Monday, June 17, 2013

Health Tip: 7 Ways to Lower Cancer Risk

Please share this information with everyone you know 
 
 
Well, there’s nothing magic about cancer prevention, no “killer app” that can instantly keep you healthy. Genetics play a big role in cancer, so even if you try to live a perfectly healthy life, it’s possible that you may develop cancer.
But experts estimate that at least a third of all adult cancer cases are linked to lifestyle, which is within your control.
With every healthy choice you make -- and every unhealthy habit you drop -- you’re chipping away at your cancer risk. Here are seven of the healthiest habits you can develop to help prevent cancer.
 
1. Be Smoke Free:  Lung cancer kills more women and men in the U.S. than any other cancer -- 28% of all cancer deaths, or about 160,000 people every year. The vast majority of those deaths are due to smoking. Smoking has also been linked to more than a dozen other cancers and accounts for 30% of all cancer deaths overall.
 
2. Don't Weight ( this is a play on words):  Many people probably know that carrying too much weight around isn’t good for your heart, but did you know that it’s a major risk factor for cancer as well? Obesity is the culprit behind some 14% of cancer deaths, and more than 3% of new cancer cases, every year.
 
3. Bust a Move:  All forms of physical activity help to prevent many forms of cancer, according to the AICR Expert Report. You may not get six-pack abs with 30 minutes of moderate exercise every day, but a number of studies have found evidence that just this much physical activity can cut your risk of many common cancers by 30% to 50%.  It doesn't matter what you do, just do it.
 
4. Plant Your Plate: There are a number of different foods that may help to prevent certain types of cancer. Fruits, vegetables, beans, and whole grains should cover two-thirds of your plate; the other one-third should contain lean meats, fish, and low-fat dairy.
 
5. Drop the Drink:  American Cancer Society recommend that women limit alcohol consumption to no more than one drink per day, and men no more than two.
 
6. Shake Off Stress:  Find healthy ways of coping with stress, like exercise (which helps to reduce cancer risk), meditation, and journaling.
 
7. Dig Your Roots:  Family history is a great indicator of possibilities and strategies for cutting cancer risk. 
 
Great health is not a right or a privilege, it's a job.
 
 
References from WebMD June 2013
 
Peace, healing and hydration,
Charlotte