One in 8 baby girls of those born in the US today can expect to
develop invasive breast cancer at some point in their lives.
Unfortunately, there are many factors in development of breast cancer,
some which you have absolutely no control over (such as family history,
growing older or being female). Fortunately, there are some things
that you can do to reduce your chances of developing the disease. Here
are some of them...
- Workout at least 4 hours per week. Regular exercise improves immune function and reduces estrogen levels, both of which reduce your risk.
- Eat a nutritious low-fat diet. Fat triggers the hormone estrogen which can accelerate tumor growth.
- Maintain a healthy body weight. Because excess fatty tissue
can increase your estrogen levels, breast cancer prevention is yet
another reason to stay at a healthy weight for your frame.
- Watch the booze. Studies show that drinking even 1 or 2
drinks per day slightly increases your risk of developing breast
cancer. The more you drink -- the higher your risk.
- Talk to your doctor about whether or not you should be on The Pill.
The studies are unclear, but taking oral may increase your risk if you
are under 35 and have been taking them for 10 years or more. Talk to
your doctor about what is best for you.
- Stop smoking! Although the risk of smoking and breast
cancer is not clearly understood, the link between smoking and other
health problems such as heart disease and lung cancer is. Play it
safe -- snuff out the butts!
- Limit your exposure to pesticides. Recent studies show a link between high levels of pesticides in breast tissue and the development of breast cancer.
- Be aware of long term use of antibiotics. Recent studies
have also found a link between taking antibiotics for a prolonged
period of time and the disease. That said, researchers are not sure
whether this is because of a compromised immune function (which may
have precipitated the need for the drugs) or the drugs themselves.
Geralyn Coopersmith, MA, CSCS is the author of
Fit and Female: The Perfect Fitness and Nutrition Game Plan for Your
Unique Body Type and the creator of The Best Me Ever -- A Complete Weight Loss, Fat-Burning and Muscle Sculpting System
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