Natural Ways to Prevent Cancer
There are some diet and lifestyle changes you can make that will greatly reduce your risk for developing most types of cancer. Exercise, avoiding carcinogens and eating a diet rich in fruits and vegetables are just some of the well-publicized ways to reduce cancer risks.
Here are some lesser-known cancer-fighting moves you can make to lower your chances of developing any type of cancer:
" Stand up and move - Endometrial and colon cancers are much higher in those people who spend most of the day sitting down. Invest in a standing desk or make it a point to get up and walk around every hour or so.
" Consume garlic - The sulfur compounds in garlic stimulate your immune system and its natural ability to fight cancer. Studies show that women who consumed the most garlic were half as likely to develop colon cancer as those who ate least.
" Marinate meat - High temperatures required to grill, fry or broil meat produce deadly compounds linked to cancer. Studies show that marinating your meats in wine or beer before cooking greatly reduces these cancer-causing chemicals. Does that sound like good news to you?
" Soak up some sun - Vitamin D comes to us directly from the sun rather than foods we consume. Low levels of vitamin D increase the risk of many cancers including ovarian, colon and breast cancer. Therefore, try and get about 15 minutes of sun per day. Your forearms are a good place to absorb some of the sun's rays.
" No dry cleaning - Dry cleaners use chemicals to clean clothing without washing. Perc (perchloroethylene) can cause damage to the liver and some cancers through inhalation or exposure. If you have to dry clean some clothing, be sure to take them out of the plastic bag and let them air out completely before wearing.
" Eat sauerkraut - The fermentation process used to produce sauerkraut from cabbage increases the cancer-fighting elements of indoles, sulforaphane and isothiocyanates.
" Lower sexual risk - Reduce the risk of developing HPV (human papillomavirus) by reducing your number of sexual partners, or make sure you always use condoms. HPV can cause throat, cervical, vaginal, penile and anal cancers, so also check out the HPV vaccine (recommended for women and men) with your doctor.
" Drink wine or beer in moderation - Alcohol can protect against some bacteria which cause stomach cancer or ulcers. Don't overdo it on the alcohol, but if you do drink, please drink in moderation. No more than three to six glasses of wine per week, or if you are a beer drinker, keep it to a minimum. Don't over indulge.
" Steam broccoli - Rather than boil, fry or microwave your intake of broccoli, try steaming it to preserve the healthy, cancer-fighting compounds found in the vegetable. If possible grow your own, so you know it isn't full of pesticides.
" Darken your bedroom - Light keeps you from producing enough melatonin and might increase estrogen-type cancers (breast and ovarian) in women. So keep your room dark when sleeping to better regulate your sleep cycles.
As always, prevention is better than cure. So learn all you can about making lifestyle and dietary changes that might help reduce your risk of developing cancer, and make sure you follow through! Most changes are simple and easy, but the small changes can make a lot of difference.
Here are some lesser-known cancer-fighting moves you can make to lower your chances of developing any type of cancer:
" Stand up and move - Endometrial and colon cancers are much higher in those people who spend most of the day sitting down. Invest in a standing desk or make it a point to get up and walk around every hour or so.
" Consume garlic - The sulfur compounds in garlic stimulate your immune system and its natural ability to fight cancer. Studies show that women who consumed the most garlic were half as likely to develop colon cancer as those who ate least.
" Marinate meat - High temperatures required to grill, fry or broil meat produce deadly compounds linked to cancer. Studies show that marinating your meats in wine or beer before cooking greatly reduces these cancer-causing chemicals. Does that sound like good news to you?
" Soak up some sun - Vitamin D comes to us directly from the sun rather than foods we consume. Low levels of vitamin D increase the risk of many cancers including ovarian, colon and breast cancer. Therefore, try and get about 15 minutes of sun per day. Your forearms are a good place to absorb some of the sun's rays.
" No dry cleaning - Dry cleaners use chemicals to clean clothing without washing. Perc (perchloroethylene) can cause damage to the liver and some cancers through inhalation or exposure. If you have to dry clean some clothing, be sure to take them out of the plastic bag and let them air out completely before wearing.
" Eat sauerkraut - The fermentation process used to produce sauerkraut from cabbage increases the cancer-fighting elements of indoles, sulforaphane and isothiocyanates.
" Lower sexual risk - Reduce the risk of developing HPV (human papillomavirus) by reducing your number of sexual partners, or make sure you always use condoms. HPV can cause throat, cervical, vaginal, penile and anal cancers, so also check out the HPV vaccine (recommended for women and men) with your doctor.
" Drink wine or beer in moderation - Alcohol can protect against some bacteria which cause stomach cancer or ulcers. Don't overdo it on the alcohol, but if you do drink, please drink in moderation. No more than three to six glasses of wine per week, or if you are a beer drinker, keep it to a minimum. Don't over indulge.
" Steam broccoli - Rather than boil, fry or microwave your intake of broccoli, try steaming it to preserve the healthy, cancer-fighting compounds found in the vegetable. If possible grow your own, so you know it isn't full of pesticides.
" Darken your bedroom - Light keeps you from producing enough melatonin and might increase estrogen-type cancers (breast and ovarian) in women. So keep your room dark when sleeping to better regulate your sleep cycles.
