How to Lower Breast Cancer Risk

Friday, April 30, 2010

By Tealyn Webb, eHow Contributing Writer

The American Cancer Society says that a woman has a one in eight chance of contracting breast cancer in her lifetime. There are many risk factors that you cannot control, such as aging, having a family history or the fact that you are female. That does not mean that there is nothing you can do to lower your risks. While early detection definitely saves lives, prevention may save many more, including yours.

Instructions

Step 1 Maintain a healthy weight. If you are overweight, actively work on bringing the numbers on your scale down. A study by the American Cancer society found that women who gained 60 or more pounds as adults are more than 1 1/2 times likelier to get breast cancer than women who gained 20 or fewer pounds in adulthood. Losing even 10 percent of your body weight will lower your risk.

Step 2 Eat a diet full of fresh fruits and vegetables and healthy whole grains. Avoid foods that are high in fat and limit your intake of foods from animal sources.

Step 3 Minimize alcohol. Numerous clinical studies, including some by Johns Hopkins and the American Institute for Cancer Research, show a definite link between alchohol intake and an increase in breast cancer risk. Refraining from alcoholic beverages is highly recommended. If you do drink, try to adhere to a limit of one beverage per day.

Step 4 Go green. Ridding your home of cleaning products and other household items made of toxic ingredients will reduce your risk of not only breast cancer, but all other types of cancer as well. Shop for products made with natural products or find ways to clean using vinegar, baking soda and other common but safe items around your home.

Step 5 De-stress. Many studies have reported a correlation between the mind and the body when it comes to breast cancer. Make sure you get enough sleep on a consistent basis and keep a positive outlook on life. If life has gotten you down, either seek ways to change it or get help dealing with the negativity in a healthy manner.

Source : eHow.com