add enough hot water to warm up the tea and drink warm, but I have since been advised that Nurse Caisse actually served the tea room temperature or COLD.
• Optimally, make sure to wait 60 minutes to eat after drinking Essiac and try to take Essiac two hours AFTER eating. Consume 3 times per day if healing from cancer.
•  If you don’t like the flavor or texture, you’ll get used to it! It did and I love it now. It tastes like….LIFE! If you need a little help, you can  add stevia drops.

Sample schedule for an Essiac Routine:

7am: Essiac

8am: Breakfast

10:30 Snack

11:30 Essiac

12:30 Lunch

3pm Snack

6:00pm Dinner

8:30: Essiac

9:30 Snack if needed

Pre-Made Essiac Tea:

When I was going through treatment I was overwhelmed by the idea of making my own Essiac tea. I felt like I was prepping food in my kitchen 24/7! So my husband and I spent a fortune buying 1-2 bottles of Flor-essence brand Essiac tea a week at almost $60 a bottle!

If that’s you, and you have the money, you can find the pre-made Flor-essence brand I used HERE.

But making your own Essiac tea is as simple as boiling water and dumping in the bag now. With this new method I have learned, Essiac is simpler than making Kool-Aid! Remember to buy the pre-measured bags if you are getting started!

For Essiac Tea Community, other Essiac tea recipe ideas, and to hear MANY successful testimonies and share your own, see the Essiac Tea Users Facebook page.

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See more posts on anti-cancer lifestyle and diet and alternative cancer treatments HERE.

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Sources and References:

http://www.essiacinfo.org/caisse.html

http://www.healthfreedom.info/Cancer%20Essiac.htm

The post Essiac Tea Recipe + How I Used It To Heal From Cancer appeared first on Anti-Cancer Mom.

When you’re treating your cancer naturally, it is essential that you detox not only your body, but also the chemicals you keep in your house and clean with. When I began treating my cancer naturally 6 years ago, I did this immediately knowing the strong ties that chemical exposure has to a lymphoma diagnosis. And although I started with buying “green” cleaning supplies from Whole Foods, I now make all of my cleaning supplies at home. Here’s a rundown of my non-toxic cleaning routine.

My Non-Toxic Cleaning Routine:

***Update 2017: I have since learned a MUCH EASIER way to get my home clean. Check out that post HERE.

My (former) cleaning ingredients:

water

white vinegar

Dr. Bronner’s Unscented Castile Soap

baking soda

a scrub brush (I like the ones that are normally for scrubbing dishes such as THIS ONE.)

cornstarch

alcohol

paper towels

hydrogen peroxide

And here’s how I use these ingredients…

***Before getting started, you will need to make a spray bottle mixture of 1/2 water, 1/2 white vinegar. I used an old All-Purpose Cleaner bottle. This is the basic mixture I use for ALL disinfecting in my house. If you hate vinegar smell like I did at first, give it a try. Now the smell of vinegar makes me think “aaah, so clean!”***

Toilets- Pour 1/2 cup vinegar in toilet and let soak for 5 minutes (I do this to all of my home’s toilets at the same time.) Then, I sprinkle baking soda onto the inside of the bowl just above the water line. Scrub with the toilet brush and it removes almost ANYTHING.

Sinks/ Counters- Using a spray bottle of 1/2 water and 1/2 vinegar, I spray down all of my counters at the same time and let sit for a few minutes. Wipe clean with a paper towel. Use baking soda for scrubbing if you have stubborn stains.

Shower/ Tub- First, wet shower by turning on water for 5 seconds and wetting all areas, including walls. Spray down extremely well with 1/2 water/ 1/2 vinegar mixture. Then squirt Dr. Bronner’s Castile Soap all over the floor and walls, probably using about an 1/8 of a cup of soap total. Then, sprinkle with as much baking soda as you need. I’m guessing I use about 1/4 cup each cleaning. Scrub like crazy with your favorite sponge or scrub brush. It’s a workout, but it gets your shower so clean!

