Cancer.
For many, the word alone is enough to evoke fear, unease, trepidation, and worry.
More likely than not, the thought of cancer has crossed your mind many times and you have wondered to yourself if you might be the unlucky 1 in 3 that will get cancer before the age of 75.
[This disease has really gotten out of control, hasn’t it?
And the saddest part of all is that many of the cancers that strike are due in large part to our lifestyle.
What we eat.
How much we move (or don’t move).
What we put into our bodies.
What we breathe in.
What we think. And feel.
What we stress.
At no other time in history have our lifestyles so greatly supported and encouraged the growth of cancer.
There are so many different cancers out there that I can’t even pronounce let alone wrap my head around.
It is a very sad situation. Many of us have lost loved ones to cancer or know someone who is currently battling this disease right now.
But there is good news amongst all of this fear.
The good news is that we can do something about it. We can take steps each and every day that will prevent this disease from occurring!!
We can fight it and take away all of the support that cancer typically finds in the average Western way of life.
Excess.
One of the best books I have ever read is called ‘Foods That Fight Cancer’ by Drs. Belliveau and Gingras. I think this book is often overlooked by many because people think that you need to have cancer to warrant the purchase and utility of the book. But that is so far from the truth.
In the last chapter of the book, Drs. Belliveau and Gingras write a guide on fighting cancer. Steps that you can take in your day to day life that will make a huge impact on your health and decrease the odds that you will ever get stricken by this disease.
To me, this is so fascinating. To have the power to influence the course of illness or health is truly within our power to a large degree. We don’t need to be powerless any longer!
The Doctors make it clear in the beginning of this chapter that what we eat, while very important, is still only part of the ‘larger’ picture of our overall health. As I mentioned above things like stress and our environment make up a large part of our health and it is important to address a multitude of issues.
So now let’s talk about steps you can take in your life- TODAY!
1) QUIT SMOKING
One third of all cancers are directly related to tobacco use so you can see why the authors listed this as number one!!
If you smoke, you may have the following risk factors:
- 30-fold increase in the risk of lung cancer
- increase in the risk of mouth, pancreas, larynx, bladder
- Cardiovascular disease
- Chronic fatigue
- Loss of taste and smell
Smoking is NOT something to be ashamed or embarrassed about. It is these two emotions that prevent many people from seeking professional help. Nicotine is one of the most powerful drugs in nature, yet many people feel ashamed to seek help for it. Which is quite silly if you think about it. Ask for professional help if you are having trouble quitting- your health will thank you for it!
2) LOWER YOUR CALORIE INTAKE
As a preface, this message is intended for people who follow the SAD (Standard American Diet)- too much sugar, too much fat, too much processed foods. They suggest to avoid buying processed foods, cook more and reclaim control in your kitchen, and also start viewing foods such as hamburgers, fries, chips, and soft drinks as occasional ‘treats’ instead of foods that can be eaten on a daily basis.
3) REDUCE RED MEAT CONSUMPTION
A diet rich in red meat hugely increases the risk of colon cancer. It also increases the chances that you will gain weight as a large amount of the calories in red meat come from fat (unhealthy fat!). The authors suggest to select leaner cuts of meats like chicken or fish and replacing one (or more) servings of meat each day with another source of protein like legumes. We can also ‘reframe’ the way we view meat- it does not need to be front and centre of each dish. I don’t know about you guys, but in my house growing up, meat WAS the centre stage. If there was no meat, we didn’t have a real dinner! That is such an old school way of thought to me now (sorry dad!). :)
4) AVOID FOODS CONTAINING POTENTIAL CANCER-CAUSING SUBSTANCES
- Smoked meats
- Bacon
- Sausage
- Ham
- Delicatessen meats
- etc…
These foods contain preservatives such as nitrites which increase the risk of certain cancers. Nitrites transform into carcinogenic substances in the body. Sadly, Barbequing is another supporter of cancer. When meat is cooked over a flame drippings that fall and catch fire produce toxic substances known as aromatic hydrocarbons. These may rise to the surface of meat and act as carcinogens. Marinating the meat in acids like lemon juice may reduce the risk of these harmful substances. The authors also suggest to avoid salted or pickled foods. In countries where a large amount of these foods are consumed (Portugal, Japan, China, etc) there is a high incidence of stomach cancer.
