According to the CDC’s (Center for Disease Control) NVSR (National Vital Statistic Report) (Hsiang-Ching Kung, Donna L. Hoyert, Jiaquan Xu, & andSherry L. Murphy, 2008), cancer is the second leading cause of death in the United States. In 2005, the latest year that official statistics are available for, there were 559, 312 cancers caused deaths in the United States, while heart disease, the leading cause of death in the U.S. claimed 652, 091lives.
According to a 1997 report prepared jointly by the World Cancer Research Fund and the American Institute for Cancer Research, poor dietary habits could account for one-third of all cancer caused deaths. Dr. Eleni Linos, a medical researcher at Harvard Medical School, studying the impact of what we eat on cancer, writes, “The field of nutrition and cancer is complicated.” Dr. Linos explained that the effect that diet has on cancer varies for different cancers but the overall effect that good diet has on ones good health, especially cardiovascular makes it a subject to be taken very seriously. In this short article I want to present you with 14 strategies for living that will help head cancer and heart disease off at the pass.
- Eat green. Plants contain chlorophyll which stimulates the genes that produce detoxifying enzymes, thus reducing our bodies’ exposure to carcinogens. Many of the vitamins, minerals and fibers contained in green plants act similarly to estrogen and act as antioxidant to stimulate our immune systems.
- Snack on berries, cherries and red grapes instead of potato chips or pretzels when watching TV. Berries and cherries contain Anthocyanins, which are antioxidants and anti-inflammatories that help our bodies’ ward carcinogens.
- Include like cruciferous vegetables broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, mung beans, alfalfa sprouts with lunch and dinner. These vegetable contain glucosinolates which breaks down to form anti-carcinogen substances. Studies have shown a direct connection between the increased consumption of cruciferous vegetables, especially broccoli, with a decrease in new cancers.
- Eat complex carbs. A recent study conducted in Korea showed that diabetics with a high blood glucose level were more likely to succumb to cancer. The study showed that 27 percent more men and 31 percent more women with high glucose level died of cancer then those with normal glucose levels.
- Use plenty of herbs and spices in cooking. Many spices like turmeric and ginger contain powerful anti-inflammatories.
- Garlic strengthens the immune system. Add fresh or minced garlic to soups, salads and/or salad dressings.
- Stop eating meats all together if possible. The consumption of meat has been linked to cancer of the colon, stomach, uterus, prostate and breast. Red meats seem to be the most problematic so if you can’t stop eating meats all together, at least cut back on the red meats.
- Watch the fats. High saturated fats and trans-fats may lead to an increased risk to cancer. Monosaturated fats and polysaturated fats, on the other hand, are good and appear to protect against cancer.
- Get plenty of daily exercise. Physically fit and active women are 20 to 40 percent less likely to get breast cancer.
- Live a tobacco free life. Tobacco, even the smokeless kind is one of the leading causes of cancers of the mouth, throat, esophagus, pancreas, bladder, stomach, liver, kidney, cervix, breast and bone marrow. Tobacco has been linked to 30 percent of all cancers. Kick the habit by 30 and you reduce your risk of dying from cancer and heart disease by 90 percent.
- Reduce your alcohol consumption as much as possible. Even imbibing one or two alcoholic drinks a day increases your risk to cancer by 10 percent.
- Try to live as stress free as possible. Stress suppresses the immune system.
- Become a social butterfly. Studies have shown that people living in social isolation are more likely to succumb to cancers, heart disease, etc.
- Have yearly checkups and cancer screenings.
References
Hsiang-Ching Kung, P., Donna L. Hoyert, P., Jiaquan Xu, M., & andSherry L. Murphy, B. (2008). Deaths: Final Data for 2005. Hyattsville, MD: Center for Disease Control.
