I saw a quote on FaceBook yesterday that was attributed to the Buddha which struck home: ‘The problem is, you think you have time’. This may sound a bit dramatic, but it resonated with me because I have often thought to myself ‘that’s a great idea - if I get really sick I will do that’. Meaning, often, I plan to completely give up sugar if I develop cancer - and drink raw juices every day, and eat more kale, and take my vitamin D regularly. That quote from the Buddha shows up the flaws in my approach though - now is the time to start with the good habits! So here goes...

‘Sugar feeds cancer’ is something that is becoming more and more widely recognised in the press both in Ireland and in the UK. ‘The evidence that sugar makes cancer cells grow is gaining momentum and, at least in animal trials, tumours shrink rapidly on a low-carb diet’ says Patrick Holford in a recent article in one of our Healthshop magazines. Since sugar is also linked to weight problems, diabetes, heart attacks and many more unpleasant health concerns it seems wise (if not easy!) to reduce or cut it out of our diets. Personally I prefer just to look for my sweetness in fruits but if you would like some sugar alternatives do ask in your local Health Food Shop - the choice is getting bigger every month.

Obviously it is vital to add good foods to our diet as well as cut things out. I recently read another article by Patrick Holford in which he discussed 4 foods that when eaten regularly in combination had impressive cancer preventing properties. The research he quoted had special reference to Prostate Cancer, but it seems like we could all benefit from eating more of these foods.

Pomegranates - these fruits contain compounds which inhibit the formation of carcinogens and also inhibit cancer cells from producing growth hormones, which in turn stops them from dividing and growing. You can buy fresh pomegranates at the moment, which can be added to salads or fresh juices, or you can buy concentrated Pomegranate Juice which you can take regularly.

Green Tea - contains a type of polyphenol called catechins which have been shown to accumulate in prostate tissue and selectively kill cancer cells. Men in Japan who drink the most green tea have the lowest prostate cancer levels, according to Patrick Holford. Try a green tea as your morning cuppa - it gives you a gentle boost which is better for your nervous system that a coffee or even black tea.

Turmeric - this potent herb comes up over and over again when I read about super healthy foods. It is a potent anti-inflammatory, and contains a compound, curcumin, that was shown to reduce the spread of prostate cancer cells and thereby increase survival rates. Try it fresh (it looks a bit like ginger and is great in curries) or make a paste from the powdered herb (buy organic powder please!) and water - there are tons of recipes online. If you don’t like the taste most healthfood shops sell a capsule version.

And finally Broccoli contains sulphur-rich compounds which are potent anti-cancer agents. Men with high consumption of cruciferous vegetables have a 40% lower risk of prostate cancer. We have all heard this before - so lets get out there and eat some broccoli and brussel sprouts!

In Organico we have noticed there are a lot of people juicing at the moment (kale is selling so fast we can’t get enough of it!). Some are doing it because they are unwell and some because they want to become healthier. Whichever category you fall into, a fresh (preferably green) juice is something your body would like on a daily basis. Try cucumber, kale, lime juice, celery and apple and see how amazing you feel! You will need a juicer but if you don’t have one ask around - perhaps someone you know could lend you one to get you started.

Pre-Conceive is finally available. Just to remind you what it is - if you remember in November I wrote about natural approaches to improving fertility and Pre-Conceive is the full spectrum multi-nutrient powder for pre-conceptual care specifically designed by an Irish company who saw that people are confused about what to take, so they came up with the idea of an all in one to make it really simple. Pre-Conceive is worth a lot more than what you pay for it (if you wanted to buy all the nutrients separately you would pay about 4 times as much). So for €170 per month you can be completely confident that you are getting the best of all the nutrients that have shown positive effects on fertility, in the doses your body needs for the best chance of a healthy pregnancy. For more information look up Pillar Health Care online or call in to your local healthfood shop.

If you are in the mood to improve your diet this spring you must call into Organico Cafe to try some of our new healthy treats - our kitchen team are constantly developing new and exciting but healthy soups, salads, curries, wraps, superfood snacks and delicious healthy drinks. And we have a new coffee machine and a new Irish Hand Roasted coffee also - just in case you thought it was all green tea!

If you like Yoga and Organico Cafe food why not come on retreat with Jessica Hatchet (Yoga West Cork) in the amazing centre at Dzogchen Beara in April - Rachel and I are catering! We will be providing delicious super healthy food all weekend to complement Jessica’s fantastic yoga. And there will be a few treats too. For more information contact Jessica on 0877852491 or look up Yoga West Cork on FaceBook. Please do book early through - places are very limited.

Organico Shop Cafe and Bakery is open Monday to Saturday from 9.15 - 6pm (the Cafe from 10 - 5pm). Please call us on 02751391 or visit us online at www.organico.ie for more information, and look us up on FaceBook for tempting Cafe Menues and interesting health tips. None of this information is intended to replace medical advice, so if you are on medication or are concerned at all about your health please consult a medical practitioner before taking any foods in medicinal quantities.