134: Suppressing Cancer and Supporting Recovery Through Plant-Based Nutrition
Release Date: 08/20/2025
157: Easily Eat 42 Plants A Week: How to Actually Make Plant-Based Meal Prep Work
NHA Today Podcast
From the NHA Today Archives! As many people look to refresh their routines and build healthier habits, this replay episode of NHA Today offers simple, realistic guidance for making plant-based eating sustainable. Host Stephanie Peacock speaks with Natalie Golba, co-founder of The Healthiest Chef, about how basic meal prep strategies can remove overwhelm, save time, and support lasting whole-food, plant-based habits—especially during seasons of reset like spring. Rather than focusing on perfection, Natalie emphasizes starting small, building confidence in the kitchen, and creating systems...
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156: Reversing Chronic Disease Through Fasting & Plant-Based Nutrition with Dr. Csilla Veress (Replay)
NHA Today Podcast
From the NHA Archives and newly relevant today. In this replay episode of NHA Today, guest host Maxime Sigouin revisits a powerful conversation with Dr. Csilla Veress, ND, an attending clinician at True North Health Center, exploring the science and real-world impact of medically supervised water-only fasting on gut health, stress, and long-term healing. Drawing from over a decade of clinical experience, Dr. Veress explains why fasting works so differently in a supervised, low-stress environment and why so many people struggle to replicate results at home. This episode takes on added...
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155: From Knowing to Doing: Closing the Gap in Plant-Based Living with Timaree Hagenburger
NHA Today Podcast
Why do so many people know what’s healthy—yet struggle to follow through? In this episode of NHA Today, host Dr. Frank Sabatino sits down with Timaree Hagenburger, MPH, RDN, LD/N, also known as The Nutrition Professor, to explore the critical gap between nutrition knowledge and real-life behavior change. With over 20 years of experience in plant-based education, public health nutrition, and community-based programs like WIC, Timaree shares powerful stories that reveal why information alone isn’t enough—and what actually helps people succeed long term. Together, they discuss food...
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154: From Retreat to Real Life: NHA & TrueNorth Unite to Support Health at Home
NHA Today Podcast
In this special episode, host Dr. Frank Sabatino is joined by Mark Huberman (President of the National Health Association), Wanda Huberman (Executive Director), Dr. Alan Goldhamer (Founder & Director of TrueNorth Health Center), and Dr. Lisa Acocella, physician and educator at TrueNorth. Together, they share the story behind an exciting new collaboration: a joint NHA + TrueNorth community membership designed to help people sustain a whole-food, plant-based, SOS-free lifestyle long after leaving a retreat—or even if they’ve never attended one. In this episode, they discuss: Why...
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153: Thriving Health Starts in the Gut with Dr. Will B. (2025 Replay)
NHA Today Podcast
We are replaying some of our most listened to episodes from the past year starting with this incredible from earlier this year this episode, led by Chuck Carroll, host of The Exam Room Podcast from the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM). Chuck is joined by Dr. Will Bulsiewicz (“Dr. B”), The Gut Health MD, for a wide-ranging conversation on gut health, healing, and lifestyle medicine. Together they explore: Why heartburn and GERD are really gut motility issues The role of diet, fiber, and the microbiome in supporting long-term health The risks of long-term...
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152: The Link Between Nutrition and Mental Health (Food & Mood) with Angela Crawford
NHA Today Podcast
Welcome to NHA Today, the official podcast of the National Health Association! 🌱 In this episode, Cyd Notter speaks with psychologist, vegan educator, and author of The Vegan Transformation: A Journey to Heal Yourself and the World, Angela Crawford, PhD, about Food & Mood and the powerful connection between nutrition and mental health. You’ll learn: How food choices can influence depression, anxiety, and emotional resilience The role of inflammation, the gut-brain connection, and key nutrients like fiber Why many people struggle socially when transitioning to plant-based eating...
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151: Uncover The Hidden Causes of Pain with Eileen Kopsaftis
NHA Today Podcast
Welcome to NHA Today, the official podcast of the National Health Association! 🌱 In this episode, guest host Cyd Nader speaks with chronic pain expert, educator, and author Eileen Kopsaftis who is a leader in movement science and founder of Have Lifelong Wellbeing. Eileen has helped people eliminate pain, age well, and reclaim mobility for over 30 years. Her bestselling books, Pain Culprits and Aging Culprits, challenge common myths about the human body and uncover what really creates chronic pain, posture imbalances, and unnecessary physical decline. In this powerful and practical...
