My diet & detox journal

And anywhere is where we’d rather be.” (some of you might catch that lyric reference..In my need for strength and hope I turn to the music in my heart and sing along to lyrics of one of my most favorite artists.)

But then, again, it is important that my nostagia does not cause me to be lost to reality, and being in the moment and loving is the one of best places to be if want to truly live and be present for those we love.

For the hundreds of you that visit my site, I’d like to ask a favor, as there is certain strength in numbers…Please keep my mum in your thoughts. She was just diagnosed with Stage 2 Mucinous Carcinoma of the breast. We are awaiting her appt. at Stanford for an MRI to determine more details.

I celebrate that she was unsatisfied with the ’status quo’ report following her mamography earlier this year, and pushed for additional tests. She poked and prodded and did self exams and found this lump on her own. Now, following her follow up tests and a biopsy the results are alarming, but we will conquer this.

I am sure you are aware of my own belief of what causes cells to become malignant, and my own feeling on how situations such as this should be approached. I love my mother, and although she does feel strongly that Integrative Medicine will be part of her options, she is clear that she will be following the direction of her oncologist. As her daughter I will stand by her and shine the light on the benefits of nutrition and natural wellness as adjunct therapy. I pray that I will be strong and supportive and be able to be helpful.

My summer plans have changed drastically, and I will be flying immediately to California to be with her and my sister in Santa Cruz. I will be there this week, and will likely travel again several times in the months to come.

I will keep everyone informed as to what is happening, and how the family is holding up. It is in times like this that we must all take good care of our own health so that we can be strong.

I did need to say that I am reworking my schedule for July, August and September, and I apologize this means my ebook launch will delayed till later in the year and my clients may have less of my time over the weeks to come.

Thank you for those who have already responded with caring emails and calls. I believe we have the tools to transcend disease, and I appreciate everyone who has sent thier love and hugs along. I may open up my comments to the public so we can share this in community.

In health and happiness,
Cassy

I just broke a 4 day juice fast. I had been fighting a virus, and my body was telling me to stop eating. So from wednesday afternoon till today, I took in nothing other than fruit and vegetable juices. (I’ve posted my journal in the Cleansing and Detox Q&A, but you also get to it by clicking on the “lemon slice button” on the left hand sidebar of this page. )

There is nothing like a short fast to remind your body’s senses of the importance of healthy healing foods. I decided to break the fast according to suggestions by Paul Bragg, in his book The Miracle of Fasting. What does that mean? Well, he encourages a fast to be ended with a nice fresh bowl of cabbage salad. I giggle of course, because any one who knows me knows I love a good cabbage salad! So a bit ago I ate about a cup and a half of slightly marinated slaw, chewed well, as I concentrated on healthy digestion. Later on I will eat a bowl of steamed kale topped with a bit of Braggs amino acids. Again, a suggestion from Bragg’s book.

But I’m actually more excited about the Mamoncillo fruit I found at the grocer this afternoon. I hadn’t been out of the house much since I started the fast, so I was walking a bit like a zombie in the store. Then I passed the tropical fruit shelf and THERE THEY WERE! I have not had these since I was in Venezuela. On the island I also used to eat a similar fruit, called “Cotoperiz”. Both are very similar to a Lichee, in that they take work to eat! (Picture curtesy of Wikipedia) Read more »

What I am about to share is my history~
Perhaps it may surprise you, but I believe that we are all wounded healers…

As readers of my blog and friends and family know, for many years (in particular my late teens and early twenties) I was plagued with semi-hypochondria and misunderstanding of the normal functions of my own body. I’m clear that much of this may have been rooted in fear of the unknown, as I was more of a fan of social science, rather than biology and anatomy. It is also likely due to the fact that many of my grandparents suffered from chronic disease and were ill or passed away during those formative years. There was my father’s experience as described below, and add to that my sister’s ulcerative colitis, and my own process of dealing with what was eventually diagnosed as PolyCystic Ovarian Syndrome and irritable bowel syndrome. Putting it all together, you can imagine how difficult it was for me to feel comfortable with general wellness.

I think that the clearest connection I can make to when things started going ’strange’ in my mind was back in 1989, the winter when my father was diagnosed with cancer. He fought it, and won, and over the past 18 years since my father first won his battle with malignant cells in his colon, I’ve spent countless hours counting the blessings of having healthy family members, but fearing my own mortality.

In truth, there is nothing like the reality of life to remind you how precious each day really is. Back in the late 1980s, when I first learned of Dad’s issue, I was unprepared with how to deal with it, or the considerations it would bring up in terms of my own health and wellbeing. Not only did I become significantly obsessed with the prevention of illness, I managed to do the same for every member of my family, at times whether they wished me to do so, or not! However, my father’s subsequent conquering of his colon ills, and his journey to wellness was something that inspired me on my own journey to use natural health care as a means of finding a holistic and healthful way to find peace. Read more »