5 Ways to Reduce Your Cancer Risk

Over 1.6 million new cases of cancer and nearly 600,000 cancer deaths are estimated for 2016.

With all of the research and investment in preventing and curing cancer, why aren’t these rates reducing?

You may be able to improve your health and reduce your risk of cancer by taking steps along your own wellness path. The steps you take to lower your cancer risk are the same steps that reduce chronic illness risk.

First, get your body moving. This is the most influential behavioral change you can make. People who exercise at least 30 minutes at a moderately brisk rate five days a week reduce their risk of at least a dozen cancers by a minimum of 50 percent. Work on not being sedentary. Get your body moving a minute or two every 90 minutes. Stretching, walking and taking the stairs are all beneficial. Movement stimulates metabolism.

Second, reduce your stress. High levels of stress can harm your stress response system, locking the "on switch" so your body creates chemicals that impact your body’s resistance. Stress also leads to poor diet, lack of exercise and poor sleep. Other wellness improvements you make will have greater success with reduced stress. Measured breathing and meditation can help.

Third, look at your diet. If people ate a plant-based diet in the style of the Mediterranean diet, we would see one-third less cancer in the world. Eat more vegetables. You don’t have to cut out meat completely, but consume low-fat meats. Plants are the only source of flavonoids, which are nutrient groups that reduce inflammation, improve immunity, help manage blood sugar, and help balance the microbes in the gut. Minimize processed foods in the diet.

Next, consider dietary supplements. Vitamin D reduces risk of all cancers.

Finally, underlying spirit is important. Why do you want to avoid or beat cancer? What do you love, cherish and adore? Focus on that. Live an enthusiastic life.

Listen in as Dr. Lise Alschuler shares how you can reduce your cancer risk and improve your overall health.