Breast cancer continues to be the leading form of cancer in women (aside from non-malanoma skin cancer). More and more, scientists are telling us that good lifestyle choices carry the most weight when trying to reduce our risk. Most of us know that a healthy diet and exercise are two of the major players in keeping us healthy, but a recent survey in Britain showed that actually, many adults still aren’t aware of common risk factors.
“The survey showed that about 70% were not aware of the link between processed meat and cancer,” reports Reuben Chow, journalist. “Further, 44% of those surveyed were not aware that being overweight also increases cancer risk.”
To do our part in continuing to educate Cinco Vidas readers about lifestyle choices that can keep breast cancer at bay, we’ve created a list below of some major tips for avoiding breast cancer-some you may already know, but some you may not!
THE ONES YOU MAY KNOW
- Limit alcohol
- Don’t smoke
- Maintain a healthy weight
- Stay physically active (aim for at least 30 minutes a day 5 times a week)
- Limit the fat in your diet, and include more fiber
- Eat more fruits and green, leafy vegetables
- Consider discontinuing long-term hormone therapy
- Limit your exposure to pesticides
- Increase your intake of omega-3 fatty acids
THE ONES YOU MAY NOT KNOW
- Avoid unnecessary antibiotics-scientists recently found a link between antibiotic use and breast cancer-the longer they were used, the higher the risk
- Drink tea-a new study found that drinking black or green tea results in a 37% reduction in breast-cancer risk for women under the age of 50
- Add the spice curcumin (a popular Indian spice) to your diet-studies show it reduces risk of breast cancer after exposure to hormone replacement therapy
- Add 1-3 tablespoons flaxseeds to your daily diet, in oatmeal, yogurt, smoothies, meatloaf, chili, breads, and more
- Avoid regular personal-care products that may contain phthalates, parabens, sulphates, and other potential carcinogens-choose organic and natural products, and learn to read labels
- Enjoy more mushrooms, about 100 grams a day, and up your intake of walnuts
- Get more vitamin D, either from the sun or from butter, eggs, trout, and salmon
Do you have a favorite way to avoid breast cancer?
Photo courtesy of austinhk via Flickr.com.
