Cancer Cured Me

Can ancient wisdom support modern recovery? Dr. Sam Watts is a highly respected clinical practitioner of Ayurveda and holds a PhD in Cancer Survivorship. In this deeply insightful episode, he breaks down the fundamentals of Ayurveda, what it really is and how it serves as one of the most robust health systems for creating balance and preventing disease.. In this deeply grounding and empowering conversation, Dr Sam demystifies what Ayurveda really is – and why it may be one of the most robust, proven health systems for creating balance and preventing disease.Rather than being complicated or restrictive, Dr Sam explains that Ayurveda is fundamentally simple, intuitive, and deeply individualised. At its core, it offers each of us a personal health manual – helping the body return to homeostasis and function as it was designed to.We explore why many modern health trends fail, how Ayurveda differs from “one-size-fits-all” wellness advice and how small, sustainable changes can profoundly impact long-term health.This episode is especially powerful if you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by health advice, confused by conflicting recommendations, or disconnected from your body’s signals.In this episode, we cover:Why Ayurveda is simple by design – and how it’s been over-complicated in the WestHow Ayurveda works as a complete, preventative health system, not a diet or quick fixThe concept of individualisation – why what’s “healthy” depends on youUnderstanding the three doshas (Vata, Pitta, Kapha) as your personal blueprintWhy symptoms like anxiety, inflammation, fatigue, or weight gain need different approaches in different peopleThe difference between prakriti (your natural state of balance) and vikriti (imbalance)How daily stress quietly accumulates – and how Ayurveda helps you “wipe the dust away”Why empowerment, autonomy, and self-awareness are central to true healthThe importance of circadian rhythm, morning routines, and natural lightHow simple practices like walking outside, self-massage, oil pulling, and breathwork support whole-body healthWhy popular trends like fasting or cold exposure work for some people – and not for othersHow Ayurveda aligns with modern science around homeostasis, nervous system regulation, and disease preventionKey takeaway:Ayurveda isn’t about being perfect or doing everything.It’s about understanding your body, making small aligned choices, and creating the conditions for health to emerge naturally.As Dr Sam shares, when you know what your body needs, health becomes something you actively participate in – not something that happens to you.Connect with Sam:Insta @drsamwattsBook - The Ayurvedic Approach to Cancer by Dr Sam Watts available now hereFor a simple morning routine, click here to download a free simple guide

Change your morning, change your life - DOWNLOAD FOR FREE HERE Today’s episode of Cancer Cured Me is live on New Year's Eve 2025, but I’m not doing a year in review. I’m not recapping achievements, milestones or lessons learned.Instead, I’m giving you a gift.A gift that you can use on New Year’s Eve… or in February… or in the middle of a random Tuesday when you suddenly realise you’re tired of feeling stuck, overwhelmed or disconnected from yourself. This gift is about one thing:Building rock-solid self-belief, gently, consistently and in a way your nervous system can actually trust.Because here’s what I know to be true from my own healing journey.Self-belief isn’t something you think your way into.It’s something you train your system into.Most of what runs our lives sits in the subconscious. Old stories. Old habits. Old emotional wiring from childhood, relationships, school, work or moments when we learned (often unconsciously) that we weren’t safe, capable or enough.And no amount of willpower or affirmations alone can override that.What does change it… is showing your system, again and again, that:You do what you say you’ll do.You show up for yourself.You create safety, calm, and consistency inside your body.That’s why I’ve created something simple, practical, and genuinely doable, a tiny morning practice that takes minutes, not hours, and builds the foundation for real, embodied self-belief.Not a rigid routine.Not a 5am bootcamp for your soul.Not another thing to fail at.Just small, intentional practices that:Calm your nervous systemSet the emotional tone of your dayCreate internal safety instead of fight-or-flightRewire your identity into someone who trusts and believes in themselvesAnd over time, that changes everything.Because you deserve to live with a regulated nervous system.You deserve to trust yourself.You deserve to believe that change is possible for you not someday, not for other people, but for you.Change your morning, change your life - DOWNLOAD FOR FREE HERE

In this episode Why getting outside and grounding your body can instantly regulate your nervous systemHow to enjoy festive food and drink without guilt or dysregulationSimple ways to balance blood sugar during indulgent seasons (and why it matters more in midlife)A powerful visualisation technique to protect your energy around difficult peopleWhy Christmas can bring up grief and how to honour it without losing the joyIn this special Christmas Eve episode of Cancer Cured Me, I invite you all to have a moment to pause, reflect and I really want to say thank you. This is a gentle, grounding solo episode designed to support you through the festive season whether Christmas feels joyful, overwhelming, emotional or quietly reflective this year.I revisit some of the most powerful tools shared throughout December, drawing on expert insights around nervous system regulation, hormone health, nutrition and self-advocacy from Suzy Reading, Hannah Alderson and Georgie Shears while also offering my own lived wisdom on slowing down, regulating your body and protecting your energy during a busy and emotionally charged time of year.This episode is a reminder that healing isn’t about perfection it’s about presence.Thank you for your incredible support in this first year of the podcast - I am so very grateful to all of you.Merry Christmas and a very peaceful new year xA Gentle ReminderThis episode honours that Christmas can be many things at once, joyful, tender, nostalgic, lonely, or all of the above. You’re invited to let this season look exactly how it needs to look for you.Whether that means celebration, solitude, movement, rest, prayer, laughter or tears it’s all valid.

