Green Tea & Chocolate: The Cancer Slayer Chronicles

11 Reasons to Start Your Day With Lemon

For some time now, there's been a list floating around the Internet touting 10 reasons you should drink lemon-flavored warm water. I came across the list, found it both compelling and in the very least harmless, and so have been starting my day with warm water and lemon every day for a few months now. 

Looking back, I think it's made a big difference in my health this cold & flu season. I haven't been sick since last June, in the midst of a depressed immune system due to chemo.

More recently, during the Christmas holidays, I was literally surrounded by sick people (puking people, congested people, Scarlet Fever people) and I didn't develop so much as a stuffy nose, muscle ache, or belly twinge. 

I think it's the lemon. 

The icing on the cake: I recently learned that citrus has cancer fighting powers in addition to immunity boosting powers. So I'm here to give you the ELEVEN reasons you should start your day with a mug of warm water and a lush lemon slice. 

1. Cancer fighter: Oranges, tangerines, lemons, and grapefruit contain anti-inflammatory flavonoids. They also stimulate the detoxification of carcinogenics by the liver.

2. Immunity booster: Lemons are high in vitamin C, which is great for fighting colds. They're also high in potassium, which stimulates brain and nerve function, and helps control blood pressure. 

3. pH balancer: Drinking lemon water everyday will reduce your body's overall acidity. Lemon is one of the most alkaline foods around (citric acid does not create acidity in the body once metabolized). 

4. Weight loss stimulator: Lemons are high in pectin fiber, which helps fight hunger cravings. It has also been shown that people who maintain a more alkaline diet lose weight faster.

5. Digestion aid: Lemon juice helps flush out unwanted materials. It encourages the liver to produce bile which is an acid required for digestion. Efficient digestion reduces heartburn, gas and constipation.

6. Diuretic: Lemons increase the rate of urination by the body, which helps purify it. Toxins are, therefore, released at a faster reach, which helps keep your urinary tract healthy.

7. Skin clearing: The vitamin C component helps decrease wrinkles and blemishes. Lemon water purges toxins from the blood which helps keep skin clear as well. Lemon juice applied directly to the skin can help reduce the appearance of scars. 

8. Freshens breath: Not only this, but it can help relieve tooth pain and gingivitis. The citric acid can erode tooth enamel, so don't go too strong on your lemon juice. If this worries you, you can rinse your mouth with fresh water after your lemon water, and/or use a straw occasionally.  (I'd recommend a glass one when drinking warm liquids.)

9. Relieves respiratory problems: Warm lemon water helps clear chest infections and halt pesky coughs. It's thought to be helpful with asthma and allergies, too. 

10. Zen boosting: Vitamin C  is one of the first things depleted when you subject your mind and body to stress. As mentioned above, lemons are full of vitamin C. 

11. Want to kick the coffee habit? Starting with lemon water in the morning can curb your morning coffee cravings.

Drink up!

Matcha Green Tea Mocha or Latte

Likely you've heard that green tea is a super hero.

It's true. It's definitely one of the Big Dogs when it comes to antioxidant power.

What I like most is it's easy to come by and anyone can make it. It's as easy as dropping a tea bag in hot water.

But, there are two important tips to keep in mind in order to fully activate green tea's cancer-fighting powers: One must consume enough each day: 2-3 cups a day, and you have to steep your tea long enough for it to release its catechins: 5-10 minutes. (!)

I usually give myself some variety & break up my green tea bag consumption by making a Matcha Latte or Matcha Mocha in the afternoon. Tea Lattes are becoming popular (in coffee houses as mainstream as Starbucks or your corner indie coffee spot), but they tend to be quite sweet as well as pricey (I've paid $5!). Matcha can be bought in bulk at Whole Foods so you can make this at home, cutting the price & the sweetness (if you like). 

Matcha Green Tea Mocha

Cancer-fighting powers:

Green tea ~ Rich in polyphenols, including catechins, which reduce the growth of the new vessels needed for tumor growth and metastases. It is also a powerful antioxidant and detoxifier, and it facilitates the death of cancer cells by apoptosis. In the laboratory, it enhances the effects of radiotherapy on cancer cells. Japanese green tea (sencha, gyokuro, matcha) is even richer in catechins than common varieties of Chinese green tea.

Dark chocolate ~ Dark chocolate (more than 70% cocoa) contains a number of antioxidants, proanthocyanidins, and many polyphenols. These molecules slow the growth of cancer cells and limit angiogenesis. It's glycemic index is moderate, distincly lower than that of white bread.*

1 serving, approx. 160 cals (if using coconut milk)

 8 oz organic sugar-free vanilla coconut milk (I like So Delicious brand) -- used for low calorie count

1 TBSP organic unsweetended cocoa powder -- used for cancer-fighting power 

1 TBPS organic agave syrup -- used for low glycemic index

1 tsp organic matcha green tea powder -- used for cancer-fighting power

Directions:

Heat the coconut milk until it is hotter than you can drink, but not boiling (this is to allow time for the green tea to steep without your drink getting cold while you wait). 

Add the cocoa powder and matcha powder. Whisk or stir vigorously until all clumps of powder are incorporated. Let sit at least 5 minutes to allow the green tea to release its catechins.

Add the agave syrup.

Using a milk frother, or a spoon, combine all ingredients. 

Enjoy!

(Adjust the agave as needed. Play with your milk types. Making this with soy milk would boost the calories, but would also boost the cancer-fighting properties. Leave the cocoa out for a latte.)

*Cancer-fighting nutritional info comes from David Servan-Schreiber, MD, PhD: Anticancer: A New Way of Life.