In Honor of Mom

At 5:05pm on September 29th, I lost my beloved mother, my best friend, my world, my everything. She was 59 years old. My mother died in my arms after a two and a half year battle with the most aggressive type of brain tumor - grade IV glioblastoma. I have been through surgeries, radiation, chemo, endless poking with needles for blood draws and injections, countless trips to the hospital, physical therapy, speech therapy, wheelchairs, and 5am wake-up times. 

I would be lying if I said I have had a good night's rest in the past years... But the last 48 hours have been surreal. It still feels like a dream - I was by my mother's side for 2 days straight, without getting up from the bed. I pushed her hospital bed close to the bed I slept in, and enveloped her in my love and warm embrace. Last night, my mother's best friends Claudio and Marc were there with me, as I sang songs to her, while we all said our goodbyes. She passed 4 times her last night, but came back into her body, and resumed breathing. 

Mom couldn't move, or talk, and she didn't have any food or water for 5 days, but was still going strong without life support or any fluids. The hospice nurses confirmed my disbelief - this was unseen strength for any patient they have ever worked with! She was holding on for me.

The last moments I had with my mom were unforgettable. I heard her last breath as I held her tight and told her how much I loved her. I told her I'm sorry I couldn't save her, but I did all that I could.

We had a beautiful celebration of life for my mother at Forest Lawn Hollywood Hills. I had her music playing in the church, everyone came dressed in all white, and the preacher sang a sermon in Russian for an hour. She was at ease, and is no longer suffering. She was beautiful...

Last night, Maria and I were going through Margarita's things, and packing clothes for donations. This paper with mom's affirmations was with some old CDs and address books from ten years ago, or so. I threw it in the garbage, but then quickly retrieved it because it looked like a love note. Incredible. Simply incredible to find this.

I love you, mom.

New Trends in Health for 2016

Being an esthetician, and a certified nutrition and wellness consultant for almost a decade, I have an immense passion for health and beauty, and an insatiable hunger for knowledge. I have always been a dedicated proponent of the organic and holistic lifestyle, so when tragedy struck in my family, I had no choice but to rise up to the occasion and educate myself as best as I could. For the past three years, I have been doing research to support my mother through her fight with the most aggressive brain tumor – grade IV Glioblastoma. These few years have taught me to appreciate the fragility of human health, and to never compromise the well-being of my body in search of vanity. I have some valuable information to share with you, and I hope my advice is helpful to you on your path to optimum wellness. My mentor, Louise L. Hay believes that all systems work well for different people, so the key is finding a balance. There is no need to frantically purchase all the items I list in the article, but incorporating some of these supplements, foods, and exercises into your daily routine will greatly benefit you!

A number of years ago, my mother was giving keynote lectures on candidiasis, and the importance of alkalizing the body. Now, as 2016 approaches, more and more people are becoming aware of this diet plan, and are healing themselves of acne, candida, gut issues, headaches, weight issues, fatigue, and many other health problems. The goal to this nutritional approach is alkalizing the body by properly balanced pH food combinations. This way of eating stresses the repopulation of the gut with friendly bacteria, especially after antibiotics, by using fermented vegetables and kefir, and it allows you to fully enjoy food without feeling bloated, fatigued, or spaced out. The key is eliminating all sugar, alcohol, caffeine, dairy, and bread from the diet, and following the 80/20 principle. The 80/20 principle states that 80% of the food on your plate must be alkaline (green leafy vegetables, cruciferous vegetables, sea kelp) and 20% of the food or less can be acidic (meat, grains, etc). Another important element is only eating until the stomach is 80% full, leaving 20% empty for comfortable digestion. In other words, stop before you feel full.

A great new idea is to try new fermented foods containing probiotics. Foods such as sauerkraut, kimchi, kombucha, miso, microalgae, and kefir contain friendly bacteria that will populate your gut, and create a healthy intestinal flora. 

For a daily supplement, I recommend Jarrow’s formula probiotics – shelf stable capsules with 5 billion viable cells per capsule. The formula contains all the beneficial bacteria your gut needs:

Lactobacillus rhamnosus R0011, Pediococcus acidilactici R1001, Bifidobacterium longum BB536, Bifidobacterium breve R0070, Lactobacillus helveticus (L. acidophilus) R0052, Lactobacillus casei R0215, Lactobacillus plantarum R1012, Lactococcus lactis ssp. lactis R1058

I also recommend taking certain key vitamins daily. Unlike most other mammals, we do not have the ability to make vitamin C, which means it needs to be added to your diet. In addition to being a powerful anti-oxidant, vitamin C plays a key role in collagen, serotonin, and carnitine production, vasodilation, and lowering blood pressure. 1,000 mg once daily is sufficient.

