Sugar Was the Silent Killer: Elissa Goodman Cancer Survival Story | DSH #1575

Summary

---

Digital Social Hour – Episode #1575

Sugar Was the Silent Killer: Elissa Goodman Cancer Survival Story
Host: Sean Kelly
Guest: Elissa Goodman
Date: October 17, 2025

---

Episode Overview

In this candid and insightful episode, host Sean Kelly welcomes holistic nutritionist and cancer survivor Elissa Goodman to discuss the role of stress, diet—particularly sugar—and lifestyle in chronic illness and cancer. Elissa shares her journey of being diagnosed with cancer at just 32, how she overcame it, and her philosophy on merging holistic and Western approaches to health. The conversation delves deeply into the dangers of added sugars, the impact of unprocessed childhood trauma and daily stress, the importance of clean eating, and the healing potential of fasting and autophagy.

---

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. The Hidden Killers: Sugar and Stress

[00:00–02:11]

• Root Causes of Illness:
  Elissa reflects on her own cancer diagnosis and traces it back to her lifelong battle with stress, perfectionism, and heavy sugar intake.

  "Stress was a killer. I lived high stress, was very hard on myself... and that caused my immune system to down regulate. I was constantly sick as a kid." — Elissa (00:00)

• Diet as a Central Factor:
  Elissa unpacks the destructive role of added sugar:

  "I was a sugaraholic... always going for a sugar fix... Sugar was really a killer. The food system is crappy." — Elissa (00:00, 03:38)

• Modern Health Obstacles:
  Sean and Elissa agree that stress, poor sleep, and processed foods are the ‘not rocket science’ trio underlying much of today’s health crisis.

---

2. Policy Shifts and Awareness

[01:14–01:41]

• Banning Food Dyes:
  Both discuss progress like the recent ban on artificial food dyes and how public knowledge lagged far behind the data.

  "It took a very long time for that ban to take place. Too long." — Elissa (01:14)

• Longstanding Knowledge:

  "They have known this forever. I've been talking about this when I had cancer at 32, to, like, get dyes out of your diet." — Elissa (01:34)

---

3. Childhood Stress and Lifelong Health

[02:11–06:13]

• Lasting Impacts of Early Trauma:
  Elissa explains how formative years cement subconscious patterns:

  "Your subconscious is downregulated fully by the age of seven... We operate 95% out of our subconscious." — Elissa (06:14)

• Normalization of Illness:
  Sean shares his own frequent sickness in youth, tying it to anxiety and stress, which Elissa mirrors from her own story.

• Easier Coping Today:
  Both discuss the rise of tools like breathwork, yoga, and meditation now available to help manage anxiety.

  "Wim Hof breathwork for me. Game changer." — Sean (02:59)

  "Same like yoga, you know, walking... meditation, journaling. There's so much great stuff out there these days." — Elissa (02:44)

---

4. Sugar: The Ubiquitous Danger

[03:07–05:38]

• Modern Diet Dilemma:
  Sean and Elissa break down the inundation of added sugars, from candy and sodas to processed foods, even seemingly healthy items like protein bars.

• Fruit vs. Added Sugar:

  "Fruit is the fountain of life and fountain of youth... When you eat real food, your body knows how to metabolize it... but added sugar, that's a whole different ball game." — Elissa (04:39)

• Calls for Regulation:

  "You're supposed to have 25 grams of added sugar per day. I probably was triple that." — Elissa (03:38)

• Sneaky Sources:
  Both reminisce about growing up on processed soups, pointing to how normalized unhealthy eating was—and is.

---

5. Rising Cancer Rates in Youth

[05:38–06:13]

• A Disturbing Trend:
  Elissa points out the alarming rise in young adults, even children, being diagnosed with cancer—a trend tied to stress and poor diet.

  "The more young people are getting cancer these days than ever before... It's sort of becoming the norm, which is scary." — Elissa (05:41)

---

6. Impact of Electronics and Modern Lifestyle

[06:40–07:13]

• Tech as a Stressor:
  The duo discusses studies linking device use to chronic stress and fear, compounded by the always-on culture of constant communication.

  "People are living with their phones... right before bed. It just causes fear too." — Sean (06:47)

• Loss of Idleness and Imagination:
  Both reminisce about the benefits of being "off the grid," with Sean lamenting that outdoor, unstructured play is scarce among kids today.

