Stepping Into A Healthier Lifestyle After Remission
Hey there, I’m Marsha, a Nashville native, food blogger, YouTuber, and breast cancer survivor. I am also a wife and mother of 2 beautiful kiddos with another little one due in January 2022.
May 2016, my mother was diagnosed with breast cancer which was a shock to the entire family because it did not run in our family.
I had just had my 2nd child and at my 6-week post-cesarean checkup I mentioned my mother’s diagnosis and asked if I needed a mammogram. I was told no because of my age which was 32 at the time. One month later, I found a lump in my breast while breastfeeding my 3-month-old daughter. At this point, my doctors proceeded with an ultrasound, mammogram, and biopsy. I was diagnosed with Stage II Triple-Negative breast cancer October 2016.
My Mother and I Fought Breast Cancer at the Same Time
At first, I was upset because I felt like if my doctor had listened to me when I asked the first time (6 weeks earlier), and given me the mammogram out of precaution because of my mother’s diagnosis, then maybe my cancer would have been caught at Stage 1. But of course, you don’t have time to dwell on the what-ifs. So I proceeded with treatment and was just thankful to have found the lump myself before it grew any bigger.
My mother and I fought breast cancer at the same time. I shared my entire cancer journey on YouTube while I was going through treatment to hopefully be a source of inspiration, information and encouragement for others going through a similar experience. Those videos are still helping so many people today!
Thanks be to God my mother and I are now in remission and cancer-free!
After fighting breast cancer, my oncologist highly recommended that I transition to healthier eating habits consisting of more fruits and vegetables, less meat and dairy. I was relieved to hear I didn’t have to make any drastic changes or follow a super strict diet because I’ve never really cared for trendy diet programs.
My first step into a healthier lifestyle was smoothies. It was the easiest way for me to incorporate more fruits and vegetables into my diet and include a variety of cancer-fighting antioxidants all in one drink.
I began experimenting with different combinations, finding recipes that I really liked and then sharing them on my Youtube channel.
Fighting Free Radicals With Smoothies
Today I’m excited to share a super easy smoothie recipe that’s made up of healthy ingredients and antioxidants to help fight free radicals in your body. Free radicals are compounds that can cause harm and disease in your body if they become too high, such as heart disease, diabetes, and cancer.
Even though I’m still working on being more consistent with healthier choices in all of my meals, smoothies are still my go-to when I need a quick boost of the “good stuff!”
You can find more of my recipes, health journey and family life on my Youtube channel “Marsha Eileen”, Instagram and on my website at MarshaEileen.com.
BLUEBERRY SPINACH SMOOTHIE
- 1 cup vanilla almond milk (or your favorite plant-based milk)
- 1 cup fresh organic spinach
- 1 cup frozen blueberries
- 1 frozen banana (I peel and freeze mine ahead of time so I always have some ready to go). If you don’t have a frozen banana you can use fresh, but you may have to add some ice to your smoothie to give it a thicker consistency.
- 1 tablespoon ground flaxseeds (make sure to buy ground or milled flaxseeds and not whole).
- 1 teaspoon honey (optional)
Add all ingredients in the order listed to your blender. Blend until smooth. Stop to scrape down the sides if you need to. And ENJOY!
Other great smoothie additions or substitutions:
- Greek yogurt or non-dairy yogurt
- Old fashioned rolled oats
- Avocado
- Chia or hemp seeds
Nutrition Facts
Spinach – Spinach is often considered to be a Superfood and packs high amounts of vitamins and nutrients such as Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Folic Acid, Iron, and Calcium (just to name a few). Studies have shown that eating more greens like spinach, can help reduce your risk of diabetes and help fight off cancer.
Blueberries – Blueberries are extremely healthy for you and also considered a Superfood. They are believed to have some of the highest antioxidant levels of all common fruits and vegetables. They are a good source of Fiber, Vitamin C, Vitamin K and help lower your risk of heart disease and cancer.
Flaxseeds – Ground flaxseeds are an easy way to add extra nutrients to your meals. I add them in almost all of my smoothies and I even like adding some to my oatmeal and baked foods. Flaxseeds are a good source of Fiber, Magnesium, and Omega-3 fats (just to name a few). Some studies have shown that those who eat flaxseeds have a lower risk of breast cancer.
Health Sources:
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/foods/spinach
https://www.webmd.com/diet/features/superfoods-everyone-needs#1
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/10-proven-benefits-of-blueberries
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/benefits-of-flaxseeds#TOC_TITLE_HDR_4
