100 Perks of Having Cancer: Plus 100 Health Tips for Surviving It (90 page)

or destroy anything unwanted from interfering with plant growth; from

killing a hungry caterpillar to killing weeds, fungus, mold, mice, or bacteria.

Killing all these different living things means using lots of different kinds

of chemicals. Chemical pesticide agents have been linked to nervous disor-

ders like ADHD, hormone disorders, and an increased risk of cancer. Ninety-

nine percent of Americans tested positive for pesticides in their blood. These

chemicals are getting in our bodies because we are letting them in.

“Organic” produce, on the other hand, cannot contain any chemical

pesticides by law and are thereby deemed “clean.” The Environmental Work-

ing Group or EWG (www.ewg.org) does a great job of taking the con-

fusion out of what to buy. The U.S. Environmental Protection

Agency (EPA) posts information on pesticide levels every year after

testing imported and domestic fruits and vegetables. The EWG

takes that information and translates it into two lists of foods

called the “Dirty Dozen” and “Clean Fifteen.”

The Dirty Dozen lists the foods that have been measured to

contain the highest level of pesticides. Some pesticides detected

in the produce have been removed from the EPA’s “legal use” list,

but still find their way into our stores either by way of foreign produce

or by omission from the farmer’s reports. Either way, you should steer clear

of these foods and only buy organic when possible.

Perk #89: Bonus Reward Points

379

The Clean Fifteen is a list containing the foods that measured low for

pesticides, so there is no significant benefit from buying these foods as

organic. (Unless you just like that the organic versions taste better—and I

think they do!)

The lists change every year so check their website for this

year’s “clean and dirty” foods. Choosing five servings from the

Limit your pesticide

“Dirty Dozen” list would result in exposure to fourteen dif -

exposure by

ferent pesticides, while choosing five servings from the “Clean

checking the clean

Fifteen” list would result in exposure to only two. You can

and dirty list.

reduce your pesticide intake by as much as 80 to 90 percent if

you follow the list.

Washing will help remove bacteria but does little to most pesticides, since

many pesticides are “fed” to the plants in their root systems and become one

with the plant. (Even those fancy expensive veggie washes won’t help with

some.) Peeling helps with removing the pesticide layer that gets trapped in

the wax applied to most conventional fruits and veggies. (Ever wonder why

you can practically see your reflection in a cucumber? It’s waxed.)

On a side note: There’s a war brewing in the organic world, and it has

to do with labeling, federal regulations, and big business. Huge mega cor-

porations have begun the systematic takeover of small organic businesses

as they see the profit in the public’s awareness of healthy eating. Small

independent companies like Izzy, Sweet Leaf, Honest Tea, Ben & Jerry’s,

and Burt’s Bees have been taken over by Pepsi, Coca Cola, Kellogg, and

Clorox. Easy-to-read labels with truly natural, healthy ingredients would

not be in their best interest. And they spend big money making sure that

doesn’t happen. Take a moment to find out who owns that “organic” com-

pany that makes your organic cereal, and favorite juice. The answer may

surprise you.

A great way to avoid pesticides is to buy fresh local produce from either

Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) or farmers markets. There, you

can actually speak directly to the person responsible for growing the food

when you buy it.

Please remember: it’s healthier to eat nonorganic fruits and veggies than

to omit fruits and veggies because you can’t find organic, but in some cases

it’s worth a look.

Perk #90

Learning Postcancer

Etiquette

I
have always considered myself to be a polite person. However, after getting

cancer, I found myself letting my manners slip a little. For example, I was

so caught up in my own health issues that I rarely asked anyone else, “How

are you?” Once my treatments ended and I was proclaimed
“cancer-free,”
I

realized that I had to brush up on my postcancer etiquette.

When you have cancer, you get used to hearing two things:

1.
“You look great!”
I think that many people equate the word
cancer
with

the image of a deathly-pale and emaciated body, and they are genuinely

surprised that you can have cancer but still look healthy. So when people

told me, “You look great,” I realized that they were probably thinking
for

someone with cancer.
But I gave the standard cancer patient response any-

way: “Thank you!”

Now that I am no longer in treatment mode, I realize that I can’t get

away with my standard “Thank you” response. When someone says, “You

look great!” they darn well expect that I am going to say, “You too!” possibly

followed by, “Have you lost weight?” or “I love that hair color on you.”

2.
“How are you?”
When you have cancer and people ask, “How are you?”

they are not just being polite. They actually want to know how you are

doing. You have a choice of responses to this question: “Doing great,

thanks!” OR get into a lengthy discussion of your latest test results

and procedures. I usually chose to go with the latter. (Well, hey, they

ASKED!)

Now that there is no evidence of the disease in my body, I have to

remind myself that most people don’t literally mean it when they ask, “How

I 380 J

Perk #90: Learning Postcancer Etiquette

381

are you?” “How ya doing?” or “How’s it going?” They are just being polite.

In this case, the proper postcancer etiquette requires a response such as,

“Fine thanks, and yourself?” Or “Good, and you?” The important point is

to always remember to ask the person how
they
are doing, and never, ever

launch into a detailed explanation of your latest infection scare (well, unless

they ask).

There will likely come a time when people

no longer want to hear about your cancer.

HEALTH TIP #90

Hear No Evil, See No Evil, Speak No Evil

“H
ow are you?” This may be the lead-in question to the most often told

lie in the history of lies.

If you are an average person, you tell eleven lies per week. (Yeah, you

do.) From making excuses for being late to exaggerating the truth, “little

white lies” are a part of our lives. What does lying have to with your health?

I’m glad you asked, and I’ll tell you the truth.

A recent study presented at the 2012 American Psychological Associa-

tion’s meeting tested the theory that lying affects your physical well-being.

A group of 110 males and females from eighteen to seventy years old were

split into two groups: one group was told not to lie, and the others were

given no instructions. (They must assume that the average person is a lying

sack of dung, I guess.) Over the ten-week trial period, those that only told

the truth had less physical symptoms such as sore throats, headaches, anx-

iety symptoms, and tension.

“I think lying can cause a lot of stress for people, contributing to anx-

iety and even depression,” said Dr. Bryan Bruno, acting chairman of the

department of psychiatry at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City. “Lying

less is not only good for your relationships, but for yourself as an indi-

vidual. People might recognize the more devastating impact lying can have

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100 Perks of Having Cancer

on relationships, but probably don’t recognize the extent to which it can

cause a lot of internal stress.”

Hmm
, I’m going to have think about this one the next time my husband

asks how much I spent on those shoes.

The participants in the “truth group” said they

invented ways around lying. Some said they had

The truth will set

never really tried to tell the truth before (rather than

you free (of stress).

exaggerate) and found it was easier than they

thought. Some others found responding to a ques-

tion with another question was a way out.

I don’t think answering, “Fine” to the question “How are you?” is a lie,

even if you’re nauseated, swollen, and your wig is itching you. But I do know

people who, when asked that question, say, “I’m making it work,” which

may be more accurate and a more “healthful” response.