4 Ways Women Can Reduce Breast Cancer Risk


Breast cancer continues to affect an increasing number of women, with about one in eight American women encountering it some time in their lives. It leaves its victims battling for life and having to redefine themselves and their femininity, often causing a huge blow to their self esteem as well. Like with every disease, the best approach is prevention.

With breast cancer, prevention entails making lifestyle adjustments. These include:

·         Regular exercise
Exercise has been proven to reduce the risk of breast cancer especially in women past menopause. Any exercise that raises your heart rate and makes you breathe faster for about half an hour a day, at least four to five times a week. Regular exercise helps keep weight in check and this is important since obesity is a risk factor for breast cancer.

·         Healthy eating
A balanced diet is important because the nutrients in healthy foods help fight disease. It should include fruits, vegetables, whole grains and lean protein. Fruits and vegetables have been found to protect cells from cell damage that could eventually cause cancer. Whole grains help reduce inflammation. All of these combined provide lots of reliable energy that can definitely be useful for regular exercise and activity.

·         Reduced alcohol intake
Having three alcoholics drinks a week raises the breast cancer risk for women by 15 percent. With every additional drink consumed daily, the overall risk rises by 10 percent. These figures speak to the impact alcohol has on breast cancer and why reducing consumption is necessary.

·         Avoiding tobacco
Smoking remains a risk for breast cancer, especially for premenopausal women. Secondhand smoke raises the risk for postmenopausal women. Tobacco in any of its forms and byproducts is definitely unhealthy for women and should be avoided.

As you strive to live a healthier life, remember that mammograms can help detect breast cancer before it has spread too far. Make a habit of getting regular mammograms just to be on the safe side.
Location: Decatur, TX 76234, USA

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