Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Another newsletter went out this week!  LOVE sharing all of this healthy info with you and I'd love it if you shared with your friends.  This is a very important topic!
Lastly, there are several "PINK" varieties on Sale at Mary's Heirloom Seeds that will expire 10/15/13...Tomorrow (see below).

	Mary's Heirloom Seeds Breast Cancer Awareness Newsletter October 2013
	Eat To Beat Cancer Originally posted at Back to the Basics As you may know, October is Breast Cancer awareness month.  What you may not know is there are many foods that fight cancer. Vegetables are a great start to fight cancer-causing cells.   From Beating Cancer with Nutrition: Beets,  Broccoli,  Tomatoes,   Carrots Garlic,    Red Onions,   Leeks,    Beans "A recent study from the National Cancer Institute found that individuals who ate the most allium vegetables (red onions, scallions, garlic, chives and leeks) had a nearly 50 percent lower cancer risk than those who ate the least. Some laboratory studies have shown that the natural substances in these vegetables have anti-tumor effects. Other studies link the vegetables with a lower risk of cancer of the colon, stomach, prostate, esophagus, breast and endometrium (lining of the uterus)." Organic forms of selenium, a trace mineral in plants and grain-fed animal protein, may guard against breast cancer by normalizing the body's circadian rhythms (the internal clock that regulates how many estrogen receptors -- often linked to the disease -- your cells produce). Get your beneficial daily dose, 55 micrograms, with the selenium-rich foods here and double down on their other health perks. Other sources of cancer-fighting foods include: Fenugreek  and  Broccoli Sprouts  Plums and Peaches, Salmon (fish oil),  Olive Oil Portobello Mushrooms, Blueberries,  Almonds, Citrus  and  Avocados   Foods to Avoid  Click the link for a complete list. Diet is thought to be partly responsible for about 30% to 40% of all cancers. But diet alone is unlikely to be the "cause" or "cure" of cancer. Although more research needs to be done on diet and breast cancer, findings suggest that physical activity, a healthy diet (particularly one low in fat and high in vegetables and fiber), and a healthy weight can help reduce the risk of breast cancer or the cancer coming back. Upcoming Events:  Workshop: 10 Ways to Avoid Chemicals in the Garden Tuesday, October 15th @ 6:30pm Workshop: Grow Your Own Herbal Remedies Tuesday, October 29th @ 6:30pm "The doctor of the future will give no medicine, But will interest his  patients in the care of the human frame, in diet and in the  cause and prevention of disease." -Thomas Edison For October we have several "PINK" varieties on sale. Seed Special Varieties expire October 15th  Pink Oxheart Tomato  French Breakfast Radish  Giant Zinnia of California Butterfly Garden Wildflowers Orders $35 or more include Priority Mail Upgrade.  Orders place Monday-Friday ship within 24 hours, except for holidays. Minimum order $5.  Shipping is FREE.

Eat to Beat Cancer (part 3) My Journey post #2

Welcome to Part 3 of Eat to Beat Cancer!  Have you had your mammories checked?  When was your last self-exam? Save the Tatas!

Foods to Eat for Breast Health

Fenugreek!  You can Sprout it, use it ground as a spice or take ii as a supplement.  From Livestrong: "Fenugreek was used to boost bust size and to stimulate breast milk production long before silicone breast implants and breast pumps ever existed. Used for centuries in Greek, Arabian and Indian medicine, fenugreek still enjoys a breast-friendly reputation."

Fenugreek seeds!

Have you checked out Eatingwell.com?  Tons of great information!
From Brierley Wright  over at eatingwell.com: 9 Foods for Better Breast Health
-Plums and Peaches
-Walnuts
-Broccoli
-Salmon (fish oil)
-Olive Oil
-Parsley
-Coffee
-Beans
Click the link to read the entire article and the research behind each food!