---

7. Integrative Approaches to Cancer

[07:24–08:22]

• Holistic AND Conventional:
  Elissa champions a blend of holistic and Western medicine, referencing the book Radical Remission and the vital role of addressing trauma and lifestyle.

  "There's a book called Radical Remission... 7 of [10 healing modalities] were about trauma, stress, lifestyle. One was food, one was supplements, one was exercise." — Elissa (07:28)

• Stage Four Stories:
  She shares having seen holistic healing even in severe cases but cautions it's not universally applicable—“there's room for both.”

---

8. Fasting and Autophagy in Cancer Healing

[08:22–09:40]

• Science-backed Results:
  Water fasting and prolonged fasts are explored as methods that can potentially “starve” cancer cells and facilitate better chemotherapy outcomes.

  "Seven days... people did prolong [fasting] before they went into cancer treatment. And the chemo worked more efficiently, effectively." — Elissa (08:54)

• Personal Approach With Clients:
  Elissa outlines her method: optimizing sleep, stress, nutrition, and detoxification for cancer patients undergoing treatment.

  "I try to help them eat healthy, sleep, get their stress under control... getting them to detox from chemo and radiation because those treatments are toxic." — Elissa (09:16)

---

Memorable Quotes & Moments

• On the Role of Sugar:

  "Sugar was really a killer. The food system is crappy." — Elissa (00:00, 04:04)

• About Early Life Stress:

  "I lived high stress, was very hard on myself. A lot of anxiety... that caused my immune system to downregulate." — Elissa (00:00, 01:48)

• Fruit Realness:

  "Fruit is the fountain of life and fountain of youth." — Elissa (04:39)

• Autophagy and Fasting:

  "I do think [autophagy works]... I think fasting is amazing." — Elissa (08:29)

• Blending Modalities for Healing:

  "I am a believer in holistic health, but I'm also a believer in Western, so I like a little bit of both." — Elissa (07:28)

---

Notable Timestamps

• 00:00 – Elissa describes her battle with stress, sugar addiction, and their link to illness
• 01:14 – Discussion on the (delayed) ban of artificial food dyes
• 02:25 – Sean and Elissa trade stories about anxiety and medication
• 03:38 – Elissa details the scale of her sugar consumption and its effects
• 05:41 – Recognition of the increasing rates of young people diagnosed with cancer
• 06:14 – Discussion on subconscious programming before age seven
• 07:28 – Introduction of Radical Remission and the holistic/Western blend
• 08:29 – Fasting and autophagy as tools for cancer support
• 09:16 – Elissa’s approach to supporting cancer patients through nutrition and detox

---

Episode Tone

Raw, conversational, and empowering. Both Sean and Elissa balance honesty about struggle and trauma with hope and practical advice. The episode is both educational and relatable, aiming to inspire proactive health decisions rooted in personal experience.

---

Transcript

[A]

It was my diet and stress. Stress was a killer. I lived high stress, was very hard on myself. A lot of anxiety we talked about before, just, you know, really wanted to be perfect and that caused my immune system to down regulate. I was constantly sick as a kid growing up because I was so hard on myself. I was a sugaraholic. I just. Because my energy levels were so low because I was always tired. So I was always going for a sugar fix. Sugar was really a killer. The food system is crappy. I. I mean, stress, sleep, food system, it's not rocket science here. You're constantly taking care of your liver, taking care of your gut. That's another area. Those are things that can help you really stay healthy. And in five days, you can reset your body completely. I'm 64 and I feel the best I've ever felt in my life at this age.

[B]

All right, guys, Alyssa Goodman here. We're going to talk health, talk cancer. Thanks for coming on.

[A]

Thanks for having me.

[B]

Absolutely. How's. How's your year been so far?

[A]

It's been awesome. Well, you know, LA kind of had a bad year, so maybe I shouldn't say so. That's been not so, you know, representative of what's going on with the people here.

[B]

But we got the Maha movement at least.

[A]

Right.

[B]

I'm excited about that. They're already implementing some changes. Right. Which is exciting.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Are you excited about food dyes being banned?

