Your Best Defense is PREVENTION
As you know, October is known as Breast Cancer Awareness Month (BCAM). People walk for the cure, race for the cure, jump for the cure, shop for the cure, and hike for the cure and yet nothing changes.
Current estimates suggest that 1 in 8 women will develop breast cancer in their lifetime. With all the focus on “Breast Cancer Awareness,” we’d have to ask, is anything really changing? Has raising awareness caused a drop in breast cancer rates? Sadly, no.
Thank you. We are aware. Now what?
We believe that the conversation needs to switch to one of prevention. What are the risk factors for developing breast cancer and what modalities can you employ to reduce your risk?
Risk Factors of Breast Cancer
1. Estrogen
The biggest risk factor for breast cancer is estrogen dominance. A woman can become estrogen dominant through different mechanisms.- Absolute dominance: Too much estrogen in the body or an inability to eliminate/metabolize estrogen
- Relative dominance: Inadequate progesterone to offset (counterbalance) the existing estrogen
Answer: Yes. Absolutely.
The truth is, our environment is laden with foreign chemicals that mimic the action of estrogens, contributing to an estrogen dominant scenario. Many endocrine disruptors exist in our world and many of them lead to hormonal imbalances which can cause estrogen dominance.
2. Poor estrogen metabolism and/or poor elimination
All estrogens are metabolized through the liver. The end-products of estrogen metabolism can be protective (2-hydroxy estrogens) or detrimental (16α-hydroxy estrogens). Your ratio of healthy to unhealthy estrogens can be measured through a urine test as directed by your physician. You can modify the ratio through diet, supplementation, and optimizing Vitamin D levels.List of Endocrine Disruptors
Hormone Altering Chemicals | Sources |
Bisphenol A (BPA) | Canned foods, thermal receipts, plastics marked with PC or #7 |
Dioxin | Current food supply – meat, fish, butter, eggs, milk. |
Atrazine | Pervasive contaminant in drinking water Pthalates |
Pthalates | Plastic food containers, children's toys, plastic wrap made from PVC / #3, some cosmetics, some fragrances. |
Perchlorate (Rocket fuel) | Produce and milk, drinking water |
Mercury | Seafood, dental amalgams |
Perfluorinated Chemicals (PFCs) | Non-stick cookware, stain and water resistant coatings on carpets, clothing, furniture. |
Organophosphate Pesticides | Pesticides used on fruits and vegetables. |
Glycol Ethers | Paints, cleaning products, brake fluid, cosmetics. |
Source |
Question: How do I optimize estrogen metabolism and improve elimination? Answer: A liver cleanse can help optimize estrogen metabolism. A colon cleanse will help reduce the re-absorption of estrogens that are sitting in the colon, thereby reducing your risk Cleanse your liver. One type of liver cleanse that is beneficial for healthy estrogen metabolism are coffee enemas. Coffee enemas are an integral part of the Gerson therapy. Here’s an excerpt from the Gerson web site:
Cleanse your colon. To reduce the risk of re-absorbing estrogens that sit in the colon it is recommended that we have two to three bowel movements per day. Consuming a high fiber diet can help aid in elimination as well as undergoing regular colon hydrotherapy. Your best defense is a good offense! It is no longer adequate to simply “eat a good diet and take good supplements.” Knowing what you need to avoid and how to optimize health is important. In addition, here are more proactive habits for you to consider as part of your journey towards vibrant health as suggested by Joseph Mercola, DO.
As we all know, good health is a journey that requires attention and focus, awareness and education. Good health is no longer something we are born with. But with the right measures, good health can be a reality for many. |