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Welcome to the DebiLyn Smith blog site. If you like what you read here, check out her website at www.debilynsmith.com

Wednesday, March 21, 2012

"L" is for Legumes

Healthy eating is an important piece of the breast cancer prevention puzzle. Through good nutrition you can keep your weight down, utilize cancer fighting nutrients and turbo-charge your immune system.
Having a plant-based rather than meat-based diet is a first step in giving your body a leg-up to fight cancers. This includes a stable diet of whole grains, fruits and vegetables and legumes.
 Legumes include beans, lentils, and peas. Just like whole grains, legumes are a great source of fiber and phytochemicals. Another benefit is that they contain higher levels of protein than other plant foods so you can substitute them for the meat in your diet once in awhile. Give your body a break and it will thank you in ways you may not see, but will definitely feel.

The seriously misunderstood bean has been a staple of the human diet for many thousands 
of years, and a major source of high quality, inexpensive protein, combined with other foods. 
There are hundreds of varieties of beans and lentils available, with a corresponding range of 
tastes and nutritional qualities. Beans are adaptable to an immense number of delicious 
vegetarian recipes. 

BUT I GET BAD GAS FROM EATING BEANS...
We can minimize the production of gas from eating beans by breaking down the fiber in them 
before eating. Mashing or grinding will work, as in Refried Beans, or Hummus.  We can also 
minimize gas from beans by soaking and cooking them well, eating them in combination with 
other foods, not eating excessive amounts, and chewing them well.

In Bulgaria they soak their beans overnight and discard the water in the morning. Bring the beans to boil in fresh water for ten minutes, then drain and repeat with fresh water. Repeat once more and cook until done.

Also, always rinse canned beans well before adding to any recipe.
Both tips will cut down the gas immensely.


But really...in comparison to cancer, what's a little butt backfire going to hurt?

"L" is for Lumps



  A WARNING TO ANYONE WITH BOOBS :


Regarding Breast lumps: Early evaluation is ESSENTIAL. It Can Save Your Life or at the very least, your Breast.

The earlier a cancerous lump is dealt with the greater a woman’s chance of surviving the ordeal becomes. The key is to catch it before it spreads or metastasizes to other parts of your body.
The first noticeable symptom of breast cancer is typically a lump that feels different from the rest of the breast tissue. More than 80% of breast cancer cases are discovered when the woman feels a lump. Lumps found in lymph nodes located in the armpits can also indicate breast cancer — but take comfort in the odds. As many as 4 out of 5 breast lumps that are biopsied are noncancerous (benign). Still, it's important to have any breast lump evaluated by a doctor.
The hard part is breast tissue is naturally lumpy. You need to familiarize yourself with your normal breast tissue NOW to help determine if there's a change in your breasts. Consult your doctor if:
·         You find a breast lump that's new or unusual and feels different from breast tissue in either breast
·         A new breast lump doesn't go away after your next period
·         A breast lump seems to have changed — it gets bigger, for instance
·         You have bloody discharge from your nipple
·         You notice skin changes on your breast, such as redness, crusting, dimpling or puckering
·         Your nipple suddenly turns inward (inversion)

Those are the facts. Now here's my story:
For two years we monitored a hard pea shape in my left breast found during self-examination.After a series of mammograms, ultra sounds and ultimately an MRI,  it turned out to be benign, but due to all the tests, cancer was found in my right breast. And in a lymph node. The good news is it was caught early and both growths were very small. I still have enough breast on the surgery side to fill a bra cup.
No-one knows your body better than you do. Take some time for yourself and get better acquainted with your breasts.


Reputable sites to learn more about self-examination or about breasts in general:


Support Sites
  • Circus of Cancer - A site to help you when your friend has Breast Cancer www.circusofcancer.org