Change your lifestyle to prevent cancer, naturally
Admittedly, cancer prevention is not as clear-cut as the prevention of other illnesses. However, this doesn’t mean that you can’t help to reduce your risk of developing the disease.
How does it begin?
Consensus in the medical community is that cancer is caused by damage to our DNA, which acts as a blueprint for the ways in which our cells—the building blocks of our body—function. As such, any harm caused to this vital aspect of our makeup can cause serious problems.
Every day, we encounter various things in our environment, including UV rays and the cancer-friendly chemicals in tobacco, which cause damage to our DNA. As this damage accumulates and cancerous cells begin to multiply uncontrollably, serious health problems can ensue.
Keep toxins at bay
The good news is that, according to the Mayo Clinic and the National Cancer Institute, changing certain aspects of your lifestyle can diminish this damage. Here are four ways to increase your chances of keeping your body cancer-free:
1. Get the greens
Reports of a miracle food or supplement that prevents cancer are simply false. However, research does show a link between eating certain groups of foods (rather than any specific foods, vitamins or nutrients) and a reduction in cancer risk. Therefore, eating a healthy, balanced diet may lower your risk of developing cancer. Try to have at least five portions of fruits and vegetables, fibre rich foods, and low-fat sources of protein (like yogurt, nuts and fish) each day, and eliminate drinks and foods that are high in unhealthy fats and sugars.
2. Get physical
Again, there is sufficient evidence that increased physical activity can reduce the risk of certain cancers. While the exact reason remains elusive to the scientific world, it is understood that consistent, regular exercise helps to keep hormone levels healthy. This keeps your cells running smoothly and lowers their risk of becoming damaged.
3. Veto the vodka
In moderation, drinking alcohol can actually be beneficial to your health. However, as the old adage goes, too much of a good thing can be harmful. It is now known that alcoholism is a common denominator in cases of cancers of the mouth, pharynx, larynx, esophagus, liver and colon. Generally, men and women are advised not to regularly drink more than 14 units of alcohol in a given week, and not to consume all 14 units at once.
4. Stub out that cigarette
Ninety per cent of lung cancer cases are related to smoking. Moreover, unlike alcohol, which only affects its user, smoking creates second-hand smoke, which puts others at risk. Quitting this harmful habit doesn’t just benefit your own health: it also helps those around you.
Are these changes worth it?
While it may be difficult to make drastic changes to one’s lifestyle, studies have consistently found that persons who implemented these habits tend to live longer. Cancer Research UK reports that in 2008, a large study sought to ascertain how a combination of four healthy behaviours—namely, regular exercise, drinking in moderation, eating five daily portions of fruit and vegetables and not smoking—would impact the individual’s heath. Persons who implemented all four practices gained an average of 14 years of life. By the time the study ended, they were less likely to have died from any cause, including cancer.
Now, studies show that the global demographic of people who die from cancer are in the prime of their lives with spouses and children. In many instances, these individuals still succumbed to the illness even after intense bouts of chemotherapy and other treatments. Isn’t it then worth the while to prevent the disease rather than seek to cure it? The methods suggested in this article are natural and cost no more than what you are currently spending—start making changes today.
