MammAlive Foundation for Breast Health and Education

Stay Hopeful
Try not to become overwhelmed. Take small steps each month and share your knowledge to empower others to make changes too. For more information on the many ways to improve breast health and reduce your risk for breast cancer or its recurrence, visit www.mammalive.net and www.mammalivefoundation.org Consider signing up for the 12-module Healthy Breast Foundations program which covers many more ways to reduce your risk for breast cancer or its recurrence – from environmental to dietary, physical, mental and spiritual elements.

Act locally, think globally
You have the power to transform the planet as a consumer. Consider the environmental impact of the products you purchase and how they ultimately affect our health. How far did they travel? Who made them? How much water and what chemicals were used? Where did those chemicals end up? Who is affected? Do you have what you need and need what you have? How often do you make impulse purchases to grab a good deal, as opposed to shopping with purpose? Does the ease of online shopping make it more tempting? Buy locally, live more simply and choose businesses with high standards that generate a positive benefit for the planet such as Certified B Corporations (www.bcorporation.net).

Adopt the precautionary principle
Assume that when an activity raises threats of harm to the environment or human health, precautionary measures should be taken even if science has not fully established a cause and effect relationship.

Reduce your reliance on canned goods
The linings of many canned goods contain BPA, BPS, phthalates and other hormone mimickers. Look for alternative packaging, such as glass. Buy flash frozen produce, batch cook and freeze foods like legumes, buy only fresh or frozen vegetables and berries, and enjoy fresh, unprocessed food as often as you can.

Consider alternatives to the birth control pill
The pill and hormone replacement therapies can increase the risk of breast cancer. After they leave your body and enter our waterways, they can disrupt aquatic life and contaminate drinking water. Learn about holistic ways to balance your hormones by visiting www.mammalive.net and www.mammalivefoundation.org and working with a naturopathic doctor.

Keep cell phones away from your body/head
If possible use a regular landline, as even cordless phones emit high frequency fields. Use speaker mode or air-tube headphones, rather than wireless headphones and minimize or avoid use of bluetooth. Disable 5G access on your phone and turn off data when not in use, as well as while taking longer car trips, so your phone is not constantly searching for a signal.

Keep EMFs at a safe distance.
Reduce your exposure to electromagnetic fields (EMFs) by keeping devices away from your body. EMFs become 80% less powerful at a distance of 2½ feet (75 cm) so move cell phones, screens, power bars, radios and even lamps away from where you spend long periods of time, especially where you sleep. Walls do not stop EMFs. Know where your smart meter, electric panels, Wifi and routers are located so you can arrange your room to avoid them. Unplug devices when not in use and turn Wifi off at night. Consider getting your home inspected for EMF levels or purchase a meter (such as Trifield or Gauss) to check your home for problem areas.

Use electric or manual yard equipment. Gasoline powered equipment such as lawnmowers, leaf blowers and snow blowers emit a disproportionate amount of pollution as they tend to lack emission reduction equipment. If you use manual equipment like push mowers, rakes and shovels, you get to skip the gym.

Celebrate EARTH DAY – Plant at least one tree each year to help restore the forests which are lungs of our planet. Plant a bee or butterfly garden. Learn more about endangered species and to protect wetlands and conservation areas in your region. Consider donating to an environmental organization such as www.onetreeplanted.org. Spend some time “earthing” daily by standing on the ground with bare feet. Enjoy the therapeutic benefits of “forest bathing” or walking in nature and take the time to hug a tree. Try the yoga Tree Pose, rooting yourself to Mother Earth and outstretching your arms like branches to the sky.
Visit the MammAlive Foundation for Breast Health and Education page to register for our free Earth Day webinar - Restoring the Earth, Restoring the Feminine, at 4pm EST, on Earth Day,

The MammAlive Foundation will be hosting another free Restoring the Earth, Restoring the Feminine event on Earth Day, April 22, from 4:00-5:00pm ET (Toronto time).
The topics for this event include:
Herbs and medicinal plants you can use and grow for breast health (Sat Dharam Kaur N.D.)
Best foods for breast health (Priya Duggal ND)
Top Environmental Tips to reduce breast cancer risk (Raissa Chernushenko)
What is your Eco-Identity and why is this important? (Camryn Ruthven)
Here is the Zoom registration link to this event.
Register in advance for this meeting:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZAqdeqhpz0qHNRSUsMcyIRKHdJXG1ONGevn

Grow your own food. If planting your garden in a raised bed, use fresh soil from a reputable source. Test your soil before you plant an edible garden if you have any reason to suspect soil contamination on your property or pesticide use by previous owners or neighbours.

Repel pests with herbs, spices and essential oils instead of pesticides. Avoid pesticide use both inside and outside your home. Garden pests, as well as ants, fleas and lice, can be treated with natural products that you may already own. Visit www.beyondpesticides.org for fact sheets on how to companion plant and/or use earth friendly products.

Write a letter Use your voice in whatever way you can to influence manufacturers and government policy. Sign petitions created by organizations like

www.environmentaldefense. ca or create your own on sites such as Change.org, iPetitions or Avaaz. Use social media to raise awareness and support environmental causes that affect you and the planet.

Have your basement checked for radon. Radon is an odorless but dangerous radioactive gas that can compromise lung and breast health. The breakdown of naturally occurring uranium in soils and rocks produces radon that can seep into well water and indoor air. Test the lowest occupied level of buildings where radon can accumulate to high concentrations (https://radiationsafety.ca/laboratory-services/home-radon-testing/).

