How To Prevent Cancer

Cancer is the leading cause of death in America, just after heart disease. The incidence of cancer is rising and nobody is quite sure why. However, we do know that there are changes to your lifestyle that you can make in order to help prevent cancer. While these will not guarantee that you won't get cancer, they will certainly reduce the risk significantly.

The first thing you can do to reduce the risk of cancer is to quit smoking. This is a no brainer. Lung cancer is the leading cause of death from cancer in the world and it's mostly caused by smoking. Quitting smoking is not easy, but it is well worth the effort if you want to reduce your risk of getting cancer. Also, consider that smoking can cause several other forms of cancer in addition to lung cancer. Inhaling tobacco (snuff) or chewing tobacco can also cause cancer, so it's best to avoid it altogether.

Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer. Although melanoma which is the far more fatal kind is much less common than basic skin cancer, it is still quite common. If you spend too much time in the sun, especially between the hours of 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. when the sun is strongest, and don't wear a high SPF sunscreen, and a sun hat, then you are at risk. Even visiting a tanning salon frequently can put you at risk. Cases of skin cancer are skyrocketing, because our culture prizes the tanned look. But if you're serious about avoiding cancer, you'll be careful about not getting too much sun exposure. Apply the sunscreen 15-30 minutes before sun exposure, and reapply every few hours, especially if you're perspiring or going into water. If you're worried about not getting enough vitamin D, all you need is about 15 to 20 minutes a day of sun exposure.

Another very important factor to consider is your diet. 30-40% of cancers are directly linked to diet. A diet high in animal fat (ie. dairy products, fatty meat), red meat and alcohol can increase the risk of getting many cancers, such as bowel cancer, prostate cancer and breast cancer. While consuming these types of food in moderation is fine, it is best to limit your consumption. There are certain foods you can eat that will generally lower the risk of getting cancer. Of particular interest is the antioxidants, which can help to prevent most cancers.

These are mainly found in various fruits and vegetables, with certain foods such as blueberries, acai berries, tomatoes, strawberries and watermelon being very high in these compounds. However, there are certain cancers, where antioxidant supplements may not help, and may actually increase the risk of cancer, such as lung cancer. Mono-unsaturated fats found in nuts, avocados and oils such as canola and olive oil can also help to prevent cancer. Whole grains, beans and meat substitutes can also help prevent cancer.

Exercise can also help significantly reduce the risk of certain cancers, such as colon cancer. Half an hour a day of moderate exercise is recommended. If you already get exercise through your job, then other exercise may not be necessary.

Getting immunized and practicing safe sex can also help prevent cancer. In particular, it's important to get immunized for Hepatitis B, C and HPV. Also, HIV increases the risk of getting cancer, although you'll probably want to prevent HIV by practicing safe sex regardless.

Avoiding exposure to certain chemicals can also reduce the risk of getting cancer. For example, hire a professional to remove asbestos and limit the use of chemical pesticides and herbicides. Limit the use of plastic baby bottles. Only use nonstick cookware on a low to medium flame. Buy foods with less processing and chemicals. Use eco-friendly, non-toxic cleaning products.

If you follow these guidelines, you should dramatically reduce your risk of getting cancer. Of course, there are no guarantees, but most of these lifestyle changes will also improve your health in other ways, so it's definitely worth the effort.