Top 5 Simple Ways Of Reducing Risk Of Cancer

BY NILE BIJOUX

Cancer is a very real threat affecting a huge amount of the population. Whether you already have it, have had a cancer scare, know someone who has it or are at risk of getting it, it pays to be aware of what can cause the more common cancers. A big factor is what we eat. Food is central to how healthy we are and what we eat can affect our chances of getting cancer. A lot of cancer cases are considered preventable with diet being in the fore of the problems.

Six new nutrition cancer prevention guidelines published today in the Journal of the American College of Nutrition reinforce some sound advice, but also include a surprise or two. New Zealand and Australia aren’t too far apart in terms of cancer rates, and it’s our shared love of sun, smoking and drinking that are the biggest factors in cancer cases. But what do these new recommendations tell us?

EAT LOTS OF FRUIT AND VEGETABLES

Unfortunately, there’s no superfood that prevents cancer. But the next best thing is stuffing your body full of good fruits and veges. Why? Well aside from it being possibly the most flogged health tip ever, they offer any and all of the following:  antioxidants, fibre, phytochemicals and weight control. One group you should be looking out for in particular are the dark leafy greens. That’s broccoli, spinach, kale and lettuce leaves.

LIMIT ALCOHOL, OR AVOID IT ENTIRELY

Don’t bother with the “it’s good for your heart” argument. Alcohol has been strongly linked to cancer of the mouth, oesophagus, breast, colon and liver. In a nutshell, the more you drink, the greater the risk. Alcohol can also directly damage cellular DNA, the liver, increase the solubility of other cancer-causing chemicals, increase the level of estrogen, and decrease the levels of some beneficial nutrients such as folate. Basically, it’s not very good for you. At the same time, you should still balance risk with enjoyment and lifestyle. In moderation, alcohol can still be an okay addition to a Sunday afternoon barbeque.

Source: M2Woman