natural girls
Comments
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I make loose leaf tea in an old fashioned teapot- one with the built in strainer holes at the spout. Or lots come with a stainless steel basket.
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Luna5 yes I have the one with the stainless plunger. In fact I'm sitting here waiting for mine to steep so I can have a cup. I tried the tea pot that I also have to boil the water but the holes are to big for some of the tea leaves that I have and they don't filter or they get caught in the spout. Plus it's hard to get the leaves out when I'm done brewing. I had the coffee press and thought what the heck.... and it works great.
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I use my grandma's teapot. Maybe it's my imagination, but I think the tea tastes better from her pot!
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Annette,
Don't feel bad, I had wedding cake (groom's cake and white) yesterday, followed by Blue Bell ice cream that evening. I tend to fall off the sugar free wagon about 1X a week. I figure as long as it's not every day, it's okay?!? Hoping it doesn't affect my hormone levels.
Life is to be enjoyed, right? I'm attempting those vices in moderation.
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here ye here ye Marianna:)!
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here ye, too, Marianna
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Thanks for the link, MBJ. I have adrenal fatigue. I didn't undergo chemo so that's not the cause. I believe mine was due to stress and inconsistent sleep patterns (and lack thereof) I'm not sure if the adrenal fatigue came first or the bc but I am very sure they are linked.
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I also have adrenal fatigue pre-dating the BC. I will check out the site, thanks.
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I thought many of you might also be interested in voicing your opinion about the need for GMO labeling. These links are from an Organic Valley newsletter:
https://secure3.convio.net/cfs/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=262
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Thanks dlb823 for the post! I am so opposed to GMO's exisitng at all, let alone w/o labels.
I believe I've had an adrenal problem for 10 years prior to my BC. I experienced anxiety which was more more like long panic attacks. This came out of nowhere. There was no cause or stress related issue that might have triggered it. I saw a doctor who told me I had depression. She assumed this because I shed some tears. My tears weren't from depression, they were because no one was listening to me. I was desperately telling them there is something wrong with my body. It felt like I had adrenaline pumping overtime. And when that would dissipate I was exhasted as if I had run a marathon. She precribed me Paxil. I took it for 5 years. I didn't feel myself for a year after starting the medication. I weaned myself very slowly off the Paxil in 2005. I recently had bloodwork done which showed an extremley high DHEA level. I searched the internet for the cause. I found that it is a result of an adrenal problem.
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Hello sistas
I have some news i would like to share.I did 33 rads.yay finished over 2 weeks ago and went to onco yesterday.(ready to fight)In fact when I went to my internist last week and told her NO MEDS she said bring boxing gloves to see the onco.(both are female friends)
I got the shock of my life.after i read her the riot act.no bc in family,surgery,rads against all statistics,low grade,low stage,yadda yadda she said do you not want to go on the meds????I told her IM NOT GOIN ON THE MEDS.she said what do you want to do.I told her I changed my diet,take vitam,exercise,drink water,green tea and almond milk etc.she said i understand.She told me just start with the DIM for now and take 1000 vit.D and what ever im takin,go for mammo in 3 mos and see her after that.She UNDERSTANDS...and she will work with me slowly.I FEEL SOOO GOOD. Please dont be unhappy with your DRS.you are the one thats in charge not them.I made 1 big mistake at the very beg.i refuse to make anymore.
Thank you for being here.ill be checkin in...God bless all of you.We are gonna win this damn battle.yes we will.hugggggggggggs K
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Congratulations Grannyduke! Keep sharing your story. It's empowering to know you can participate in the decisions and take charge by changing your diet and lifestyle. It's all good!
Best health to you always.
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Hey Grannydukes! I am so very happy for you and moreso because you want QOL ... that is all I want as well. My ND Onc has me on DIM, Vit D3 (not to exceed 125 when tested in blood), ECGC, Vit E, Grapeseed Extract and Melatonin at night ... incase you would like more info.
Glad you didnt have to use your Boxing Gloves .. mine are getting worn out ... lol
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Jainey, what is ECGC?
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Thanks samsue and jessamine for the tea making info.
I do have another question about stainless steel. A while back on this thread, we talked about stainless steel coffee pots and some of us bought them.
Question re the stainless steel...I can't remember if I read that a magnet SHOULD or should NOT stick to stainless steel to be sure there isn't too much nickel in it. Magnets do not stick to my stainless steel coffee pot. Should I be concerned ?
