BBQ Ribs!

Howdy Friends,

Rodeo is in full swing in Houston.   Everyone is wearing boots and the air smells of BBQ.  Given all the reading I have done in the past year on meat and where meat comes from, I thought it would be easy as pie to stay away from BBQ this year.  But, I gave in.  I couldn’t help it.  Some friends and I attend the BBQ cook off every year and this year was no exception.  The ribs I had where so darn good.  The meat fell off the bone, was so tender and the flavoring was perfect.  Oh, it was so good! 

Okay, enough of rodeo ribs.  There is a new movie coming out this year called To Your Health by Juliana Hever.  Take a look at the trailer, it looks great!  She interviews some top experts in the field.

http://toyourhealthnutrition.blogspot.com/2011/02/to-your-health-trailer.html

In other news, an interesting study came through my inbox today.  In a paper published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, it was reported that children with low levels of vitamin D are associated with an increase in the development of allergies.  The study looked at more than 3,000 children.  Low vitamin D levels were associated with sensitivity to 11 of 17 allergens tested, including both environmental and food allergens.  The latest dietary recommendation suggests that children take in 600 IU of vitamin D daily to keep from becoming vitamin-D deficient.

Hmmm, interesting and worth asking the pediatrician. 

Be Well,

Breast Health in Adolescents

Hi Everyone,
This is an interesting article on adolescent lifestyle and life-long breast health.  It's a good reminder that healthly living is forever and starts today!
  http://www.aicr.org/site/News2?page=NewsArticle&id=20341&news_iv_ctrl=2302

Be well,

Organic Egg Scorecard

Check out this organic egg scorecard from The Cornucopia Institute.  Good stuff for those of you who purchase organic.  I was alarmed at the low ratings from several of the brands I frequently purchase.  Be sure to click on the scorecard criteria as well.
http://www.cornucopia.org/organic-egg-scorecard/

Be well,

Evolve

Hello Everyone and Happy Valentine’s Day!

I’ve added a word to my list of buzz words for this year, Evolve.  It perfectly describes the journey that I am on in becoming the woman God has planned for me.  I have evolved into various roles in the past- wife, social worker, mother, etc.  And, in a way those roles helped prepare me for the most recent role of breast cancer patient.  This evolution of living as a breast cancer patient and survivor has been both welcomed and unwelcomed. 

During this evolution, I have felt a depth of emotional fear and pain that I never knew existed.  Unfortunately, I still get glimpses of this pain.  I have been following a friend of a friend’s journey with breast cancer.  I always feel connected to other mom’s with small children who are fighting the war with this conniving disease.  It’s a bond that I feel, a language that we speak, truly being able to say “I understand.”  Sadly this mom died about 3 weeks ago leaving behind her husband and 3 young children.  I have really struggled with survivor’s guilt.  Why her and not me?  How are her children feeling today on Valentine’s Day?  Who is comforting them?  How will their Daddy be strong when he has just lost his true love?  This dialogue that I have been having today pushes me towards my new role in a feisty way, with determination and purpose. 

My chiropractor told me the other day that perhaps God is using me as an ambassador for good health.  Hmmm, I thought.  Maybe he is using me as an ambassador for living?  I am trying to live better in all areas, not just nutrition.  It is an evolution of balance.  I do mess up…. a lot.  Tonight the family and I had sopapillas for dessert and I yell at my children too much which isn’t good for anyone’s health.  I stress about schedules and activities, again not good.  Did I tell you how good those sopapillas were! 

Just last week I had lunch with a woman who used to run a boutique in the medical center that sold breast forms.  The boutique was 2 days from closing when two of my college roommates and I visited it for my first breast prosthesis fitting in 2008.  It was an emotional time for me and this sweet woman and all the pretty things in her store were just what I needed.  There are plenty of chapters that I can write about how I have evolved from that afternoon at the boutique until now.  It is an incredible story- I am getting older, my kids are all in school, Isabella turned 9 three weeks ago, the twins turn 6 this week, my cars are getting older and my marriage is getting older ( in a good way!).  This year I will turn 39!  I am evolving.    