For really stubborn black mold, I spray on 75% hydrogen peroxide mixed with 25% water and leave it on the shower walls for an hour or so. Then, I spray again to wet them and scrub with baking soda and a firm brush.

Dusting- I use a simple Swiffer, no polish to dust my home. But if you’re looking for a non-toxic polish, Crunchy Betty has you covered with her own homemade recipe.

Wood/ Tile Floors- I use warm water with about a cup of vinegar in a bucket to mop my wood floors. For a long time I just used my bottle of 1/2 water and 1/2 vinegar and a towel to “mop” my floors by hand and that worked, too- although I find using warm water gets my floors cleaner.

Glass/ Mirrors- Make and use this fantastic recipe from CrunchyBetty.com. I’ve used it for years now. Wipe glass or mirror with a paper towel after spraying.

That’s it! Super simple, the way I like life to be.

Stay tuned to the Anti-Cancer Mom Facebook Page for updates on Baby #3!

The post My Non-Toxic Cleaning Routine appeared first on Anti-Cancer Mom.

I really was quite convinced up to this point, that natural headache relief was just not possible. Because of my failed attempts at getting rid of my headaches naturally in the past, I have not been opposed to a few ibuprofen tablets for an absolutely debilitating, occasional headache.

However, being 33 weeks pregnant and have suffered from headaches more this pregnancy than I did in the 3 years between this one and my daughter, I became desperate to find something that works without causing harm to the baby.

So yesterday, after WAKING UP with the familiar head pounding, I did some searching and decided to try the following protocol during my daughter’s nap time. To my disbelief, it ACTUALLY got rid of my headache! (Oh, and YES, you may need to actually R-E-S-T for it to work.)

Green Drink Diaries’ NATURAL Headache Relief:

8 drops peppermint essential oil

4 drops lavender essential oil

1 Tbsp olive oil

clay hot pack

ice pack to go around head or neck or bag of frozen veggies

hand towel

strong green tea or caffeine of choice (equivalent of 40-60 milligrams. Check your tea and coffee labels)

Directions: I began this protocol by putting my daughter down for her nap and shutting all of the lights and blinds off in the house. I propped up some pillows on the couch since being hugely pregnant, I can’t lay flat on my back.

1. Mix the oils together in a small bowl.

2. Gather the hot and cold packs and hand towel for covering your face.

3. Lay down, putting the cold pack behind your neck.

4. Rub the oils together between your fingers and rub on your temples, behind your ears, around your eye sockets, at the bridge of your nose, etc. Do this for 4-5 minutes paying attention to any aching you may feel. Massage any tension out. (I found that I could feel my headache tension at the side of my right eye socket.)

5. Lay the hot pack over your eyes and cover with the hand towel. Inhale the scents of the oils for 5 or so minutes.

6. Remove hot pack off of your face and massage more oil on tense areas of the face and temples, behind ears and at nape of the neck.

7. Switch the hot pack so that it is behind the neck and place the COLD pack over the eyes. Be careful not to put ice directly on skin. Cover with hand towel and inhale the aromas.

8. Concentrate on breathing deeply and allowing tension to release. Massage temples if you choose. Relax jaw. Do this for 5 minutes.

9. Change up the cold and hot pack again, placing the hot pack back onto the face and cold pack behind the neck. Relax and breathe deeply for 5 more minutes.

10. After doing this, I put peppermint oil directly onto the bottom of my nose at its entrance just above my lip. Be careful of putting essential oils directly onto the skin, but I found that this did not hurt me and really helped my headache relax.

11. Try to avoid bright lights. Immediately begin drinking a strong tea (I prefer green) or strong caffeine source such as coffee. Caffeine will help contract the blood vessels and relieve the headache permanently.