Also, consider taking 5,000 IU of vitamin D-3 daily. Getting enough sunshine throughout the day, and monitoring your blood D-3 levels is always a great idea. Research shows that vitamin D-3 plays a very important role in preventing disease and maintaining optimal health. We have about 30,000 genes in our bodies, and vitamin D-3 affects nearly 3,000 of them. Your skin creates same D-3 in response to sunlight as the D-3 you get from an oral supplement, and it’s much safer than tanning! 

More than 90% of the Nation is deficient in vitamin K. This vitamin is abundant in Japanese fermented natto, but can be purchased as a supplement over the counter. 100 mcg per day of vitamin K-2 is enough to help make your bones stronger, increase vascular health, and support the immune system!

Make sure you’re taking Omega 3 oils daily – I recommend 2 soft gels a day, each with 180 EPA / 120 DHA. While doing my cancer research for mom, I came across Johanna Budwig - based on her work on fatty acids she developed a diet that she believed was useful in the treatment of cancer. She was a German biochemist, pharmacist and held doctorate degrees in physics and chemistry. Budwig was nominated for the Nobel Prize 6 times, and her genius recipe is still reviving patients, and helping them live longer. You can look up the “Budwig Diet” for additional info and recipe.

Mushrooms also play a big part in reducing inflammation that causes stress, fatigue, brain fog, weight gain, acne, and many other issues. My favorite blend is Aloha Medicinals Immune Assist Critical Care Formula – certified organic full spectrum mycoproducts. Each 6 capsule dose provides 1500 mg of a complex profile of beta-glucans, nucleosides and other bio-active compounds extracted from six different well known medicinal mushroom species.

I also take bio-curcumin (derived from turmeric) for brain health, and prevention of brain tumors. I believe in turmeric with all my heart, and think it is a truly amazing substance! 

Organic and natural food is extremely important, and plays a tremendous part in our body's functions, pH balance, weight, hormone levels, digestion, and mood. Eating right, and taking the right supplements is a step in the right direction, but a systematic lifestyle of healthy nutrition and exercise is the key to longevity and vitality! There is no one exercise plan that is perfect for everyone, but I believe in 3 key elements of physical activity which strengthen, lengthen, tone, and condition the body, and when practiced often, give the best overall results! 

1. Aerobic exercise, such as brisk walks, jogging, dancing, trampoline, bicycle, swimming, and anything else that gets you breathing and oxygenating the body, as well as your blood circulating and moving stagnation. Obesity is a 21st century epidemic in America, and with lack of aerobic exercise, the body can amass a fat padding not only on the outside, but even around the internal organs! All forms of aerobic exercise help to massage the colon, and move waste matter out of the body, therefore detoxifying and cleansing. While we are healthy and strong, we need to adapt to an exercise routine that will build up our endurance, so in the unpredicted case of general anesthesia (GA), the risks of anything going wrong will be minimal. Aerobic exercise is wonderful conditioning for the body - once you get used to this sort of fast paced physical activity, you will never walk up a flight of stairs huffing and puffing ever again! Personally, I never take the elevator - stairs are a great way to get some exercise in during your workday or while running daily errands!

2. Weight training! I hear many opinions on this topic, especially women who are afraid of weight training, thinking that they will look bulky and masculine. Don't fear this form of exercise, because it's a guaranteed method for strengthening muscles, toning flabby areas, and conditioning the body. You don't have to use heavy weights, that is not the most important factor. It's more important to keep correct form, and do these exercises slowly. Never do jerky movements, never strain yourself, and remember to keep your knees softly bent when working with a barbell or free weights. When your muscles are firm, they will hold your internal organs in place, keep your back straight, and burn more calories than fat, even while at rest. 

3. Stretching is incredibly important! I know it may seem useless for most of us to be able to bend over and touch our toes, but believe me, it is essential! Our spine is like a doric column supporting the roof of the Parthenon, except our column (spine) has our spinal cord running through it. Have you been to the chiropractor for an adjustment? He will roll you from side to side, stretch you out, and alleviate any pinching of the nerves that may have occurred in your spine. With regular stretching, you help yourself by allowing the spinal fluid flow freely, reducing the pinched nerves, and lengthening the muscles. Stretching also reduces the buildup of lactic acid in the body, and helps move stagnation. When we get older, with no stretching or weight training, the back can start to collapse forward, forming a hunch which can cause the lungs to collapse and take in a reduced amount of oxygen, and the ribcage to press down on the stomach, therefore releasing acid, and causing GERD. A great form of stretching is hatha yoga - it is both enjoyable and beneficial to the body!

