Tips To Help Prevent Cancer

Cancer is a deadly disease that affects many people. Although research has made some important advances in finding a cure, the best defense is to avoid getting it in the first place. This article lists some simple, common sense ways to prevent cancer from affecting you.

Lung cancer is one of the most difficult forms of cancer to cure, and the most obvious cause of it is smoking. Many people believe that once a smoker stops smoking, their body will return to its previous state of health. While the body does recover to a substantial degree, some of the effects of tobacco remain in the lungs and can cause cancer. If you are a smoker, stop smoking as soon as possible. The best choice is to never begin smoking at all.

Leading an active lifestyle can keep your body fit and healthy. This helps your immune system stay strong, and a healthy immune system is the best defense against cancer. Your body has the ability to attack and kill cancer cells before they multiply, but you need to give your body the tools to do that. Your immune system uses "killer T cells" to attack any abnormal cells, so make sure your immunity is supported with a healthy diet and lifestyle.

Many nutrition experts agree that the consumption of red meat should be limited in order to maintain a healthy immune system. It is important to note that organic meats are less harmful because they do not contain chemicals and hormones that are usually present in meat purchased at the grocery store. Animals raised by organic farmers are usually grass fed, with just a minimum amount of chemical free grain fed for a few weeks before slaughter.

Eating any type of deep fried foods is not a healthy choice, especially if they are purchased at a restaurant. You really have no way of knowing for sure the type of fat used for cooking, and any oil containing trans fats is dangerous to your health in many ways. Trans fats damage your cardiac system, increase the risk of Alzheimer's disease and inhibit your immune system. Focus on eating fruits, vegetables and low fat protein sources.

Alcohol also depresses your immune system, so seriously limit your consumption of alcohol. If you are doing everything else to avoid getting cancer, there is no good reason to put yourself at more risk by using alcohol.

Skin cancer is a real danger, and malignant melanoma is a very difficult cancer to cure. Make sure your skin is protected if you are going to be in the sun for an extended period of time. Light skinned people are especially at risk for getting skin cancer, so if you have blue eyes and blond or red hair you should be especially careful.

You can substantially reduce your risk of getting cancer if you take these important steps to prevent it. Once you have cancer, you face a long road of chemotherapy and possible surgery. Many people have won the battle with cancer with medical help, but it is so much better to avoid getting it to begin with.