If the festive season feels busy, intense, or a little overwhelming, this short final episode in our Calm Christmas mini-series, is a gift to your nervous system.In this guided mini practice, Alex is joined again by nervous system strategist Georgie Shears, who shares one of her most accessible and powerful regulation tools a simple ear massage technique known as “thinking caps”.This is a practice you can do anywhere, anytime at your desk, in the car, between meetings, or in the middle of Christmas chaos. And the magic? You’ll feel the shift in real time.In just a few minutes, Georgie gently guides you through:How to check your baseline nervous system stateWhy busy periods naturally push us into fight or flightHow stimulating the vagus nerve sends immediate signals of safety to the bodyWhy small shifts — even 1% — matter deeply for long-term changeThis practice helps your body move out of survival mode and back toward regulation, allowing you to enjoy the season rather than just get through it.✨ You don’t need to fix yourself.✨ Your body already knows how to settle.✨ Sometimes it just needs a gentle cue of safety.

This week I’m joined for the second in our Calm Christmas mini series by nutritionist and hormone expert Hannah Alderson. We’re talking about one thing many of us feel at this time of year, the impact of festive food, alcohol and late nights on our hormones and energy.If you’re feeling stretched, stressed, tired, hungover or just a bit overdone by the sparkly social calendar, you are not alone. This episode is packed with simple hormone-friendly Christmas tips that don’t involve restriction, guilt or saying no to the fun bits. No perfection, no “clean eating”, no punishing yourself for loving a Lindor ball. Just gentle support for your body when life gets busy.In this episode with Hannah Alderson, we explore:Why Christmas chaos can send our hormones and nervous system into meltdownHow alcohol affects hormone detoxification (and how to soften the blow)Simple ways to support the liver without giving up cocktails, champagne or dessertWhy B vitamins and electrolytes might be your secret festive helpersThe power of fibre and cruciferous veg for hormone balanceHow to avoid sugar spikes – while still enjoying the good stuffWhat to eat before going out so you don’t wake up regretting everythingWhy guilt and shame are worse for hormones than mince piesKey Takeaways:Christmas technically lasts 2 to 3 days… not 6 weeks. We don’t need to be “on a health kick” the whole time.Look after your liver on your quieter days, especially if you’re drinking or sleeping less.Enjoy your nights out guilt-free – connection boosts oxytocin and wellbeing.Eat before you drink and add cruciferous veg (like Brussels sprouts, cabbage, broccoli) and flax seeds into your week.Hydrate like your hormones depend on it… because they do.If you’re eating the chocolates, have them after a meal, not on an empty stomach.Skip the shame: stress and cortisol do far more damage than dessert ever could.Foods & Supplements Mentioned:(Always check what’s right for you, especially if you’re on medication.)Cruciferous veg: broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, cabbageFlax seedsMilk thistle (tincture or supplement)B Vitamin complex (in the morning, after food)Electrolytes (higher quality options, not just the fizzy high-street ones)The Big MessageEnjoy the party. Eat the meal. Dance in your sparkly shoes.Look after your liver on the quieter days, stay hydrated, and skip the guilt.Joy, laughter and connection are some of the best medicines we’ve got.If you loved this mini episode…You’ll want to follow Hannah for more practical, no-nonsense hormone guidance:@hannahaldersonnutrition And if you’re a midlife woman navigating hormones, healing or a post-cancer transformation, don’t miss my upcoming episodes, free resources and coaching support. You can follow me @cancercuredmeWishing you a joyful, sparkly and beautifully imperfect festive season.

EXCITING NEWS: SUZY READING WILL BE ONE OF OUR WONDERFUL TEACHERS AT OUR NEXT LUXURY TRANSFORMATIONAL RETREAT AT WILDERNESS RESERVE, SUFFOLK @wildernessreserve FOR FULL INFORMATION AND TO BOOK CLICK HERE. JUST 5 ROOMS LEFT!In the first festive episode of my calm Christmas mini-series, I’m joined by Suzy Reading - chartered psychologist, bestselling author of nine self-help books, yoga teacher and life coach. Suzy shares her simple and genuinely achievable 3 Ps of Christmas - a gentle formula that helps you create a season that feels grounding, joyful and true to what you actually need.If Christmas often leaves you overwhelmed, exhausted, overcommitted or quietly running on fumes behind the scenes, this conversation will feel like a deep exhale. We explore how to step out of old traditions that no longer serve you, how to stay connected without burning out, and how to choose a festive pace that feels compassionate and manageable.This is a supportive guide for anyone wanting a calmer, kinder and more intentional Christmas this year.What You’ll Learn:Why “purpose” is the foundation of a peaceful ChristmasHow to create a gentle intention that shapes your festive seasonLetting go of traditions that feel wasteful, stressful, or outdatedHow to navigate invitations, family expectations and emotional loadThe importance of “white space” and planning recovery timeWhy your winter social energy goes into hibernation modeHow to stay connected without overwhelming yourselfWhat we all need permission to do more of (and less of)Practical conversation ideas for setting boundaries kindlyWhy needs are not “nice to haves” - they are human essentialsGuest Spotlight: Suzy ReadingSuzy Reading is a chartered psychologist, author of nine books, yoga teacher, and a compassionate voice in the world of mental health and emotional wellbeing. Her latest book, How to Be Selfish, is a brilliant stocking-filler for anyone needing help with boundaries and self-care during the holidays.Insta: @suzyreadingFavourite Moments:“Does this tradition actually serve us now?”“It’s okay to honour the impulse to hibernate without isolating.”“Say yes to the whole thing - not just the first half of it.”“Needs aren’t luxuries - they’re human needs.”“Let’s all choose the Christmas that feels right for us.”If this episode made you breathe a little easier, please follow the podcast, share it with someone who needs a gentler Christmas this year, or leave a quick review if you feel called to. It really helps more women find the show.Wishing you a Christmas you choose - whatever that looks like for you.