Although Breast Cancer Awareness month is winding down, don’t forget that there are steps that we can take year-round to help prevent the disease.
According to the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center here are a few things we can do:
Don’t Smoke. While this is a no-brainer, it still needs to be addressed. Research suggests that long-term smoking is associated with increased risk of breast cancer in some women.
Keep Your Weight in Check. Obesity raises the risk of breast cancer after menopause, the time of life when breast cancer most often occurs. Avoid gaining weight over time, and try to maintain a body-mass index under 25 (calculators can be found online).
Eat healthy. Embrace a diet high in vegetables and fruit and low in sugared drinks, refined carbohydrates and fatty foods. Eat lean protein such as fish or chicken breast and eat red meat in moderation, if at all. Eat whole grains. Choose vegetable oils over animal fats.
Keep physically active. Research suggests that increased physical activity, even when begun later in life, reduces overall breast-cancer risk by about 10 percent to 30 percent. All it takes is moderate exercise like a 30-minute walk five days a week to get this protective effect.
Drink little or no alcohol. While having a drink every now and then, excessive drinking can pose a risk. Alcohol use is associated with an increased risk of breast cancer. Women should limit intake to no more than one drink per day, regardless of the type of alcohol.
Check out this cool infographic:
What steps do you take to prevent breast cancer?
Very informative and motivational. The statistics never cease to alarm me.