I was completely relieved of my headache within 90 minutes of completing this protocol. It may not be a quick fix, but it’s MUCH less harmful for our bodies, especially if you are pregnant. (:

A few more tips:

To prevent headaches altogether, at the first sign of any headache pain:

1. Drink a large glass of water.

2. Rub peppermint oil at the bottom of your nose, even up into your nostrils! Also rub on temples. (You may want to dilute with olive oil if you have sensitive skin.)

3. Drink a strong cup of green tea.

4. Suck on a mint (I like Trader Joe’s organic peppermint with under 0.5 g sugar per mint)

The post Natural Headache Relief, No Drugs Needed- Especially Great for PREGNANCY Headaches! appeared first on Anti-Cancer Mom.

It didn’t take me long into my tour of the Hippocrates Health Institute in West Palm Beach, FL to say out loud to my husband, “UGH! I wish we would have known about this place when I was diagnosed!”

I was born and grew up just down the street from Hippocrates but didn’t learn of it until months after my cancer diagnosis in 2008. I am tossing it up to one of those “I guess it just wasn’t meant to be” kind of things, but if you are looking for a place to retreat to after a cancer diagnosis, this would definitely be a peaceful and helpful place to consider.

Was it a sign that the first question our tour guide asked was “would anyone like to try some Green Drink?”

Our tour group at HHI was made up of about 15 people, one of whom fought his Stage IV colon cancer with raw foods and wheatgrass therapy at Hippocrates. Three years later he said he is about 80% raw but still completely vegan and CANCER FREE! He was there bringing a few other people on a tour of HHI, the place that “saved his life.”

After a brief orientation in the dining hall we journeyed off to the wheatgrass juicing room. If you have ever experienced the overwhelming smell of juiced wheatgrass, you will agree with me that it is a mix of fresh grass clippings and some sort of sweetener that makes you squish your face up and wriggle your nose.

Wheatgrass therapy was the main therapeutic component in Hippocrates Diet founder, Ann Wigmore‘s, treatment protocol. It is extremely alkalizing and LOADED with vitamins and minerals among many other benefits. I consumed it 2-3 times daily while going through the detoxification period during my own cancer “treatment.”

After our wheatgrass adventures, we viewed several brand-new villas students call home during their stay at HHI. Housing rates for a stay at HHI have 7 different pricing tiers, varying from moderately affordable to pretty expensive. There are places to stay on campus and some just off campus but within walking distance. You can also attend as a “commuter” student if you live in or are staying with friends in the West Palm Beach area.

HHI is equipped with eight non-chlorinated pools including dead sea salt pools, jacuzzis, cold pools, and swimming pools. They also have infrared saunas and a steam room (as if south Florida in the summer isn’t the world’s largest steam room!)

At times HHI felt way more like an upscale resort than a place that people come to heal their cancer. It is quite a huge paradox from the traditional hospital setting of conventional treatment. The sad part of it all is that a 3 week stay with the most luxurious package and accommodations at HHI would STILL be thousands less than ONE chemotherapy treatment in a hospital. If only insurance companies would get with it…but that’s a whole other messy conversation.

I was very impressed with HHI’s therapy rooms and overall serenity of the grounds and facilities. The list of therapy options was impressive: hyperbaric therapy, cranial stimulation, hydrocolon therapy, IV Vitamin C and other IV therapies, complete blood analysis upon arrival, hormone therapy, and thermography.

There were several other therapies that I was not familiar with that are also included in your stay with HHI such as Ceregam-RH, H-Wave Therapy, Lymphatic Drainage Bed, Migun, MRS 2000, Ondamed Biofeedback Treatment, Q1000 Laser, Soft Laser, Theragem, Turbosonic Therapy, and Viofor.

You could spend a RIDICULOUS amount of money in the therapy center during your visit at HHI, but the good news is that ONE of each of these therapies are included with your tuition. You can add extra services a la carte upon registration or during your stay.

