Featured photo: Dr. Shan Jackson and Alberto Albiar Jr., owner of Steady Eddy’s in the Flint Farmer’s Market, work together to serve and help the Flint community.
Written by Tanya Terry
Dr. Shan Jackson, certified holistic health and wellness educator, recently shared with the Courier that her aunt died of cancer in 2023. Jackson said her aunt kept the fact she was struggling with cancer to herself.
“Cancer is one of those subjects that no one really wants to have a conversation about,” Jackson said.
Jackson stated her aunt told not one person in the family that she had cancer.
“She went through this two months on her own, and she ended up passing in her house,” added Jackson. “So, I want to kind of be an advocate to…explain to people how important it is to establish a support system. But also how to utilize other services within the city of Flint to kind of help you navigate while you walk through your journey with cancer.”
Although Jackson is certified when it comes to nutrition, she told the Courier she learned about nutrition and cancer “along the way” through education and working with various cancer patients.
“Even with my younger patient, her mother actually took her back to the doctor after so many months of her having cancer, and she was in remission. So, the doctor was like: ‘Everything is working?’ She said: ‘No, we changed the things we were eating inside the household.’ The doctor deemed it as a spontaneous remission. But she knew that it had a lot to do with the food they had started eating inside the household.”
Jackson explained the family changed their eating habits collectively, with ALL family members eating differently because they had someone in the house who had a sensitive system and could not eat the things everyone else could eat.
“So, all the family went in on a vegetarian, plant-based diet.”
Jackson pointed out when a person does not eat right, their medications won’t work right. She added this includes even mental health medications.
“I say embark on your path of wellness by starting to add more smoothies. I say you have a lot of antioxidants that are high in Vitamin C; that means a lot of your oranges, your pineapples. Try to be more plant-based. You don’t have to always eat meat. You can get that protein from beans, peanut butter or avocado. Definitely try to eat as clean as possible. That means a lot of green foods, a lot dairy, a lot of nuts – and definitely (get) a lot of physical activity. You should at least get out 30 minutes out of the day to get some sunlight, and drink a lot of water.”
Jackson explained this was more of a preventative method.
She stated when a person finds they have cancer they should avoid beef as much as possible. Pork and lamb should also be limited.
According to Jackson, one key to cancer risk reduction is getting immune system support from food, nutrients and lifestyle choices.
Jackson also recommends a whole-food plant-based diet and anti-inflammatory foods, as inflammation creates an environment in which cancer is more likely to develop.
“Me and Dr. Jackson actually got together last year when she found out I was selling soursop, which was actually one of the things in her book,” stated Alberto Alviar Jr., owner of Steady Eddy Café and fruit stand.
In addition, nutraceuticals are nutrients that have been shown in laboratory work to interrupt cancer cell growth at various stages of its development, or they prevent or cure other diseases. However, these nutrients DO NOT replace cancer treatment.
Other healthy lifestyle choices include:
- Sleeping 7-9 hours a night
- Laughing often
- Managing stress
- Achieving and maintaining a healthy body weight
- And spending time in nature
Jackson’s book “Nourishing Hope: A Cancer Patient’s Guide to Eating” was published May 5, 2024. It is dedicated to her aunt, Mary Williams, who died in 2023, and her mentor, Rose Blanding, who died in 2022. Jackson will talk about the book and much more on during an intimate conversation with the public to be held from 2-5 p.m., at the Gloria Coles Flint Public Library July 20.
Jackson’s other books include “the Dash Diet Cookbook: Quick Delicious Dash Diet Recipe for Weight Solution and Lowering Blood Pressure” (which she said is also very helpful for people with high cholesterol), “The Plant-Based Diet for a Healthy Life,” Rainbow Power (which teaches kids how to eat through color), Yummy Tummy Children’s Recipe Cookbook, and Super Food for Mental Disorders (which has been dedicated to the Genesee County Jail, the sheriff and the inmates who were not afraid to try new things).
