So the first 3 episodes were about how lyme disease can become a precursor to cancer, then how chronic lyme wears down the body’s defenses, and last week got into how medical gaslighting drives up the hidden cost of ignored lyme.  Today we’re going to wrap it up by focusing on the good part! How lyme survivors can help prevent cancer from being the next big medical crisis.

Let’s be real. Most of us didn’t choose to become experts in rebuilding our bodies, we were just trying to survive by following the steps, taking the antibiotics, asking the right questions but still, something deeper burned through us. Lyme didn’t just wear us down, it tore through systems most people don’t even know exist like our immune function, gut lining, nervous system regulation, mitochondrial energy. And after all that? We’re often left standing in a body we barely recognize, and we’re trying to figure out how to trust it again, and we often find ourselves fearing what could come next. 

Some of us start to ask if we’re now more vulnerable to other diseases and unfortunately the answer is often yes, especially cancer, but this is not where the story ends. This is where the real work begins for us and no, it’s not about perfection or protocols that break the bank, or about trying to rewind the clock. It’s about rebuilding our foundation in a way that supports real strength, day by day, and that’s what we’re going to walk through today.

Let’s start with the most powerful and accessible foundation: Food! When our bodies have been wrecked by long-term infections, inflammation becomes the background noise of every system, so the goal isn’t just to “eat healthy,” (we’ve all heard that), it’s to lower the inflammatory load and gently support detox at the same time. Think in terms of what we can add, not just what we need to avoid.

That means warm, soft, nourishing meals that are easy to digest like bone broth, soups, well cooked root vegetables and greens as well as Omega-3 fats from wild fish or chia seeds or a supplement.  Clean proteins that don’t trigger your gut and plenty of herbs like turmeric, ginger, garlic, and rosemary for inflammation control.  If your digestion is weak, start small. Even a few bites of nourishing food per meal can help repair your gut lining over time. For many of us, this isn’t about calories, it’s about cellular fuel. 

Next: Supporting detox without overwhelming the body. We’re often told to “do a cleanse” or “flush toxins,” but when the lymph, liver, or bowels are already sluggish, that can backfire by throwing you into a detox crisis, so think gentle and consistent. Here’s what that might look like: 

Daily hydration with mineral-rich water and lemon.  Dry brushing for the lymphatic system can be annoying but very helpful.  One of my favorites – Epsom salt baths 2–3 times a week – toss in some baking soda too. 

If you’re into it, try bitters or castor oil packs over the liver, and movement is super important! I’m not talking intense workouts here but walking, stretching, bouncing on a rebounder (that’s those mini-trampolines, mine has a granny handle so I don’t throw myself into the TV or out the window while it’s still shut.) These actions don’t just “detox,” they unclog the body’s systems, help energy to flow as it should again, and it makes space for healing. 

Now, let’s talk about the immune system. Lyme and its co-infections often leave us immunocompromised in some very strange ways. Some parts are overactive and some parts are shut down, so we can’t just “boost immunity” so to speak – we have to support regulation. There’s some key nutrients for that starting with: 

Zinc: – up to 50mg, Vitamin C: 1000 – 3000mg throughout the day or up to bowel tolerance, and selenium: 100 – 200mcg a day.  Medicinal mushrooms like reishi or turkey tail don’t just “boost” immunity, they train and balance it, which is exactly what a post-Lyme body needs. They’re especially valuable for anyone dealing with co-infections, mold exposure, lingering fatigue, or immune burnout.

Then there’s probiotics from real fermented foods, but if your gut can’t handle that you can use a supplement instead.  This is a huge essential in Lyme recovery because it helps repair the gut, regulates the immune system, and reduces inflammation, all of which are typically disrupted by long-term infection and antibiotics.

And then there’s sunlight. I’m serious. Real sunlight every day is critical for immune intelligence, but when real sun exposure isn’t an option, D3 up to 5000units is what’s usually suggested (I do 10,000 units minimum) but get tested to be sure, and add vitamin K2 (90-200mcg) unless you have heart issues. Remember to talk to your health care provider on all supplementation because it’s essential to be sure that there’s no conflicts with your current medications. 

And of course let’s not forget the role of sleep. We know we need that but here’s the thing: We heal when we sleep. Not when we scroll or panic, or push through things. Rebuilding the immune system starts with giving the body a real break, so hit that pillow a bit earlier. 

Gut health is the next pillar and this one is huge, so pay extra attention here.  Supporting gut repair isn’t just about digestion, it’s a foundational step in immune, neurological, and emotional regulation. It’s downright essential for preventing long-term disease, including cancer because it’s where most of our immune cells live. It’s where inflammation gets triggered or calmed, and for many of us, Lyme damaged our gut barrier, wrecked our microbiome, and/or left us with lingering IBS. 

So how do we rebuild? We start by removing what harms us: processed sugar, alcohol, inflammatory seed oils, processed ‘foods’. Then we slowly add what helps: cooked vegetables, easy-to-digest fiber, probiotic foods, and collagen-rich broths. Some of us need a little extra help like digestive enzymes or binders, some need to go even slower, but every step toward gut repair is a step toward cancer prevention because the more balanced your gut is, the more your immune system can detect and clear out what doesn’t belong, including abnormal cells. 

So now we reach the part most people skip and this too is super crucial: the emotional and nervous system layer. We’re not just bodies that when our nervous system has been stuck in a state of survival for months or years, it can just flip a switch and relax, not possible. We need to show it, over and over again, that we are safe now. This could look like breathwork or meditation, or trauma-informed somatic therapy, and some find that journaling or prayer helps a lot, even spending some quiet time in nature can do wonders. Probably most important of all in this is choosing who we spend time with.

Nervous system regulation is not “optional,” it’s a must because it determines how well we absorb nutrients, how fast we heal, how calm our gut is, and how our cells behave. A body stuck in fight-flight-freeze is more likely to stay inflamed, to stay sick, and more likely to fall apart, but a body that feels safe – that knows it’s supported – that is slowly rebuilt with real food, real care, and real boundaries? That body can hold the line. It can fight and it can thrive.

I know how overwhelming this can feel, rebuilding from lyme is already hard, and the thought of preventing cancer on top of that might feel impossible, but I need you to hear this clearly: It’s not about fixing everything overnight or doing it perfectly. It’s about small, consistent decisions that tell your body: I’m still here. I haven’t given up. I’m rebuilding, one layer at a time.

You don’t need to be a nutritionist or a detox expert or a guru, you just need to be someone who shows up for your body in a way it can understand – by implementing some or all of the things we just covered: Warm real nutritional food. Rest. Gentle movement. Safe connection. A little sun. A little breath. Real fuel. Real repair. That’s where prevention lives, that’s how we turn the page, and that’s where we end this series! Not with fear, not with pressure, but with real possibility. You have more power than you were told, so go ahead, use it to rebuild yourself. 

If you’d like a way to start any of this without having to research for days on end, check out my online resource center.  It’s free, it’s easy and it has everything you need to begin supporting your health right there, including one-on-one support with me should you want it.  Next month we’re having a webcast that will also be extremely helpful, it’s called “Gut Instincts” where we’ll be getting deeper into that gut-brain connection and how to fuel both for better mental resilience and long-term overall health. Hope to see you there!

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