In addition to the therapies, HHI has a fitness center with gym equipment and group classes in yoga and pilates. They also have therapists specializing in many varieties of massage, acupuncture, chiropractic, and reflexology. HHI’s location within miles of the Atlantic Ocean also allows for weekly beach trips.

As our tour continued, I learned what fills a typical day at HHI. There is ample time for exercise and meditation including Tai Chi, yoga, and pool exercise. There are several breaks for wheatgrass juice and other green juices each day. The “meat and potatoes” (HA! that is seriously the first phrase that came to my mind) of the program are the lectures by Drs. Brian and Anna Maria Clement. They are experts in the Living Foods Lifestyle and lecture all around the world. Many of the other therapists and emotional experts at HHI speak throughout the week in their areas of expertise.

Maybe ya’ll can help me figure out all of these people on the wall that have visited Hippocrates? So far I can identify Ellen Page on the right, AKA “Juno.” Then there’s legendary actor Anthony Hopkins and Fleetwood Mack’s Mick Fleetwood. And of course Atlanta’s own Coretta Scott King.

Good to know that Jesus isn’t completely left out of the equation at HHI. (:

The main dining room at HHI appeared brand new, super clean and serves daily lunch and dinner buffet of LOTS of sprouts and living foods, all included with tuition. Visitors can have unlimited lunch for $10 if you take the tour. $20 if just stopping in. AND one of the coolest little touches are the BIKES! Unlimited bike borrowing is included with your stay at Hippocrates.

If I would have know of Hippocrates when diagnosed I would have taken 2 weeks off work for detoxing and focusing on myself at HHI, loaded up on colonics and reflexology appointments a la carte at their Therapy Center and stayed with my parents at their home just south of West Palm Beach. This would have brought me to a grand total of just under $5,000. For another $500 I could have stayed for 3 weeks.

Pricing:

For the most affordable on-campus accommodations with a private room, prices range from $2,860 for a one week stay to $5,940 for 3 weeks (2012 prices.) The most expensive package with a private room ranges from $8,470 to just over $17,000. There is also the option to share a room with another HHI student for a lower rate.

Tuition includes all food and juices, blood work and health consultations, emotional healing classes, food prep classes and other lectures, fitness center, unlimited warm and cold pool usage, lodging (unless opting for the commuter package), and ONE of each therapy from their Therapy Center.

In researching for this post, I ran across a few negative reviews of HHI. As with anytime you are dealing with a BUSINESS, you need to stand firm in what you are willing to dish out financially. I think that the primary benefit of HHI is what is offered in their tuition- the food, the classes, and the facilities and treatments that are included in the tuition costs. The lush, tropical paradise is ideal for healing to take place.

Unless you WANT to spend extra on additional therapies or products, DON’T. Stand your ground. This is a HOLISTIC healing center, not a quick fix, so don’t go there expecting that. Your attitude will make the biggest difference of all.***

If you are interested in more information about the Hippocrates Health Institute, contact Kristin Berbusse at kberbusse@hippocratesinst.org, (561) 530-5895 or Jolene Jackson at jjackson@hippocratesinst.org, 561-471-8876 ext. 2207. You can also visit their website: HippocratesInst.org.

*** I would not consider time at Hippocrates as “treatment” and wouldn’t expect to go there with cancer and emerge with complete healing. It is a place that will empower you to take care of yourself- eating foods from the earth and learning healthy thought processes after a time of detox that you can continue once you get home from the institute. With those skills and change in mindset, continuing healing can take place overtime. ***

The post My Tour & Review of Hippocrates Health Institute appeared first on Anti-Cancer Mom.

For the first time in my life I have been motivated to exercise because my body is feeling OLD!

I take great care of my insides through outstanding nutrition but I am finally admitting- I have greatly ignored my physical health. I have had many flings with exercise since my cancer diagnosis, but have always had a reason (excuse) to stop. This year I am determined and COMMITTED to developing life-long fitness habits. EXCUSES are not welcome!

