November 24, 2012
It is true that most cancers are caused by cell mutations, genetic factors or metabolic dysfunctions and are unavoidable. But did you know that a whopping 40% or more of the cases of cancers are caused by factors that are well within our control? Several studies indicate that life style factors like consumption of alcohol, unbalanced diet, tobacco, obesity and lack of exercise are the real culprits when it comes of many types of cancers. This article looks at alcohol and diet related factors and their relationship to cancer.
Avoidable habits like drinking alcoholic beverages are known to increase the incidence of cancer. Do not justify your drinking with the adages like “red wine is good for the heart” or “beer is good for the kidneys”. There is no scientific evidence that beer or wine is good for health. Alcohol puts you at a higher risk for cancers of the mouth, esophagus (the food pipe), throat, palate, stomach, liver, colon, kidneys, bladder, and so on. Even small quantities can be quite deadly when there are other risk factors present.
Changes in lifestyle are relatively easy to achieve. For example, eating 5 or more servings of vegetables and fruits a day does not require a lot of sacrifice, does it? Include a good helping of raw vegetables like cabbage, bell peppers, lettuce, tomato, cucumber, spinach, radish, turnips, carrots, etc at least once a day, preferably at lunchtime. Do not overcook vegetables- they lose anti-oxidants and nutrients. Anti-oxidants are cancer-fighting agents found in fresh fruits and vegetables which include selenium, beta-carotene, vitamin E and vitamin C. Use ginger, garlic, turmeric, coriander, and cinnamon generously in your cooking. These condiments have cancer fighting properties and are known to strengthen the immune system. Wild berries (blue berries, black berries, goose berries) that are easily available in rural areas are a great source of anti-oxidants too.
Make it a habit to wash all the fruits and vegetables in salt water before you use them. Even oranges and bananas require to be washed in salt water to remove the artificial ripening agents and pesticides sprayed on them before you peel them to eat. If not, the chemicals from the peels transfer to your hands and then to the fruit.
Processed foods have excessive quantities of salt, preservatives and other additives that are potentially carcinogenic. Carcinogens are cancer causing substances in foods that are artificially processed. So, avoid canned meats, tinned fruits & vegetables, bacon, sausages, tuna etc. Dry fish contains more salt than your body can handle and excessive salt intake is directly linked to cancers of the stomach, liver, kidneys and bladder.
If you are a non-vegetarian, make sure the meat that you eat is cooked in a healthy manner. Consumption of beef, lamb and pork should be reduced to a minimum. It is not just the meats that you eat but the way they are prepared makes them more carcinogenic. Smoked, barbecued, flame-roasted, char-grilled meats are comparatively more hazardous than the same when they are boiled, broiled, steamed or oven-roasted. If you are a lover of barbecue and have weekly barbecues, you might want to consider an alternative that is healthier. A vegetarian diet is the best diet when it comes to fighting cancer.
Foods that are deep-fried at high temperatures are more carcinogenic than pan-fried items. Slow frying at medium temperature is a healthier option. Avoid oils that are hydrogenated and those that are high in saturated fats. Do not re-use the oil that is used for deep frying. Choose oils that have unsaturated fats like olive oil or canola. Plant based fats like omega-3 fatty acids found in avocado, flaxseeds are cancer fighting fats and are good for you.
Do not ignore constipation- it could be a symptom of something serious. Lack of fiber in the diet is directly related to colo-rectal cancers. Food should be expelled by the body within 24 hours. If it stays in the intestines longer, it becomes toxic. Increase the intake of fiber in your diet especially at breakfast- oatmeal, whole grains, pulses, nuts are rich in fiber. Not just almonds, hazelnuts or walnuts, even pumpkin seeds, sesame seeds, sunflower seeds are good enough and are comparatively more economical.
A minimum of 8-12 glasses of water a day is needed to flush out the toxins that are generated in the body. Drinking one or two glasses of warm water early in the morning is a good habit which stimulates bowel movement. Hydrotherapy is a better option to chemotherapy and is less expensive!
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