Cancer is one of the deadliest and scariest diseases. It is of various types and can begin developing almost anywhere in the human body. Currently, more than 200 types of cancer are known to humans and all of these lead to an uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells that can ultimately result in death.
Cancer can be caused due to various factors such as inherited genetic defects, infections in the body, environmental factors such as pollution, and even due to poor lifestyle habits including eating unhealthy food, drinking too much alcohol and smoking.
In a research conducted by the American Institute for Cancer Research, strong evidence was discovered that poor dietary habits consisting of eating fast food, processed food, food high in starch fat and meat are the main causes of obesity. Obesity is one major risk for causing various types of cancer.
Similarly, not drinking enough water or staying dehydrated can have severe impacts. Water is the foundational component for our cells and depriving them of it can cause multiple issues, even more so for those who are already suffering from cancer.
Yes, most of the causes of cancer like genetics and pollution are not in our hands to control. But the way we live our lives, what we eat and what we drink is completely in our hands. About 70% of the known causes of cancer are related to lifestyle choices and are avoidable. By making the right choices and implementing some good changes in our life, we can fight cancer and keep away from it.
We will now discuss some of the changes in lifestyle that anyone can adopt and start a journey towards a healthy and quality life that is free of the risk of cancer. Remember, prevention is better than cure, and it is always better to try and be safe rather than regret and struggle later.
Tips to Prevent Cancer
Cancer is a very complicated disease and just like research is ongoing to develop some sort of cure for it, similarly, studies are always working to determine various ways to prevent it. That being said, it is a well-accepted fact that the chances of developing cancer in a normal individual are down to the choices they make by living their life. To lower down your cancer risk, you can consider the below-mentioned cancer-prevention tips.
Cut down on Tobacco and Alcohol
Tobacco and a high amount of alcohol can lead to the shortest path for developing cancer. Whether you consume tobacco through smoking or by chewing it, you significantly increase your chances of having various types of cancer including throat, larynx, lung, mouth, pancreas, kidney, cervix and larynx. Even if you don’t smoke yourself, you still have a chance of growing cancer if you stay in the company of smokers due to secondhand smoke.
Similarly, consuming alcohol in high quantities directly contributes to cancer of mouth, throat, larynx, rectum, liver and even breast cancer. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention has stated that all types of alcoholic drinks including wine, beers, cocktails and liquor are directly linked to cancer.
Avoiding tobacco and alcohol is essential in your quest to stay cancer-free. In case you are habitual, then you can seek help and visit your doctor for advice. You can even use anti-smoking products or adopt anti-alcohol strategies to reduce your intake and divert your path towards a healthy and cancer-free life.
Eat Healthy
As the popular saying goes, we are what we eat. The better food we eat the more healthy we become. Eating good food is a process in itself. Not only do you need to eat food that is good for your health, but you also need to avoid certain items and types of food that are harmful to your health and increase the risk of cancer.
Here are some do’s and don’ts about your diet that you should follow to reduce your risk of developing cancer.
DO’s
Eat Fresh Fruits
Eat fresh and seasonal fruits as much as you can. These provide essential nutrients such as vitamins, dietary fiber, potassium and folic acid to your body. Additionally they have an amazing taste, they also help in keeping you healthy and avoiding multiple diseases.
Eat Green Vegetables
Green vegetables are packed with nutrients, minerals, vitamins, and fiber. They have low calories and zero cholesterol levels, which provide multiple health benefits such as reduced risk of obesity, diabetes and cancer. These also help in maintaining healthy blood pressure and improve mental health.
Eat Whole Grains and Beans
Whole grains like oatmeal, corn, brown rice, barley, brown bread, buckwheat, and others are filled with fiber, nutrients and phytochemicals that improve glucose metabolism and allow easy absorption of food. Most importantly, these lower your risk of obesity that is linked with preventing illness.
DON’T’s
Reduce Meat Intake
The International Agency for Research on Cancer, which is the Cancer Research Agency of the World Health Organization. In a report established that eating large amounts of processed meat can trigger an increase in the risk of developing cancer. If you cannot completely remove it from your diet, try to reduce your intake at least.
