Cancer presents one of the most severe and ambiguous challenges to public health the twenty-first century has ever seen. It can affect almost every system and organ in the body. We are not entirely sure what causes it, but many factors in our daily lives are linked to cancer in one way or another. From the foods you put into your body to the chemicals you use on your skin, to the amount of physical activity you get each day, specific actions you take can make a difference and decrease your risk for cancer.
Diet and Nutrition
There is substantial evidence that links body weight to certain types of cancer. Obesity and having significant amounts of body fat can lead to cancers, including mouth cancer, stomach cancer, breast cancer, ovary cancer, prostate cancer, kidney cancer, and pancreas cancer. What is one of the main culprits when it comes to obesity is sugar. Consuming large amounts of refined sugar contributes to fat build up, and eventually obesity. Unfortunately, refined sugar is found in many processed foods and beverages that we consume on a daily basis. Read the labels of the foods you are consuming even if they are labeled “organic” or “all natural.” Many of these processed foods are loaded with sugar to maintain their shelf life and make their taste appealing.
Eating whole grains, foods that contain omega-3s like fatty fish, and drinking matcha are just a few options when it comes to maintaining healthy bodily processes and preventing cancer from forming throughout the body through healthy eating. There are also a variety of supplements you can take to give yourself an added boost like omega-3’s, astaxanthin, and turmeric, among others. Eating a wholesome, diet with a variety of nutrients also helps prevent unnecessary weight and fat gain, which as we mentioned above can contribute to cancer formation.
Physical Activity
Sustaining an active lifestyle is one of the best things you can do to decrease your risk of cancer because it plays a significant role in preventing obesity and improves the function of your body systems. Daily physical activity can help prevent colon cancer, breast cancer, endometrial cancer, and breast cancer. There is also some evidence that the chances of having lung cancer and liver cancer can be decreased by physical activity as well. Pick a form of movement on a daily basis. From swimming to hiking there are countless fun ways to work physical activity into your daily routine. In addition to helping decrease your risk of many types of cancer, exercise also helps prevent the risk of cardiovascular disease, metabolic syndrome, and type two diabetes.
Though the exact cause of cancer is hard to decipher, there is much evidence that you can either increase or decrease your risk of getting cancer by the foods you eat and the lifestyle you live.