Thanks to whoever knows.
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makingway: Interesting about the DHEA levels being high. I want my dr to do some blood tests and for some reason, that one and cortisol has never been done. Not sure why not. Now I am wondering about this. I went from dr. to dr. for a few years and no one could help me either.
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MBJ-
The best way to check cortisol levels in the 4 times a day saliva test. I also do DHEA as part of my complete hormonal profile - both saliva and 24 Urine test.
Beth
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Interesting trick with the magnet! I hope someone knows more, I want to know! RE: Supplements to keep estrogen down, I also take cacium d-glucarate. And would also like to know what this EDGC is....
I am currently having problems getting my estradiol levels tested because I am away from home for a few months and they have a different kind of labs out here- apparently the tests are all different and the #s don't correspond at all! I had no idea! So if people (including me) have told you things about desirable levels, maybe don't listen! But anyway I'm here till May so this is sort of stressful- we're looking into it though. I'll let you all know what happens....
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jessamine-
ECGC is what is in green tea. Green tea supplements should list not only the mg but the % of ECGC in the supplement. I use the Lightly caffeinated Green Tea extract from LIfe Extension. I am sensitive to caffeine, but tolerate this very well. You do need some caffeine to derive the benefits from green tea.
Beth
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I have bee googling and can't find the answer to this question.
How much is too much tumeric? I know symptoms would be stomach problems but I'm not having any. I don't know if there are other things too much tumeric can hurt.
I take at least two heaping tsps per day or organic tumeric dissolved in hemp and EVOO with black pepper and 1/2 tsp pink himalayan salt and sometimes some cayenne pepper...all this mixed in some organic hummus. I just eat it with a spoon since I'm avoiding breads.
Along with this I take 2 LE Super Bio Curcumin capsules and 2 Jarrow 500 caps...assuming that the isolated curcumin would probably work better with the whole tumeric.
Is this overkill? Please tell me what you think as I tend to be one of those people who thinks if a little is good, then a LOT is better....which of course backfires on me sometimes. Don't want to die of heart failure or something because I went crazy on the tumeric.
Thanks.
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Thanks Beth for explaining...I totally forgot. I ran out of my Life Extension green tea supps...have been taking NOW and Vit Shoppe brands but they dont list the % as ECGC. They say things like 75% or 60% polyphenols and 40% catechins. The Vit Shoppe brand lists 75% polyphenols 30% epigallocatechin gallate...is this ECGC? or do I need to go back to the LE brand?
I mostly use Brassica Green Tea with SGS that was developed and patented by Johns Hopkins.
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Luna5, if the stainless is non-magnetic, it definately contains nickel. If it sticks to a magnet, it may still contain some nickel or none at all.
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Hello ladies-
I'm recently diagnosed and am changing my lifestyle. I am trying to get through the 262 pages of this thread.
Sorry if these are completely elementary questions, but I figured this would be a good place to ask. I have used Burt's Bees chapstick forever; however, I am ER/PR+. It has soy in it, so I was wondering if anyone has a good recommendation for another chapstick without soy? Also, I love water and drinking a ton is not a problem for me but I like it in bottles, not drinking glasses. Are there any decent bottles/sports bottles that are not harmful out there to use and take on the go? Just to tell you how new I am at this, today was my first shopping trip ever to Trader Joe's. Bought tons of organic stuff. It's never too late to start, right? Thank you for your help and for providing me tons of information.
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Luna-
I don't know how much is too much, but wHen I had a consult with the naturopathic oncologist at Life Extension, I asked him how much curcumin I should take. He told me that two capsules a day of the SUper-Bio Curcumin would be the desired amount.
My LE MEGA Green Tea extract bottle says 98% polyphenols and 45% EGCG. I faintly recall reading somewhere that there was a suggested minimum level of EGCG - not sure what it was - but I know that the 45% would have met the criteria. Yes, EGCG is the abbrv for epigallocatechin gallate.
Beth
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Okay, so question.....I think I read that eating the real food, soy beans-edamame, is ok and beneficial even for estrogen positive cancers. But all the other soy is not good. Is that right or not?
