Making healthy lifestyle choices can make or break your risk of being diagnosed with breast cancer. Changing your diet or adding exercise to your daily routine could be just what you need even though healthy living is not just about keeping your body free of disease. Here are some suggestions to get your life on track to lower your risk:
1. Maintain a Healthy Weight
Post menopause weight gain can be an issue for many women. As annoying as it may be, it can also increase your risk of breast cancer. Even weight gain of 20 pounds or more after the age of 18 can put you in danger. Your best bet is to maintain a steady weight and if you have gained, losing the weight can lower your risk.
2. Add Exercise into Your Routine
Exercise is always suggested for a general healthy lifestyle, but in this case it can also shrink your risk of breast cancer. This is because exercise lowers estrogen levels, fights obesity, lowers
insulin levels and boosts the function of immune system cells that attack tumors. All you need is moderate exercise where you break a little sweat such as brisk walking or whatever you enjoy.
3. Let There Be No Smoke
If you don’t smoke, don’t start. If you do, you should stop. The link between smoking and breast cancer is unclear, but you will do your body a world of good by avoiding it. Smoking has been known to cause other cancers so it will only benefit you to quit. It is strongly recommended.
4. Limit Your Alcohol Intake
There has been much research on the study of alcohol intake. For example, it is said that one glass of wine each day improves your health and your risk of a heart attack decreases. While this may be true, other studies have shown that the more alcohol you consume can increase your risk of breast cancer. It is a good idea to cut back on your alcohol consumption.
5. Stay Positive
Remember to keep a healthy attitude. Doing things that make you happy will bring balance to your life. Staying focused and paying attention to your body is one thing, but many of us forget that our emotional health is just as important.
