9 Natural Ways To Prevent Cancer

Prevention is always the best medicine! This guidance applies even to the most important diseases, such as cancer.

And within this idea, once again, maintaining a healthy diet makes all the difference. Carolina Rutkowski, Oncomed Clinical Oncologist in Belo Horizonte, points out that good eating habits are part of primary cancer prevention because they prevent obesity? which is one of the contributing factors to the emergence of tumors.

The doctor explains that obese people are more likely to develop diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, cholesterol changes and also cancer. "Diets high in salt, high fat and smoked foods should be avoided or consumed moderately," he recalls.

Carolina Rutkowski points out that a colorful dish with diversified foods is ideal for eating really nutritious foods. ? This diversification ensures that all nutrients? or most of them? being ingested? he says. • And foods rich in fiber, vitamins and minerals play a protective role against cancer (lycopenes, beta carotenes, among others). They are present in fruits, vegetables and the full version of bread, rice and wheat flour, ie functional foods ?, he adds.

But if the idea is to prevent a serious disease like cancer, other measures? besides maintaining a healthy diet? must be taken. And a very important one is to avoid the cigarette. ? He is the leading cause of preventable death in the world. Smoking is related to several types of cancer, such as lung, bladder, kidney, head and neck, among others ?, explains Carolina.

Also according to the oncologist, alcohol is also related to several types of cancer. And thus, avoiding smoking and alcoholism is a fundamental preventive measure!

Regarding physical activity, Carolina Rutkowski explains that there are convincing studies that point to its beneficial effect in preventing some cancers. Therefore, they should also be part of the daily life of the person who cares about their health.

9 Natural Ways to Prevent

Following the information already cited, the oncologist Carolina Rutkowski gathers below the recommendations of the World Cancer Research Fund for the prevention of the disease:

1. Body fat: Stay at the ideal weight.
2. Physical activity: Exercise for at least 30 minutes every day.
3. Foods and drinks that promote weight gain: Avoid sugary drinks (sodas, artificial juices, etc.) and limit consumption of high-calorie foods and beverages.
4. Vegetable foods: Eat more plant foods such as vegetables, fruits, cereals and whole grains.
5. Animal foods: Limit the consumption of red meat and avoid processed meat (sausages in general).
6. Alcoholic beverages: Limit alcohol consumption. If you consume them, limit them to two servings a day if you are a man and one serving if you are a woman.
7. Preservation, processing and preparation: limit consumption of salty foods and processed foods with salt. Be careful with cereals and moldy grains.
8. Dietary Supplements: Do not use dietary supplements to protect against cancer. Aim to meet nutritional needs only through food.
9. Breastfeeding: breastfeed children up to six months old.

Truth or myth?

You may have heard people comment that stress, depression, and other psychological problems can cause cancer. But is this idea really true?

Carolina Rutkowski explains that while stress can cause a number of health problems, there is still no scientific evidence that it can lead to cancer. "Studies that sought to correlate various psychological factors and the risk of developing cancer have not yielded confirmatory results," he says.

Still according to the oncologist, apparent links between psychological stress and cancer can emerge in many ways. For example, people under stress may develop certain risky behaviors, such as drinking alcohol and smoking, which increase their risk of cancer. Can someone who has a relative with cancer have a higher risk of cancer due to some shared or inherited risk factor, but not exactly because of stress induced by the diagnosis of the disease in the family member ?, explains.

It is essential to prevent

Now you know it's possible? it is fundamental! ? prevent serious illness such as cancer by following simple preventative measures in your daily life.In addition to these tips, be sure to consult with a doctor you trust often. This is important to avoid a number of problems related to your health and well-being.

Nutrition and exercise for cancer risk reduction (April 2024)