Hopefully this advice has been helpful to you, and will get you motivated to incorporate these suggestions into your daily routine! I am wishing you health and longevity!

UCLA Brain Tumor Conference

Still processing the UCLA brain tumor conference hosted by my mother's amazing doctor - Dr. Timothy Cloughesy, in my mind. Even though I received a mass of knowledge regarding pathology, neurosurgery (including a video of the amazing Dr. Linda Liau removing a glioma from a composer's brain while he creates a melody), radio-surgery, radiation equipment, tumor bank, 3D models, chemo etc., the most absurd reality is: 

1.) Not one of these world-renowned experts is sure what the cause of malignant brain tumors is. 

2.) The pathology of different types of gliomas is 100% clear and understandable to them, but they still don't know how to CURE the issue (because they haven't found the correct combination of drugs to cause complete tumor necrosis). 

With that said, I'd like to point out that even though prognosis and statistics for high-grade glioma patients are very poor, after attending an event like this, the real answer to the problem is connecting with the right people. Just like in any other life situation, a kind and understanding physician may not have all the answers in the world, but will put the patient's heart at ease, and increase his or her quality of life. Understanding, patience, and kindness.

I am not sure why I am writing all this... probably because I feel a very strong love for people, and keep seeing people create amazing things for saving other people's lives, such as all this medical equipment that seems like something out of a futuristic movie. The work that is done by these physicians is mind-blowing, but a heartfelt hug and a smile of reassurance is sometimes a more comforting part of the job.

Sorting Out Your Priorities

I'm always amazed at the number of people I constantly meet, who feel drawn to my ideas! I just returned from Miami, this weekend I will be teaching in NY, and everything I put my mind to is a success because of one simple reason - I have my priorities sorted out correctly. 

So many people live their lives in constant stress, because money is their main priority. Getting more money, spending more money, having money only to help others, having money only to show your status, spending money on others because they have spent on you, believing money is difficult to come by, etc. 

Are you allowing yourself to have fun with your money? Why not? It's just a means of exchange, that's all it is. This constant stress is what I feel, has created cancer in my mother's perfectly healthy and beautiful body, and (adversely) has helped me realize how to set my own priorities. For the past 2 years that I have been taking care of my mother and grandmother, while running a corporation, I have realized that prosperity thinking has nothing to do with marketing, making money, or having any special system of living. Prosperity comes when we realize that we are stable and have all the wealth we need when we know our next breath is provided for us. Just in the same matter, if your bills are paid, and you are safely asleep in a comfortable bed at night, trust that your stress will not aid you to make more money. 

I am completely aware that I don't have the ability to cure my mother's cancer, and this doesn't mean I have to break down and mourn her illness. Having my priorities sorted out, means that I take care of my family first, uphold the integrity of my business, take care of my own mental state by releasing anxiety, engaging in positive activities, helping the less fortunate, and doing my best not to project into the future. Who knows what is going to happen next? Just make the best of the time and sort out your priorities.

Early Detection- Listen to Your Symptoms

Our parents made sure to take care of us when we were young, and took us to the doctor when we complained of pain. For many adults, their children are still their priorities, and even though our parents get older, they sometimes forget to pay attention to their own symptoms, and let warning signs go unnoticed. As you know, early detection is the most important step towards treating oncology, and since the year is quickly coming to an end, I'd like to remind everyone to book an appointment to see the doctor if you or your parents have any (even minor) health complaints. 

Although some cancers don't exhibit any symptoms, for the most part, like pancreatic cancer, or some high-grade gliomas (VI) stage brain cancer, you may still notice slight differences in health. My mother didn't know about her brain tumor, even though it was the size of an orange up until her seizure and collapse. Ladies, since our face is the mirror of our internal health, if you notice any recurring pustules on the chin, it is advisable to see the gynecologist, because that area is directly linked to our reproductive system and ovaries. This type of blemish on the face may signify ovarian cysts, or worse. Blemishes between the eyebrows can signify poor liver health, and an abdominal ultrasound and MRI are highly advised. 

Personally, I never allow X-Rays and CAT scans to be performed on me or my loved ones, unless it is of life and death importance. Both of these diagnostics carry substantial doses of radiation, and as we know, radiation is cumulative in our bodies. An absolutely safe test is an MRI, it is just a magnet, and can even be done daily.

Please take care of your health, and the health of your loved ones. Health and love is all we need to lead a happy and fulfilled life, and everything else will come.

