Healthy Tips For Breast Cancer Awareness: Think Pink

Research continues to identify foods and methods of preparation linked to increased risks of cancer. As consumers grow more health conscious, they may wonder which foods to avoid. Living a healthy lifestyle by eating the right foods can greatly reduce your risk of getting breast cancer. Below are some healthy tips you can follow daily to regain your health and for your preventive care.

 

1. Grilled Foods

   • Foods cooked at high temperatures, such as grilled or fried meats and vegetables, develop acrymalides, a chemical known to cause cancer in rats. Industrial plants use acrymalides to produce various plastics. PhIP, a type of acrymalide, possesses certain estrogen-like properties which may worsen a patient's breast cancer.

   Aspartame

   • The human body produces various byproducts when breaking down aspartame. Among these byproducts is methanol, which the body further reduces to formaldehyde, a known carcinogen. Scientists and researchers continue to study this possible risk.

   Red Meat

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     A recent study revealed men and women over the age of 50 who consumed beef, pork or lamb on a daily basis were 30 percent more likely to die from cancer. Eating large quantities of red meat cooked at high temperatures increases the likelihood that DNA-damaging chemicals will be introduced to the body. Red meat consumption may affect tumor growth rates.

   Processed Meats

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     Nitrosamines and other chemicals in processed meats, such as hot dogs and deli items, may increase the risk of cancer. University of Hawaii researchers discovered a link between people who consumed large amounts of processed meats and their risk of developing pancreatic cancer.

Balancing a healthy lifestyle with healthy choices is key in all cancer prevention. According to the American Cancer Society, a woman in the United States is diagnosed with breast cancer every three minutes. There are many things you can do to prevent yourself from becoming a statistic.
Lifestyle factors such as regular exercise, increasing vitamin D intake, and eating a low-fat diet can help reduce your risk of getting breast cancer. All the prevention methods listed here can all help you live a well-balanced life - one full of energy and vitality:
Alkalize your blood. A healthy pH balance - the ratio of alkalinity to acidity in the body - is crucial to being cancer-free. Cancer thrives in acidic environments but is unable to survive in alkaline ones. Edgar Cayce, typically referred to as the "father of holistic medicine," consistently emphasized the importance of maintaining a proper acid/alkaline balance in the body. Cayce said that "a normal diet is about twenty percent acid to eighty percent alkaline-producing." Make sure your diet is rich in alkalizing foods such as green vegetables, beans, spices, herbs, seeds and nuts. Limit your consumption of alcohol, coffee, meat, fish, poultry and eggs. You can measure your pH levels with litmus strips to be sure your body is more alkaline than acidic.
Go braless! Or at least limit how many hours a day you wear a bra. Bras restrict the flow of lymph within breast tissue which hinders the breast's natural cleansing process. Multiple studies done on bras have shown some astounding results. Women in Figi who don't wear bras have almost no incidence of breast cancer. In a Harvard study researchers found that women who wore their bras 24 hours per day had a 3 out of 4 chance of developing breast cancer compared to women who wore their bras less than 12 hours per day and had a 1 out of 152 risk.
Eat your veggies. Cruciferous vegetables such as cabbage and broccoli may protect against breast cancer because they lower levels of estrogen which is a hormone that plays a role in tumor growth. Additionally isothiocyanates- the anti-cancer compounds found in broccoli- can help in the detoxification of your liver and can rid your body of carcinogens.
Get some sun! Vitamin D is a hormone that your body naturally produces when your skin is exposed to sunlight. Vitamin D is essential to your body but as many as 36% of us are deficient in Vitamin D. According to Science Daily, Vitamin D protects us from breast cancer by stimulating a protein that prevents breast cancer cells from growing. Fair-skinned individuals need just 15 minutes of sun a day while 20 to 30 minutes is needed for darker skinned people. In the winter months make sure to get your Vitamin D from fish oil, mushrooms and Vitamin D supplements.
Get regular exercise: The Arnold School of Public Health at the University of South Carolina has done multiple studies showing that moderate exercise can reduce the risk of breast cancer. Exercising promotes the circulation of oxygen in the blood and floods cells with enough oxygen to get rid of cancer. Cancer cannot survive in an oxygen-rich environment. Try to exercise for at least 30 minutes 5-6 times a week.
Drink green tea. According to a study published in The Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry the EGCG in green tea aids in preventing breast cancer. The polyphenols-powerful antioxidants found in green tea- can prevent cancer cells from growing. Drink 1-3 cups of caffeine-free green tea per day.
Eat a low-fat diet. A diet high in fat significantly increases a woman's risk of developing breast cancer. A study published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute concluded that women with high-fat diets had a 32 percent higher risk of getting breast cancer than those who followed a low-fat diet.
Try Black Cohosh. This is an herb used typically to treat the side effects associated with menopause. A recent study showed that extracts from Black Cohosh may stop breast cancer cells from forming.
The true cause of cancer can depend on a number of factors. Diet, environmental factors, and genetics all play a role. By making healthy lifestyle choices you can dramatically tip the odds in your favor and enjoy a vibrant, healthy, cancer-free life.