What if you could grow one of the most potent sources of an apoptosis (cancer cell suicide) inducing compound right in your own kitchen? You can! And this can be accomplished easily in 5-7 days. I'm referring to broccoli sprouts, the most potent source of sulforaphane we know. Stalks of broccoli are a great source of sulforaphane, but broccoli seeds grown into sprouts have been shown to have an impressive 50 to 100 times more of this important compound. As if that weren't enough, they actually taste good and can be used in smoothies, on salads, sandwiches, or a topping on pretty much any dish. These sprouts can be grown in a few easy steps. Broccoli seeds can be purchased at your local health food store or online. The first step is to take a 1/2 cup of seeds and soak them overnight. Using a strainer or jar with a mesh screen they can be rinsed and then allowed to sit somewhere in your kitchen. It's important that the seeds stay moist throughout the process and are not placed in direct sunlight until the very end of the process. Continue the rinsing step 2 or 3 times a day over the next 3-5 days. Again, the key is to keep the seeds moist. On the 3rd or 4th day they will start sprouting. Once they have had a day or two to sprout they can be placed near a window or outside to receive some direct sunlight. This will help them green up and be ready to be eaten. Enjoy!

Melissa Eppard is a 5 year survivor of triple negative breast cancer. Having been immersed in the holistic healing world before diagnosis, Melissa knew it was her calling to be a coach for cancer survivors. She is particularly passionate about being a support for people with a cancer diagnosis in the 20s-50s age group who deal with the complex nature of raising children, caring for aging parents and working. Often times finances are affected, relationships are affected and fear of recurrence is strong. Melissa believes that as a someone who has been through this experience she lends a great deal of support and wisdom. 

Andrea Anderson was at the top of her career and running on coffee, sugar and adrenaline. As a runner and an athlete she thought she was very healthy. Because her mother was diagnosed with breast cancer at age 39, she had 3 mammograms in her 30s with nothing detected and no mention of dense breasts. She started IVF cycles at the age of 39. For the next 2 1/2 years she loaded her body with hormones and eventually became pregnant. At week 30 of her pregnancy, May 2015 she went to her OB/GYN appointment and told her doctor she found a lump.

Andrea bravely takes us on her journey through her biopsy and diagnosis of aggressive Stage 2B / Stage 3 breast cancer, and her emotional experience of deciding on treatment, reflecting on her lifestyle choices, dealing with information overload and coping with the fear and anger that accompanies a cancer diagnosis. 

Listen to this podcast for a raw account of Andrea’s experience with the industry, with chemotherapy, with alternative treatments, and with finding the bless in the mess. She wants people to have the benefit of her experience and she is available for personal support and encouragement. 

You can also contact her directly through her health and wellness site at Nutrition Commission for support and information.