5 Tips for Cancer Prevention and Healthy Lifestyle

We’ve all heard awareness talks about cancer prevention, and the general know-how around the condition has increased manifold over the past decade. While the traditional treatments coupled with positive lifestyle changes have proven to show miraculous results in even the most advanced stages of the disease, what can’t be denied is that if we make it a practice to follow a healthy lifestyle regularly, cancer can be prevented altogether.

Unsplash | If we make it a practice to follow a healthy lifestyle regularly, cancer can be prevented altogether

Health and nutrition experts assert that with the right kind of diet and physical exercise, even a disease as complex as cancer can be kept at bay. And to help you take the righteous path to a cancer-free road, we’ve brought the 5 top lifestyle choices that experts swear by. Have a look.

Healthy meals

Do you know that bowel cancer is the second deadliest illness in the UK and fourth globally? Overconsumption of red meat is proven to increase cancer risk, and hence, you need to stick to a balanced diet and healthy food. In addition to protein and healthy fats, consuming vegetables and fruits rich in fiber will always keep your bowels working great.

Read – 13 Foods That Could Lower Your Risk of Cancer

Consistent workout routine

Working out not only improves your physique, but also benefits your body. According to JAMA internal medicine, being active has significantly reduced the risk of various cancer types. Excessive body weight plays a vital role in increasing the likelihood of contracting cancer. Thus, a healthy body maintained through exercises can save you from cancer risk.

Unsplash | A healthy body maintained through exercises can save you from cancer risk

Resistance to smoking

Another common cancer type is lung cancer, and surprisingly, 79% of lung cancer cases have been found to be easily avoidable. Be it a small cell or non-small cell lung cancer, your body can become vulnerable to both if you’re heavy on smoking. The carcinogens in cigarettes change normal body cells to cancerous ones, and hence you should stay away from smoking at all costs.

Read – Five ways to quit smoking

Avoiding alcohol

Alcohol consumption can be a sign of tradition at some places, but too much of anything is poison. Around 3% of cancer cases are linked with alcohol. Doctors recommend no more than 6 glasses of booze in a week. It’s proven that any woman drinking above that limit has a 15% increased chance of breast cancer.

Shield your skin

One of the reasons for skin cancer is the ultraviolet light from the sun which damages the DNA in our skin cells. Malignant melanoma is diagnosed in around 16,000 people in the UK and it’s mostly among the youth. Keeping your skin covered during summer via sunscreen or clothes can protect against UVA and UVB which can prevent this cancer risk.

Unsplash | Keeping your skin covered during summer via sunscreen or clothes can protect against UVA and UVB which can prevent this cancer risk

Wrapping it up

Though at first look, the above list may discourage you since it puts a check on most of the things you might relish. But think of it like this – what’s the point of partying endlessly and then spending the best years of life restricted by medications? If you want to enjoy your life throughout, switch to a healthier lifestyle. Moreover, have a full body check-up regularly to spot hidden medical conditions at their earliest.