Radiation and Our Health

For the past 2 years, I have spent countless hours trying to connect the dots, and find the reason for my mother's sudden illness. She was living an incredibly healthy lifestyle, eating mostly a plant-based, all-organic diet, dancing salsa 3 nights a week, hiking, traveling, singing, lecturing, and enjoying her work as a CEO of a world-famous brand. 

Why do some people get cancer, and what contributes to cancer cells firing? Simply put, cancer is the uncontrolled growth of cells. In a healthy body, natural processes control the rate at which cells grow and replace themselves, as well as the body's processes for repairing or replacing damaged tissue. Changes occurring at the cellular level disrupt the control processes, permitting the growth of cancer cells.  A big factor in breaking chemical bonds in atoms and molecules is radiation, that's what makes it such a powerful carcinogen. Radiation causes mutations in the DNA blueprint, and contributes to cancer cells spreading uncontrollably. This became apparent in the early 1900s, when people working around radioactive matter and x-ray equipment began to develop skin cancer. 

We all know about Chernobyl, Hiroshima and Nagasaki, but did you realize that we are receiving large amounts of radiation on a daily basis? Everything, from using your microwave to using your cell phone, to airplane travel, and all sorts of medical procedures. All of this adds up in our system, potentially causing us health problems down the road. 

I want to start by giving you some numbers, so that you may adequately compare the amount of radiation received at every exposure. The effects I will talk about are stochastic effects - meaning low-level long-term effects of radiation that pile up and lead to damage. There are also non-stochastic effects that are instantly apparent after a heavy dose of radiation, such as burns and nausea, and usually death within the next 2 months. 

The scientific unit of measurement for radiation dose, commonly referred to as effective dose, is a millisievert (mSv). Because different organs have varying sensitivity to radiation exposure, the actual radiation risk to different parts of the body from an x-ray procedure varies. The term effective dose is used when referring to the radiation risk averaged over the entire body. Here is a chart which reflects

Plainly said, 5 CAT scans in your lifetime, and the chance of cancer is almost certain. This is the reason why x-rays and CAT scans are very important decisions, that shouldn't be taken lightly. Pregnancy is a contraindication for CAT scans and x-rays, because of high risk of mutation and birth defects.

Lastly, I want to talk about mundane radiation we receive from using our phones, laptops, and iPads, and how to reduce it.

Cell phones and other mobile devices emit radiofrequency (RF) waves, a type of non-ionizing electromagnetic radiation (commonly called “cell phone radiation”). When you hold or carry a mobile device close to your head and body, you can absorb over half of the transmitted RF energy.

Cell phone radiation level varies from device to device and is measured by the Specific Absorption Rate (SAR). A mobile device’s SAR rating is used to estimate the maximum rate of RF energy absorption by a user’s head and body when using the device. In the United States, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) sets the exposure limit for the general public to be an SAR level of 1.6 watts per kilogram (1.6 W/kg). A mobile device’s SAR rating must not exceed 1.6 W/kg in order to receive FCC certification and be sold in the United States. SAR is measured for placement of the phone next to the head and on the body. For example, the iPhone 6 has a Body SAR of 1.14 W/kg and Head SAR of 1.08 W/kg. 

Furthermore, you may not be aware that the current FCC guidelines allow a device to be tested up to 25 mm away from the user’s body. Distance is a key factor in determining the amount of exposure from a device – the intensity of radiation increases rapidly as you get closer to the device. As a result, when you carry your device directly against your body, you may be exposed to radiation levels that exceed the device’s SAR rating and even the FCC exposure limit. For instance, if you place an iPhone 5 in contact with your body, your body exposure may exceed the FCC’s limit by more than 4 times. That’s why all cell phone manufactures include warnings in their user’s manuals to keep the cell phone a certain distance away from your body for safety concern. For example, you can find RF exposure information for Apple devices here. Apple even includes a proximity sensor in its iPhone 5S, 6, 6Plus and iPads to detect the presence of a user’s body and subsequently reduce the device’s transmitted signal in order to comply with the FCC’s RF exposure limit. - Rong Wang, Ph.D.

This is why you need to protect yourself and your loved ones with a case that directs the radiation away from the head and body, and the case I trust is PONG - you can research it here: http://www.pongcase.com. As you know, I am not affiliated with them, but I believe in sharing valuable information with my friends, and I believe in this brand wholeheartedly. Another important piece of advice I'd like to share with you, is to sleep without your electronic devices nearby. Many people choose to sleep with their phone under their pillow, or next to them on a nightstand, and the same for their laptop. Please disconnect yourself from this habit, and not only will you reduce your radiation exposure, but you will get a peaceful night's sleep with no distractions, rings, or notifications. Take good care of your health and your body, and give it some rest!