5 Easy Tips for Cancer Prevention

Research compiled in the Emirates reveals that 45.4% of all people diagnosed with cancer in 2017 were between the ages of 20 and 49. Furthermore, the percentage of all cancer cases in the UAE is much higher than in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, India, and China for the same age categories.

According to the study’s authors, the findings should serve as a warning because most cancer patients in other parts of the world are in their 60s and 70s, but the UAE has a large young population, and the alarming cancer rates are cause for concern.

Furthermore, the study found that women in the UAE were the most likely to develop cancer, accounting for 51.3 percent of all new cancer cases in 2017, compared to 38.3 percent for men. The researchers believe that exposure to environmental factors such as poor lifestyle habits, diet, and inactivity plays a significant role. 

We can’t afford to be passive in the face of these worrisome statistics. It is recommended that some lifestyle changes be made in order to live a healthy life.

The five tips for cancer prevention

#1. Avoiding tobacco

Tobacco use, be it in any form, can lead to cancer. For example, smoking can lead to cancers of the throat, mouth, larynx, lungs, kidney, cervix, and bladder. On the other hand, chewing tobacco has been linked to the pancreas and oral cavity cancer. Similarly, secondhand smoke exposure may increase the risk of lung cancer. 

#2. Consuming a well-balanced diet. 

Please include color and variety in your diet. Consume a variety of fresh fruits, vegetables and whole grains, legumes, lean proteins, and nuts. Similarly, limit your intake of high-calorie foods, refined sugars, and animal fats. 

Please avoid or drink alcohol in moderation because it increases the risk of kidney, liver, breast, and colon cancer. Likewise, limiting your consumption of processed meat is also a good habit. 

Consuming a lot of processed foods may slightly increase your risk of getting certain types of cancer. Processed meats, such as bacon, frankfurters, and salami, are classified as Group 1 carcinogens known to cause stomach or bowel cancer.

#3. Keeping a healthy weight. 

Obesity, inactivity, and a poor diet may increase your cancer risk. According to research physical inactivity and obesity are linked to an increased risk of breast cancer recurrence and mortality.

Maintaining a healthy weight may reduce the risk of developing cancers such as prostate, breast, and kidney. A healthy diet combined with regular physical activity can do wonders for your health. 

Physical activity of any intensity is beneficial to your health. Still, for significant health benefits, it’s better to aim for 150 minutes of moderate exercise per week or 75 minutes of vigorous aerobic activity per week. 

Please include at least 30 minutes of physical activity in your daily routine. For example, you could combine moderate and vigorous exercise for this purpose. 

#4. Getting enough vitamin D

Various epidemiological studies have shown that higher intake or blood levels of vitamin D is linked with a reduced risk of colorectal cancer. Experts nowadays recommend 800 to 1000 IU a day of vitamin D, a goal that’s nearly impossible to attain without taking a supplement. 

Evidence suggests that vitamin D may help reduce the risk of colon cancer, prostate cancer, and other malignancies, but please don’t depend on supplements alone; instead, try to get vitamin D from various natural sources.

#5. Avoiding infections

Other factors that may aid in cancer prevention include avoiding infections such as hepatitis viruses, HIV, and human papillomavirus, which may contribute to cancer. Getting vaccinated against these viruses would be a wise strategy. 

#Bonus tip: Getting enough sleep

Please make an effort to get enough sleep. However, there is no evidence that a lack of sleep causes cancer: poor and insufficient sleep leads to increased weight gain, a risk factor for cancer.

Prevention is better than cure. 

Good health is a prerequisite for living a happy life. Please follow our cancer-prevention tips, get to know yourself, and pay attention to what your body is telling you.

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