- Tempeh
- Salmon
- Quinoa
- Brown Rice
- Tofu
- Beans (black, kidney, chickpea)
- Rice-based vegan protein powder
- Veggie/fruit smoothies (I started slowly with this, and within three months, I was having a smoothie every day.)
3 Life Changes A Holistic Nutritionist With Stage 4 Cancer Used to Heal Herself
I am a cancer survivor. I was shocked when, at age 33, I was diagnosed with stage 4 lymphoma, because I had always considered myself a “health nut.” Unfortunately, cancer can happen to anyone, but I fought back and after intensive treatment, I’ve reclaimed my health through nutritious eating, exercise and living mindfully day by day.
Ever since I was a young child, I struggled with a lot of health issues, including allergies, eczema, hypoglycemia and anxiety. My mom was a proponent of holistic health, and growing up, I tried a lot of natural healing remedies. Over the years, I became increasingly conscious of what I put in and on my body. I eventually became trained in cooking therapeutic foods, and board certified in natural nutrition and yoga. I dedicated myself to “whole body living.”
Despite my healthy lifestyle, I received my scary diagnosis after struggling with unexplainable symptoms for several years. I was told that my treatment would make me infertile, and leave me at risk for secondary cancers. After six months of chemotherapy and one month of radiation, I was left weak and emaciated. My muscles were completely atrophied.
I needed to heal and get my strength back. I knew that eating nutritious foods would help me get stronger and allow me to improve my overall health. So I used my training as a naturopathic chef to help my body and gut recover. I created healthy meals that satiated my appetite, focusing slightly more on protein since I lost about 40 to 50 percent of my muscle mass.
I incorporated the following foods into my diet on a frequent basis: