October 8th 2025
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Dr. Will Cole
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What are postbiotics, and how do they differ from probiotics, prebiotics, and parabiotics? And do you need one? Here’s what you need to know.
The post What Are Postbiotics and Why Do They Matter? appeared first on Dr. Will Cole.
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October 7th 2025
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Wellness Mama Blog | Simple Answers for Healthier Families
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Cool winds, crunchy leaves, and pumpkins on the porch mean it’s soup weather time at our house. The Instant Pot starts to live on the counter and all of the favorite cold-weather comfort foods start their rotation. Tomato soup was one of my favorite soups before switching to a real-food diet. Now, I don’t think […]
Continue reading Simple Tomato Basil Soup (Stovetop or Instant Pot)…
Read the full article here:
https://wellnessmama.com/recipes/simple-tomato-soup/
October 6th 2025
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Dr. Will Cole
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Salmon Parasites, Tylenol & Autism, Autoimmune Gene Test & McDonald’s Is Healthy Now?! | Ask Me Anything Click An Icon Below To Subscribe Every Ask Me Anything episode is an opportunity to dig into the questions you’re asking most – and this week’s conversation was no exception. We start by talking about salmon, sushi, and…
The post Salmon Parasites, Tylenol & Autism, Autoimmune Gene Test & McDonald’s Is Healthy Now?! | Ask Me Anything appeared first on Dr. Will Cole.
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October 3rd 2025
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Wellness Mama Blog | Simple Answers for Healthier Families
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Can opening a pickle jar predict how long you’re going to live? Maybe more than you realize! Our grip strength is actually linked to our overall health and is a good predictor of longevity. This simple, yet often overlooked health marker is a great way to tell us more about what’s going on in the […]
Continue reading Why Grip Strength is Vitally Important (and How to Improve It)…
Read the full article here:
https://wellnessmama.com/health/grip-strength/
October 2nd 2025
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Riordan Clinic
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Stacy Dunn, ND, LAc, FABNO, FABORM
One of the most overlooked aspects of the breast cancer journey is what happens after treatment ends. The world often sees survivorship as the finish line, a return to “normal.” But in reality, surviving breast cancer is not the end of the experience; it is the beginning of a new chapter, one that often includes grief, anxiety, and the slow, nonlinear work of emotional recovery.
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, a global health campaign to raise public awareness of breast cancer and promote early detection and better treatment. It is also a time of shared stories, survivor celebrations, and community events. While Breast Cancer Awareness Month brings much-needed attention and support, many survivors feel that it doesn’t fully acknowledge the emotional weight that remains after the cancer is gone.
Being called a “breast cancer survivor” often comes with the expectation that survivors will feel nothing but joy, relief, and gratitude. Of course, there are certainly moments of thankfulness and celebration, but the emotional reality is far more complex. The end of treatment can mark the beginning of a new kind of challenge — processing everything endured, adjusting to the physical and emotional changes, and trying to find your place in a world that expects you to simply “move on.”
While each patient’s experience is unique, several emotional challenges are commonly reported among breast cancer survivors:
One of the most persistent emotional burdens is the fear that cancer will return. This fear may intensify during routine follow-up scans, physical discomfort, or even anniversaries of diagnosis or treatment.
Survivors may grieve the loss of their former self — the body they had before surgery, the energy they once took for granted, or the plans they put on hold. The emotional scars often run deeper than the physical ones, particularly when changes are permanent, such as infertility or premature menopause.
Some survivors struggle with survivor’s guilt — for surviving when others didn’t. Others feel guilt for the emotional and financial toll their illness placed on their families, or even guilt for not feeling “grateful enough” after surviving. This guilt can be isolating and difficult to share.
Cancer often dismantles the sense of control we once had over our future. The future feels uncertain, and survivors often feel a lingering sense of vulnerability, unsure about what life will look like months or years down the road.
While sadness is a natural reaction to life-changing events, persistent sadness can turn into clinical depression. Survivors may also experience chemical changes in the brain related to treatment that contribute to mood disorders. Depression is not a weakness — it’s a condition that deserves the same care as any physical illness.
After the constant adrenaline of diagnosis and treatment, some survivors report a kind of “shutdown” — a protective, emotional numbness. You may feel distant from others or disconnected from your own feelings, unsure of how to re-enter life as it once was.