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150: Terri Chrisman on Fabulous Health, Lifestyle Medicine, and Sustainable Change
NHA Today Podcast
Welcome to NHA Today, the official podcast of the National Health Association! 🌱 In this episode, hosts Justin and Stephanie Williams sit down with Terri Chrisman, board-certified nutritionist, lifestyle medicine professional, and author of the new book Fabulous Health. Terri shares her deeply personal journey from vegetarianism to veganism to fully embracing a whole food, plant-based lifestyle and the science that inspired her along the way. Terri discusses: How her international life led her to explore health and nutrition Why going vegan didn’t automatically mean “healthy” ...
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149: The Power of Plant-Based Community Support with Lianna Levine Reisner
NHA Today Podcast
Welcome to NHA Today, the official podcast of the National Health Association! 🌱 In this inspiring episode, hosts Justin and Stephanie Williams sit down with Lianna Levine Reisner, co-founder and president of Plant Powered Metro New York (PPMNY). Lianna shares her personal health transformation, how she brought plant-based education to diverse communities, and why building supportive local networks is the key to long-term lifestyle change. Together, they explore: Lianna’s journey from personal experimentation to a whole food, plant-based lifestyle How PPMNY empowers multicultural...
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148: Reversing Chronic Pain and Addiction with Plants: Tim Kaufman’s Inspiring Story
NHA Today Podcast
After years of living in constant pain and relying on prescription medications, Tim Kaufman found a way to take back his life through the healing power of a whole-food, plant-based lifestyle. In this episode of NHA Today, hosts Justin and Stephanie Williams sit down with Tim to discuss his incredible transformation—from being over 400 pounds and battling addiction, to completing marathons, triathlons, and inspiring thousands through his platform Fat Man Rants. 🌱 In this episode you'll learn the following: How Tim overcame chronic pain and addiction through a whole-food, plant-based...
info_outlinePodcast Show Notes: Plant-Based Nutrition for Cancer Recovery
Guest: Hanna Rakowska
Registered Holistic Nutritionist and Certified Holistic Cancer Practitioner
Hanna is a cancer survivor (Hodgkin's lymphoma, 2006) who discovered the power of plant-based nutrition during her own treatment. After her oncologist told her "there's nothing you can do at home," she knew that wasn't right and dedicated her career to helping cancer patients feel heard and empowered.
The SOAR™ Framework
Hanna's signature approach to cancer recovery:
- S - Suppress cancer cell growth using phytochemicals in plant foods
- O - Optimize nutritional status to enhance treatment outcomes
- A - Activate the body's innate healing mechanisms
- R - Reduce treatment side effects (short-term and long-term)
Key Takeaways
Protein for Cancer Patients: Need 1.2-1.4 grams per kilogram of body weight (higher than average). Best plant sources include edamame, tofu, tempeh, protein powders, and even leafy greens.
Top Cancer-Fighting Foods: Cruciferous vegetables (at least 1 cup daily), berries, turmeric, green tea, flaxseed, garlic, omega-3 rich foods like walnuts and hemp hearts.
Beyond Food: Exercise boosts natural killer cells, forest bathing stimulates immunity, and mind-body practices like meditation activate healing mechanisms.
Cancer-Specific Nutrition: Different cancers benefit from targeted foods - soy and cruciferous vegetables for breast cancer, walnuts for colorectal cancer.
Client Success
"I was in pretty rough shape after starting breast cancer treatments - fatigued, inflamed, with digestive and sleep issues. Hanna got me back on track to a balanced state of health." - Leah Avery
Connect with Our Host Stephanie
- Website: https://stephaniepeacock.com
- Instagram & TikTok: @DrStephPeacock
- Podcast: The Holistic Health Podcast (biweekly episodes)
- Schedule a discovery call through her website
Connect with Our Guest Hanna
- Website: backtobalancenutrition.com
- Instagram: @backtobalancenutrition
- Free resource: Daily Guide of Cancer-Fighting Foods
- Online course: 7-Day Anti-Cancer Diet Kickstart ($47)
Bottom Line: Food can function as "nontoxic chemotherapy" - there's so much cancer patients can do at home to support their treatment and healing journey.