Open your windows and buy houseplants Indoor air pollution is often worse than outdoor air pollution. Improve ventilation and remove indoor sources of pollution. Start with venting the gas stove, broiler, grill and fireplace to the outdoors and avoid wood burning fireplaces and stoves. Indoor plants can help improve air quality. Some of the best include the spider plant, snake plant, peace lily and dracaena. Look for those which are safe for your pets and can grow indoors in low light settings such as bedrooms and bathrooms.

Reduce dirty electricity Hire an electrician to inspect your home and eliminate loose or poor connections, replace poorly made switches, replace dimmer switches with regular off/on switches, and make sure the wire between the meter and your electrical box is wide enough so it doesn’t bottleneck high frequencies. Consider purchasing high frequency filters to plug into your electrical outlets to reduce dirty power. Some studies show that electricity and electromagnetic fields are linked to a higher incidence of breast cancer. Magnetic fields could enhance cancer cell growth by blocking the protective effects of the hormone melatonin, which also plays an important role in regulating your sleep cycle.

Assess your radiation risk We are all exposed to both natural and man-made sources of radiation from a variety of sources on a daily basis during our lifetime. Medical imaging, ci******es, airplane travel, computer and television screens, are just some of the contributing sources. To help protect ourselves from incremental levels of global radiation due to nuclear accidents and nuclear warheads, we can eat foods high in antioxidants such as matcha green tea, goji berries and blueberries, as well as brown seaweeds such as kelp and wakame.
You can estimate your radiation dose from natural and man-made sources using this tool: https://www.epa.gov/radiation/calculate-your-radiation-dose.

Do your research on flooring, wall coverings and windows
When buying new items or upgrading your home, be aware that polyvinyl chloride (PVC) is found in flooring, wall coverings and windows. The strong odours you smell when you open up many new items such as yoga mats, shower curtains and flexible toys come from the off-gassing of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). If you cannot avoid their use, be sure to create good ventilation or place them outside during this time. Flexible plastics also contain a class of chemicals called phthalates. To avoid exposure to these endocrine disrupting compounds, look for natural, untreated materials or alternatives such as nylon and search for manufacturers of PVC and phthalate-free products whenever possible.

Use paints, stains and sealants labeled “Low” or “No” VOC Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) can pollute the air in your home and some VOCs can cause cancer. Health Canada provides guidance about reducing VOCs in your home in a handy infographic.

Remove outdoor shoes to avoid tracking toxins into your home Pesticides and other toxins can enter your home when tracked in on the bottom of your shoes. To minimize the spread of toxins, place a doormat on the outside of each entrance and remove shoes upon entry. Also be sure to vacuum and dust regularly to reduce the buildup of toxins in your household dust, flooring and carpeting.

Choose natural fibres and materials Look for upholstery and linens made from untreated materials. Fabric treatments like “shrink proof”, “wrinkle proof” and “waterproof” generally contain toxic chemicals. Sleepwear, mattresses and furnishings are often treated with flame retardants known as polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs or “forever chemicals”) which are extremely difficult, if not impossible, to completely eliminate from our bodies. They have been shown to bioaccumulate in our tissues and breast milk, affecting our hormonal system and causing reproductive harm.

Choose eco-friendly period products Endocrine disrupting phthalates are present in most sanitary napkins. Organic, scent-free pads and tampons, cotton, h**p or cloth pads and silicone menstrual cups are healthier for our bodies and the planet. If you use Period Underwear products, do your research to avoid endocrine disrupting PFAS by visiting sites providing studies such as www.mamavation.com.

Find chlorine bleach alternatives In washing machines, the kitchen, dishwasher and bathroom cleaners, chlorine-based products can release chloroform, believed to be a carcinogen. Use baking soda and vinegar for cleaning along with essential oils such as lemon and pine. Use natural sunlight or lemon juice to lighten clothes or look for oxygen-based bleaches and non-toxic soap based stain removers.

Ditch the plastics For any food or beverage use, if you must use plastics, choose #1, 2, 4 and 5 as they are less toxic. Avoid polycarbonate water bottles with #7 which may contain bisphenol A (BPA), #3 which is PVC and #6 which is polystyrene because they may leach substances that act as hormone disruptors.

Reduce or avoid char when grilling foods Char contains polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) known to cause mammary tumours and reproductive harm. Other sources of PAHs include fumes from asphalt and combustion of organic matter such as fireplaces, stoves, ci******es and vehicle exhaust.

Purchase organic produce whenever possible Check out the Dirty Dozen and Clean Fifteen list on the Environmental Working Group website (www.EWG.org). Industrially farmed produce and genetically modified foods are often sprayed with pesticides and herbicides and may contain glyphosate. Glyphosate has entered all aspects of our environment from food to water to air. Glyphosate has been found to be carcinogenic, toxic and endocrine disrupting.

Do a kitchen audit for PFAS Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) act as endocrine disruptors and can be found in items such as non-stick cookware, food wrapping and microwaveable popcorn bags. Replace these items with heat-resistant glass, lead-free ceramic, steel-clad and cast iron cookware, and glass or ceramic food storage containers to reduce ongoing exposure.

Consider a solid carbon block filter in your kitchen tap and bathroom shower This is important if your tap water is chlorinated or may be polluted by upstream sources of pollution such as a sewage treatment plant.