What deodorant do you all use? I have some Crystal spray and Crystal rock style that I have been using ( the spray is unscented and I added Frankinsense oil and vanilla for fragrance plus heard that the Frankinsense is good against BC) I spray on the spray and then use the crystal rock. Pain in the butt and doesn't work fantastic...just ok. Would like to find something else. So many of the "natural" ones contain essential oils that are estrogenic and ones I should stay away from. Picked up Tom's of Maine "unscented" and got home with it....thought it smelled like Lemongrass EO and sure enough, looked up one of the names on the ingred label and it has Lemongrass in it....another estrogenic EO. Not tryin to go overboard with this stuff but trying to stay away from it where I can because it just seems we are bombarded by it on a daily basis anyway. What does everyone here use for deodorant?
And, reading on another thread, apparently there is a new study out that says certain antioxidants supplements are not good while going thru cancer therapy (Chemo, Rad AND Tamox) because they protect good cells....but may also protect the cancer cells we are trying to kill. I take Tamox (really rejected the idea at first but just not brave enough not to
) but am very 'natural" type of girl and have been eating healthy (mostly,lol) drinking green tea and green smoothies, taking supplements, no sugar, etc for years. Now it seems I can't do that? What to do?? 0 -
Eastcoastgrl: I use Tom's only when I am working and I use NOTHING on the weekends.
LOL TMI right? I have never been a heavy sweater though. We'll see about this summer.
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In response to the question on Curcumin, it has been known to cause gall bladder /stones problems if your body is inclined to produce them. I would probably go to a lesser dose if you are experiencing any stomach pains. I only take one caplet a day, and if I don't take it with a large meal, I tend to have a tummy ache.
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Okay, I confess. I stopped using deodorant/anti-persperent when I was first diagnosed and treated over ten years ago and thankfully no one has told me yet to start using it again. I've always been fortunate and even discovered the more I used it (when I used it) the more my body became to dependent on it. I have no armpit left on the ride side from the 11 lymph nodes that were removed so maybe that has something to do with the limited sweating on that side. (To the fascination of the neighborhood children I can now make "the sound" without have to place my hand under my armpit.) Don't get me wrong, I still sweat it just doesn't (I can't believe I'm writing this) s.m.e.l.l.
Used to juice a ton when I was first treated. (Didn't have chemo so I can't speak to the concentration of fruits/veggies etc.) It's an easy way to digest loads of nutrition with a punch. The carrot/apple/beet was my fav! Our youngest used to love to help me make it and he'd walk around with an orange moustache. (He's the one that would also tout my new found musical talents.)
Since I now consume a primarily plant based diet with very limited amounts of organic meat and no-dairy, the one supplement I take on a very rare occasion when I'm feeling a bit anemic (I can usually tell even before the blood test) is called Floradix with Iron+ Herbs from Germany. It's not cheap. The mid wife suggested it years ago and it has always worked like a charm.
p.s. Lasted on Tamoxifen for less than 3 months. Didn't like how it made me feel and I was coming off three major surgeries in less than 3 months and wanted to give my body time to heal. My oncologist told me the studies were based on post menopausal women and since I was pre-menopausal (38 years-old) there was no significant scientific evidence.
p.s.s. Both ovaries were removed ten years ago. The first had an 11 centimeter cyst that twisted it and killed it and that lead to the breast cancer diagnosis. The other was removed because it too was developing a huge cyst. What I know now...I would have seen if the change in my diet made a difference.
Best health to everyone on your journey.
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eastcoast- when i was going through chemo i got a supplement protocol from a place called the pine st clinic (http://pinestreetclinic.com/), who specialize in combining complementary approaches with conventional treatments- they are local to me, but would probably work with people remotely for that, as i think it's pretty standardized. it involved going off some parts of the supplement plan for the days right around chemo, and taking stuff specific to the different chemo drugs. Probably any experienced naturopath could help in a similar way.
I don't know if this is necessary for tamox the way it is for chemo- I haven't heard that. it has such a different function- it doesn't kill cancer cells, just deprives them of the estrogen they would use to grow, as I understand it. So I wouldn't think there would be a problem unless you were taking something estrogenic- and even then, I think these pharmaceuticals are a hell of a lot more powerful than a little bit of essential oil or a smidge of soy protein isolate. Even during chemo, the problem with antioxidants is not that they feed the cancer- it's that chemo is an oxidant, so they could conceivably cancel it out and make it less effective. But they never feed or protect the cancer. Eating well and doing things that are good for you is always good! I for one, think the complementary things I did during chemo are a huge reason I had such a spectacular response- and my drs agree. I think stopping other helpful things right when you need them the most to help your body deal with all the toxins is a big mistake!
Luna- carrots are a good bread substitute for hummus, or celery or whatever...
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