A lot of people still think that cancer is completely genetic and there is nothing you can do to prevent it, but that is simply not true.
Healthy lifestyles would prevent almost half of deaths due to cancer, according to the American Cancer Society.
Here are 9 lifestyle alterations based on the most recent findings, that will improve your odds against getting cancer.
- Don’t smoke or use tobacco products. If you’ve tried to quit before but failed, try a new technique — talk to your doctor, research online or speak to others who have quit. Don’t give up!
- Go to your doctor and receive screening for cancer on a regular basis (breast, prostate, colon, cervix and skin should be checked — ask your medical practitioner for times and age at which to start. Discovering cancer in its early stages will greatly increase your odds of finding a cure and will reduce your mortality risk.
- Moderate your alcohol consumption. In other words, no more than two drinks a day for men and one drink a day for women. Restraining your alcohol intake to the low daily level doesn’t mean that you can save up all your drinks for a week and binge on the weekend.
- Protect your skin from the overexposure to the sun. Use sunscreen each and every time you go outside (preferably with an SPF of 30 or higher that protects against both UVA and UVB rays). Keep covered with a sun hat and wear sunglasses.
- Keep physically active. You do not have to be an athlete to get benefits from exercise. Activities such as brisk walking, biking, spinning, jogging, swimming, dancing or any exercise that raises your heart rate and makes you sweat is of benefit.
- Keep your weight within your normal range relative to your height. Your body mass index (BMI) should be 25 or less. (You can find out your BMI with online calculators). Try to stay within 5 to 10 pounds of what you weighed at age 18. We know that is hard once you reach a certain age but that is the general advice.
- It is a good idea not to take menopausal hormone therapy. If you do require hormones, minimize your use to under five years.
- Avoid exposures to carcinogens. Radiation exposures and certain chemicals are proven to cause cancer.
- Eat healthy with a cancer-risk-reducing diet. The function of diet in relation to cancer is far from certain, but researchers are suggesting that a plant-based diet is connected with reduced risks for multiple cancers, particularly colon cancer. Guidelines: Red meat should not be more than 4 ounces per day; stay away from processed meats including sausages and bologna; eat a diverse amount of non-starchy vegetables and fruits each day, preferably a minimum of five servings; and reduce or eliminate your intake of sugared drinks such as pop, juices, and candies, refined breads and potato chips.
Are You Doing Everything You Can to Lower Your Risk of Cancer?