Research shows that up to one in three cancer survivors meet the criteria for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) within a year of completing treatment. These symptoms can manifest as:
Healing emotionally is just as important as healing physically. It is not a process with a clear timeline or universal steps, but there are many practical tools that can help survivors navigate this complex terrain.
Writing regularly in a journal can help you process difficult experiences. Journaling allows you to:
Even well-meaning loved ones may not fully grasp what you are going through. Joining a support group, whether in-person or virtual, connects you with others who “get it.” Benefits include:
Speaking with a mental health professional, especially one familiar with cancer-related trauma, can be a lifeline. Therapy can help you:
Types of therapy that can be particularly helpful include:
Mindfulness practices, even just five minutes a day, can significantly reduce stress and anxiety. You can try deep breathing techniques such as inhaling for a count of four and exhaling for a count of six. You can also try guided meditations; apps like Headspace, Insight Timer, or Calm offer guided meditations from your phone.
Laughter and artistic expression are powerful healing tools. Watch your favorite comedy or stand-up comedian, paint or draw, write poetry, dance, sing, or play music — give yourself permission to play again.
One of the most powerful things you can do after treatment is to protect your energy. Say no, without guilt, when you need to rest. Cancel plans if you are overwhelmed. Decline conversations that drain you. Give yourself the time and space to heal.
There’s a popular narrative that calls cancer survivors “warriors” — fierce, strong, unbreakable. But strength can also be quieter. It’s found in asking for help, sharing your fears, and choosing to move forward, even when the path is uncertain.
To every breast cancer survivor reading this: You are seen. You are heard. Your experience is valid. Your emotions matter. You are not alone.
This October, as we raise awareness, let’s also raise compassion — for the visible and invisible parts of breast cancer survivorship. Beyond the pink ribbons and celebratory slogans is a deeper truth: healing doesn’t end with the last treatment. In many ways, that is where it truly begins.
The post Beyond the Cure: The Emotional Impact of Breast Cancer Survivorship appeared first on Riordan Clinic.
Read the full article here:
https://riordanclinic.org/2025/10/beyond-the-cure-emotional-impact-breast-cancer/
October 2nd 2025
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Riordan Clinic
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By Kirsten West, ND, LAc, FABNO
Stress is a universal experience. Not all stress is harmful, but identifying effective strategies for managing stress can significantly enhance patients’ recovery, long-term outcomes, and prevention of breast cancer. In doing so, patients not only survive but thrive.
Stress may not directly cause breast cancer, but chronic stress response can promote the progression and spread of existing tumors by weakening the immune system and increasing pro-cancer factors. When people are chronically stressed, they may develop unhealthy coping mechanisms such as poor dietary choices and physical inactivity. This can worsen health issues in breast cancer survivors. By weakening the immune system, stress hormones like the adrenal hormone cortisol reduce the body’s ability to fight cancer cells.
Chronic stress also increases blood vessel growth and can make it easier for cancer cells to spread by creating hospitable environments for tumor cells. This is why stress management strategies are a crucial component of comprehensive cancer care. These may include mindfulness practices or trauma-based therapies, such as EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing) or hypnosis, informed dietary interventions, and tailored exercise programs, which all serve to enhance psychological resilience and physical health.
The stress response also stimulates norepinephrine and epinephrine, two hormones that increase circulating blood sugar. This provides cancer cells with additional energy sources, which may promote tumor growth and survival. We know that implementing dietary modifications, such as reducing glycemic index and increasing nutrient-dense foods, can help mitigate the adverse effects of stress on carcinogenesis (the initiation of cancer), cancer progression by stabilizing blood sugar levels, and enhancing immune function. This highlights the critical need for interventions that stabilize physiological responses to stress.
The current mainstream oncology models primarily focus on how chronic stress affects the advancement of cancer rather than its initial onset. To reduce stress, we must first define it in order to recognize it.
Stress is often the outcome of chronic, disordered psychological and physiological patterns that hinder recovery and contribute to the development of chronic health issues. These patterns often hinge on a trauma response, which can be worsened by environmental stressors, personal expectations, and lifestyle factors. This requires targeted interventions to foster resilience and promote healthier coping mechanisms among cancer survivors (Pekmezi & Demark‐Wahnefried, 2010). Luckily, integrative approaches that blend psychological support with lifestyle interventions have shown promise in reducing stress, resolving trauma, and improving health outcomes among cancer survivors (McCorkle, et al., 2011).