[A]

Yes, very, very. Just did a post on that today. I mean, you know, we're probably going to talk about cancer, I'm sure, but. Yeah, I mean, it took a very long time for that ban to take place. Too long.

[B]

Way too long. Because they've probably known this earlier. It's not like it's groundbreaking information.

[A]

They have known this forever. I've been talking about this when I had cancer at 32. To, like, get dyes out of your diet, you know, to avoid them.

[B]

Was that a big part of the reason you think you got cancer was your diet?

[A]

It was my diet and stress.

[B]

Stress, wow.

[A]

Stress was a killer. I lived high stress, was very hard on myself. A lot of anxiety we were talking about before, just, you know, really wanted to be perfect and like the perfect child. And that caused my. My immune system to downregulate. So it just really. I was constantly sick as a kid growing up because I was so hard on myself.

[B]

Wow. I can relate so much to that. When I was in high school and college, I got sick once a week.

[A]

Yeah, it's not fun, is it? You just kind of think that's part of your routine.

[B]

You get normalized to it.

[A]

Right.

[B]

And I had such bad anxiety. It was nuts.

[A]

Yes. Same.

[B]

Prescribed on Xanax.

[A]

Wow.

[B]

Clinosopam.

[A]

And no more.

[B]

No more. Well, it creeps up here and there. I'm not gonna like completely lie and say I don't have it at all. But before it was like a daily thing, right?

[A]

Same.

[B]

Yeah. But now I could feel it coming and then I have like breath, work and stuff that I could do and I'll pretty much subside.

[A]

Same like yoga, you know, walking like you were talking about. Meditation, journaling. There's so much great stuff out there these days, you know, that we that are like prevalent and you know, very much in like the mainstream where they weren't years ago.

[B]

Yeah. Yeah. Wim Hof breathwork for me. Game changer.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Yeah. That stuff gets my anxiety right away. What was the biggest diet change you made?

[A]

Sugar.

[B]

The tri light from Therasoge is no joke. Medical grade. Red and near infrared light with three frequencies per light. Deep healing, real results and totally portable. It's legit photo biomodulation tech in a flexible on body panel. This is the tri light from Therasolj and it's next level red light therapy. It's got 118 high powered polychromatic lights each delivering three healing frequencies. Red and near infrared from 580 to 980 nanometers. It's sleek, portable and honestly I don't go anywhere.

[A]

Yes. I mean I was a sugaraholic. I just. Because my energy levels are so low because I was always tired so I was always going for a sugar fix. And I probably like. You're supposed to have 25 grams of added sugar per day. I probably was triple that.

[B]

Holy crap.

[A]

Yeah. Cookies and candy and just soda. I mean those days, alcohol during college, you know, all of that pasta, pizza turns to sugar, the carbs.

[B]

Right.

[A]

So sugar was really a killer.

[B]

I mean these days there's 100 grams of sugar in a crumble cookie.

[A]

Right. I mean that's crazy.

[B]

It's nuts. It's a whole meal. If you eat it, it's like a thousand calories.

[A]

Right, Right. Even in a protein bar these days. You know, it's like 15 grams of. Of sugar. Added sugar.

[B]

I mean do you feel like there should be a limit? Like a regulation limit?

[A]

Yes. Well, 25 grams is what we need to have and that you know know most people don't even like they go way over that. Most people like that is way too small for them. And limited.

[B]

I feel like I eat more than that because I love fruit. I be eating apples, like pears, bananas.

[A]

But that's a different added sugar. I'm talking about more like that's not an added sugar. That's a real sugar. So I think fruit is the fountain of life and fountain of youth. You know, berries and fruit and, like, they have vitamins and minerals. And I feel for me, when you eat real food, your body knows how to metabolize it and knows how to use it for energy. But when you're having added sugar, that's a whole different ball game.

[B]

Yeah. And it's in almost everything. It's not just like sweets, added sugars in canned food too.

[A]

Right, right.

[B]

I used to eat canned food.

[A]

Processed chucky soup.

[B]

That was amazing. Back in the day, the clam chowder.

[A]

Never had that one.

[B]

Oh, you didn't have that one. Oh, the chicken noodle one.

[A]

Right? No.

[B]

Campbell's. You didn't try that?

[A]

No. I can't believe. I know.

[B]

So you were somewhat healthy.

