Empowering Health.
Nutrition through treatment & beyond: The Dylan Strong Foundation's Mission
Why should we be helping children with cancer and their families with nutritional support, and what impact does it have?
If you're looking to enhance your own health or support others battling cancer, this week's episode of the Brave New Girls podcast features Louise Long, CEO and founder of the Dylan Strong Foundation. Inspired by her son Dylan's battle with a brain tumour, Lou discovered the profound impact good nutrition had on his vitality during his treatment. Today, her foundation extends this lifeline to other families, offering advice and access to healthy food to bolster the strength of children during cancer treatment and beyond. But what’s good for children with cancer in helping with treatment is also good for all of us in supporting our wellbeing.
Lou Long’s journey began when her son Dylan became ill and eventually died at the age of 7 from a brain tumour. She has courageously transformed her experience into a powerful advocacy for nutritional support in pediatric cancer care. Lou's background in nutrition and personal training enabled her to enhance Dylan's quality of life during treatment significantly through diet adjustments, which she now passionately shares with other affected families through the Dylan Strong Foundation.
The foundation focuses on empowering families with the knowledge and resources to support their children’s immune systems through nutrition. This support is crucial as treatments like chemotherapy often diminish a child's appetite and alter taste perceptions, making eating a challenge. The Dylan Strong Foundation steps in to fill these gaps, providing not only nutritional guidance but also delivering wholesome food packages to families, alleviating both nutritional and financial burdens during such trying times.
Lou’s approach is educational and supportive, avoiding overwhelming parents with drastic dietary changes. Instead, she promotes gradual, manageable adjustments that significantly enhance well-being. By improving children's diets, the foundation has observed quicker recoveries and improved vitality among young cancer patients—a testament to the power of proper nutrition.
Moreover, the foundation’s initiatives extend beyond individual families. Lou Long is forging partnerships with hospitals and schools to improve the food choices available in these institutions, thereby embedding healthier habits within the community. This proactive approach not only supports sick children but also educates the broader community about the benefits of nutritional care.
This mission resonates more broadly with anyone on a health journey. Whether you're battling illness or striving for preventative wellness, the principles of the Dylan Strong Foundation apply universally. Integrating more whole foods, managing dietary changes incrementally, and understanding the nutritional impact on the body can empower personal health transformations.
As Lou shares on Brave New Girls, the core of their work is about enhancing life quality, not curing disease. It's about providing the tools and support to make life better, irrespective of the health challenges one might face.
Lou and DSF address the fundamental need for nutritional support in pediatric cancer care by providing practical, compassionate solutions that enhance patients' quality of life during and beyond treatment. Her work illustrates a powerful answer as to why nutritional support for children with cancer and their families is essential—it empowers, strengthens, and uplifts.
Lou Long founder of Dylan Strong Foundation
Actionable Steps Inspired by Lou Long’s Approach:
1. Educate yourself about the nutritional impacts of cancer treatments.
2. Introduce colorful, nutrient-dense foods into your diet slowly.
3. Seek out professional nutritional advice when dealing with health challenges.
4. Support local foundations or initiatives that promote better nutrition.
5. Advocate for better nutritional options in hospitals and schools.
6. Volunteer or donate to organizations providing nutritional support to cancer patients.
7. Participate in community educational programs to spread awareness.
8. Encourage a balanced view of diet changes without overwhelming restrictions.
9. Empower children to make healthy food choices by explaining benefits in relatable terms.
10. Stay informed about new research and developments in nutritional science and cancer care.
Lou Long’s commitment to transforming dietary support for cancer care provides a blueprint for how we can all lead healthier lives, regardless of where we are on our health journey.
PS. Listen HERE to LOU’s journey on BRAVE NEW GIRLS podcast to hear how she helps us help the planet.
PPS. If you need a day for calm, release, invigoration, nourishment, transformation & play join us at our ONE DAY ECO-RETREAT. Join the Waitlist HERE
