Local breast cancer survivor shares nutrition tips that helped her heal

Описание: CINCINNATI (WKRC) - A local breast cancer survivor is now inspiring others in her journey to recovery.

Maria Adkins was diagnosed with breast cancer on Dec. 3 three years ago and has had quite a journey to recovery the past few years, but as a registered dietitian, she knew her body needed healthy foods to fuel healing, so she did a lot with diet. Now, she's sharing what's on her personal menu.

She had all the traditional treatments and is now cancer free, but much of her medicine in recovery came from her working knowledge that food is medicine. Adkins says she always ate healthy foods but now she eats even healthier.

Adkins recently became a peer support dietitian at the Recovery Center of Hamilton County. She now teaches others about the benefits of the foods she learned helped her battle back.

"It makes me feel a lot more in control of my life, personally, and I feel like I can help others even more because I have a story that I didn't have before," Adkins said.

Adkins said her diet is plant-based, lower in fat and fast foods. Her day often starts with yogurt.

"I encourage a lot of [probiotics] and prebiotics because our brain and our gut are connected," she said.

From there, her proteins are often plant-based too with nuts. She also tries to include flaxseeds with good oils in them. She puts those in her coffee.

She also eats:

Oats
Blueberries
Salmon
Greens
Beans
She cooks with olive oil whenever possible and still believes that adding lots of colorful fruits and vegetables adds lots of healing goodness. As for those who've taken her classes:

"I feel like nutrition is a very big part that could make a benefit and improve the body, the mind and the soul," said social work student Juliette Kitenda.