Nine Lifestyle Changes You Can Make to Help Prevent Cancer
by www.SixWise.com
http://www.sixwise.com/Newsletters/2008/September/4/Nine-Lifestyle-Changes-Preve\
nt-Cancer.htm?source=nl
Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the United States, causing one
out of every four deaths. Over 1.4 million new cases will be diagnosed in 2008
alone.
The causes of cancer are complex and varied, but there are many things you can
do to reduce your risk significantly -- and all of them have to do with how you
lead your life.
"Increasingly, researchers agree that poor diets and sedentary lifestyles are
among the most important contributors to cancer risk," points out the American
Cancer Society (ACS).
"Each year, about 550,000 Americans die of cancer; fully one-third of these
deaths are linked to poor diet, physical inactivity, and carrying excess
weight," they continue.
Interestingly, aside from perhaps reducing cancer deaths by one-third, a new
study found that leading a healthy lifestyle can actually influence cancer
genes.
The study, published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, found
that dietary changes, exercise and stress reduction changed the expression of
hundreds of genes in men with prostate cancer. In some cases, the healthy
lifestyle positively affected genes that help fight cancer, while in others it
turned off genes that promote cancer development.
"These findings are very exciting. They counter the genetic nihilism I hear so
often. People say, 'It's all in my genes, there's nothing I can do,' but
actually you can do quite a lot," said the study's lead author, Dr. Dean Ornish,
president of the Preventive Medicine Research Institute and a clinical professor
of medicine at the University of California, San Francisco.
So, clearly, the power you have to reduce your risk of this common disease is
immense.
What Can YOU Do to Prevent Cancer?
The top lifestyle changes include:
Lose Weight: Obesity is a risk factor for many types of cancer, including
breast, colon, endometrium, esophagus, kidney and others.
"Excess weight causes the body to produce and circulate more of the hormones
estrogen and insulin, which can stimulate cancer growth," according to ACS.
Quit Smoking: This is the major cause of lung cancer.
Limit Alcohol Consumption: Drinking alcohol in excess increases your risk of
various cancers.
Eat More Fruits and Vegetables: They're loaded with cancer-fighting nutrients,
such as phytoestrogens, plus they help keep you at a healthy weight.
Limit Intake of Processed Meats and Trans Fats: Processed meats, like
lunchmeats, hot dogs, bacon and sausages, have been linked to prostate and other
cancers.
Exercise Regularly. Exercise will reduce your risk of just about every type of
cancer.
"Being active helps reduce your cancer risk by helping with weight control, and
can also reduce your risk by influencing hormone levels and your immune system,"
according to ACS.
Avoid Exposure to Environmental Chemicals and Air Pollution. As air pollution
inside the home is one of the fastest-growing causes of disease, leading health
organizations now strongly recommend you use a high-quality air purifier in your
home, such as the PIONAIRâ„¢ Air Treatment System.
Meanwhile, "dirt" and the dust it turns into in your home is generally composed
of about 20 "ingredients," and many of them are toxic.
To properly rid your home of this dust and dirt, throw away the cotton mops,
sponges, cotton rags and common household cleaning solutions like Pine-Sol.
Recent studies have shown that conventional mops, sponges and rags are some of
the most abundant sources of germs in your home, and they are far better at
spreading dirt and dust around than removing it. Chemical cleaners, meanwhile,
are primary sources of phenols that can cause respiratory, cardiac and other
bodily damage.
For the reasons above, hospitals, other health care organizations, top hotel
chains and many other organizations have moved away from "conventional" cleaning
tools and supplies and moved to using PerfectClean "ultramicrofiber" cleaning
tools. The PerfectClean line of ultramicrofiber mops, dusters, towels and wipes
is one of the absolute "must" products (just recently available to the public)
that we urge everyone to consider, and you can read more about PerfectClean here
... and see the entire PerfectClean line (including the special introductory
prices) here.
Get the Proper Amount of Vitamin D. Maintaining healthy vitamin D levels is
known to protect against cancer, according to the Vitamin D Council. Experts say
15-20 minutes of sunlight a day is an ideal amount for a light-skinned person to
produce the right amount of vitamin D. If you have darker skin, you'll need to
stay out significantly longer.
Manage Your Stress. Positive emotions and reduction of stress support your
immune system, which may contribute to slowing the progress of cancer and
warding it off in the first place. To reduce stress in your life, see this past
article, and if you need a little help getting started we highly recommend the
Pure Relaxation: Guided Meditations for Body, Mind & Spirit CD by respected
meditation expert Mary Maddux.
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