The link between breast cancer, hormones, and stress is significant. Stress hormones sensitize breast tissue to chemicals our body releases in response to stress. This impacts estrogen activity and detoxification, which influence the development and function of breast tissue. This is why it’s important to avoid xenoestrogens and adopt strategies to decrease exposure to environmental endocrine disruptors that may worsen hormonal imbalances. Examples of xenoestrogens include pharmaceuticals, pesticides, and plasticizers, which can interfere with hormonal pathways and disrupt normal physiological functions. It’s important for patients who are either receiving cancer treatment or are in survivorship to become aware of these toxins and limit exposure to these harmful substances.
Lifestyle interventions that target stress management and improve dietary intake can significantly enhance the well-being of breast cancer survivors, as these not only alleviate stress but also positively influence overall health outcomes. Integrating lifestyle modifications into whole-person care for breast cancer survivors promotes better mental health, helps to alleviate stress through empowerment, and mitigates the adverse effects of treatment. Structured exercise programs, psychosocial support, and individualized nutritional counseling enhance survivorship programs. This type of true integrative care empowers patients to take control of their health and foster resilience during recovery. Patient-centered, terrain-based care is essential for creating a supportive and individualized environment that takes breast cancer survivors from surviving to thriving.
Thorough terrain assessment is important to create tailored nutrition plans that address a specific patient’s unique needs. These individualized plans ensure that each survivor receives the specific dietary support necessary for optimal recovery, optimal labs, and health maintenance.
Every person is different—testing, assessing, and addressing act as a roadmap for each individual.
When terrain testing has not yet been completed, a low-carb Mediterranean diet is recommended. This dietary approach emphasizes whole foods, healthy fats, and lean proteins, which support metabolic health, optimal weight management, and reduce inflammation while providing the necessary nutrients for recovery. It also promotes cardiovascular health and reduces inflammation, which are critical considerations for cancer survivors at risk for cardiotoxicity due to their treatments.
Trauma, and therefore stress, is best helped by mind/body-based therapies that emphasize the connection between emotional well-being and physical health. These therapies support healing by addressing the psychological impacts of trauma while also promoting physiological resilience. Effective tools may include: EMDR, hypnosis, and movement therapy such as yoga. EMDR utilizes rapid eye movements, which are most active in the REM phase of sleep, to help us re-analyze our day and are imperative for memory and learning. If we can hone the brain waves active with REM, we are given the ability to help change how we respond to trauma. The integration of EMDR and other mind/body therapies into cancer care could potentially enhance the psychological resilience of survivors, allowing them to process trauma effectively while creating a holistic approach to recovery that addresses both mental and physical health.
Stress is also well-managed with physical activity. Regular exercise reduces stress levels, enhances mood, and improves overall health outcomes for cancer survivors. Studies have shown that for breast cancer specifically, 150 minutes of exercise per week can significantly improve physical fitness and reduce fatigue, ultimately leading to a better overall quality of life among survivors. I often tell my patients that a love for the activity is the most crucial element for making it a lasting habit rather than a chore.
Understanding the complex nature of stress and its impact on the body’s terrain is essential for developing targeted approaches that effectively address the unique needs of breast cancer survivors as they navigate their recovery journey. Understanding begins with recognition. Unfortunately, the ability to recognize stress is often difficult until it is at or has reached its peak. We must become aware of our inner terrain, how our body speaks through testing, our inner voice, and our inner child. This is where our truth lies, and our capacity to heal is awakened. In so doing, dietary interventions, lifestyle changes, and additional integrative therapies can make a profound impact, and the true changes in breast cancer survivorship are made.
By strengthening the mind/body connection and implementing dietary interventions, lifestyle changes, and other integrative therapies, we can achieve meaningful improvements in survivorship for breast cancer, and ultimately, for all cancers and diseases. It begins with recognition and identifying our unique patterns, such as our predispositions from a lifetime so far lived, and giving ourselves the space to “be.” This is how we heal, not only as individuals but as a society as a whole. Breast cancer becomes the window through which we must see.
The post The Connection Between Stress and Breast Cancer appeared first on Riordan Clinic.
Read the full article here:
https://riordanclinic.org/2025/10/connection-between-stress-breast-cancer/
