Cancer is a leading cause of death in the Western world. A complex and often difficult-to- treat disease, cancer can strike at any age and cause devastation. When cancer strikes, normal cells in the body undergo a mutation which causes them to multiply out of control. This mass of abnormal cells forms a tumor. If left untreated, cancer cells from this tumor can break away and travel to other parts of the body, spawning more tumors. This activity results in disruption of normal organ function where ever the tumors spread. The good news is, there is a lot you can do to protect yourself from cancer. Below I outline ten steps you can take to dramatically lessen your chances of getting this disease. Keep in mind, this article is no substitute for the advice of your doctor . Broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, and brussel sprouts are believed to be natures best cancer fighters. Include them often in your diet to benefit from their protection. Additionally, be sure to include foods high in antioxidants. In this realm blueberries reign supreme, but you can also get large doses from other berries, tea (particularly green tea), red wine, dark chocolate, pecans, kidney beans, and many other foods. Antioxidants help your body neutralize free radicals-- molecules that damage living tissue. It is the accumulation of this tissue damage that can result in cancer . High fiber diets have been found to reduce the incidence of colorectal cancer, while diets low in fiber and high in saturated fat have been shown to do the opposite. To lower your risk of this form of cancer, try to eat more than 20 grams of fiber each day-- ideally, 30 grams. And if you are young, start early! Damage to the colon slowly accumulates over the years. Your good habits today will give you better health .tomorrow Many known carcinogens are found in our living environments. Cleaners, pesticides, even fire-retardant materials in furniture and electronics are known to contain unhealthy chemicals. Try to keep your living space as all-natural as possible, and search the internet for healthy alternatives to harsh cleaners. Avoid brands that treat their products with PBDEs (IKEA, Ericsson, Intel, and Philips are a few). Your work environment may be even worse, especially if you work around gasoline, industrial cleaners, or other potential carcinogens. You must ask yourself if the health risk is worth the pay . Lycopene, found in tomatoes and watermelon, has been shown to prevent certain types of cancers, most notably prostate cancer. Because prostate cancer is the the most common cancer of men, it is important that men lower their risk by getting enough lycopene. One caveat to keep in mind is that lycopene requires fat in order to be absorbed into the body, so Italian dishes with tomato sauce and a little olive oil work .well Lung cancer is the biggest killer of all forms of cancer, and smoking cigarettes dramatically increases your odds of getting this disease. If you are a smoker, quitting is the single most significant thing you can do to reduce your risk of cancer . Incidences of skin cancer are on the rise. The most common forms of skin cancers are not very lethal, however there is a growing number of cases of malignant melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer. Exposure to the sun puts you at risk for this disease, so avoid direct sunlight or wear sunscreen. Be sure to follow the directions on the bottle in order to guarantee protection. And if you have had a lot of sun exposure in your life, be on the lookout for skin cancer symptoms. How can this advice possibly help you avoid cancer? Its simple. Melatonin, a hormone produced inside our brain while we sleep, has been proven to be a powerful cancer fighter. However, failure to adhere to a regular sleep cycle in a dark room results in much less melatonin production. Studies comparing those whose sleep habits maximize melatonin production with those whose do not found a stark difference in cancer rates
Posted on: Fri, 22 Aug 2014 06:35:38 +0000