As always, prevention is better than cure. So learn all you can about making lifestyle and dietary changes that might help reduce your risk of developing cancer, and make sure you follow through! Most changes are simple and easy, but the small changes can make a lot of difference.
How to Help Prevent Cancer
In many cases cancer is something that develops because of certain lifestyle choices. Of course smoking or sunning yourself can lead to cancer. So can exposure to certain toxins and just in general an unhealthy lifestyle. However, there are steps you can take to help prevent cancer. This doesn't mean you won't ever get some form of cancer; sometimes you're just predisposed to cancer. But, it means that you are doing all you can to stay healthy.
How You Can Prevent Cancer from Happening to You
If you do have a family history of cancer, then you probably don't want to do things which raise your chances even higher of getting cancer. Here's what you can do to hopefully prevent it.
1. Reduce your sugar intake. It has been proven that cancer develops in an environment that is rich in glucose. Less oxygen and more sugar raises your risk of getting cancer.
2. Maintain a proper pH (potential Hydrogen) in your body. A nice high pH level is more oxygen rich and an environment which cancers do not do well in. So keep your pH above 7.0. To do this, drink a lot of water, eliminate soda, reduce the amount of meat you eat, minimize your consumption of sweets, and eat a lot of raw vegetables.
3. Exercise regularly. It doesn't really matter what kind of exercise - just keep moving.
4. Get enough sleep. Your body needs that time or rest to rejuvenate cells, so make sure you're getting the right amount of sleep.
5. Vitamin and mineral supplements will help maintain a healthy body chemistry.
6. Don't use tobacco products. This goes for smoking or chewing. Tobacco products are linked to many different types of Cancer including lung, bladder, cervix, kidney, oral cavity, and pancreas. Avoid tobacco products at all costs and you'll decrease your risks of developing cancer greatly.
7. Protect yourself in the sun. Use a sunscreen with an SPF (Sun Protection Factor) of at least 15. Reapply frequently. Cover yourself with clothing. Wear dark colors. Wear a hat. Avoid midday sun. Stay in the shade. Avoid tanning beds and lights.
8. Stay up to date on your immunizations. Protecting yourself from certain types of viruses will limit your chances of getting some cancers. Hepatitis B and HPV (Human Papillomavirus) are two vaccines you should be sure you have.
9. Avoid risky behavior which can lead to infections. This means practice safe sex and don't share needles. HIV or AIDS increases a person's chance of getting cancer of the anus, liver, or lungs. HPV like mentioned above is associated with cervical cancer. This is a sexually transmitted disease. Sharing needles increases your chances of Hepatitis B or Hepatitis C. So this is all stuff you want to avoid.
10. Stay on top of your medical care. Seeing your doctor regularly and screening for cancers will help you diagnose a problem early, possibly preventing it from turning into cancer.
These ten things are just some ways you can take cancer into your own hands and reduce your risk of getting it. Nothing is guaranteed in life, but you will feel much better if you follow these tips.
How You Can Prevent Cancer from Happening to You
If you do have a family history of cancer, then you probably don't want to do things which raise your chances even higher of getting cancer. Here's what you can do to hopefully prevent it.
1. Reduce your sugar intake. It has been proven that cancer develops in an environment that is rich in glucose. Less oxygen and more sugar raises your risk of getting cancer.
2. Maintain a proper pH (potential Hydrogen) in your body. A nice high pH level is more oxygen rich and an environment which cancers do not do well in. So keep your pH above 7.0. To do this, drink a lot of water, eliminate soda, reduce the amount of meat you eat, minimize your consumption of sweets, and eat a lot of raw vegetables.
3. Exercise regularly. It doesn't really matter what kind of exercise - just keep moving.
4. Get enough sleep. Your body needs that time or rest to rejuvenate cells, so make sure you're getting the right amount of sleep.
5. Vitamin and mineral supplements will help maintain a healthy body chemistry.
6. Don't use tobacco products. This goes for smoking or chewing. Tobacco products are linked to many different types of Cancer including lung, bladder, cervix, kidney, oral cavity, and pancreas. Avoid tobacco products at all costs and you'll decrease your risks of developing cancer greatly.
7. Protect yourself in the sun. Use a sunscreen with an SPF (Sun Protection Factor) of at least 15. Reapply frequently. Cover yourself with clothing. Wear dark colors. Wear a hat. Avoid midday sun. Stay in the shade. Avoid tanning beds and lights.
8. Stay up to date on your immunizations. Protecting yourself from certain types of viruses will limit your chances of getting some cancers. Hepatitis B and HPV (Human Papillomavirus) are two vaccines you should be sure you have.
9. Avoid risky behavior which can lead to infections. This means practice safe sex and don't share needles. HIV or AIDS increases a person's chance of getting cancer of the anus, liver, or lungs. HPV like mentioned above is associated with cervical cancer. This is a sexually transmitted disease. Sharing needles increases your chances of Hepatitis B or Hepatitis C. So this is all stuff you want to avoid.
10. Stay on top of your medical care. Seeing your doctor regularly and screening for cancers will help you diagnose a problem early, possibly preventing it from turning into cancer.
These ten things are just some ways you can take cancer into your own hands and reduce your risk of getting it. Nothing is guaranteed in life, but you will feel much better if you follow these tips.