A Fitness Mirage

One of my problems is that- in my mind I still look like I did when I was 22. Then I look in the mirror and…well, it doesn’t lie.

My exercise history isn’t awful, but it lacks consistency. I worked out in college because I was bored- and to meet guys at the campus gym. Ha! I actually put on make-up to work out. After graduating I was into long-distance running, but after training for two half-marathons, I have lost my enthusiasm, not to mention long runs are time consuming!

I have had every excuse not to exercise since my cancer diagnosis in 2008. At that time my husband and I were in the process of completing the popular infomercial workout program, P-90X. We had completed Day 45 of the 90 days fitness challenge the day before I went in for my biopsy surgery. Then life changed drastically and exercise got lost in the cancer wilderness.

Now I am a wife, mother to a 2-year-old, make all meals from whole-foods, have a full-time teaching job, and write Green Drink Diaries. I also play in a community orchestra and am in a couples’ “small group” with my church once a week. Can I really add more to my plate? YES- but I also have to make sacrifices somewhere to find time to exercise.

My Exercise Commitments for 2012:

1. I will workout 6 days a week in the months of January and February. On average, a habit takes 4 weeks to break- but I don’t trust my laziness. I will give myself 8 weeks. I will rest on Sundays.

2. I will focus on physical exertion and positive fitness habits, NOT on weight loss, how much time I work out, or how I look.

3. Sacrifices: I MUST be home by 5:00 to start dinner. I am taking two months off from orchestra to focus on my fitness goals. My daughter must be in bed by 8:30pm so I can get started by 8:45. I will keep Green Drink Diaries’ to one focused post per week.

4. My fitness routine will consist of short interval training with my husband and Holy Yoga, a form of Christ-based Yoga (will definitely post on this later!)

5. I will post my progress publicly on a Green Drink Diaries’ monthly “Commitments Roll-Call!” post! 

Find Your Exercise Style!

One thing I have learned about myself is that I enjoy working out at home. It works for me. I work outside of the home all day and can’t fathom putting my daughter in daycare again to go workout at a crowded gym. So working out at home it is.

You need to figure out what will work for you. Will you stay motivated if you work out at home?

Do you enjoy “getting out” and being in a large fitness crowd?

Do other buff people motivate you?

Does a fitness class such as Zumba, BodyPump, or Spin sound fun and appealing to you? Will you get bored easily from any of those? Many gyms have trials before you commit so you could give them a try or check out their websites.

Over the next few days, spend a few minutes alone with this blog post and let this all sink in. What would you want to commit to if you had the time? What sacrifices could you make? What is the ideal vision for your bodily fitness if you could attain it?

Write your commitments down and let them simmer. then, when you’re ready, make them public in the Comments section of this post!!

Other suggestions to motivate you:

Find a fitness partner.

Buy new workout gear.

Donate the clothes that you are hiding behind and save up for some new clothes in a smaller size!

Make a sticker incentive chart to keep where you can see it.

Keep an exercise journal.

Reward yourself with an end-of-the week reward.

Exercise could be as simple as walking for 30 minutes with your favorite music or playing a dance game on a Wii or X-Box Kinect.

Other Physical Commitments that are not Fitness Related:

See a chiropractor regularly.

Find a good naturopathic doctor to see for preventative care.

Clear out and organize space in your home.

Try Natural Eye Reversal Therapies. This is another Commitment for me this year! I will certainly blog about my progress!

Working to stop negative physical habits such as biting nails, cuticles, SMOKING, etc.

Join us tomorrow to make our Nutritional Commitments!

The post Green Drink Commitments 2012- Get Physical! appeared first on Anti-Cancer Mom.

There are so many different varieties of natural and organic beauty and hygiene products out there, but when you are diagnosed with cancer it is essential to make sure you’re keeping the bad stuff off of your skin and ultimately out of your blood system.

