Reducing Breast Cancer Risk
Breast cancer is the most commonly found type of cancer among women. Research on this disease has come up with ways with which one can avoid the disease. There are effective steps that one can take.
These steps include:
1. Self Examination: Regular monitoring of your breast is the first step towards preventing breast cancer. Ask your gynecologist to show you how to do a self-breast exam. If you feel any lumps, hardness, and swelling or feel any pain in your breast, see a doctor immediately.
2. Watch Your Weight: Adult women who are 20 to 30 pounds heavier than normal weight level have an increased risk of this disease. This is because increase in body fats leads to an increase in estrogen and insulin levels, and these two are associated with the risk of breast cancer. It is, thus important that you watch your weight and lose the extra pounds as soon as possible.
3. Avoid Alcohol: Excessive alcohol increases the chances of getting breast cancer as it causes an increase in the estrogen levels. Therefore, it is important that you avoid or cut on alcohol intake. However, it is not bad to take a glass of wine, because it reduces the chances of breast cancer.
4. Vitamin D: Women with higher level of Vitamin D have lesser risk of breast cancer. It is now possible to determine the levels of vitamin D in the blood as there are tests that can be performed. It is important that for a breast cancer survivor or those at higher risk of developing the disease to take daily dose of Vitamin-D. One should take between 200 and 600 IUs of vitamin D daily.
5. Other Supplements: Take Vitamin C, E and Fish Oil capsules every day. You can take 500 mg of Vitamin C and 200 IUs capsules of Vitamin E. Apart from these, a mineral selenium supplement should also be taken every day. All of these supplements give your body the strength to keep the cancer away.
6. Maintaining a Healthy Diet: A healthy diet is sure to keep one healthy. Eating vegetables and fruits is important as they provide essential nutrients and minerals necessary for good health. Research has indicated clearly that maintaining a diet consisting of fruits and vegetables is effective in lowering breast cancer risks.
According to a research based on the Singapore study that looked into the benefits of Asian diets, it was observed that Chinese women who consumed a diet rich in vegetable-fruit-soy had a less chances of contracting breast cancer compared to those who took little amounts of the vegetable diet. Vegetables that were seen to be effective and should be consumed mostly included cabbage, cauliflower, kales, Brussels and broccoli.
7. Go Organic: Replace your canned and chemical laden fruits and vegetables with fresh and organic ones. Whole food products, nuts, organic vegetables etc. should be made an integral part of your diet.
Breast cancer is a highly curable and preventable type of cancer. Keep yourself safe and healthy and keep this problem at bay.