5) EXERCISE REGULARLY!!!!!
Just when you thought that you didn’t have any motivation to workout today! ;)
Regular exercise reduces the risk of certain cancers such as breast and colon cancer. Exercise reduces obesity which is an important factor that increases the chance of cancer. I’d also like to add that regular exercise reduces stress and increases well-being, which as we all know, impacts our overall health in such a fabulous way!
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Today’s question: Do you give much thought about how your lifestyle impacts illness in your life? Do you think about your overall health and desire to prevent illness when you carry out healthy behaviours? Do you already practice some of the above in your life?
See you this afternoon for Part 2:
- I will be talking about SPECIFIC foods (and amounts) that the doctors suggest you eat EACH DAY to prevent cancer!
It is so so interesting and exciting to have these tools in our own hands!!!! I can’t wait to talk about it!!!! :D
A really good post Ange :). I’ve lost members of my family to cancer, so it’s an issue close to my heart. I love that you’re exploring these kinds of topics on your blogs and letting people know how they can lower their risks. It only takes a few changes to become much healthier. Looking forward to part 2!
Yes, I feel like every move and step I make in my life is motivated by illness and staying well! To me, I cannot imagine not caring and just going through life like a blind sheep, consuming and not thinking of the consequences. However, I also believe that as an RN I see illness first hand, so I know how lifestyle can affect LIFE. I work on a cardiac floor, so I have seen my share of MIs that could have been prevented. And lots of diabetes. Can you imagine having your foot amputated because you didn’t follow guidelines on a healthier lifestyle while living with diabets? I’ve been in the OR and I’ve seen it! It’s not fun and the list goes on! People who aren’t into health as much as I am, like my mom or other family members, might say nonchalantly, “oh, well, you have to die of something, Nicole.” Yes, true. But if some people keep going on those destructive paths, not caring, then they aren’t just going to go to sleep and die. It is going to be a long and painful road. Death is not that quick unless you die of trauma…and even then, not always the case. Luckily, I’ve only had to put elderly in body bags in my career so far…and even those deaths were not pretty.
Thanks for the post. I was really unaware of how bad cancer was until my grandpa was diagnosed this February. He passed on Memorial Day. I am just thankful he didn’t have to suffer for long because this disease causes nothing but suffering. I’m so glad to be healthy and fit!
I think about my health a lot, and I’m actually in the middle of a medical breakthrough in my life. I’m finally finding out why my body seems to be fighting against me despite me treating it like a temple. But I guess genetics and also play a role in illnesses. But it’s such a relief to finally shed some light on what’s been happening in me, and I can’t wait to start treatment!
I’m also very concerned about my father. I see his health going downhill right before my very eyes. My mom and I try to discuss it with him – keyword DISCUSS because the last thing anyone wants is a lecture thrown at them. He just doesn’t seem to take it seriously. I really don’t want him to have a rude awakening in order for him to get serious about himself. It just saddens me to see my dad disrespect his body day after day. I wish I could just inject some “I-am-worth-it” mentality into his brain!
Now I’m inspired to go get that book!!! Even though I already have about 40 books on my summer to-do-list :)
This is EXACTLY the #1 reason why I am a vegetarian, and why I try to eat healthy. Thank you for raising awareness about this!!
Today’s question: Do you give much thought about how your lifestyle impacts illness in your life? Do you think about your overall health and desire to prevent illness when you carry out healthy behaviours? Do you already practice some of the above in your life?
I give A LOT of thought to how my lifestyle impacts my health. Four of my father’s 6 sisters have died of cancer, my mother has type I diabetes (that showed itself in her mid twenties), and aunt just had her thyroid removed due to cancer, and my mother has a history of nodules on her thyroid.
I have modified my eating habits immensely over the past 5 years, and I am constantly making improvements. I am slowing moving towards going completely vegan, but for now I have been following a vegetarian diet for about the past 6 months. I cannot believe how much better I FEEL from just cutting meat out of my life. I was never a huge meat-eater (even growing up), but when I did eat meat, my stomach would always become upset afterward.
