Are we risking our lives or our lifestyle has reached to a level where we can only see style but no life? One out of three people in the US is at the prone zone to get cancer. Here, we want to discuss cancer risk factors and cancer fighting foods to help you take measures to stay healthy.
Mostly, cancer is idiopathic in nature and that means the cause for the cancer is unknown. But there are risk factors that can aggravate you into having cancer. We have jotted down the list of canker risk factors which may affect your health. Know all about these and how to prevent the condition.
Cancer risk factors
Cancer risk factors are nothing but the causes of cancer. You need to know what causes the deadly disease in order to keep away from it. Check out all the major risks below:
1. Cigarettes
Smoking tobacco is considered to be one of the most popular cancer risk factors and it causes lung cancer. Longer and frequent intake of tobacco may lead your health towards a higher risk of cancer.
Smoking cigarettes and taking other tobacco substitutes are not limited to lung cancer, it may also affect your other organs and lead to the cancer of mouth, throat, larynx, esophagus, kidney, liver, bladder, stomach, colon, pancreas, cervix and rectum.
What you need to do
Quit smoking and opting for combination therapy. You also need behavioral counseling and pharmacotherapy.
2. Eating red meat and poultry
Processed or treated food is carcinogenic in nature, if you are fond of red meat you need to chop it down. According to the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), red meat can increase the possibilities of colorectal cancer, and is linked with prostate and pancreatic cancers
What you need to do
You must lower down your red meat consumption to not more than two serves every week. The perfect platter should contain 50% of veggies and fruits, 25% of whole grains and 25% of lean proteins.
3. Obesity
Obesity is associated with a greater risk of progressing 13 kinds of cancer – esophageal, colorectal, pancreatic, endometrial, breast cancer, and more. The causes are not clear, but studies advocate that losing weight when obese/overweight can lower possibilities of cancer occurrence.
What you need to do
Manage your weight by eating right and exercising regularly. You need to drink lots of water and follow a balanced diet schedule. According to research, people who are physically active are at lower risk of having breast, colon, and endometrial cancer. Take this tip as a prevention tip to fight cancer.
4. Sun exposure
Extreme and frequent sun exposure can lead to sunburns, aggravate a person’s risk of getting melanoma, carcinomas, and more skin issues.
What you need to do
Try to stay protected and covered under the sun and make sure you use sunscreen and wear appropriate clothing. Avoid staying under direct sunlight for long and see how your skin responds to sun exposure.
5. Alcohol
Alcohol is known to be one of the most common causes of cancer risk factors. It is strongly related with an aggravated risk of certain cancers, comprising of head, neck, breast, esophageal, colon, and liver cancer. The more the quantity of alcohol consumption the worse your condition gets.
What you need to do
It is suggested that women shouldn’t consume more than one drink a day, while men shouldn’t have more than two.
6. Hereditary
Most cancers aren’t hereditary in nature. But there is clear inherited risk noted in some cases. One such condition is called the Li-Fraumeni syndrome that carries a greater risk of passing on certain cancer cells.
What you need to do
If you are present with genetic susceptibility to the deadly disease, you can go for genetic testing and diagnose the condition of your body.
Living a lifestyle on edge can be dangerous, as we are highly susceptible to carcinogens. Whether it’s your food or a habit. It can take a toll on your health. Not every kind of cancer can be detected at an early stage, but there are few guidelines you can follow to control the condition by getting a regular mammogram (for females who are 40 years or older). It is very important to get regular check-ups.
If you observe any changes occurring in your body, immediately talk about it with your family. Discuss your symptoms and family history with the doctor for an accurate opinion. Learn about the risk factors and know cancer better to try every way of preventing it.
Best cancer fighting foods
Above, you went through the most common cancer risk factors and what to do to stop them? Below, we will discuss the various cancer fighting foods that can prevent your body from the deadly disease:
1. Garlic
Garlic is known to have amazing cancer-fighting elements. There have been many studies to prove that garlic is healthy for every cancer type. It keeps our digestive organs healthy so you can easily prevent stomach, colon, and esophagus cancer.
2. Berries
Berries are called superfoods as they are not only tasty treats but also full of antioxidants that fight cancer. Antioxidants help fight free radicals that damage cells. Berries prevent cancer and also stop them from spreading. It is a regular part of anti-cancer diet and you can choose from blackberries, strawberries, and blueberries for this.
3. Tomatoes
As per research, tomatoes can prevent prostate cancer in men. The red fruit is known to protect DNA that tends to get damaged due to cancer. Tomatoes have high levels of antioxidants named lycopene. You not only get the goodness of the fruit by eating it raw but also from quality sauces made from it.
4. Cruciferous veggies
The family of cruciferous veggies like cabbage, broccoli, and cauliflower, are really great cancer preventing foods. They too have antioxidants that protect your DNA cells and cancer-causing chemicals. If you have a tumor, these foods will make the growth slow and fight cancer cells.
5. Green tea
Leaves from the green tea plant have lots of antioxidants called catechins. They not only help you improve metabolism and promote weight loss but also fight free radicals. According to lab test, catechins present in tea helps shrink down tumors and reduce the cell growth of tumors. Adding at least one cup of green tea with your regular diet will help you stay healthier.
Final thoughts
You not only need to add the miracle foods that cure cancer to your diet, but you also need to take preventive measures. The cancer fighting foods will keep your health better but taking steps to live healthier will keep you mentally happy and enhance longevity.
