Healing Cancer with Diet, Determination and Exercise
In 1982, at the age of 47, Ruth Heidrich got the shock of her life. She was diagnosed with breast cancer. At the time, she considered herself healthy and fit. After all, she ran marathons and ate what was considered a healthy diet. After a modified radical mastectomy to remove the tumor, she was told by not 1 but 5 different doctors that her tumor was life threatening and there was nothing they knew to do to strengthen her immune system. As she would later discover, the cancer had spread to her bones and one lung.
Fortunately for Heidrich, she was an avid reader and researcher, and found that Dr. John McDougall was doing a study on the effects of diet on breast cancer. She paid him a visit, and was told “If you want to save your life, change your diet.” On the spot, she decided she’d rather change her diet than undergo chemotherapy and radiation, joined Dr. McDougall’s study and adopted a vegan, low-fat diet.
She states “In two hours I went directly from the Standard American Diet (SAD) to a low-fat, whole food vegan diet.”
In an interview with Vegetarians in Paradise, Heidrich said, “I’m convinced that a vegan diet saved my life. By the time the breast cancer was diagnosed, it had become advanced and spread to my bones and left lung. I’d had the surgery to remove the primary tumor, so I was depending on my immune system to handle the remaining cancer. My diet of 100% whole plant foods allowed my immune system to function more efficiently.
Fortunately for her, Heidrich didn’t believe her oncologist and all the other doctors she consulted when they told her that diet had nothing to do with cancer. Shortly after starting on the vegan diet, Heidrich began training for the Ironman Triathlon, determined to be the first cancer patient to complete it.
After 18 years as a cooked vegan, Heidrich decided to see if there were additional benefits to being a raw vegan. She’d heard lectures that cooking food denatured protein and destroyed vitamins, so she gave it a 30-day trial, but forgot and didn’t notice when the 30 days were up. She told Vegetarians in Paradise that she has never been tempted to go back to cooking.
Her current diet is all raw except for condiments such as salsa and mustard, popcorn for the “munchies,” and an occasional non raw meal as a special occasion when she’s invited over to a friend’s home or a restaurant.
After her surgery, Heidrich entered every race she could find. Her fitness improved dramatically on the new diet. She was winning gold medals. Since her cancer diagnosis, Heidrich has completed 6 iron man triathlons, 67 marathons and won close to 1,000 first place medals. Her record so far is 62 races in one year.
Here’s a typical day in the life of Ruth Heinrich: “ A typical day starts with an hour on the bike, an hour’s run, and alternating between either a mile swim or a weight training session. Then breakfast consists of a large bowl filled with greens, a carrot, celery, a banana, a mango, nutritional yeast with B-12, and a little blackstrap molasses. Midday snacks consist of carrots, apples, and other fruit in season. Supper is more greens, carrot, tomato, bell pepper, cabbage, other vegetables in season, and salsa/mustard/ground flaxseed dressing. Dessert consists of blueberries, strawberries, and walnuts for my omega 3 fatty acids.”
Had Ruth Heidrich followed conventional medical approaches to her cancer when she was diagnosed almost 30 years ago, she would most likely no longer be with us. Instead, she decided to look for alternatives, change her diet and increase her fitness level. Her outcome is that 28 years late, she’s fitter and healthier than ever, and cancer free. At 75 years old her latest endeavor is a run around the world trip. A video of her stops is at http://lanternbooks.com/blog/entry.php?id=869
Tags: Cancer, Dr. Ritamarie Loscalzo, Fitness, Gluten Free Diet, immune system, Living Foods, raw and living foods, Raw Foods, Ruth Heidrich, Success Stories, vegan
Posted in Cancer Nutrition, Raw and Living Foods, Vegan Diet, Vibrant Health
From Fat Tired and Depressed to Vibrant Holistic Health Counselor: Allison’s Story
Last month, we did a call for success stories to publish. We’re looking for real life stories about real people who recovered from real illnesses, overcame weight problems or just plain improved their lives by using whole foods and lifestyle changes. Allison’s success story should be an inspiation to all. While not dramatic like recovery from cancer or a life threatening illness, Allisons story is a real story that you can relate to on a personal level. My intention is to inspire and motivate you to reach for your potential and to take charge of your health and vitality. We’re still looking for inspiring stories to publish. See the link at the bottom of the article. –Dr. Ritamarie
Never in a million years did I think I would ever have a weight problem. I was always the short, scrawny little girl that no one wanted to pick for their team at school. When I graduated from high school many moons ago in 1974, I weighed an impressive 88 pounds. I had to get a waiver for my weight to join the Army!
My weight stayed fairly level all through my 20’s and 30’s. I bounced right back after my daughter was born in 1982. All of this changed when I had my right thyroid removed due to a cyst in 1997. My weight suddenly ballooned and I gained about 40 pounds which was a lot on my small 4’ 11 ½” frame. I was 
addicted to McDonald’s quarter pounders with cheese and sodas. I ate Payday candy bars like they were going out of style. Even though I had always eaten a lot of junk food such as butterscotch krimpets, chips and cookies everyday for lunch (something everyone teased me about) suddenly everything I ate went to my waist and I was devastated! I was fat, tired and depressed.
The day I tried to bed over and tie my shoes and couldn’t reach them was the day I finally realized that something had to change.
This started a journey of learning about nutrition, exercise and being kinder to myself. I decided my focus would be on workout Videos and DVD’s, and I’ve amassed quite a collection over the years! This helps beat the boredom, I always have something new to choose from at home. I can roll out of bed at 5am and workout before going to work.
