While significant gains have been made on the treatment of most cancers over the past half-century, and many diagnoses are hereditary, it’s still important that you lead as healthy a lifestyle as possible in order to naturally lower your risk of contracting what is still a serious, likely life-altering, and potentially deadly disease.
Deptford Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing is sharing five lifestyle habits to adopt now in order to lower your overall cancer risk.
- Quit Smoking
If you’re a smoker, the single most important thing you can do is to quit now. Even if you have smoked for years (or decades), quitting now will still lower your risk. And it’s not just lung cancer that’s a concern—quitting can lower your risk of 12 different cancers, including pancreatic, colorectal, and bladder. And if you have cancer, it’s not too late—quitting can improve your chances of survival.
- Keep Alcohol Consumption Low
Statistics show that one in 25 cancer deaths are related to alcohol. Moderate drinkers (one to two per day for women, two to three per day for men) have a greater chance of contracting oral and throat cancers, while heavy drinkers (10 or more drinks per week for women, 14 or more for men) have double the risk of liver cancer.
- Drink Coffee, Tea, and Milk
Studies show that a cup of coffee per day slightly reduces the risk of endometrial cancer. Green tea has been found to slow the advancement of certain cancer cells. For a cold beverage, milk (related to high intakes of calcium and vitamin D) can markedly reduce the risk of breast cancer.
- Eat Your Greens
A diet high in vegetables like broccoli, cabbage, and Brussels sprouts can have nearly a 40% lower risk of prostate cancer in men, compared to those who ate the least amount of those veggies in a study.
- Regularly Get the Proper Amount of Sleep
Aim for seven to nine hours of sleep per night—no more or less. Studies found that those who slept less than six hours per night increased their general risk of cancer by 43% while women who slept more than 10 hours per night had a 22% higher risk of breast, endometrial, and ovarian cancer.
To learn more about Deptford Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing and all of the services they offer, visit http://deptford-center.facilities.centershealthcare.org.
