© Caiaimage/Paul Bradbury/Getty Images Simple food, lifestyle, and exercise tips to help prevent cancer and keep you healthy.30 tricks, tips, and tactics to help keep you out of the Big C’s reach
We’re all grown-ups here-nightmares aren’t a big problem anymore. We’re calm, we’re cool, we’re mostly collected…until it comes to the C-word. For adults, cancer is the thing that goes bump in the night; that bump gets louder when family or friends are diagnosed. (Make sure you do these 5 things after you’ve been diagnosed with breast cancer.) Whether your risk is monumental or blessedly average, we know you want to protect yourself. So we’ve combed through research, interrogated experts, and found cutting-edge strategies to help keep you safe. (Discover the ONE simple, natural solution that can help you reverse chronic inflammation and heal more than 45 diseases. TryThe Whole Body Curetoday!)
Worship a wee bit of sun
© Trinette Reed how to prevent cancerPeople who get the most vitamin D, which lies dormant in skin until ultraviolet rays activate it, may protect themselves from a variety of cancers, including non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, breast, and colon. (If you think your vitamin D deficient, look for these 5 signs.) Ironically, it even improves survival rates of melanoma, the most serious skin cancer. But 10 to 15 minutes a few days a week is all it takes to benefit. If you’re out any longer than that, slather on the sunscreen. (If you go the supplement route, aim for 400 IU of vitaminD a day.)
Eat an orange every day
© Martin Jahr / EyeEm how to prevent cancerIt just may zap a strain of the H. pylori bacteria that causes peptic ulcers and can lead to stomach cancer. Researchers in San Francisco found that infected people with high levels of vitamin C in their blood were less likely to test positive for the cancer-causing strain. (Bonus: research shows a scent of citrus can reduce stress.)
Listen to Katie Couric
© SEBASTIAN KAULITZKI how to prevent cancerThough colonoscopies are about as popular as root canals, if you’re 50 or older, get one. Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in the United States. Don’t think you’re off the hook because you got a digital fecal occult blood test at your last checkup: Research by the Veterans Affairs Cooperative Study found that the test missed 95% of the cases. Schedule your first colonoscopy before your 50th if you have a family history of colon cancer.
More from Prevention: The Courage of Katie Couric
Steam a little green
© Westend61 how to prevent cancerPiles of studies have shown that piles of broccoli help stave off ovarian, stomach, lung, bladder, and colorectal cancers. And steaming it for three to four minutes enhances the power of the cancer-fighting compound sulforaphane, which has been shown to halt the growth of breast cancer cells. (Sorry, microwaving doesn’t do the trick; it strips out most antioxidants.) Get more protection by sprinkling a handful of selenium-rich sunflower seeds, nuts, or mushrooms on your greens. Researchers are discovering that sulforaphane is about 13 times more potent when combined with the mineral selenium. (Prefer to sip your greens? Consider this tasty recipe!)
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Pick a doc with a past
© Hero Images how to prevent cancerExperience-lots of it-is critical when it comes to accurately reading mammograms. A study from the University of California, San Francisco, found that doctors with at least 25 years’ experience were more accurate at interpreting images and less likely to give false positives. Ask about your radiologist’s track record. If she is freshly minted or doesn’t check a high volume of mammograms, get a second read from someone with more mileage. (Check out three more ways to pick the best doc for you.)