From BreastCancer.org
"I believe wholeheartedly in my diet as a means of helping my body minimize the risk of cancer recurrence. I now look at everything I eat in a very mindful way, asking myself, 'How does this food nourish me? How does it promote my recovery?' By asking myself these questions, I am acknowledging that food nourishes both the body and the soul"

Diana Dyer, M.S., R.D.

Diet is thought to be partly responsible for about 30% to 40% of all cancers. But diet alone is unlikely to be the "cause" or "cure" of cancer. Although more research needs to be done on diet and breast cancer, findings suggest that physical activity, a healthy diet (particularly one low in fat and high in vegetables and fiber), and a healthy weight can help reduce the risk of breast cancer or the cancer coming back.

Broccoli and Broccoli Sprouts!  From Easy Health Options,

So it’s no surprise that researchers studying women who have been diagnosed with breast cancer find that those who eat the most cruciferous vegetables — items like cabbage, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts and broccoli — have the best survival rate.

“Breast cancer survivors can follow the general nutritional guidelines of eating vegetables daily and may consider increasing intake of cruciferous vegetables, such as greens, cabbage, cauliflower and broccoli, as part of a healthy diet,” says researcher Sarah J. Nechuta, M.P.H., Ph.D., of Vanderbilt University.

As I said in Journey Post #1, I am sprouting broccoli!  If you would like to sprout along with me, check out Mary's SPROUTS page.  When you place your order just leave a comment that you found me from Back to the Basics and I'll include a free ounce of seeds.  If you order $35 or more of seeds or kits I'll include an extra 2 ounces and an extra Screen for FREE!  Shipping is always free!

Broccoli Sprouts from raw epicurean

Read Homegrown Sprouts for more info!  Happy Sprouting!

Eat to Beat Cancer (part 2)

I planned to get started on this post several days ago but I was sidetracked by the recent Meningitis Outbreak due to contaminated steroid injections.  So, on to Breast Cancer Awareness!
(part 1 here)

I like food!  I also like my body and fitting into my jeans. We make choices every day the will potentially effect us for the rest of our lives.

Did you know that by avoiding certain foods you may be able to reduce your risk for cancer? Do you know that even men are at risk for breast cancer?

According to Breastcancer.org, (click the link for all of the stats)

• bout 1 in 8 U.S. women (just under 12%) will develop invasive breast cancer over the course of her lifetime.
• In 2011, an estimated 230,480 new cases of invasive breast cancer were expected to be diagnosed in women in the U.S., along with 57,650 new cases of non-invasive (in situ) breast cancer.
• About 2,140 new cases of invasive breast cancer were expected to be diagnosed in men in 2011. A man’s lifetime risk of breast cancer is about 1 in 1,000.
• For women in the U.S., breast cancer death rates are higher than those for any other cancer, besides lung cancer.
• Besides skin cancer, breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among American women. Just under 30% of cancers in women are breast cancers.
• In 2011, there were more than 2.6 million breast cancer survivors in the US.
• A woman’s risk of breast cancer approximately doubles if she has a first-degree relative (mother, sister, daughter) who has been diagnosed with breast cancer. About 15% of women who get breast cancer have a family member diagnosed with it.
• About 5-10% of breast cancers can be linked to gene mutations (abnormal changes) inherited from one’s mother or father. Mutations of the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes are the most common. Women with these mutations have up to an 80% risk of developing breast cancer during their lifetime, and they are more likely to be diagnosed at a younger age (before menopause). An increased ovarian cancer risk is also associated with these genetic mutations.
• In men, about 1 in 10 breast cancers are believed to be due to BRCA2 mutations, and even fewer cases to BRCA1 mutations.
• About 85% of breast cancers occur in women who have no family history of breast cancer. These occur due to genetic mutations that happen as a result of the aging process and life in general, rather than inherited mutations.

