The link between good nutrition and cancer prevention has been proven time and time again but many of those at great risk of developing cancer learn about this relationship after they’ve been diagnosed. I started this blog as a way to encourage dialogue and share some of these facts to raise awareness about how leading a healthy lifestyle with a well-balanced diet can have on our overall wellness. The impact of functional foods, especially whole foods with beneficial properties is evident through countless stories from cancer survivors.

It is with great pleasure that I introduce a truly inspirational woman, Patricia Dean-Escoto,  who has dedicated herself to sharing the many benefits of good nutrition in her book The Top Ten Superfoods For Preventing Breast Cancer. As a proud host for Ms. Dean-Escoto and her book on this tour, I’m truly grateful to play a role in starting a conversation about the role of functional foods and how we can implement them in our daily lives.

Since you’re here and taking the time to learn more about this important relationship between food and good health, I’d like to offer you a token of gratitude on behalf of Ms. Dean-Escoto.

If you follow the link below, you will be eligible to receive a giveaway which includes an autographed copy of The Top Ten Superfoods For Preventing Breast Cancer and a 30-minute consultation with the author, including a 3-day meal plan. Please make sure to scroll down after the post on eating to detoxify, to enter the giveaway to receive this awesome prize!

Here is a great piece by the author on how to detoxify your diet with several tips and a delicious recipe. I happen to LOVE pesto and her take on this classic sauce sounds amazing.  Paired with the incredibly nutritious cruciferous vegetables (such as my good friend, cauliflower!) in her recipe, this sounds like a winner. I can’t wait to give this a try!

I’m often asked ‘what is the best foods I can eat to help prevent cancer’?  My answer is always the same – ‘any foods that help to detoxify your body.’   So, what do I mean by that?  Our immune system is constantly working to defend against foreign substances.  Its job is to keep the unhealthy bacteria from overtaking the healthy flora in our gut.  However, over the past twenty years, increased exposure to toxins can often send this delicate balance into a tailspin, causing our immune system to go into overdrive trying to keep it all in check. Sadly, a lot of these unhealthy bacteria come from the foods we eat.  The unhealthiest being processed foods containing sugars, salts, and hydrogenated fats.

Six years ago, when I was diagnosed with Stage II breast cancer, I knew very little about detoxifying my body.  Most of what I heard involved either eliminating all foods, drinking a concoction of sugar water, or having a colonic.  While these may work for some, they are not necessarily the best way to go when battling a disease such as cancer

Cancer attacks on a cellular level, so to fight it, we must go down to that same level.  However, like any skilled ninja, you wouldn’t go into battle alone.  You would take with you the assassins and weapons needed to win the war.  The proteins, fats, and carbohydrates we consume are what our cells need to survive-and our most potent agent against this disease.  To eliminate any of these when on a cancer detox program would be to leave part of your fighting armor at home.

This is where whole food comes into play.  It’s important to note that the term ‘whole food’ does not mean organic, kosher, or gluten-free, although including these would help in the detoxification process by eliminating possible allergens and pesticides.  Rather, the term ‘whole’ foods, describes those proteins, fats, and carbohydrates that are in, as close as possible, their natural state.  They have not been processed, denatured, nor had sugars or salts added to them.

Cleansing Track

In the world of nutrition, a detoxification program is also known as a cleansing program.  It is used for breaking down waste materials in the body and lightening the load within the gut. In this plan, the main foods will come from complex carbohydrates such as fruits and vegetables. Additionally, eating a cleansing diet that is high in fiber and containing less glutinous grains will help you remove the acidity normally acclimated when we consume processed foods – an important factor when it comes to your cells.  The caloric breakdown of this track looks something like this:

60 – 80% carbohydrates 15 – 25% protein 15 – 25% fats

The following recipe is an example of one that can be used in any cancer prevention or recovery detoxification program.  It is one of my favorites because it contains a host of cancer-fighting compounds.

Penne Pasta with Roasted Vegetables and Cilantro and Basil Pesto

Makes 4 Servings

This is a delicious twist on a classic dish.  Broccoli and cauliflower are part of the cruciferous family of vegetables.  They are rich in vitamin C, a potent antioxidant and free radical scavenger.   Additionally, they contain the compound indol-3 which helps the body eliminate the form of estrogen linked to breast cancer.  As if that weren’t enough, these two vegetables aid the liver in the detoxification process by helping to dispel toxic compounds.