I worked out consistently for about 5 years using a combination of weights, cardio and T-tapp and then hit a very frustrating 2 year plateau. It wasn’t until I read Dr. Joel Fuhrman’s, Eat to Live book and
started eating a more nutrient dense diet that I finally started to lose again. Now instead of eating crappy fast food I eat a variety of plant based foods that include beans, nuts, seeds, leafy greens and fruits. Do I feel deprived? Not a chance! I’m enjoying what I eat now more than I ever had in the past. The butterscotch krimpets really don’t appeal to me now.
Don’t get me wrong, I still have a sweet tooth that I battle every day. But now I have the tools to fight the cravings I get. Sometimes the cravings win and sometimes they don’t and if they don’t I know not to beat myself up. I now know what to do to get back on track and feel happy and energetic!
I’ve read a lot of books on diet, nutrition and exercise and as a Dental Hygienist I love to share what I have learned with my patients. I felt uncomfortable just sharing what I considered anecdotal information with them and wanted some kind of certification to back up my recommendations. I enrolled in the Institute for Integrative Nutrition and graduated in July 2009. I am now proud to say that not only am I a Registered Dental Hygienist, but I’m a Certified Holistic Health Counselor with the American Association of Drugless Practitioners! I’m currently enrolled in IIN’s Immersion program.
My mom died of cancer when she was 55. She was obese for many of her adult years until the cancer treatments made her lose the weight. I am now 53, not many years off from her lifespan. That is very scary to me! I do not want to get older only die of some degenerative disease that could have been prevented. I am trying to do all I can to stay active and healthy and diet and exercise is a very big part of that plan and always will be.
I tell this story in hopes of inspiring others to get out there and do the same thing I have done. Also to point out that changes don’t happen overnight. I’ve been at this for 12 years and am still learning about nutrition and most importantly about myself. I don’t ever see myself changing this!
Have a story to share? Inspire others with your health success story . Go to
http://www.drritamarie.com/newslettercontributions
Tags: greens, Raw Foods, Success Stories, weightloss
Posted in Success Stories
The New Health Insurance: Eating Like Chimps
I read an article today about a man in Medford, Oregon who lost almost 200 pounds, overcame type-2 diabetes, and climbed California’s Mount Whitney, the highest peak in the lower 48 U.S. states. He now claims to enjoy the best health of his life. How did he do it? He changed his diet to a raw-food diet that includes copious quantities of green smoothies. Click here to read the entire article.
About a month ago, a new DVD was released called Raw for 30 Days. It’s a documentary following a group of type 2 diabetics on a raw foods program, including an abundance of greens, with Dr. Gabriel Cousins at the Tree of Life Rejuvenation Center in Arizona. The people who finished the program had amazing results. One of the men, a long time diabetic, completely reversed his condition and went on to enroll in naturopathic school so he could help others on their road to health.
A few days ago, I went back to eating solid foods after a week of drinking only green smoothies. I was joined by at least 50 others who spent last week drinking their greens and experiencing a wide range of health benefits including weight loss, allergy relief, reduction in joint pain, normalization of blood sugar, elimination of depression, mental clarity and abundant energy.
Sounds like snake oil, doesn’t it. It’s not magic, or placebo or even secret properties of rare and exotic herbs that produce these amazing results so quickly. It is the power of green foods, many of them wild and free, often classified as weeds, that produce these miraculous changes.
When you blend the green foods that are too often left as garnish, and mix them with delicious fruits, herbs, and spices, you create a tasty and powerful beverage that can transform your life. When you remove the foods that drain your health and replace them with foods that fully nourish every cell in your body, miracles can start to happen.
I’ve seen it over and over. Every two months I lead a group of 50 or so busy people through a 7 day green smoothie cleanse. During our week together, we each follow our own path and choose the plan that works for us as individuals. Some of us choose the most rigorous option and replace all of our meals with green smoothies. Others replace one or two meals a day with green smoothies and eat a high quality diet composed of raw fruits and vegetables. Still others choose to get their feet wet and replace one or two meals with green smoothies and focus on eating a mostly a whole foods, green vegetable rich diet.
One of the participants last week lost 12 pounds, her allergies cleared and aches and pains that had been plaguing her for months were dramatically reduced. A participant on one of the previous cleanses reduced his blood sugars by 100 points in just 3 days. A fibromyalgia sufferer experienced the joy of pain free movement for the first time in years.
I personally know people who have gone off antidepressants and antihistamines after a month of raw foods and greens. I know others who have recovered from cancer.
If I were talking about a prescription drug that claimed all the results I’ve seen with whole, fresh foods and green smoothies, people would be knocking down doors for it.
If this diet is so powerful, why aren’t more people doing it? It’s a question worth exploring and I’ll be doing just that over the next few blog posts, so stay tuned.
In the meantime, learn more about the miracles of green food at www.GreenFoodMagic.com
In this time of political unrest and economic stress, the best gift you can give yourself is health insurance of the most effective and economical sort…taking charge of your health through conscious diet and lifestyle choices and periodic cleansing to counteract the toxic effects of your stressful lifestyle. Mental clarity, energy and focus will help see you through even the most difficult of times.
Tags: allergies, blood sugar, depression, Diabetes, fibromyalgia, Gabriel Cousens, green leafy vegetables, green smoothie cleanse, Green Smoothies, raw food diet, Success Stories, weight loss
Posted in Detox Program, Green Smoothies, Vibrant Health
