According to Healthy Holistic Living, roughly 1,500 people die from cancer every single day. What was once a rare disease has flourished into a deadly epidemic, but according to the American Cancer Society, as many as one in three cancer fatalities could have been prevented by a change of lifestyle.
Simply by quitting smoking, eating a healthier, organic diet, and/or getting more exercise on a regular basis, 500 of those 1500 people who die from cancer each day could still be with us. Does that number have you wondering what you can do to decrease your risk of cancer? It really should. Let’s discuss some of the simple things you can do to improve your health and prevent cancer holistically.
Quit Smoking and Avoid Alcohol
Tobacco smoke is a well-known carcinogen. Not only can it cause lung cancer, but it also increases your chances of developing other forms of cancer, as well. For example, women actually have nicotine receptors on their cervixes, and smoking can play a part in the development of cervical cancer.
While alcohol isn’t a carcinogen, it has a tendency to deplete the immune system and dehydrate the body. Both of these things will impact your overall health and open you up to infection. Hydration is essential to ridding the body of toxins, and drinking alcohol to excess results in dehydration and a buildup of toxins in the system.
Exercise Regularly and Drink Plenty of Water
While staying hydrated is great for ridding your body of toxins, exercise is even better. When you exercise, your pores open up to allow you to sweat out toxins. As you rehydrate, you replace those toxins with pure water. Exercise also optimizes your body’s insulin production, which has been linked with a decreased risk of cancer.
Avoid GMOs and Stick to Organic Foods
Consumption of GMOs (genetically modified organisms) has been strongly linked with the development of a number of different types of cancers. Though the FDA has approved the use of GMO products for consumption, there has been very little actual testing to determine whether these chemical-heavy foods are actually safe to eat or not.
When you purchase and eat foods that have been grown organically, you will know that you’re only eating healthy, whole foods that don’t contain potential carcinogens.
Wash Your Produce and Cook Meals at Lower Temperatures
Finally, always be sure to wash your fruits and vegetables before you eat them. If you purchase only organic foods, you shouldn’t have to worry about pesticides. However, it’s always a good idea to wash away any residual toxins and chemicals that may be on the surface of your produce.
At the same time, you should also avoid cooking your meals over open flame or at higher temperatures. Higher temperatures can scorch foods and release carcinogens. Cooking at lower temperatures, especially produce, is a good way to preserve nutrients and reduce consumption of free radicals and toxins.
By following these tips, you’ll not only increase your health and your nutrient intake, but you’ll also be much less likely to develop a number of kinds of cancer.