What a loaded headline. This step in our journey was by far the greatest challenge.
Let's start with FOOD.
Food in the Sheehan family was at the center of our lives. Not quite in the way the Italians or French worship food but in how we treated food. Although not abusive in the slightest, we certainly didn't have the best relationship. We ate what we wanted without any consideration for what good or harm it was doing to us. Don't get me wrong we didn't eat 'badly' we just didn't eat well, or more importantly we weren't aware of the relationship between food and health. Picture this. Steak and chips, pretty standard for an Irish dinner right? But chips smothered with butter, now that's a heart attack waiting to happen. And el captain thought he could live 'till he was a 100 on that diet. I think not:)
Next up. SACRIFICE.
As I began to uncover the truth behind cancer and its causes, I quickly realized a change in diet was critical if we wanted to see improvement. I'm going to break it down the easiest way I know how, because I am certainly no expert. For a more informed and professional view, check out the references below.
#1 Sugar. The main culprit
Cancer is working about 8 times faster than that of normal cells and the body is constantly overworked trying to feed it. Cancers goal is too avoid starvation and it will look everywhere for 'food'. Now, while sugar certainly feeds the healthy cells in our bodies providing glucose for energy, it also helps cancerous cells grow and at a much faster rate. Knowing that one's cancer thrives on sugar, does it make sense to feed it sugar? Absolutely not. When it comes to sugar, stick to the natural form found in fruit and vegetables and avoid anything processed or refined - brown or white.
So long sweets, soda, baked desserts, canned foods, ketchup you name it.
#2 Animal Protein. The unfortunate victim
Supply and Demand has forced an industry to cut corners and shorten the natural growth cycle. The majority of animal protein tends to come from stock that has been raised in artificial settings, fed growth hormones all to make sure we get our meat on time. This chemically altered, artificially colored piece of pink meat does not support a healthy cancer fighting diet.
Animal protein can be tough for the body to breakdown. Just think about all that chewing you do before the meat even leaves your mouth to head south towards your digestive system. The amount of enzymes needed to properly process your foods would be better served fighting the cancerous cells.
Fun fact. Carnivorous animals are equipped with much larger molars than humans so they can breakdown animal protein in the stomach much easier. They also have much smaller intestines, which means the food passes through faster. This is not the case for humans. We don't breakdown the food as well, our teeth aren't built that way, our intestines are also longer which means the food moves through slower, leaving more time for toxins to be released into our system.
Au Revoir steak and chips, Sunday roast and the delicious sausages on the BBQ. 'War anyone?'
#3 Dairy. The victims by-product
Based on the above, I think my next statement is expected. It has been said there can be as many as 100 antibiotics in milk alone. In addition to growth hormones, pesticides, herbicides, and a toxic stew of other chemicals.
If you drink milk every day, eat cottage cheese, or ice cream, those antibiotics are killing off the beneficial bacteria in your intestinal tract. And remember we need that good bacteria to help fight the badness.
Slan milk, cheese, yogurt and those delicious ice cream sandwiches on the way to The Old Head
#4 Gluten. The trouble maker
Why should I stop eating Gluten foods when I am not Celiac? Fair question Dad, but why eat anything that could compromise the system that is working so hard for you. A key few thoughts;
If anyone thinks Michael Sheehan deserves a gold medal, raise your hand now. My Dad, the once beef eating, dessert loving, soda drinking man was about to make some huge sacrifices.
But don't worry, we had lots of great alternatives for Dad some of which he actually began to love
Article Source:
http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Yvonne_M_Sheehan
Let's start with FOOD.
Food in the Sheehan family was at the center of our lives. Not quite in the way the Italians or French worship food but in how we treated food. Although not abusive in the slightest, we certainly didn't have the best relationship. We ate what we wanted without any consideration for what good or harm it was doing to us. Don't get me wrong we didn't eat 'badly' we just didn't eat well, or more importantly we weren't aware of the relationship between food and health. Picture this. Steak and chips, pretty standard for an Irish dinner right? But chips smothered with butter, now that's a heart attack waiting to happen. And el captain thought he could live 'till he was a 100 on that diet. I think not:)
Next up. SACRIFICE.
As I began to uncover the truth behind cancer and its causes, I quickly realized a change in diet was critical if we wanted to see improvement. I'm going to break it down the easiest way I know how, because I am certainly no expert. For a more informed and professional view, check out the references below.
#1 Sugar. The main culprit
Cancer is working about 8 times faster than that of normal cells and the body is constantly overworked trying to feed it. Cancers goal is too avoid starvation and it will look everywhere for 'food'. Now, while sugar certainly feeds the healthy cells in our bodies providing glucose for energy, it also helps cancerous cells grow and at a much faster rate. Knowing that one's cancer thrives on sugar, does it make sense to feed it sugar? Absolutely not. When it comes to sugar, stick to the natural form found in fruit and vegetables and avoid anything processed or refined - brown or white.
So long sweets, soda, baked desserts, canned foods, ketchup you name it.
#2 Animal Protein. The unfortunate victim
Supply and Demand has forced an industry to cut corners and shorten the natural growth cycle. The majority of animal protein tends to come from stock that has been raised in artificial settings, fed growth hormones all to make sure we get our meat on time. This chemically altered, artificially colored piece of pink meat does not support a healthy cancer fighting diet.
Animal protein can be tough for the body to breakdown. Just think about all that chewing you do before the meat even leaves your mouth to head south towards your digestive system. The amount of enzymes needed to properly process your foods would be better served fighting the cancerous cells.
Fun fact. Carnivorous animals are equipped with much larger molars than humans so they can breakdown animal protein in the stomach much easier. They also have much smaller intestines, which means the food passes through faster. This is not the case for humans. We don't breakdown the food as well, our teeth aren't built that way, our intestines are also longer which means the food moves through slower, leaving more time for toxins to be released into our system.
Au Revoir steak and chips, Sunday roast and the delicious sausages on the BBQ. 'War anyone?'
#3 Dairy. The victims by-product
Based on the above, I think my next statement is expected. It has been said there can be as many as 100 antibiotics in milk alone. In addition to growth hormones, pesticides, herbicides, and a toxic stew of other chemicals.
If you drink milk every day, eat cottage cheese, or ice cream, those antibiotics are killing off the beneficial bacteria in your intestinal tract. And remember we need that good bacteria to help fight the badness.
Slan milk, cheese, yogurt and those delicious ice cream sandwiches on the way to The Old Head
#4 Gluten. The trouble maker
Why should I stop eating Gluten foods when I am not Celiac? Fair question Dad, but why eat anything that could compromise the system that is working so hard for you. A key few thoughts;
- Gluten is known to contain characteristics that seriously compromise the immune system
- Our immune system must be in tip top cancer fighting shape
- Gluten contains certain proteins which promote inflammatory reaction (bloating anyone?)
- Chronic inflammation is not good for cancer patients
- Gluten can eat away at your gut lining. If the gut is damaged, you do not absorb nutrients
- Vitamins such as A, D, K, and other nutrients are essential to a cancer patients defenses
If anyone thinks Michael Sheehan deserves a gold medal, raise your hand now. My Dad, the once beef eating, dessert loving, soda drinking man was about to make some huge sacrifices.
But don't worry, we had lots of great alternatives for Dad some of which he actually began to love
