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For most of my life I have preferred to eat things without a face or a mother, while my husband eats brown and white foods like steak, milk, hamburgers and ice cream. Oh, and let’s not forget his coffee and chocolate. Dinner at our house usually consists of two distinct meals. While my plate is piled high with brown rice, black beans, lightly roasted vegetables and Whole Foods’ Seduction bread—my favorite—my husband’s plate consists of a blackened piece of meat, the consistency of old shoe leather, and maybe a spoonful of rice and beans. If I suggest he try some of my vegetables and salad, he looks at me like I’ve asked him to eat tree bark and rutabaga and frequently says, “What are you? A communist?” No, and I am not a vegan or a vegetarian, either. <PREVIEWEND>
While my life-long diet did not prevent me from having breast cancer, I am hoping it will be a powerful ally in my quest to reduce risk of recurrence. Research shows 30 to 50 percent of cancers are nutrition-related, either from over nutrition (excess calories, fat or protein), or under-nutrition (too few calories, vitamins and minerals). For this discussion I am only focusing on red meat, saving other byproducts of foods with a face or a mother, like milk, butter and ice cream for another day.
Studies have shown red meat is associated with an increase in overall mortality, as well as cancer and cardiovascular problems in both men and women. Red meat is high in protein, which we all need, but it is also high in saturated fat, which has been associated with breast and colorectal cancer, plus it raises cholesterol. In addition, the process of cooking meat generates cancer-causing compounds. Red meat can also contain added growth hormones, which may be linked to the rising incidence of hormone-receptor breast cancer.
A Harvard Medical School study suggested eating more than 100g, or roughly one quarter pound of red meat a day, could double the risk of a woman developing breast cancer. This risk was associated with women who had not gone through menopause. If a lifetime exposure to estrogen affect’s a woman’s risk of breast cancer, it could be that years of eating meat with growth hormones may react the same way. According to another study, published by the American Cancer Society, people who eat 3 or more ounces of red meat per day, which is equivalent to the amount of meat in a hamburger, are 30-40 percent more likely to develop cancer in the lower part of the colon. Red meat stays in your colon longer than beans, vegetables, nuts and seeds, and one of the best ways to have a healthy immune system is by keeping your bowels moving on a daily basis.
Every day we hear about another link to breast cancer. Many of these factors, like family history, are out of our control, but if there is something we can do to lower our risk, why wouldn’t we go for it? If you just finished a juicy cheeseburger, don’t worry. Instead, think about how many times a week you eat red meat and look for alternatives like chicken, fish, beans or nuts.
Intellectually I understand the whole meat-eater ancestry thing, but with my love for nuts, I sometimes wonder if I am descended from an unknown species related to birds and squirrels. By the way, American Meat Institute, don’t even think about pulling an Oprah lawsuit on me. Invite me to dinner at Ruth’s Chris for prime beef tenderloin, and I’ll have my napkin unfolded before you're even seated.
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Dianne Sonnenberg commented on 02-Jul-2010 03:44 PM Interesting post. Thanks! I've found that after I started my chemo (I'm 22 days into it, and will continue for about another 6 months), all I want to eat is food that's healthy. I'm attracted to fruits, veggies, brown rice, yogurt, lean proteins, etc. I find this fascinating, and hope it keeps up! Not that I woudn't mind a glass of wine with friends now and again, but I'm just not in the mood yet!
Brenda Coffee commented on 02-Jul-2010 05:25 PM Brenda Coffee commented on 19-Mar-2010 04:31 PM
Hi Jill, Thanks for coming over, girlfriend. I tried several times to find your blog and can't. Sure that's the right URL?
XOXOXO,
Brenda
Hi Jill, Thanks for coming over, girlfriend. I tried several times to find your blog and can't. Sure that's the right URL?
XOXOXO,
Brenda
Brenda Coffee commented on 02-Jul-2010 05:42 PM Dianne,
I was more interested in healthy foods during chemo as well. I'm wondering if it's because we can't tolerate rich, greasy, fried, heavy foods with sauce on them. That may naturally leave foods that are closer to what God made, not man: fruits, veges, etc.
As far as alcohol, chemo and anti-nausea drugs put me in enough of an altered state to the point even the thought of a glass of wine wasn't appealing. A side note: After chemo, wine lost all appeal for me. Interesting since I'd been to Napa Valley for work six times during the six months before I was diagnosed and had every fabulous wine--for free--you can imagine. I even had 2 free glasses from a $100,000 bottle of wine! Crazy, right?
Let me know how you're doing with chemo. Any further treatment scheduled?
XOXOXOXO,
Brenda
I was more interested in healthy foods during chemo as well. I'm wondering if it's because we can't tolerate rich, greasy, fried, heavy foods with sauce on them. That may naturally leave foods that are closer to what God made, not man: fruits, veges, etc.
As far as alcohol, chemo and anti-nausea drugs put me in enough of an altered state to the point even the thought of a glass of wine wasn't appealing. A side note: After chemo, wine lost all appeal for me. Interesting since I'd been to Napa Valley for work six times during the six months before I was diagnosed and had every fabulous wine--for free--you can imagine. I even had 2 free glasses from a $100,000 bottle of wine! Crazy, right?
Let me know how you're doing with chemo. Any further treatment scheduled?
XOXOXOXO,
Brenda
James commented on 18-Sep-2010 06:21 PM Communist, hippy, pinko, yankey
Celina Dewberry commented on 18-Sep-2010 06:23 PM Brenda,
Thank you for the blogs. I love your style and the information as well. I have been a chicken and nut lover for a long time! Now that doesn't apply to my choice of men - LOL However, my husband who comes from the mother of foods heartland Tennessee, seems to love all of those good but not so healthy foods your man seems to be drawn to as well. Maybe there's some misconception about what is acceptable for a man to eat - meat and potatoes versus chicken and veggies :)
Thank you for the blogs. I love your style and the information as well. I have been a chicken and nut lover for a long time! Now that doesn't apply to my choice of men - LOL However, my husband who comes from the mother of foods heartland Tennessee, seems to love all of those good but not so healthy foods your man seems to be drawn to as well. Maybe there's some misconception about what is acceptable for a man to eat - meat and potatoes versus chicken and veggies :)
Marcia Aronowitz commented on 18-Sep-2010 06:25 PM My husband had breast cancer and there was so little information for us, at the time. He tried to join a group in Naples, Florida called Busom Buddies. He was refused because he was male. The reasoning was that women had things they were not comfortable discussing in front of a male. Men need to know to self exam and need to be able to get support, just as women need this support. He would never go shirtless after his mastectomy because he was so self conscious.
Sue Pollack was a HUGE support for my husband. She is our cousin and my real life hero!
Sue Pollack was a HUGE support for my husband. She is our cousin and my real life hero!
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Thanks so much for being so open and honest about all you have gone through and God's grace being there to get you through it all. I have really enjoyed your blog-I found you off of Lynette's blog. I look forward to reading more of your posts.
Have a blessed day.
Jill Jones
http://pathwaytopurpose-jillaileenjones@blogspot.com