I have also been incorporating more raw foods, and I’ve been trying out various raw food recipes and learning how to make raw food look, taste, and feel like the standard cooked food that I’m used to. I’m having a lot of fun learning, and my body feels great!
I am terrified of becoming a statistic, and because of that, I’m willing to learn and change my eating habits to ensure that I don’t. Life is too precious to waste it eating too much food, consuming red meat, and maintaining an unhealthy lifestyle.
LOVE this post. ohh, i’m going to have to write about this soon.
it’s so easy to get caught up in the short term (often vanity-based) effects on a healthy lifestyle, that we often forget about the far far more important long-term benefits. when i’m 80, i’m pretty much positive i won’t care about my dress size. but i will care about my health and seeing my children and grandchildren grow. life is the ultimate motivator. it is the reason health matters!
Thanks Ange! I lost my grandfather to lung cancer several years ago. He had only smoked for a year as a teen. It just goes to show that just a little can still kill. NO SMOKING, EVER.
Great post. I started to be more concerned with things like this once I celebrated my 30th birthday. All of the sudden I realized I was mortal! I wish people would give healthy living a try (healthful eating and regular exercise) and see how incredibly better it makes you feel. It’s really a high like no other.
this is one of my favorite post. even thought I am only 17 I still have this fear of developing cancer later in life because some have no cure and it just looks like an awful way to die. I totally agree that less meat/processed foods along with exercise greatly reduces these risks. Thanks for raising awareness :)
Great post Ange! Thankfully I am scott free on all the things you listed. So I feel a step better now. Haha!
I hope you have a fantastic day.
-muffy
Another GREAT book on the subject is Food as Medicine: How to Use Diet, Vitamins, Juices and Herbs for a Healthier, Happier and Longer Life by Dharma Singh Khalsa, MD. Check it out!
THANK YOU for addressing this! I strongly believe that the proof is there that cancer is something we can prevent, or at least stave off for many, many years, through diet and self-care! It drives me crazy when people act like it’s inevitable and don’t even try to make lifestyle changes when it would make such a HUGE impact on their lives!
Just this week I had some family in town visiting. I know they were on vacation, but the kids AND the dad ate doughnuts or pastry or eggs and cheese and bacon every single day for breakfast, red meat at least once a day, absolutely no whole grains, no vegetables unless you count french fries, and chocolate chip cookies, packaged junk food, chocolate pie, and ice cream before bed each night! I know they are a little more balanced at home, but they are just asking for health problems down the road but I didn’t feel like I could butt my head in! In fact, the youngest looked at my black bean burger out at a restaurant in horror and asked why I was eating it! He was even more horrified to learn that I am a vegetarian. Sigh.
Keep Glowing, Angela!
It is so nice to read a post about cancer prevention. I do not donate money to “find a cure for cancer” charities, but would donate time or money to causes that tout cancer prevention.
I have been a vegetarian for 14 years, and 2 years ago started eating fish, d/t many years of intense craving for it.
I have been reading a LOT of info about evolutionary fitness, and the “paleo” or “primal” way of eating/ living. Basically it is about how we as a society have only been agricultural for 10,000 but previously had not eaten grains for oh, like, all of human history. The EF way of eating would emphasize vegetables and fruit and meat. No grains, d/t the theory that we are not evolved to eat them.
Scientists are finding that lots of GI diseases like diverticulitis, Chrons, IBS and such are inflammatory responses to grains. Grains cause the intestines to leak proteins, which cause our body to attack the proteins ’cause they aren’t where they should be and create an immuno- inflammatory event.