I can’t sign off of my entry without mentioning chocolate- it was all around the western world today!  If you didn’t know, chocolate has a significant dose of polyphenols.  Polyphenols are a group of chemicals found in many fruits, vegetables, and other plants, such as berries, walnuts, olives, tea leaves and grapes. They are classified as antioxidants, meaning that they remove free radicals from the body. Free radicals are chemicals that have the potential to cause damage to cells and tissues in the body. Polyphenols have been found to possess a variety of potential health benefits, including cancer prevention and reducing the risk of getting heart disease. Some studies have also found that polyphenols lower LDL cholesterol, or “bad” cholesterol, in the body (from about.com).  But…..  it needs to be dark chocolate with 70 percent or more of cocoa mass to be beneficial.  None of this Kit Kat, Snickers or Kisses business.  There is a brand of chocolates called Endangered Species that you can find at Kroger, Whole Foods and probably HEB.  They sell packs of dark chocolate squares that are really good.  At night when you get a sweet tooth, just have yourself a dark chocolate square with a cup of green tea and enjoy!

This photo is of Katie, Shannon and myself at the breast boutique- a day after my first dose of chemo.  The start of this new evolution.

Love,

Tune in Today

Hi Everyone,
Today on Oprah, Lisa Ling will report on where our meat comes from.  Michael Pollan will also be a guest, so should be great!  He has written some informative and practical books, including my favorite Food Rules.  And, apparently Oprah's staff of 378 ate vegan for one week and will report on their experience.
Be well, 

Ode to Dr. Rivera

My dear oncologist, Dr. Edgardo Rivera is leaving the Methodist hospital for MD Anderson in Phoenix, Arizona.  Sniff, sniff, sniff- I am sad to say the least.

If you don’t know me very well, I confess that I am a high maintenance patient.  I need comfort, I need patience, I need hope and love.  I need to be able to come to an appointment with a list of questions and concerns.  I need a team of active listeners, I need to be able to have a break down in the infusion room, I need to feel safe at an appointment to get angry and question recommendations, I need laughter, I need to hear that it’s okay that I need a drink of wine, I need to be asked about my husband, my children, my parents, I need to be supported in every way, I need an advocate.  Dr. Rivera, you have been all of these things to Me!  Thank you friend!  How will I ever replace you?

I looked for a poem to describe my innermost feelings of gratitude for Dr. Rivera, but instead I found this lovely, humorous poem on mammograms.  And since I don’t ever have to have another mammogram in my life, I thought it was only fitting to share with you.  It’s called Ode to Mammograms, author unknown.

For years and years they told me, Be careful of your breasts,
Don't ever squeeze or bruise them, And give them monthly tests.

So I heeded all their warnings, And protected them by law.
Guarded them very carefully, And always wore a bra.

After 30 years of astute care, My Doctor found a lump.
She ordered up a mammogram, To look inside that lump.

"Stand up very close" she said. As she got my boob in line,
"And tell me when it hurts," she said. "Ah yes! There, that's fine."

She stepped upon a peddle. I could not believe my eyes!
A plastic plate pressed down and down, My boob was in a vice!

My skin was stretched and stretched, From way up under my chin.
My poor boob was being squashed, To swedish pancake thin.

Excruciating pain I felt, Within its vice-like grip.
A prisoner in this vicious thing, My poor defenseless tit!

"Take a deep breath", she said to me, Who does she think she's kidding?
My chest is smashed in her machine, And woozy I am getting.

"There, that was good", I heard her say as the room was slowly swaying.
"Now let's have a go at the other one".  Lord have mercy, I was praying.

It squeezed me from up and down, It squeezed me from both sides,
I'll wonder if she's never had this done, Not to her tender little hide!

If I had no problem when I came in, I surely have one now.
If there had been a cyst in there, It would have popped, Ker-pow!

This machine was designed by man, Of this I have no doubt,
I'd like to stick his balls in there.  And see how they come out!

So Ladies, get out and get your mammograms- forget the over 50 recommendation!  I had my baseline at age 35 and think you should too!  And as for my oncologist, pray for me.  That God taps me on the shoulder and tells me who to consult with next.

Here are a few photos of me and Dr. Rivera.  The first was my last day of chemotherapy and the second was from the 2010 Waltz Warrior fundraiser. 

Oh, be sure and look at my book list and eating out information that was just added to my sidebars.  More to come!

Be Well Everyone,

Anti-Inflammation in 2011

Happy New Year Everyone!

I hope all is well with you as we start 2011.  I have many plans for Anticancer Amy, the first to complete the sidebars on my face page.  Look for anticancer resources soon!

