So Chris Bledy, author of “Beating Ovarian Cancer” came to our group last night, and she was just so wonderful. Her story was inspiring and her energy so positive. Made me just want to keep her up all night to chat the hours away. But, instead, what we discussed in two hours…

That it’s very important to get rectal exams at the OB. Ouch! Ugh. I only like things going out of that spot. But, that’s better than getting cancer, right? So tell your OB to start checking your booty on your next visit. She said many cancers hide behind our ovaries and we need these exams to find them. Plus, if we start now, it gives our doctors a base on what to look for if something else wrong shows up. It will feel weird asking my doctor for a butt exam. But I guess I’d rather that than bad health.

Then Chris talked about how silent ovarian cancer is. Her symptoms: her period slowed down. And what else you may ask? That was it! She said others might have to pee more frequently. Still others might be more gassy. Uh, isn’t this all symptoms of getting older? No wonder it’s the silent killer. Yikes!

So by the time Chris was diagnosed, she was already in stage 4. And stage 4 is pretty much a death pass. And what happens with Ovarian cancer too, is you get it over and over, sooner and sooner, till finally you don’t respond to treatments and you die. Wow. Scary.

And 5% of ovarian cancers are genetic. The other 95% environmental. That is why we can do something to stop it from happening to us. So that’s the good news! Now, here’s what we can do, and what Chris did, so she is healthy now. 5 years and counting.

After her second occurrence of cancer, Chris decided to see what toxins were in her world. She decided to throw away all her non-green and toxic cleaners in her kitchen. She tells us to do the same. Says they seep into our house even if we think they’re not. Says we must convert to green products. Must! Get the toxic ones out of the house or throw them away completely. Even laundry detergent seeps through the skin.

She did an inventory of her products she put on her face and on her body. If you count how many things you use, from the shower, to washing your face, to deodorant, to toothpaste, to face creams, to make-up. We are putting toxins on, from the moment we wake up and just don’t stop. No wonder our bodies end up with cancers and other diseases.

She talked about soft water systems and how bad they are for us. Cause heart problems she said. A carbon-based water system is much better, but it’s for the whole home. So it costs a lot. But this way when you bathe or shower your body isn’t soaking in toxic water. Then there’s hard water, which has calcium and minerals, and associated with a longer life. But distilled water is a no-no! It leaches minerals out of your body. Very selfish water, don’t you think?

Then she talked about organic foods, which we all guessed were better for us, and our kids. She says it’s a must. Plus no hormones or antibiotics in foods. Plus she even talked about the stress on the animals that are getting hormones, and how that translates into food and it being toxic as we eat it. Who knew?

She mentioned Dr. Oz on Oprah, and how he talked about Blue Zones, where people lived longer. Most of them ate little meat, or mostly fish, or were vegetarian.

She then talked more about getting the toxins out of your laundry detergents, your make-up, your shampoos, etc. You’d be surprised at how toxic most things are that we put on our body, not just in. If you want to look up your beauty products, please go to ewg.org This is the website that got me into this health direction any way. Once I found out that most of our beauty products, toothpastes, shampoos, were toxic and carcinogenic, I couldn’t stop looking up ingredients. I was mortified to find out that the FDA does NOT care if we are poisoning ourselves. Since then, I have found that they are being paid by most of the companies that the FDA is supposed to be protecting us from. Kind of ironic, don’t ya think? And kind of scary. If they’re not going to protect us, then I guess it’s up to us.

Chris even mentioned the dyes on things like toothpaste or advil. And how hard it is for our body to process it. And why put a dye there any way? We don’t need it. And if it’s toxic, then what’s the point?!

She mentioned the creams she was using on her face, that she’s found to be non-toxic and non-carcinogenic. They’re from the rainforest. And the man who created them, John Easterling, gives the indigenous people the knowledge on how to grow these products without destroying the rainforests. Plus the products raise money to go back into supporting the rainforest. Plus Jacques Coustou’s son is giving this man props for what he’s doing for the rainforest. And he’s very environmental. Then, if you saw how young Chris looked. Wow! At least 10 years younger than her age. She’s having a pampering day at her house this Saturday, that all of us who were at the meeting are attending. Because Chris looked amazing! And she’s not poisoning her body. What a novel concept. If anyone wants to attend, just email me.

The website for the products are www.bledy.amazonherb.net

She also mentioned how she’s taking these NAC vitamins that keep the outside toxins, like pollution, out of your body. But she did mention they were pricey, and that the average person does not need to take them.

She talked about keeping your body alkaline-balanced to keep cancers away, and keep healthy. You can either eat a PH diet rich in vegetables, and keep away from acidic things like meat, white rice, sugars, etc. Or you can drink the alkaline waters. But some are very pricey. She did say you can just get PH drops for your water that are cheap and do the same thing. I think that’s in my price range! Because I do have a friend who has been telling me about Kengan water. And it costs $4000! I’m thinking, the drops sound good to me!

Chris also mentioned the importance of the cookware we used. Not to ever use non-stick. She gave the story of how her friend’s birds died from leaving the non-stick cooking on the stove for 10 minutes. They were all poisoned from it. And that’s what it’s doing to our bodies. She said the best is stainless steel. But it has to be 18/10 not 18/0. I saw that my Pampered Chef stainless steel is 18/10, if anyone wonders where to get that. It’s also good to use iron pans.

And she mentioned a man by the name of Adam Dreamhealer, who is healing people via energy. But she only touched upon that, so now I’m curious and have to look him up. Darn! Another project. Oh well. Such is the life of learning and becoming aware. Always another adventure. Always being led down another path. I guess that’s what so fun about this group and life. You just never know what will be next.