Cancer risk generally increases with age, but a recent report from the American Cancer Society reveals worrying trends: more young adults, especially women, are developing cancer. This includes cancers like breast, uterine, colorectal, and pancreatic, all rising among people under 50.
While genes and lifestyle choices certainly matter, experts are now looking closely at how our environments may contribute to this spike in early-onset cancers. Fortunately, some simple lifestyle changes can help you lower your cancer risk.
Here are some easy steps you can start taking today:
Maintain a Healthy Weight
Keeping a healthy weight is crucial. Being overweight increases the risk of at least 13 types of cancers, such as breast, colon, and liver cancers. In fact, these account for a significant portion of all cancer diagnoses in the United States.
Stay Tobacco-Free
Getting rid of tobacco in any form can greatly reduce your cancer risk. Smoking is linked to lung, mouth, and bladder cancers, among others. After quitting, your lung cancer risk can drop by 30-50% within ten years, and it continues to decrease the longer you stay smoke-free.
Eat Fiber-Rich Foods
Incorporating high-fiber foods into your diet supports gut health and helps maintain a healthy weight, which can cut the risk of several cancers, particularly bowel cancer. Fiber helps move waste through your digestive system and flush out harmful substances.
Avoid Alcohol
Alcohol consumption is associated with multiple cancer types, including breast and liver cancer. Health experts stress the importance of recognizing this risk, as alcohol is the third leading preventable cause of cancer in the U.S., after tobacco use and obesity.
Use Sunscreen
Protecting your skin from the sun’s harmful UV rays can lower the risk of skin cancer. Sunscreen acts as a barrier against these rays, and while there are debates about some ingredients in sunscreens, the consensus is that using it is essential for skin protection.
Stay Active
Regular physical activity not only keeps you fit but also reduces the risk of several cancers, including breast, bladder, and lung cancers. Just a bit of exercise every day can go a long way in helping you stay healthy.
Incorporating these habits into your daily life can make a significant difference in reducing your cancer risk. It’s never too early or too late to start. Taking small steps toward a healthier lifestyle can lead to lasting benefits.
Check out this related article: Unlocking Wellness: The Rapid Rise of Lifestyle Medicine and the Benefits of Certification
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