Breast Anatomy

Care2 (while I never don't always agree with their politics) has a great article about foods to avoid to reduce your risk.
1. All charred food, which create heterocyclic aromatic amines, known carcinogens. Even dark toast is suspect.
2. Well-done red meat. Medium or rare is better, little or no red meat is best.
3. Sugar, both white and brown–which is simply white sugar with molasses added. (See Care2′s Directory of Natural Sweeteners for great, healthy alternatives.)
4. Heavily salted, smoked and pickled foods, which lead to higher rates of stomach cancer.
5. Sodas/soft drinks, which pose health risks, both for what they contain–sugar and various additives–and for what they replace in the diet–beverages and foods that provide vitamins, minerals and other nutrients.
6. French fries, chips and snack foods that contain trans fats.
7. Food and drink additives such as aspartame.
8. Excess alcohol.
9. Baked goods, for the acrylamide.
10. Farmed fish, which contains higher levels of toxins such as PCBs.

I cut out most of these items when I decided to live healthier and lose weight.  

-We don't grill anything because it creates carcinogens (like smoking a cigarette).  
-We recently switched to Agave or honey instead of sugar.
-Soda?  I had a diet coke habit and for the hubby it was Monster.  Not only is it expensive but it ruins your teeth, stomach, liver and health.  Save your money and drink water!
-Trans fats = Yuck!
-Asparatame = POOP!  Literally!  There is evidence that not only does Asparatame make you FAT by making you crave more sugar but also that it is from GMO E.Coli Excrement.  Yep, POOP!
-Alcohol, sorry folks but I'm not giving up my glass of wine here and there.  Moderation is key!
-Baked Goods?  OUCH!  If you make your goods from scratch they should not have the same chemicals as store-bought.  Remember my post 6 Ingredients you May Not want in Your Food! 

I hope you have enjoyed this informative post.  I learn something new every day!  Stay tuned for Food for Breast Health!

***Enter Mary's Salsa Garden Giveaway!***

Eat to Beat Cancer! (part 1)

As you may know, October is Breast Cancer awareness month.  What you may not know is there are many foods that fight cancer.

Vegetables are a great start to fight cancer-causing cells. 

From Beating Cancer with Nutrition:

Atomic Red Carrots

-Beetroot
-Broccoli
-Tomatoes
-Carrots
-Garlic
-Red Onions

Red Burgundy Onions

 "A recent study from the National Cancer Institute found that individuals who ate the most allium vegetables (red onions, scallions, garlic, chives and leeks) had a nearly 50 percent lower cancer risk than those who ate the least. Some laboratory studies have shown that the natural substances in these vegetables have anti-tumor effects. Other studies link the vegetables with a lower risk of cancer of the colon, stomach, prostate, esophagus, breast and endometrium (lining of the uterus)."

Organic forms of selenium, a trace mineral in plants and grain-fed animal protein, may guard against breast cancer by normalizing the body's circadian rhythms (the internal clock that regulates how many estrogen receptors -- often linked to the disease -- your cells produce). Get your beneficial daily dose, 55 micrograms, with the selenium-rich foods here and double down on their other health perks.

Other sources of cancer-fighting foods are:

Cottage Cheese
1/2 cup: 11 micrograms selenium
Also contains:
Calcium: strengthens bones

Portobello Mushroom

1 cup, grilled and sliced: 27 micrograms selenium

Also contains:
Potassium: regulates heart function

Next, I'll share foods to eliminate in order to beat cancer!

source

*Before I forget, the Mary's Salsa Pack seed Giveaway starts this week!  
October 4th at 6am through October 12th at Midnight.*
The Mary's Salsa Pack includes one seed packet of the following:
-Ace 55 Tomato
-Jalapeno Pepper
-Anaheim Pepper
-Red Burgundy Onion
-Cilantro
*All seeds are non-gmo, open-pollinated, non-hybrid, heirloom Seeds.  For more information, go to Mary's Heirloom Seeds and read about why I chose to grow only heirloom seeds.*

What's Lurking in Your Deodorant?

Did you know that Aluminum is common in deodorants and Antiperspirant?  I'm not talking about some of the more natural brands.  I won't name names but you know who you are!

