I was 28 years old when I was diagnosed with pre-cancerous breast lump

Upasana Bijoor recounts how she overcame her cancer scare by following the SHARAN lifestyle.

Zucchini & Beetroot Salad

Relish the flavours of nature with this delicious salad. Healthy can be truly tasty too!

Ingredients

• ½ a yellow zucchini, julienned
• ½ a green zucchini, julienned
• ½ a beetroot, julienned
• 1 carrot, julienned
• ½ avocado, chopped
• 2-3 kaffir lime leaves, roughly chopped
• 1 tbsp lemongrass paste (lemongrass stalks ground to a fine paste), optional
• 1-2 tbsp lime avocado dressing
• A few walnuts, chopped, for the garnish

Method

Place all the ingredients (except the walnuts) in a mixing bowl and toss gently. Transfer to a serving bowl and garnish with chopped walnuts. Serve chilled. Serves 2

Food For The Mind

FACEBOOK SUPPORT GROUP

If you love Facebook, then join us to be supported on your plant-based journey. We offer 2 possibilities.

1. SHARAN India is SHARAN’s main Facebook page which you can like and follow for getting useful daily updates and news from the plant based health world. You will also get news about the latest SHARAN events, see testimonials, and more.

2. SHARAN’s Vegan Support Group is an open support group to know more about vegan/plant-based lifestyle. Here you can ask questions and share inspiring stories, tips, recipes, etc.

All our doctors and presenters will be here to answer your questions and give you tips. If you have attended our events join this group to be a part of our family.

Please like the main SHARAN page and join the group(s) applicable to you.

Causes of breast cancer

Breast cancer is more common in women but not unknown in men. It can be prevented by avoiding its causes and thus reducing the risk factors.

1. Oestrogen and progesterone These can be found in oral contraceptives, hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and dairy. Dairy is abundant with these cancer-promoting hormones and is one of the leading causes of breast cancer.

2. Growth hormones and IGF Milk is the fluid for growth so it’s filled with these hormones. So is all dairy. And growth hormones may also be given to animals in our food chain that are slaughtered for meat.

3. Chemicals Many chemicals are carcinogens. Chemicals are found in packaged foods and non-organic foods. Personal care products like medicines, toothpaste, soaps, shampoos, hair dyes, lotions, perfumes, cosmetics, deodorants, hand sanitisers etc. can all be a source of chemicals entering our body. Chemicals in homecare products – air fresheners, mosquito repellents, incense, detergents, fabric softeners and surface cleaners – may enter our bodies through inhalation or touch. And then there are the chemicals in our polluted air, water and environment.

4. Plastics Bottled water, packaged foods and plastic containers all allow the chemicals in the plastic to leach into the foods.

5. Excess fat Excess fat in our body attracts cancer. It blocks arteries and reduces the oxygen supply, making the environment more suitable for cancer cells than normal cells.

6. Acidity Cancer cells thrive in an acidic environment. Tea, coffee, colas, smoking, alcohol, sugar, vinegar and packaged foods all lend to an acidic environment in our bodies. So do protein powders and high-protein foods.

7. Excess protein Protein is the food for growth and cancer is a growth. There is a connection. The milk protein, casein, is a known carcinogen.

8. Radiation Too many X-rays and other forms of radiation cause cancer.

9. Emotions It is well known that resentment and anger promote cancers. So do other negative emotions. Our moods are controlled by hormones and chemicals. Animals, too, have the same emotional messengers. When we consume animals and their by-products, we are also consuming their stress hormones. Note the calm you feel once you stop consuming animal products.