According to the National Cancer Institute, research shows that as much as 50 percent of cancer risk may be related to diet.
To combat this disease and help end cancer disparities amongst Black women and men who are highly impacted by this disease,
***This program is open for anyone***
Class 1: Introduction to How Foods Fight Cancer
Certain diet patterns seem to have a major effect in helping people diagnosed with cancer live longer, healthier lives. In this class, you will learn about the right food choices that can help reduce the risk of developing cancer as well as lower your risk for a recurrence. In this class, you will learn about the right food choices that can help reduce the risk of developing cancer as well as overcome the disease after it has been diagnosed.
Class 2: Fueling Up On Low-Fat, High-Fiber Foods
Dietary fat not only hinders the immune system, it also drives hormone production, which can mean higher rates of hormone-related cancers such as breast and prostate cancer. Fiber helps your body rid itself of toxins, waste hormones, excess cholesterol, chemicals, and other undesirables. It is especially important in helping the immune system function properly, as well as facilitating the removal of waste from the body. Without fiber in the diet, these excess compounds are often reabsorbed into the bloodstream, leading to a possible increased risk of cancer. Steering clear of meat, dairy products, fried foods, and other fatty fare is an important first step in preventing and surviving cancer. The easiest way to be healthy is to build your meals from foods that are naturally low in fat and to use cooking methods that do not require added fats or oils. In this class you will learn how to prepare delicious, low-fat dishes made from whole grains, legumes, vegetables, and fruits.
Class 3: Discovering Dairy and Meat Alternatives
When cancer researchers started to look for links between diet and cancer, one of the most noticeable findings was that people who avoided meat and dairy products were much less likely to develop the disease. Consuming dairy products causes worrisome biological changes in the body, including an increase in the amount of insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) in the bloodstream. Scientific studies have shown elevated IGF-1 levels to be a catalyst for the growth of breast and prostate cancer cells. Meat is another food that may be linked to cancer and other illnesses. This link is in part due to the high-fat and fiber-free characteristics of meat compared to plant foods, as well as the formation of carcinogens when meats are cooked. These cancer-causing chemicals, called heterocyclic amines, tend to form within the meat tissue when exposed to high temperatures. In this class, you will explore a variety of vegetarian sources of protein, all of which are low in fat, high in fiber, and loaded with cancer fighting nutrients.
Class 4: Cancer-Fighting Compounds and Healthy Weight Control
Both antioxidants and the body’s immune system are critically important in fighting cancer. Cancer-fighting
compounds such as antioxidants, mainly found in fruits and vegetables, assist in halting free-radical damage, which can otherwise lead to cancer development. Healthy weight control is also essential for warding off a variety of chronic diseases. Studies have shown that slimmer people are less likely to develop cancer compared to their heavier counterparts. Trimming excess weight may also improve survival after cancer has been diagnosed. In this class, the instructor will discuss and demonstrate healthful dishes loaded with immune-boosting nutrients such as beta-carotene, lycopene, vitamin C, and zinc—helping you learn how to easily and naturally maintain a healthy weight and a cancer-fighting nutritional regime.
FOLLOW-UP ASSESSMENT
Our programs are designed to EDUCATE, MOTIVATE and ACTIVATE participants to take action with their health. As a result, we will follow-up with participants 3 - 6 months post program. The purpose of this follow-up is to help us identify program impact and to:
1) learn from you how we can further assist you with your health goals and
2) to help us identify future programing.
COST
Invest in your health.
1 in 8 women will be diagnosed with Breast Cancer in their lifetime. With this in mind, we are asking for you to invest in your health with an $8 donation for each class ($30 donation to attend all 4).
Donated funds will help us to continue our mission of supporting under-resourced individuals impacted by this disease.
****If you are not able to offer a donation at this time but would like to participate, please note that we have a few scholarships available.***
