Cancer Survivor, writing about Health and Fitness as you age

My Cholesterol Numbers When last I blogged about diet I was very optimistic about impacting my vitiligo with my new diet, and talked about it here .  However, on a recent trip to the doctor, I've realized I have to defer working on my vitiligo yet again for a bit. Last year, my cholesterol was high, so I made some dietary changes (reduced the red meat, cut the amount of eggs, etc.). My cholesterol dropped 33 points. For the last 3 months I've made even more changes. I've cut dairy, bread and pasta and I've had maybe 3 servings of cheese and red meat in as many months, increased fish and lean quality meat; gave up added sugar so dessert was fresh or dried fruit. However, despite all of this a recent retest showed my cholesterol has dropped only 2 more points and is still high. I don't often vent and rant, but I feel defeated. I even gave up chocolate, 85% (cocoa) dark chocolate!  It took a lot out of me to be disciplined about this, so after I got the results, ...

Before I talk about food, a quick: Vitiligo Update It still pisses me off that the hyperactive immune system that attacks my own pigment cells just let cancer sail right on through. Enough rant. Since my cancer diagnosis, my vitiligo has just exploded. It's spread from knees and elbows to legs, face and neck. It bothers me more now. Picture from 2009 Hands now  2016           The growing spread of vitiligo Treatments Topical steroids weren't working and while Latisse (the eyelash drug) worked on one spot above one eye, it does not seem to be helping with the other spot above the other eye. There is a pulsed light treatment I have yet to try, but before I go that route, I want to try the food route. Food as Medicine I've blogged previously as viewing Food as Fuel , the next step is to view food as medicine with the potential to heal some ailments. I've read a couple of books, It Starts with Food and The Paleo Appr...

Funny how a simple adjustment in perspective can make all the difference. I know that when most people hear "diet" they assume "eat less" or "calorie reduction". As a cancer survivor, I've had to learn a lot more than I'd like about food, nutrients and supplements - all with the intent of reducing risk of recurrence - that is what "diet" is to me. Food to help me reduce the risk of cancer because I cannot do anything about my genetics, but I can control my diet.  I've blogged about the foods and cancer risk reduction previously here: I'd rather be eating hot wings and fries . For me, like most everyone, I try to eat healthy most of the time, but do eat more rubbish than I should. What about, instead of thinking of eating food for pleasure, perhaps I should think of food as fuel for my body. So if I was making a recipe, I'd want to get the best ingredients I could (within reason). That change in perspective, is helping...