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Cancer Survivor Touts Health Benefits of Raw Food at Seminar

Posted on: Thursday, 23 February 2006, 09:00 CST

By Jeanne Huff, The Idaho Statesman, Boise

Feb. 23--Although it's not everybody's bread and butter, the raw foods movement is appealing to many people dealing with cancer or auto-immune diseases. Eating raw foods is also adopted by some who are looking to stave off illness or future major health problems.

Theresa Silva, a Boise physical trainer, says eating raw foods has worked for her, and she wants to help others who may be interested. Silva, a breast cancer survivor, credits her raw food diet for conquering her disease.

"It's a healing thing, as well as a healthy thing," she says.

Silva, 57, was diagnosed with ductal carcinoma breast cancer nearly five years ago. She had surgery -- a lumpectomy and lymph node surgery. She was scheduled to have chemo treatment via a port in her chest and two days before the appointment, she decided she just couldn't do it.

Silva did some research and ended up choosing to follow a very specific raw-foods regimen.

"I chose to try an alternative," Silva says. "No chemo, no radiation -- and now I'm cancer-free."

Silva says she eats raw 75 percent of the time and only knows a few people who eat raw 100 percent. In addition, she says there are four things she adamantly will not eat: sugar, alcohol, coffee and animal fat/flesh.

Silva refers to those who have cancer or other diseases or health problems as having health opportunities, "because it gives you the opportunity to eat healthy, adopt a healthier lifestyle," she says.

The biggest drawback to eating raw, says Silva, is the lack of taste and smell.

"Cooked food tastes awful good, it's addictive," Silva says. "It's extremely difficult to make the change. You eat to survive, but not to enjoy. I eat for my health and I eat for my life, but not for pleasure anymore."

Silva, who has been studying with the Optimum Health Institute in San Diego and is hoping to get certification after one more session, is hosting a seminar for those interested in the raw foods diet.

The seminar includes information on food combining and how the body processes food and the health benefits of a raw foods diet. "Some foods digest easier and faster," she says. "The whole idea is to get food in and get it out."

Silva will also demonstrate how to prepare foods without cooking the ingredients.

Techniques include freeze drying, juicing, blending and more.

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Copyright (c) 2006, The Idaho Statesman, Boise

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Source: The Idaho Statesman, Boise

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