Read 100 Perks of Having Cancer: Plus 100 Health Tips for Surviving It Online
Authors: Florence Strang
Tags: #Health; Fitness & Dieting, #Diseases & Physical Ailments, #Internal Medicine, #Oncology, #Cancer, #Medicine & Health Sciences, #Clinical, #Medical Books, #Alternative Medicine, #Medicine
the concept of giving up my maid’s uniform to Kaitlyn, I spotted Donovan
out of the corner of my eye taking a load of laundry upstairs. Up until that
point, I could have sworn he did not even know that there was a laundry
room in our house.
I suppose in a way that learning new skills such as cooking and cleaning
was a perk for them. For example, Kaitlyn can now prepare an awesome
Thai stir-fry, and Donovan has completely mastered the art of cooking
chicken nuggets (flipping them at just the exact right moment!). It was def-
initely a perk for me to experience the proud feeling of having my teens
step up to the challenge when I needed them, and to hear others tell me
how lucky I am to have such thoughtful children. Cancer is a family disease,
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Perk #6: Cancer Introduced My Teens to ALL Major Household Appliances
29
and sometimes I needed to be reminded that I was not the only one
affected. Following my diagnosis many people commented on how well I
coped with having cancer. I think it is my children who really deserve the
accolades.
A difficult part of having cancer is relinquishing the
role of caregiver to your children. Allowing them
to help is like sowing the seeds of responsibility.
HEALTH TIP #6
Don’t Just Sow Your Seeds, Eat Them, Too!
S
eeds hold an amazing amount of potential. Just look at a tiny acorn and
think how huge that potential is! The potential for nutrition is just as
big, and with the variety of seeds available to you, you’re sure to find some
that you can easily use to enhance your healthy diet. Because seeds act like
tiny little energy confetti, you only need to consume a small amount to get
maximum benefits. Seeds all have their own unique flavor and work well
with different kinds of foods. Sesame seeds, for example, work well with
Asian dishes and are wonderful in salads, while sunflower seeds are great
for snacking.
There are some extraordinary seeds that up until now were hard to find.
Don’t get me wrong; I love good ole sunflower seeds just as much as the
next person, but I tend to look beyond the ordinary and toward the
extra
-
ordinary to find the most powerful seeds with the most efficient form of
cancer-fighting effects. Following are my top three “super seeds” with a brief
rundown on what makes them so special:
Flaxseeds:
Flaxseeds are light brown in color and look like a larger version
of sesame seeds. When eaten whole, without being ground or crushed,
flaxseeds provide a special kind of fiber in your diet that can help with
constipation, which is great. But the real benefits are seen once they are
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100 Perks of Having Cancer
ground, as they release cancer-fighting lignans and omega-3 fatty acids. Lig-
nans can act as anti-estrogens, and it is believed that they can have some
preventative effect on all cancers but especially breast and other hormone-
related cancers. The best way to take advantage of all the health benefits
of flaxseeds is to crush or grind them and use within twenty-four hours.
After being ground they start losing their beneficial effects. Flaxseed oil can
also be taken as a supplement as it contains the omega-3s but not the
potent lignans. It’s the lignans that are the potent cancer protectors, espe-
cially for hormonal cancers.
One ounce (about two tablespoons) of seeds has 150 calories, 12 grams
of fat, 6,388 milligrams omega-3, 1,655 milligrams omega-6, 3 grams fiber,
and 5 grams protein.
Big benefits of flaxseeds: omega-3s and healthy bowels.
Chia seeds:
Cha-cha-cha-chia. Okay, you’ve got to remember Chia Pets! Yes,
all those years of playing with those seeds (that got everywhere, and then
Mom would yell) and we never realized what a nutritious, healthy toy we
had. No one ever thought, back then, that we would be buying these to eat
for our health! Chia seeds look a lot like poppy seeds. The chia gets its name
from the Mayan word for “strength.” When left in a liquid like juice or water
for about fifteen minutes, they will absorb the fluid and thicken its consis-
tency. That can make for better smoothies, but it also means that they
expand in your stomach, making that “full feeling” last a bit longer, and
that can be helpful if you’re trying to lose weight.
One serving (one ounce) of tiny little chia seeds provides you with 42
percent of your recommended daily allowance (RDA) for fiber (11 grams)
and 177 milligrams or 18 percent of your RDA for calcium. That’s
three times
more calcium per ounce than milk. You don’t have to consume one whole
serving in one meal, as these tiny little things can be sprinkled just about
anywhere and in any food throughout the day.
One ounce (about two tablespoons) of seeds has 137 calories, 9 grams
fat, 4,915 milligrams omega-3 (that’s equivalent to about ten omega-3 sup-
plements!), 1,620 milligrams omega-6, 11 grams fiber, and 4 grams protein.
Big benefits of chia seeds: omega-3s, calcium, and fiber.
Perk #6: Cancer Introduced My Teens to ALL Major Household Appliances
31
Hemp seeds:
Yes, hemp—but don’t think “pot” when you see these. The
hemp plants grown for food and textiles like clothes and fibers are com-
pletely different from pot plants and don’t contain THC (the drug com -
ponent of the marijuana plant), so the high you get will be from knowing
that you’re eating healthy, not from anything in the seeds. Hemp seeds
usually come shelled and are small and light. They have a bit of a nutty
flavor and are great in cereals and oatmeal. Most people who are allergic
to nuts and gluten can eat hemp seeds without a reaction. They are very
high in protein so it’s a good protein source if you’re switching from eating
animal-based proteins to a more plant-based diet.
One ounce (about two tablespoons) of hemp seeds has
162 calories, 13 grams fat, 2,436 milligrams omega-3, 7,728
Just a little spoonful
milligrams omega-6, 1 gram fiber, and 10 grams of protein.
of any of these seeds
Big benefits of hemp seeds: high protein, no allergens.
here and there can
add up to big health
Again, the easiest way to include these seeds in your diet
benefits for you.
is to add a sprinkle here and there as any amount is bene-
ficial. If you want to include one serving of chia, for example, measure out
one to three tablespoons in a small bowl and set it out so you’ll be reminded
to add a bit to your food during the day. When the bowl is empty, you’re
done.
These certainly are not the only seeds to provide a boost to your health.
Take the time to explore other seeds like caraway, fennel, poppy, and pump-
kin. (See more on pumpkin seeds in Health Tip #39.)
Perk #7
I Didn’t Have to Go to Work
O
ne of the most unusual perks of having
cancer for me was being off work for
more than a year. I work in the field of edu-
cation, so every year since I was five years
old, I had been heading back to school in
September. It felt strange when September
rolled around and I found myself putting
the kids on the bus and going back home
. . . strange, but GOOD! I couldn’t resist the
urge to skip down the driveway and sing,
“It’s the most wonderful time of the year.”
I got to enjoy the luxury of having the
whole house to myself and really focus on
getting well.
Recovering from cancer became my full-time job. It required secretarial
skills, such as scheduling and rescheduling numerous appointments. I also
kept detailed notes of my doctor visits and copies of my tests and scans.
My research skills had never been better, as I combed the Internet in search
of information to help me better understand my diagnosis and make
informed decisions about my treatments. I educated myself on diet, nutri-
tion, exercise, and the use of supplements. I also became a practitioner of
alternative healing modalities, as I administered Reiki and angel therapy
sessions to myself in my own personalized healing sessions. Not only did
I make recovery my full-time job, but I also promoted myself to CEO of
my own health!
If you are fortunate enough to have sick leave,
why not use it? Make getting well your full-time job.
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