Everyone knows avoiding cigarettes and other tobacco products can help decrease your risk of developing cancer, but that’s just one small (albeit very important) step you can take to prevent the disease. With New Year’s just around the corner, now is a good time to make your list of healthy resolutions to beat cancer and enjoy optimal health for years to come. Here are a few quick ideas to get you started:
Drink lots of water.
Your body is about two-thirds water, so it makes sense that replenishing your body’s most abundant fluid on a regular basis throughout the day is good for your health. Plus, when you drink more water, you “exercise” your bladder and flush out toxins, and that can help reduce your risk for developing bladder cancer.
Use a water filter.
Tap water can contain surprising amounts of chemicals, some of them known to increase the risks of certain cancers when consumed in quantity. Adding a faucet filter can provide you with plenty of healthy water to drink; store the remainder in glass containers to avoid potential contamination from plastic water bottles.
Don’t forget the coffee.
It seems like just about every week, there’s a study telling you to drink more or less coffee, depending on your medical needs. But at least one study reports people who drink five or more cups a day had a significantly lower risk of developing brain cancer compared to those who drank very little coffee. The key: Skip the decaf. The researchers say it’s the caffeine that seems to be helping beat cancer.
Eat lots of greens.
Salads are a great way to add fiber to your diet, keeping your bowels regular so you can lower your risk for colorectal cancer. But darker greens have an added benefit: high levels of magnesium. That higher mineral content may boost your ability to ward of colorectal cancer, so eat up.
Limit processed foods, including white flour breads and pastas.
Look for foods that are organic or free of hormones and chemical additives, and opt for whole-grain breads and pastas. White flour foods cause rapid elevations of your blood sugar – called your glycemic load – and that can also increase your risk for developing colon cancer.
Be more active.
Walking just a few hours every week can reduce the risks of several cancers, including colon cancer, breast cancer and endometrial cancer, according to the National Cancer Institute, and it may reduce the risks of other types of cancer as well.
Just a few simple tweaks to your regular routine are all it takes to reduce your cancer risks – sometimes dramatically. Adding these ideas to your list of New Year’s resolutions can help ensure you enjoy better health in 2018 and beyond.