The most concerning of all of these products to me and to many others out there is DEODORANT. Why? Because conventional deodorant is incredibly invasive and toxic. But why are most natural deodorants so disappointing in their performance? I have used many, MANY varieties. I won’t name brands here, but TRUST me when I say I have tried 10 different brands that I can remember and many others that I’m sure were forgettable. AND many of these products were EXPENSIVE!!!! I am so happy to write about my soul-mate of deodorant today. The search is over. I have found THE ONE.

I first off want to thank Brittany at The Pistachio Project for the base of this recipe. She turned me onto this along with the rest of the “Crunchy Mamas” group at Babycenter.com who have raved about it. I didn’t make it for the longest time because we didn’t keep corn starch in our house and “I didn’t have the time.” I didn’t know what I was missing out on or how easy it was.

I’m glad I took the 5 minutes to make it. Seriously- it took 5 minutes once I ventured into it. I mixed in a medium sized bowl:

1/8 – 1/4 cup baking soda

1/8 – 1/4 cup cornstarch

1/4 cup coconut oil

Directions: Mix the dry ingredients first and then add the oil. Store in a sealed container at room temperature.

It will have a pasty consistency if mixed properly and will vary depending on the oil’s temperature. Right now it is 77 in my house and the mixture is a little bit more oily than it was when I made it with oil that was solid from being in a cold grocery store. When purchasing the ingredients, I would double check that the baking soda does not have added aluminum and that the corn starch is organic since most corn Americans consume IS genetically modified, or has had its genes altered in a lab. Organic coconut oil is best but you will be fine with regular- as in at least it’s a better alternative to store bought deodorant.

My Experience:

I found it very simple to keep the mixture in a small container such as a baby food jar or even a small plastic food storage container. I stir it with my finger and whatever has stuck to my finger I use to smear one side on one armpit and the other armpit with the other side of my finger. You can then either rub in the rest of the coconut oil on your hands to moisturize (although it is a little gritty- maybe you could use as an exfoliant??) You could also just wash your hands with mild soap.

I absolutely LOVE this deodorant. A week has past since I first used it and I have found nothing wrong with it. Coconut Oil should last up to two years and the other two ingredients have shelf lives to at least one year.

Pros:

• It is completely non-toxic. You could eat it…if you needed to.
• It WORKS. I put it on after I shower in the morning and the next morning after my workout I still don’t smell- from the application of it 24 hours before!
• You might think that it stains your clothes but it doesn’t. I would use the exact amount I specify and rub it in well. Let it sit for a few minutes before putting a shirt on.
• It still allows you to sweat, but the baking soda and cornstarch absorb enough that you don’t look like a sweaty mess in your pits. Sweat helps detoxify your lymph system and rid your body of the bad stuff. Antiperspirants in store-bought deodorants stop this natural process from happening.
• It works for women and men- my husband has also been using it and it works just as well for him!
• It has not caused me irritation even after shaving.
• It’s CHEAP- I paid $ .49, $.99 and $7.99 for the ingredients which will make (by my estimation) over a year’s supply of deodorant for my husband and me.

Please let me know your feedback or any variations ya’ll try! I think you might find THE ONE with this recipe, too!

 Helpful Links:

Breast Cancer and Antiperspirants (National Cancer Institute)

Aluminum in Deodorant (Natural News)

Cancer and Deodorant  (Dr. Mercola: must register to read this article)

The post Homemade Coconut Oil Deodorant appeared first on Anti-Cancer Mom.

What’s all the hype about dangerous chemicals leaching from this modern convenience? Does Teflon, non-stick cookware and cancer have anything to do with each other? And why did I throw mine away 3 months after receiving it as a wedding gift? Let’s dive into the truth about cookware…

Have you ever cooked eggs on a stainless steel pan? If yes, then you know how much it sucks to have to scrape the pan once the egg has molecularly bonded with the cooking surface. Enter Non-Stick Teflon Pans to the rescue. But is this convenience worth a potential health risk? The answer: It’s Complicated.

