What you eat could save your life: that is the theme of the 10th annual Cancer Survivor’s Day celebration called “Seeds of Hope” at Kaiser Permanente Santa Clara June 9. The event features Kaiser Permanente’s Director of Culinary Medicine and others talking about the importance of nutrition, its role in preventing cancer and protecting the survivorship of post-cancer patients.
“Evidence-based studies show that a diet rich in vegetables can decrease the risk of some cancers, diabetes and cardiac disease,” said Dr. Linda Shiue, Director of Culinary Medicine at Kaiser Permanente San Francisco. “This diet can also help you lose weight, and it’s well-known that obesity is a risk for cancer.”
Themed “Eat Well, Heal Well, Live Well,” the event will include a demonstration by Dr. Shiue and tasting of health-promoting vegetable dishes that are delicious and simple to create. Dr. Shiue is also a professionally trained chef, food blogger and is now writing a cookbook filled with vegetable-based recipes.
“I’ve always loved healthy cooking,” said Dr. Shiue. “But it wasn’t until I attended a Harvard University and Culinary Institute of America Conference called ‘Healthy Kitchens, Healthy Lives’ that I realized food’s connection to my medical practice.”
In her internal medicine practice, Dr. Shiue works with her patients to ensure they adopt a more plant-based diet. She provides them with recipes, resources and even runs healthy cooking classes, called the Thrive Kitchen, at the San Francisco Medical Center. The lessons are open to the public, as well as Kaiser Permanente members, and she also provides healthy cooking lessons for her physician colleagues. Dr. Shiue believes in the importance of improving your lifestyle to include healthier food and more exercise.
“Every step counts,” said Dr. Shiue. “It’s empowering you to improve something you do every day that will improve your life.”
Also speaking at “Seeds of Hope” is Dr. Donald Abrams, an oncologist with University of California San Francisco’s Osher Center. He will provide the keynote speech on nutrition and cancer.
“Good nutrition is an important part of the regimen, but other facets include nutritional supplements, physical activity, yoga, and more,” wrote Dr. Abrams on his web page.
Yoga, Zumba, Tai Chi, chair massage and other physical activities will be part of “Seeds of Hope,” as well as lessons in organic vegetable gardening from Kaiser Permanente Pediatrician Dr. Keith Fabisiak.
There are an estimated 18 million cancer survivors living in the United States.
“But 40% of them revert to former habits that do not promote reduced risk of recurrence,” wrote Dr. Anita TC Lee, a Kaiser Permanente Radiation Oncologist and an organizer of the “Seeds of Hope.” “Once you have had a cancer, you are at higher risk for developing a second cancer.”
Those former habits include smoking, drinking, lack of exercise and poor nutrition.
Please register for the event at: https://tinyurl.com/soh2019
View Comments (2)
Is your event in Santa Clara open to the public as well?
Hi Joseph,
Yes. The event is open to Kaiser Permanente members and the public. You must register for the event using the link at the end of the story.