Supervisor Elham AbolFateh
Editor in Chief Mohamed Wadie

These Lifestyle Changes Can Keep Cancer at Bay


Tue 04 Feb 2020 | 04:07 PM
Yara Sameh

Cancer is the second leading cause of death around the world and was estimated to have caused 9.6 million casualties in 2018, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

World Cancer Day is observed annually on February 4 to raise awareness of cancer and to encourage its prevention, detection, and treatment.

Try these strategies and coupled with eating habits and other unhealthy practices and your risk could be dwindled even more with a sedentary lifestyle.

Quit Smoking 

Smoking has been linked to various types of cancer, including lung, mouth, throat, larynx, and pancreas.

It could also lead to emphysema, a lung condition that causes shortness of breath and is usually associated with cigarette smoking.

Furthermore, chewing tobacco has been linked to cancer in a person’s oral cavity and pancreas.

Exercising

Obesity is another big risk factor for the decease around the world. A major study has revealed that being too fat for just one year greatly decreases women’s lifelong chances of surviving cancer.

Women, if diagnosed with breast or bowel cancer as an adult, their risk of dying is increased up to 4% percent for every 12 months spent as obese or overweight.

The study was the first to show how having a higher Body Mass Index (BMI) than 25 can also slash survival rates.

Follow a healthy diet

Yes, we all love sugary treats and savory processed hot dogs, but medical experts state that they might not be beneficial in the long run and may actually be carcinogenic.

Studies have found processed foods that are high in sugar and low in fiber and nutrients are linked to higher cancer risk.

It is recommended to follow a healthy diet, which can be helpful in the long run in helping avoid cancer.

Scientists believe that vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower, and cabbage contain sulforaphane that helps reduce tumor size, while citrus fruits also help prevent cancer.

Also, eating nuts, olive oil, spices such as turmeric are factors in cancer-fighting properties too.

Protection from sun

Ultraviolet radiation from the sun is the number one cause of skin cancer, despite what the sun’s rays make us feel, they ultimately lead skin lesions that are cancerous and leads to a decrease in skin’s immune function.