Did You Know? Jean Criss is a Unconditionally Her Columnist and she joins us also as an author of a trilogy series, contributing writer/blogger at #BreastBriefs and other #IntimateApparel journals. She is a 9-year Breast Cancer survivor, former SGK board of trustee, designer of the new CRISSCROSS™ feel confident, look beautiful post-surgical mastectomy bra line, and a long-time digital media expert.
Jean enjoys writing about breast health, beauty, new technologies and fashionable apparel as a fashionista at heart and a media connoisseur. Her passion for a more comfortable bra became apparent after experiencing very uncomfortable, utilitarian, ugly bras during her post-recovery journey as a survivor. Her inspiration to take this knowledge and put it into PLAY combined with her media and tech expertise will offer revolutionary new solutions for survivors in her product line. Learn more about Jean and developments of CRISSCROSS™ here.
Going forward Jean’s articles will focus on breast health and awareness, advancements in the market place, and the relevance to survivors keeping breast health awareness top of mind. She will share her expertise from research to first-hand knowledge across many areas including facts and statistics, risk factors, screening and detection, diagnosis, treatment, advancements in technologies, family support, smart healthy foods, and survivor stories in a new series called Did You Know? offering tips and guidance on the above topics. Her first article focuses on Smart Healthy Food & Lifestyle Choices.
Did You Know? Smart Healthy Food & Lifestyle Choices:
- Be physically active (get regular exercise).
- Eat at least 2 ½ cups of fruits and vegetables every day.
- Choose 100 percent whole grain foods (such as 100 percent whole grain breads and cereals, brown rice, millet and quinoa).
- Limit red meat and processed meat. Choose chicken, fish or beans more often or replace red meats completely.
- Limit “bad” fats (saturated and trans fats). These are found in foods such as red meat, fatty deli meats, poultry skin, full fat dairy, fried foods, margarine, donuts and microwave popcorn.
- Eat “good” fats (polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats). These are found in foods such as olive and canola oil, nuts and natural nut butters, avocado and olives.
- Limit alcohol intake to less than one drink a day for women and fewer than two drinks a day for men.
- Get minimum 6 – 8 hours rest each night.
- Consult with your oncologist, nutritionist and allergist or immunologist before taking supplements.
I know when I eat healthy and exercise – whether simple stretching, walking or staying active, I feel good about myself. I have maintained a healthy diet for years and continue to watch my weight and balance my foods along with having a careful eye on food allergies. Some days it can be a struggle but you can figure out a plan that works best for you. I also highly recommend seeing a Nutritionist if you are challenged or need support. At my medical group, the Oncology Cancer Care Department offered free Nutritional counseling, a service available to many Survivors, along with free yoga and meditation therapy classes too. These classes made the difference when going thru a stressful time enduring radiation and other cancer therapies.
Getting off to the right start can make or break a diet and get you where you need to be. So having a healthy attitude about your lifestyle is a good choice. Be Smart and Feel Good! You can also find out what’s really in your foods here on Food Facts – a resourceful site for anyone! You can learn more about my Culinary Adventures and how to maintain a healthy breast lifestyle and learn more about Natural Supplements for Cancer patients and which ones to avoid.
For media inquiries or links to Jean’s social sites, please contact her at info@jeancrissmedia.com, 212/792-4106 or http://jeancrissmedia.com. Sources: Adapted from the American Cancer Society’s Nutrition and Physical Activity Guidelines, Eating Well Through Cancer: Over 200 easy recipes and recommendations during and after treatment. Clegg & Miletello, MD. 2006, and Unconditionally Her Health ToolBox+.
My Motto: Don’t Let Cancer Get the BREAST of You!
