Not
all cancers are preventable, but the earlier in life you adopt healthy
habits, the better your chances of warding off the disease down the
road. Here, Pawan Grover, MD, a physician who specializes in
interventional spine treatment and a medical correspondent for CNN, NBC
and CBS, explains the top seven things you can do to avoid cancer
diagnosis.
1. Avoid all forms of smoking. “Some people are under the impression
that smoking cigars and hookah are safer than smoking cigarettes, but
the fact is that all smokable products contain carcinogens,” Grover
says.
2. Eat a healthy diet that includes lots of fruits and vegetables. Limit
how much processed meat and red meat you eat, and opt for whole grains
over refined grain products.
3. Try to adopt healthy coping tools for dealing with stress, such as
meditation and writing in a journal. “Stress weakens your immune system
and can allow cancer cells to proliferate,” Grover says.
4. Be active. Aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity
activity or 75 minutes of vigorous activity each week (or a combination
of the two).
5. Maintain a healthy weight. You want to be as lean as possible
throughout life without being underweight, Grover says. If you are
overweight, losing even a small amount of weight has health benefits and
is a good place to start.
6. Limit sun exposure. The American Cancer Society recommends using the
catchphrase “Slip! Slop! Slap! and Wrap” as an easy way to remember how
to protect your skin from the sun: Slip on a shirt, slop on sunscreen,
slap on a hat and wrap on sunglasses.
7. Drink in moderation. For men, this means limiting yourself to no more
than two drinks per day, and one per day for women.
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