BACK IN THE SADDLE, as it were

My desk is a mess of paperwork and my mind a jack-in-a-box. Popping up and scaring me just when I thought I had everything under control. So much has been going on of late that the info I had ready for my next post, got lost in the pile. Hence the long delay. Luckily I have now found it.
Cancer has reached almost epidemic proportions, but the emphasis is always on finding a cure and rarely, if at all, on prevention. Tragically it has become an industry with millions of people employed in the research, treatment, care and after-care of this horrendous disease. If we were all able to avoid it they would no longer be needed, but the pharmaceutical giants would be losing out BIG! Health is not their business.
But all is not lost. For those of us who see it as a very real threat, we can adapt our lifestyles in the best effort to keep it at bay.
The biggest baddies are diet and, of course, pollution in our air and water. Chemicals are up there too. Chemicals in cleaning materials, cosmetics, air fresheners, garden products etc. I have posted before on alternatives but, if in any doubt, look at the label. Roundup - check that horror out on the net!
As for diet - here it's easy to get up noses! Our bible is The China Study by T. Colin Campbell (The study can be considered the Grand Prix of Epidemiology - The New York Times) but we know that the advice therein is a bit too drastic for most people. However, here are a few simpler recommendations to help protect the colon which is particularly vulnerable to cancer:
• eat more veg. - a salad a day, a soup a day and lots with the evening meal - raw whenever poss.
• avoid charcuterie (the nitrates they contain are known carcinogens)
• choose chicken or turkey over other meats, better still brazils or walnuts for selenium
• eat more magnesium - in many nuts, seeds, sprouts and dark leafy veg.
• eat more fibre - beans and whole grains are best for this along, of course, with veg.
• eat curries containing turmeric or sprinkle it on veg, add to soups and stews.
A final word, organic eating isn't as expensive as it may seem and is surely worth the extra. Think of the price you might pay for eating foods contaminated with chemicals.
None of this is new, but a reminder every now and then is a good thing. Happy, healthy eating!