From Natural News,   "The use of antiperspirant deodorant formulas has been subject to a lot of controversy due to the aluminum base and parabens (chemicals used as preservatives) - among other harsh and toxic substances such as solvents and some fragrances - that are used in many commercial products. Aluminum compounds - particularly aluminum chlorohydrate - are easily absorbed through the skin and have, in the only reported trial to date, already been linked with higher risks of Alzheimer's.
- Toxic Overload: A Doctor's Plan for Combating the Illnesses Caused by Chemicals in Our Foods, Our Homes, and Our Medicine Cabinets by Dr. Paula Baillie-Hamilton"


From Global Healing, "Recent research from a growing number of international scientists has indicated that the use of common antiperspirant may be linked to benign breast lumps, a condition which may make women more likely to develop breast cancer in the future.

A study from the Journal of Applied Toxicology conducted research on antiperspirant with high levels of aluminum. The addition of aluminum, a chemical which enters the body through the sensitive underarm tissue works to block our sweat ducts, thus reducing the amount of sweat that the body produces. But is this lack of perspiration and neutralization of body odor worth the constant daily intake of high levels of aluminum?

Similarly, a recent study from Reading University found that cancerous tumors are most likely to appear in the parts of the female breast which is closest to where antiperspirants are applied. Of the women studied, it was found that cysts in the armpit area of the breast had 25x more aluminum than the common amount found in blood.

Furthermore, aluminum acts with an estrogenic effect on the body, known to increase the incidence of breast cancer tumors when in excess. Sadly, this and other studies, show that aluminum exposure is not only related to increased chances of developing breast cancer, but also other diseases such as Alzheimer’s. Studies on the brains of individuals with Alzheimer’s disease found that their brain tissue often held high amounts of the aluminum toxins."

So what other chemicals can be found in regular deodorant or antiperspirant?

"Propylene glycol is as a humectant, which means it keeps substances from drying out, and it was originally developed as an anti-freeze. Today it's used in paint, dog food, floor wax, and you guessed it, many deodorants. Propylene glycol is neurotoxin known to cause contact dermatitis, kidney damage, and liver damage. In the Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) for propylene glycol, the National Institute for Occupational Health and Safety warns workers to avoid skin contact with the toxic chemical, and yet millions of people apply it under their arms everyday. From the MSDS: "May cause eye irritation, skin irritation. Chronic exposure can cause gastro-intestinal disturbances, nausea, headache, vomiting, and central nervous depression." from AchooAllergy.

And last but certainly not least: food coloring, natural and not-so-natural perfume additives!  Not only are many of these ingredients harmful to your health, they are also harmful to the environment.  Between the chemical process to make the ingredient, the pollutants to produce the products and then there's the plastic packaging material.  It is important to reduce our dependence on petroleum-based products and yes, plastic is petroleum-based!

Not to worry...There is still hope!  You can still smell good and be green!  Stay tuned for DIY deodorant recipes and store-bought natural brand reviews.

More Soap for October!

I didn't forget to post pictures of the Organic Star Anise soap but I've had my hands full lately.  Between the Breast Cancer Awareness campaign at the office and the aphids in the garden I've been a very girl.

The soap turned out an amazing shade of PINK!  If you've never smelled Star Anise it is delicious.  It kinda smells like black licorice.

For information about Breast Cancer and prevention check out Susan G. Komen.

Making Soap for October!

October is Breast Cancer Awareness month! My office always puts together a handout or flier for our patients during October.  This year I'm going one step further.  I made PINK goat's milk soap ribbons for patients and friends.

Cut.

Melt.

Pour.

The first batch I made was organic Grapefruit Goat Milk.

The second batch is Organic Lavender Goat Milk.

Tomorrow I'm going to make Organic Star Anise soap which will be pink with a clear base.  Noticing a trend?  PINK!  It's been quite a while since I made soap and I almost forgot how much fun it is.  I only ever make ribbon soap for October.
It looks YUMMY!!!  

To purchase soap or for questions, please send an email to mary@marysheirloomseeds.com