Cancer can sometimes be genetic. Many years of research into the disease has found that cancer is caused by a combination of a person’s genetic nature and the environment that they live in.
But most of the time, people get cancer due to poor lifestyle choices. Lifestyle choices, that they have control over. More than 100,000 cancers are caused by poor life decisions like smoking, poor diet, alcohol and substance abuse, and unhealthy weight gain leading to obesity.
Here are 8 lifestyle risk factors that may lead to cancer that you can control.
-
Tobacco
Smoking has a direct correlation to lung disease. Chemicals from cigarette smoke affect the whole body when it enters the bloodstream. It causes more than 14 different types of cancer. You can’t use tobacco safely. There is no way that allows for that. Tobacco is dangerous – one way or another. The more you smoke per day, the higher the risk of cancer.
-
Overweight
Obesity is the second biggest cause of cancer. Being overweight has a big impact on your risk of acquiring cancer. Keeping a healthy weight by exercising and having a healthy diet helps to decrease the risk of getting cancer. The Free 21 Day Challenge can get you started in the right direction.
-
Fruits and Veggies
Most people don’t pay attention to their diet. So they end up eating foods that are harmful to their body. People forget to eat their micronutrients which are commonly found in fruits and vegetables. These nutrients have a large impact in decreasing the risk of cancer. You should have at least 5 portions of these in one day.
-
Alcohol
To decrease the risk of cancer, you don’t have to stop consuming alcohol altogether. The less you consume, the lower your risk of acquiring cancer.
-
Sunlight
Getting too much UV exposure is the main cause of skin cancers. The rate at which people acquire malignant melanomas – the most serious type of skin cancer, is rising rapidly. Protect yourself when you’re out in the sun by using sunscreen and hats to cover up.
-
Processed and Red Meats
These are any frozen, fresh, or minced beef, lamb, pork, or veal. Processed foods are foods that have been preserved like salami, ham, sausage, and bacon. ? You don’t have to cut out red meats from your diet altogether. Limit the consumption of these meats to just a few times a week to reduce the risk of cancer.
-
Radiation
Radiation can lead to cancer. We are all exposed to a certain level of radiation from the Earth, Sun, and the environment in general. But we get extra exposure during radiotherapy, travel by airplanes, and X-rays. Take appropriate precautions when necessary.
-
Salt
High levels of salt can increase the risk of stomach cancer.
Even after all these precautions, the risk for cancer is never completely eliminated. The risk is just lowered. Protect your body where you can in order to lower your chances of getting cancer. The rewards of cancer prevention can last a lifetime. Literally.