Say no to Processed and Junk Food
Processed, packaged, junk and fast food should be completely avoided. They may satisfy your taste buds, but these have a lot of negative impact inside your body. They don't have any nutrients or minerals as such and their regular consumption can lead to obesity and increased risk of various diseases including heart disease, blood pressure irregularities, respiratory disease and to an extent even cancer.
Avoid High-Calorie Food
According to the World Cancer Research Fund of the UK, eating a lot of high-calorie food that is high in starch and fat can make us obese, which is a cause of many common forms of cancer. Some high-calorie foods include cookies, chips, cake, ice cream, burgers, fries, etc. These are low in vital nutrients and even a small quantity of these contain a lot of calories. Watch out for these and try to avoid them as much as possible.
Stay Fit and Active
It is very important to keep yourself fit and active to maintain a healthy weight. If you are overweight and your body mass index is over the mark of 25, then you increase the risk of various types of cancer.
Staying active and indulging in physical activities and exercises not only helps you in controlling your weight but it in itself lowers the risk of breast and colon cancer. It has been observed that adults who work out for at least 150 minutes per week, which comes down to 30 minutes per day for 5 days a week, tend to stay fit, healthy, and in shape over a longer-term and stay cancer-free to a large extent.
Limit Your Sun Exposure
Exposure to the sun for long periods is a common cause of skin cancer. The sun’s rays are strongest at mid-day, that is between 10 AM to 4 PM, and you should try and avoid it during this time. Even if you have to go out, try to stay in the shade as much as possible.
Moreover, wear sunglasses, loose-fitting and bright colored clothes that cover most of your skin and reflect away the ultraviolet radiation. You should also use sunscreen with at least 30 SPF and avoid tanning beds since they are equally bad as natural sunlight and it increases your cancer risk.
How can Staying Hydrated Help in Cancer Prevention?
Besides all the steps mentioned above, drinking enough water in a day and keeping yourself hydrated can also go a long way in keeping you free from cancer. Most of our body is made up of water. It is an important nutrient which is a key in detoxifying our body.
It is an important component of the body’s cells and helps them to function at their best. It promotes the growth, survival and proper reproduction of the body's cells. As we all know, cancer develops when there is abnormal growth of cells in the body and the growth ends up forming a tumor. But by drinking 8 oz of water daily, we can keep the cells healthy and that can keep organs like the colon, bladder and breasts from developing cancer.
Also, most of the other body functions are dependent on water, and by staying hydrated, we enable our body to work flawlessly. Water helps in maintaining joint health, flushing out toxins, regulating body temperature and providing energy. The process of toxin removal is extremely vital since if the toxins are not flushed off, then their build-up can lead to an increase in the risk of colorectal cancer.
You can also try and drink Alkaline Water instead of regular water. Alkaline water has a higher pH level and it gets easily absorbed by the body cells. Furthermore, our body’s cells can retain it for much longer, keeping you hydrated for hours and keeping your cells healthy. A convenient and cost effective way to access to alkaline water is the DYLN Bottle, since it creates alkaline water within minutes and keeps it cold for up to 24 hours.
The magnesium, tourmaline, silica, and zinc inside your bottle’s VitaBead Diffuser alkalizes your water to a pH of up to 9+. Ensuring that you get refreshing alkaline water with every sip. You can easily carry the bottle anywhere with you and drink alkaline water throughout the day to keep your body cells hydrated and healthy, thus preventing the risk of developing cancer.
Final Words
The best way to fight cancer is to try your best and prevent it in the first place. As difficult as it may sound, it can be done by shifting some of our habits.
Yes, it is easy to say and many of us have customs of eating and drinking various kinds of food and beverages for years and implementing a sudden change can be highly challenging.
But if you are determined to live a healthy life and prevent the development of cancer, then you should approach this with a set and willing mind and you should surely be able to change. You can also reach out to experts for help who can assist you in implementing some changes.