As for the other ingredients, garlic is antimicrobial and contains allicin, a substance that, in preliminary studies, has been shown to protect against certain forms of cancer.  Basil contains two water-soluble flavonoids that protect cell structure and cilantro helps to pull heavy metals from the body, aiding in the detoxification process.

Roasted Vegetables with Penne Pasta

• 1 bag of Quinoa Penne Pasta
• 1 zucchini (chopped)
• ½ -cup of broccoli florets (cut into small pieces)
• ½ – cup cauliflower (cut into small pieces)
• 2 Tbsp. of Extra virgin olive oil
• 3 cloves garlic, chopped
• 1 pint of cherry tomatoes
• Pinch Himalayan sea salt
• Pinch of pepper

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

Wash vegetables, dry and cut into bite-size pieces.  Toss vegetables in EVOO and sprinkle with salt and pepper.  Roast for 20 – 25 minutes, tossing vegetables every 10 minutes. Once vegetables start to brown around the edges, they are done.

Basil-Cilantro Pesto

• 1 cup of loosely packed fresh basil leaves
• 1 cup loosely packed fresh cilantro
• 2 cloves of garlic
• 2 Tbsp. of fresh lemon juice (about ½ a lemon)
• ¼ cup of pine nuts
• ¼ cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil
• ½ tea Himalayan sea salt

Place all ingredients in a food processor and process until smooth, but not liquidly.  Set aside.

Prepare penne pasta about 15 minutes prior to the vegetables being done by bringing an 8 quart pot of water to boil.  Add pasta and a handful of salt.  Cook according to package directions.  Remove from heat and drain.  Pour pasta into a large serving bowl, add vegetables, and toss with pesto.

Like what you’ve read so far? Be sure to get your own copy of Patricia Dean-Escoto’s book by following these links:

• Amazon.com
• Pathways2Healing.us

Also, don’t forget to enter the giveaway!! 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

ABOUT PATRICIA DEAN-ESCOTO

Patricia Dean-Escoto is a certified nutrition consultant and breast cancer survivor.  Born in Montclair, New Jersey, she earned her master’s degree in Education from Capella University.  She has more than 20 years of experience working in both the field of education and healthcare.  In 2006, after being diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer, Patricia returned to school to study nutrition.  She is a graduate of Bauman College, where she earned her certification as a Nutrition Consultant.   Recently, she hosted a year-long radio show called Pathways to Healing on the Voice America network where she interviewed experts in the field of health and wellness.  She is a Raw Foods chef and author of ‘The Top Ten Superfoods for Preventing Breast Cancer‘.  Patricia is also a Certified Cancer Physical Trainer.  Her company, Pathways2healing, works exclusively with cancer patients in the area of nutrition and exercise.  She lectures both locally and nationally on the topic of nutrition and cancer prevention.   She and her husband currently reside in Delaware.

You can follow the author via social media by following these links:

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Pathways2healing/397280210334190?ref=tn_tnmn
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/pathways2healu

MORE ABOUT  The Top Ten Superfoods for Preventing Breast Cancer:

The war on cancer has raged on for more than forty years.  Yet the incidence of breast cancer continues to rise with an average of 180,000 new cases reported each year.  In 2011, cancer surpassed heart disease as the number one killer of Americans.  All of this leads one to the natural conclusion that we are not winning this war.  While the medical community’s focus continues to be on treatment with the latest drug, nature has provided us with a natural way to help prevent this deadly disease.  In her new book, breast cancer survivor and nutrition consultant, Patricia Dean-Escoto reveals the top ten Super Foods for preventing breast cancer.    Written in clear, easy-to-understand language, citing numerous scientific research studies, The Top Ten Super Foods for Preventing Breast Cancer explains:

• Estrogen’s role in the development of breast cancer
• Environmental contributors to breast cancer
• The role nutrition plays in the prevention of breast cancer
• How inflammation contributes to breast cancer
• The research-backed top ten foods for preventing breast cancer
• Her H.E.A.L.T.H.Y.™ eating food model for cancer prevention