I’ve recently noticed a disturbing trend.
I call it the “supplements vs food” trend.
You know supplements are a hot topic in the ER+/PR+ breast cancer community, and it’s likely you toss back a few yourself (when you remember to take them).
Just last week I saw this IG post, “The 5 supplements every breast cancer survivor must take!”
That’s just the tip of the iceberg.
For my entire 20+ year career as a dietitian and nutrition therapist, supplementation has been on my professional radar. From supplements touted to speed weight loss to those that promise enhanced sports performance, I’ve seen them all.
When I was a brand new dietitian I attended a conference where I learned about the “new” FDA label claims for foods and dietary supplements act.
It was a big deal.
Now, as a seasoned, very experienced dietitian and nutrition therapist, seeing so many untrained, unqualified people (like the person who shared the post I mentioned above) continue to recommend and sell supplements makes me crazy.
And in my opinion, THAT’S a big deal.
But it’s not what this post is about.
IS THIS YOU, PERHAPS?
This post is about what I’m noticing, namely, women in the breast cancer community – especially those who’ve finished treatment – comfortably relying on supplements that are unproven to prevent recurrence (or in the case of METS, progression), while at the same time, anxiously eliminating entire food groups that are unproven to cause recurrence or progression.
Think about that for a second.
Food is safe to eat. It comes with no warning label, side effects, nor overconsumption concerns.
Yet supplements are unregulated, and can be created and sold by anyone, without even having to register the supplement(s) nor prove its effectiveness.
It’s not unheard of for supplements to be sold without any sound science to back them up.
And yet, some of you have taken the route of supplements first, because you’ve determined you can’t trust food alone to help keep you safe.
I see women spend untold hundreds of dollars per month chasing the latest promise that a particular pill, powder or potion will reduce their risk of recurrence.
And believe me, I get it.
The mixing, monitoring and timing of teas and tinctures and pills and potions takes your mind off the way your post-surgery body looks, the recurrence anxiety you carry, and the post-traumatic place you find yourself in after the hell you’ve been through.
Because honestly, the way to end your anxiety and help you feel in charge of your survivorship couldn’t possibly be as simple as eating actual food, could it?
Of course not.
WHAT FEELING SAFE IS ABOUT
Feeling safe comes from linking hope that you’ll never have to go through that again to the promise of anyone who sounds convincing enough to make you doubt what you’re doing and believe what they’re saying.
This isn’t a new phenomenon.
I wrote about this “supplements as food” situation last year.
Listen. There’s nothing wrong with including supplements in your nutritional wellness program. There’s definitely a place for them; I even take a few myself.
Having said that, I encourage you to start with food first.
Learning to trust the power of actual food to support your survivorship wellbeing is the first step to optimizing your survivorship breast and overall nutritional health.
We have scientific data to support how the synergy of nutrients, fiber and other properties found in real food is beneficial to our health, and that can never be replicated by, nor replaced with a supplement regimen.
If you’ve added supplements while cutting out entire food groups (dairy is a common one) in an effort to “do something” that you think will help you be healthy (i.e. safe), yet still feel confused about what to eat and anxiety with every bite, supplementation isn’t solving your problem.
Let me know in the comments, have you replaced food with supplements and feel “safer” because of it?
_________________________________________________________________________________
Thanks for reading my blog post! Inspired and/or enlightened by what you read? Be sure to subscribe so you never miss a new post.
Subscribe by CLICKING HERE to get your FREE copy of The Five Foods Survivors Should Eat
CLICK THIS LINK and watch my 2-minute Peaceful Plate program video!
Follow me on Instagram @hormone.breastcancer.dietitian
This information is for educational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Please consult your dietitian or doctor for guidance specific to your needs.