I’m not here to counter your post, but am here just as a person who has studied medicine (both holistic and western) and has been an ethical vegetarian who eats a healthy diet (no preservatives, no smoking, only organic, etc) but has health problems. I am currently doing a lot of stepping back and realizing so deeply that the world that surrounds this body is becoming less and less the world the human body has adapted to. (note: I live/ grew up in Los Angeles ;)
I leave you with this post from the guy who did Fat Head. Posted today, same topic, different viewpoint. (It starts about MJ, segues into cancer/ vegetarianism)
Welcome to my world (of confusion).
http://www.fathead-movie.com/index.php/2009/06/26/michael-jackson/
I just read that article and I must say that is the biggest load of ‘bologna’ I think I have ever read. :) The writer spews out all these ‘facts’ and doesn’t bother to cite any research? I’d love to see some empirical research on his claims and then I might be more likely to look into it. ~A
I definitely think about how my choices can affect my health. I see so many things at the hospitals where the patients could have prevented it. That being said however, sometimes there is no preventative measures that one can take. Sometimes cancer shows up no matter how well you eat, exercise, etc. It’s a scary thing!
Thank you so much for writing this post, it was just what I needed to know right now. My sister was recently diagnosed with the heredity form of breast cancer, and it was a real shock to say the least! To see her suffering is heartbreaking.
I have, in turn, started to address my own lifestyle. If you look at the established risk factors of breast cancer to include but a few – diet, exercise, alcohol and weight it makes sense to a change forever.
I am more conscious than ever before about what I put into my body and will try every day to make improvements. Thank you for your daily inspiration Angela.
I do think about how my choices affect my health. I do eat deli meat because it is quick easy protein for me. I tried vegetarian and for me it’s not a good option. I am much healthier now than I was then. I do try to limit processed foods and meat/red meat. I think that there is no way to be 100% clean, but I do my best to make healthier choices. I do not label any food as “bad” food. But as in In Defense of Food some products are not food they are nutrients/chemicals. I try to stick to foods. To paraphrase Jillian if it has a mother or came from the ground ;) And yes somedays I eat stuff just because it’s good for me. You have great posts that really invoke a lot of thought.
Angela,
I have been an avid and enthusiastic follower of your blog for some time now and I genuinely appreciate all of the “infotainment” around here. Your efforts do not go unappreciated!
I might respectfully suggest supplementing this great post with the preamble that cancer is a natural phenomenon. Mitosis occurs every moment that we are living and breathing, and yes, malaptive growths are devastating, but it is important to recognize the balance of doing what we can to lead vibrant lives, while acknowledging that there is a limit to what we can control. My father was an incredibly radiant man who ate only the most basic and healthful foods, who exercised regularly and maintained a lean and muscular physique, and who always made time for his spiritual well-being. He was a non-smoking, non-drinking vegetarian, and at age 51 he was diagnosed with pancraetic cancer and he died very shortly thereafter.
The lesson I took from his death was that we must be vigilant with our health, but without allowing that focus to become a stressor in and of itself. Most of all, I realize that we are no match for the powers of nature, but (as you have shown) this pendulum swings both ways, and the best way to protect against the “scarier” elements of nature, is to use what nature itself has provided.
A wonderful post…as usual!
(I have not had a chance to watch the video, so I apologize of any of this is a moot point!)
My point in this post was to say that the majority of cancers are the result of our lifestyle choices….many of which we can control (but of course some we cannot!!!). Of course we cannot control every aspect of our health or even the majority of it, but there are definitely major steps we can take that will impact our health to a great degree. I do agree that it is important not to get caught up in stressing about our health, that would be counterproductive, wouldn’t it? :) ~A
WONDERFUL post Angela! I can’t wait to see the rest of the segments in this Hot Topic. Cancer is definitely something that we ALL have to be concerned about. Taking steps to prevent cancer really aren’t as difficult as one might think, and of course it’s worth it to start those preventive measures today. Personally, I look at my overall health and instead of just trying to prevent cancer, I ALSO try to prevent heart disease, osteoporosis, etc. with my lifestyle choices. Being an all-around healthy person is SOOO worth the short-term and long-term benefits you gain! :)
xxoo
Heather
Great post Angela, you are always thinking of new ways to inform and impact us, I love it!
I never really think about cancer, but it’s really weird because I actually had a dream about cancer last night. I do however really worry about the heart disease that runs in my family. It’s a big part of why I’ve never smoked, exercise regularly and why I recently became a vegetarian. Good to know that those things will also help me prevent cancer!!