I just finished reading the winter issue of CURE magazine.  If you aren’t familiar with this magazine, it’s a great resource full of education and updates on all diagnoses of cancer.  It is free for cancer patients, survivors and caregivers (www.curetoday.com).  This edition includes information pertaining to the late effects of radiation to the neck, new screening recommendations for lung cancer, bone loss and cancer recurrence and new options for prostate cancer.  I was just about to file the magazine away when I turned to the back of the magazine where guest writers can submit their story.  A woman, a daughter wrote about her love for her dad who has survived cancer twice and what she has realized through her journey.  She quotes “Cancer rides in the passenger seat of the car when you drive alone.  It drags you into sadness.  It’s there in your favorite places, making your garden not as pleasant and a sunset sad instead of glorious.  Cancer doesn’t care that you want more time with your child.  It doesn’t care that lovers who met late in life need more time to make up for lost years.  It doesn’t even care that two years is not long enough for a child to live.  Cancer doesn’t care that it makes you miss a semester of school, or causes you to lose your job or makes you too sick to watch your sister get married.  It doesn’t even care if it takes a young bride or a new father.  Cancer is a living, thriving serial killer.”  This just breaks my heart while at the same time gives me a burst of energy to go, fight, win!  People, we have a war on our hands!

I have been following a blog of a young gal who was diagnosed with ovarian cancer after the birth of her third child.  She writes in her blog that she always thought her chances of having cancer at some point in her life were very high.  She says “Look around-- everyone knows someone who has or had cancer.  I’m just a realist, and if this is my battle, it seems to be manageable”.  Wow, do most people think they are going to get cancer?  I didn’t, especially being young with no family history.  I agree that cancer is all around, particularly with young adults.  I know I have said this before.  I know many more folks my age (in their 30’s) getting cancer than my mom does in her 60’s.  Maybe it’s just me but cancer seems to be increasing with my generation and it is SCARY! 

Okay, enough doom and gloom…

Like most people, I have spent much brain power on identifying my resolutions for 2011.  My list keeps growing- I should stop now before I have to add ‘no more lists’ to my list.  I’ll share one with you that has been pretty fun.  By now you all know me well enough to expect more fruits, veggies, legumes and grains in the Waltz home.  This year I plan to do this by cooking vegetarian dinners for my family Monday through Thursday.  Don’t get me wrong, I’m not trying to convert my family to vegetarians.  I simply want to put some focus on plant based meals.  Why is this so important to me?  Eating well is a factor to having a well body.  Eating well fights chronic inflammation which leads to chronic diseases including cancer, heart disease, autoimmune diseases, osteoporosis and more.  Jessica Black writes in her book The Anti-Inflammation Diet and Recipe Book that inflammation is the first response by the immune system to infection or irritation.  Inflammation presents with redness, heat, swelling, pain and dysfunction of the organs involved.  Acute inflammation is needed to help heal trauma (like a broken bone).  This is important because it keeps the body from doing further damage to the injury.  On the other hand, chronic inflammation is ongoing, usually invisible to the eye and usually occurs as a response to prolonged acute inflammation or repetitive injuries.  This chronic inflammation changes the body, takes years to silently develop.  This is disease.  There is a lot of information out there on inflammation.  Here is a list of some things that contribute to chronic inflammation:

Carcinogens (like chemicals and smoking)

A body burdened with toxins (like plastics and pesticides)

Deficiency in minerals and antioxidants

STRESS

A weak immune system

High acidity or imbalanced pH (caused by dehydration or not enough fruits and vegetables)

A deficiency of omega-3 fatty acids

An excess of sugar, sweets and refined carbohydrates

A diet high in animal protein (from industrialized raised animals)

My life has been filled with many of the contributing factors above.  I know I will never know at what point angiogenesis took over my body, but I sure have some solid evidence of an un-well body through the years (I’ll spare you with my medical history).  I am hoping that our plant based dinners will target some of these factors.  What’s funny about this venture is that I haven’t told my family.  I’m going to let them figure this out on their own- that is unless Daddy (my husband) reads this post!    

The last thing I want to say about anti-inflammation is fish oil.  Everything I am reading about fish oil describes it as the numero uno anti-inflammatory supplement for everyone.  Dr. Barry Sears who wrote The Anti-Inflammation Zone says that fish oil is ultimately the healthiest fat around and the only side effect is that it might make you smarter.  He recommends daily high-dose fish oil with ultra-refined EPA/DHA concentrates.  And, make sure your product is tested for contaminates.  The International Fish Oil Standards (IFOS) is an organization that tests and posts levels of toxins in fish oil samples submitted by manufacturers. Before you buy fish oil, look at the website www.ifosprogram.com to see if the lot number on your bottle is listed.  Nordic Naturals is always on the list and can be found at HEB or Whole Foods.  The website also lists fish oil for kids.

Whew!  This has been a long post.  I leave you with Amy’s 2011 Buzz Words:

Plant-based         Anti-inflammation         Breathe            Determination

 

Be Well!