[A]

I was. My mom was kind of into health because she had asthma. So she tried to get us on that healthy track early on. But, you know, didn't do the best job because I definitely still ate crappy. And also. And ended up getting cancer at 32.

[B]

Which is super young. But it's becoming more and more normal.

[A]

The more young people are getting cancer these days than ever before. I mean, in those days, 32 was kind of unheard of. And now, as we talked earlier, it's sort of becoming the norm, which is scary. And I think, really with stress we talked about is huge. You know, not dealing with our life traumas is huge as well. I think growing up. And we have certain traumas early on. I don't know if you know, but your subconscious is downregulated fully by the age of seven.

[B]

Wow.

[A]

So if you have anything that goes on in those first seven years, um, it's something that is instilled in your subconscious. And we operate 95% out of our subconscious. 5% of us are conscious. So a lot of times we don't deal with some of the traumas that go on and that causes stress. And then we. Then we also have stress on top of it. The world is stressed more these days. And then the food system is crappy.

[B]

Well, they're doing studies on electronic devices and the correlation with stress and. And it causes stress in literally everyone.

[A]

Right. I mean, people are living with their phones, like in bed and right before bed. Right?

[B]

Yeah. It just causes fear too.

[A]

Right.

[B]

Because you wake up, you have on, like, texts and emails unanswered.

[A]

That's true.

[B]

Constantly creating stress.

[A]

I do remember the old days where you were off the grid, and it was fantastic.

[B]

I wish I could have. I got. I caught the tail end of it, I guess. But as a kid, I used to play outside. Now I don't see kids doing that anymore.

[A]

Right.

[B]

It's sad.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Those were my, like, most favorite memories.

[A]

Because then you don't have any room in your brain to, like, figure out what you really want with your life.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

You personally kind of always following what's going on out there in the world.

[B]

Have you seen holistic stuff work for cancer?

[A]

Yes, I have.

[B]

That's exciting.

[A]

I am a believer in holistic health, but I'm also a believer in Western, so I like a little bit of both. A lot of times, I mean, I have, you know, you know, seeing stage four cancer heal holistically, but I'm not saying that that is the way to go. Like, that's a very strong statement to make. But there's a book called Radical Remission, one of my favorite cancer books by Kelly Turner, and it's all about stage fours that heal. And she came up with 10 modalities, and seven of them were about trauma, stress, lifestyle. And then one was food, one was supplements, one was exercise out of the 10. So she did her PhD and discovered all these cases that were able to heal without Western meds. But it's hard to do that. You have to be really diligent about your life and changing your life to be able to heal from a stage four or something very aggressive. So I think there's a room for both.

[B]

Have you seen that image of fasting? And if it's past three days, it starts killing cancer cells?

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Do you think that autophagy works? Yeah.

[A]

Yes, I do think it works. Really?

[B]

Wow.

[A]

I do. I think fasting is amazing.

[B]

I need to look into that more.

[A]

I think water fasting, you know, for a certain period of time, if you can do it. Fasting is not for everyone. But, you know, if you're dealing probably with a serious health issue, it can be a really great thing to do.

[B]

Yeah. The most I've done is 48 hours, so I just.

[A]

And how'd that go?

[B]

Pretty good. Yeah. Done a prolonged one like that.

[A]

Yes.

[B]

Was the longest.

[A]

I was just. We were just talking about that. The prolonged. They have a ton of studies. Seven days. They have a ton of studies where people did prolong before they went into cancer treatment. And the chemo worked more efficiently, effectively.

[B]

Yeah, that's good to know.

[A]

I know.

[B]

Wow. Just a seven day fast because that's something everyone can afford, right? Because that's the whole thing with cancer treatments. It's so expensive. But if you do this, that's awesome.

[A]

And I deal with a lot of cancer clients but what I do is I try to like help them like eat healthy, sleep, you know, get their stress under control as well as while they're going through treatment and also trying to like really get nutrients into them because they're losing nutrients and you know, also getting them to like detox from chemo and radiation and some of the treatments they are getting because those treatments are toxic.

[B]

Right.

[A]

So my goal is to have them on like an even keel to some degree.

[B]

I hope you guys are enjoying the show. Please don't forget to like and subscribe. It helps the show a lot with the algorithm. Thank you.