Why I Threw Away MY Teflon:

Teflon, a non-stick material made by Dupont is a chemical coating that allows us to cook without our food sticking to the pan. As a mom, it’s an awesome CONVENIENCE! No longer does your food cook to the pan, but it practically washes off with water! But when you learn about the potential risks of heating your food on top of a sketchy chemical, you may want to make some changes in the kitchen.

With a disease like cancer, you pull out ALL of the stops to fight it. I did not want to take any risks in contaminating my body with Teflon when I worked so hard to detoxify it. Why would I want to put all of this fabulous food and supplements into my body and then top it off with some potentially Teflon-contaminated veggie stir-fry? My husband and I, personally decided to get rid of our Teflon coated pans, but this decision may not be for everybody.

Here are the Facts:

• Dupont, makers of Teflon did not publicly release studies that showed that pregnant Dupont workers were passing on Teflon chemicals to their unborn children. Keep in mind that these women were exposed to the chemical process of making the Teflon and not exclusively to the finished product like we are. Still- I personally wouldn’t risk it.
• The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has also accused Dupont of failing to report evidence that the chemicals used to manufacture Teflon had contaminated water supplies affecting 12,000 people in the surrounding areas. Why would they cover up something like this?
• A chemical used in the product of Teflon, perfluorooctanoic acid, or PFOA for short is considered likely to be carcinogenic (cancer causing.) Although the final product of Teflon is not supposed to contain this chemical, it is still used in its production. Again- not worth the risk.
• A study conducted by the Center for Disease Control found PFOA in the bloodstream of 95% of U.S. citizens. According to the EPA, PFOA accumulates in the blood and can stay there for up to 4 years.

“But I Really Love My Teflon…”

I may be really hard core when it comes to getting potential carcinogens out of my home, but you need to consider the facts and make your own decision. It’s important to know that Teflon is seemingly safe if kept in immaculate condition with no scratches and kept from being heated above 500 degrees or scorched by your stove top. If your Teflon pans are scratched, flaking, or damaged in anyways, you should DEFINITELY throw them out. Scratched and brittle Teflon coating will off gas when heated and leach into your food, especially if heated at higher temperatures.

So What Now?

After the purging of the wedding registry Teflon pans within months of receiving it (YES- it was terribly torturous to do!) we now cook our food on stainless steel pans and pots. It requires the use of oil to avoid sticking, but for the most part (except the wretched scrambled eggs,) we don’t miss our Teflon. I have heard great things about ceramic cookware as well but am not incredibly knowledgeable about it. See Dr. Mercola’s article and video about that HERE. Another safe alternative are cast iron pans. These come with an added benefit of iron actually cooking into your food, and with many Americans being deficient in this mineral as well as many others, we can use all the help we can get.

The post Why I Tossed My Non-Stick Cookware appeared first on Anti-Cancer Mom.

For those of you who are looking for a concise version of Green Drink Diaries’ 14 Day Detox and Cleanse, you can find it here. Pass on to friends and give it a try yourself!

14 Day Cleanse Preparation Days:

Read these posts the week before your cleanse begins.

Getting Ready

Grocery List and Sample Menu

Raw Food Logistics and Preparation

My Yoga Journey

14 Day Cleanse: Sneak Peak!

Logistics of Salads and Smoothies and RAW on the go!

14 Day Cleanse Days and Menus:

Read these posts each morning as you are on the cleanse. Make sure to read the Preview Menu and Grocery posts at least 1 day before those cleanse days begin so you can prepare.

Day 1

Day 2

Day 3

Preview Menu Days 4 – 7

Day 4

Day 5

Day 6

Grocery List: Week 2 and Preview Menus for Days 8-10

Day 7

Day 8

Day 9

Day 10

Preview Menu Days 11-14

Day 11

Day 12

Day 13

Day 14

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