Helping to Reduce the Risk of Breast Cancer

Breast cancer strikes fear into the hearts of many women and it can seem as if you have little to no control over your risk factors of contracting this common cancer. Would it surprise you to learn that there are simple steps you can take for breast cancer prevention?

Unfortunately there is no definite way to make sure that you will never be a victim of breast cancer, there are certain lifestyle changes that you can make to help reduce the risk that you may face. Here are some easy ways that you can change your life to further reduce the risk of contracting this much too common type of cancer.

1. Eating much healthier can help go a long way when trying to reduce the risk of contracting breast cancer. Eating more fruits, wholegrain wheat and plenty of vegetables will help your body get more antioxidants. This can help your body immensely by helping prevent any future cell damage that could be a contributor to getting breast cancer.

2. Another possible way of reducing your chances of getting breast cancer is to limit the amount of red meat in your diet. Studies have shown that red meat could contribute to breast cancer risk, especially when grilled or cooked at high temperatures. Apparently, red meats when cooked at high heats produce what is known as HCA’s. The same studies have shown that the women that eat their meats well done rather than rare or medium are at a higher risk of breast cancer.

3. Everyone should try and get at least 20 minutes of exercise every day. This doesn’t mean you have to have a tough aerobic exercise session every day, a simple and brisk walk to the shops or around the block would suffice. If you can exercise for at least 20 to 30 minutes your risk of breast cancer could go down by at least 50 percent.

4. Alcohol can contribute to breast cancer and with more women binge drinking than ever before, this is the time to worry. Women who drink regularly, and this doesn’t have to be every day, are at least 20 percent more likely to have breast cancer than someone who doesn’t drink or drinks very little.

5. Your weight can affect your chances of breast cancer. Studies have shown that a fluctuating weight gain and loss can contribute to higher risk of the cancer. Women who may have gained 20 pounds or more after turning 18 may be at a higher risk of breast cancer than those who stay at a similar weight throughout their lives.

So even though there is no sure fire way to avoid breast cancer, there are lots of things you can do in your life to try to reduce the risks.