As you may or may not know, October is Breast Cancer Awareness month. It’s a perfect time to remind ourselves to take care of our health, mind, body and spirit. I know as women we often times make others the priority, but we have to stop running ourselves ragged and into an unhealthy lifestyle. We need to start making ourselves and our health a priority. It’s because of this that I’m happy to share some tips toward breast cancer prevention and better health.
According to BreastCancer.org, the US Breast Cancer Statistics indicate:
- In 2015, an estimated 231,840 new cases of invasive breast cancer are expected to be diagnosed in women in the U.S., along with 60,290 new cases of non-invasive (in situ) breast cancer.
- About 2,350 new cases of invasive breast cancer are expected to be diagnosed in men in 2015.
You read that right, even men are affected. While the incidence isn’t as high, the probability is still there, so the following can be helpful in making health a priority for the entire family,
First let me say, it all starts with food – The more we move away from over indulging in processed foods and sugar and move more toward fruits, veggies, healthy fats and oils, the more we bring our body into balance, and back into its natural rhythm.
Everything in moderation – Moderation and portion control is key in everything from food, drinks, vices, and even toxins that can be in many everyday items. We live in a fast paced, super sized world, where convenience and excess are the norm. But if you actually take time to read labels, you realize that most food and drinks are served in multiple serving sizes vs single serving sizes. This is why most nutrition experts say to fill half your plate with veggies and the rest with whole grains, lean proteins and fruit. Yes there is such a thing as too much of a good thing.
Exercise & get plenty of sleep – Exercise not only helps keep you agile and strong, but it’s been proven to boost your energy level, immune system, and even your mood. Sleep deprivation, on the other hand, has been proven to effect hormone levels, including those meant to regulate hunger levels, fat storage and fat burning. I know I personally don’t get enough sleep and instead of taking naps when I feel tired through out my day, I end up eating to stay awake. Really a bad combination all the way around.
Live in gratitude – When you make a conscious effort to wake up acknowledging all that is right in your life and go to sleep doing the same, things just seem brighter. You don’t need to allow negativity, hate, etc. to take you down the rabbit hole. You get to choose how you react to all of it. Breathing techniques, meditation, and/or prayer are a great start toward finding your center, your true self.
Make self exams and regular check ups a priority – They can save your life. I know today’s focus is on breast cancer prevention, but no one knows your body better than you. When something looks or feels different get a professional to look at it.
If you’ve never conducted a breast self exam, here’s a great guide from Ella Health.
They’re a new health facility here in San Antonio, where you can not only get 3-D Mammography, but they also offer massage therapy and therapeutic Pilates, making it a one stop shop toward better health. Trully a progressive, holistic approach that even includes a monthly Evening at Ella, where they offer great informational sessions, community and some fab door prizes! So if you’re in San Antonio you should definitely stop by. If you’re not in the area then you should see if they have an Ella Health in your city.
We really are what we eat, drink, breathe, and think. It’s because of this that we need to be extra careful of what we allow into our bodies, our minds and into our lives. Remember we all have the power to make a choice for the better.
What things have your incorporated into your life for better health?
Thanks Ella Health for a fun Evening at Ella and for my massage. Don’t worry though, all opinions about their fabulousness are my own.
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I just finished reading “the grain brain” by David Perlmutter. Its pretty interesting. He discusses the damage sugar and grains do to our bodies, specifically the brain. Leading to things such as ADHD, parkinsons, even Alzheimer’s. Cutting grains completely out of my diet seems really unlikely but I am cutting way back on both. I found a grain free bread recipe and have been making it for almost a month now. This one step, I’m hoping, will make a slight difference since I eat bread on a daily basis. I highly recommend this book if you are thinking about eliminating or reducing these two staples from your diet. He even has an accompanying cook book.
Great post Rosie!
Thanks Liz, I’m there with you. I can’t find a way to eliminate everything bad from my diet, but reducing the amounts and making better choices definitely helps. I am going to check out that book for sure, thanks for suggesting it!
Excellent post, Rocio. Very well done and helpful!
Thanks so much Pam!
These are all great tips! Another thing that most women don’t realize is how much fragrance and chemicals in our personal products effect our hormones and raise our risk of breast cancer!
Yes, Krista thanks for pointing that out. Those are part of the other chemicals/toxins that can be found hidden in every day things you would never guess – it’s pretty crazy when you start reading labels.
I love this!! I agree that we need to actually start taking better care of ourselves. I know many of my family members just don’t “believe” in seeing the doctor or staying healthy because they don’t want to admit that something can be wrong. It’s sad but true. We need to start educating ourselves and our loved ones so that we can all live longer and healthier lives. Thanks for all the tips and for sharing the post! I will definitely be sharing this!
Yay thanks Anali and I totally understand what you’re saying. It’s a struggle sometimes to get people to understand better health is one of the only things we can control for ourselves. Hope these tips help!