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asked me what kinds of food I eat so I gave them recipes and suggestions on what immuneboosting
foods to eat during treatment. I baked vegan cookies for the nurses and even some
patients sampled the cookies.
I became acquainted with vegan bloggers and cookbook authors who educated me on “the dirty
dozen” (a list of the most pesticide-laden fruits and vegetables) and artificial food additives.
The conventionally-grown produce I ate had the highest concentration of pesticides. FD&C
Yellow #5, an artificial food coloring present in a lot of the candy and chips I frequently snacked
on, is directly linked to the development of thyroid cancer. I immediately switched to organic
produce and food with all-natural ingredients. Friends on the raw vegan lifestyle advised me to
consume more alkaline foods and fewer acidic foods to maintain pH balance. Vegetables and
non-sweet citrus are alkaline, while animal protein, sugars, starches, and caffeine are acidic. I
was eating mostly acidic foods.
I began cooking more meals. I bought most of my produce from certified organic farmers. I
also invested in a Vita-Mix blender which macerates fruit and plant fibers so I was able to
enjoy antioxidant-packed juices and velvety smoothies at home. I tried to limit my soy intake
to a couple of times per week, but it was a challenge. I attempted to cook organic tempeh
(fermented soy is a far healthier soy product) but it wasn’t ever tender enough. I hosted
vegan potlucks every few months which introduced me to innovative recipes that my friends
developed: cardamom-scented chili, wild rice and mango salad, avocado parfaits, lasagna with
cashew ricotta, sweet potato kale salad, chocolate stout cupcakes, and many more.
Living with cancer has influenced my dietary changes. Although I’m mostly vegan, I decided
not to go fully vegan because of my reliance on a myriad processed soy products. I started
buying organic free-range eggs, grass-fed butter, cheese, and kefir, which I enjoy in moderation.
In recent months, I became interested in vegan gluten- and soy-free cooking. I had a lot of
misconceptions about vegetarian and vegan food being 100% healthy. There are such things
as vegetarian and vegan junk food. I’m still learning about what foods I should eat more of and
what to limit my consumption.
useful WeBsItes
http://thyca.org/
http://crazysexylife.com/
http://urbanvegan.net/
dolly was born in Los Angeles and currently lives near Disneyland with her husband and two kittens.
She enjoys baking vegan cookies and volunteering at a no-kill feline shelter.
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