10 Easy Ways to Prevent Cancer Now

Let me preface this by saying that nothing about cancer is easy, but there are definitely some things that are in your control that can help you prevent this serious disease here and now. Many people believe that due to so many aspects of cancer we still don’t know much about, it’s out of their hands. This is where they’re wrong: you can do plenty if you stick to the right diet, heal your gut, move your body, focus on sleep, and avoid harmful chemicals, food additives, and exposure to certain toxins. Here are ten easy ways that can help you start preventing cancer today. 

What is Cancer? 

But, what is cancer in the first place? We know it’s one of the deadliest diseases of today; we know that it’s sometimes impossible to treat; and we also know that scientists all over the world are doing everything in their power to find new ways to fight it. But, what do we really know about it? 

The definition of cancer is showcased in the way it acts in the human body. It’s not a bacteria, a virus, or an autoimmune disease you get along the way; it’s a collection of cells that can start anywhere in the human body, which for some reason, grows uncontrollably. 

In a normal, biological sense, all of our cells grow and multiply constantly. This is how our bodies are created. Still, when they start growing and multiplying at a much faster rate, our bodies can’t keep up, causing inflammation and a reaction from our defense mechanism: our immune system. 

These clusters of cells can start forming tumors, which can invade nearby tissues and cause damage and dysfunction. They can also travel further (metastasis) and form new tumors along the way. Even though not all tumors are cancerous, the ones that are can wreak so much havoc and cause irreparable damage which can lead to life-threatening consequences. 

Current diagnosis and treatment options depend on the form of cancer and its stage. The scientific world was able to discover and study a whole alphabet of cancers, with many of them existing in four stages:

• Stage I – the cancer is localized and didn’t spread to lymph nodes or other areas
• Stage II – the cancer has grown but hasn’t spread further
• Stage III – the cancer has grown much bigger, with the posibility of spreading
• Stage IV – the cancer has spread to other tissues and areas (also known as metastatic or advanced cancer)

Depending on the type of cancer and its stage, the treatment can vary from chemotherapy and radiation therapy to surgery and hormone therapy. Lately, immunotherapy and other experimental treatments have been on the rise, with promising results and miracle remission stories. 

Even though there’s a lot we know about this grave disease, there’s way more of what we don’t know. This is why focusing on prevention is crucial and implementing healthier lifestyle choices should be at the top of our list of priorities. 

10 Easy Ways to Prevent Cancer

Since cancer is closely linked to chronic inflammation and stress, those are the two aspects we need to tackle first. From removing toxic foods from our diet to managing stress, the first five tips are the ones we can all do, starting this moment: 

1. Clean up Your Diet

Many people think that eating a clean diet automatically means “chicken and asparagus” for the rest of their lives, and they couldn’t be further from the truth. Cleaning up your diet involves so much more:

• Focusing on organic, seasonal, and local plant-based foods that are free of pesticides and artificial ingredients 
• Avoiding highly processed foods like fast food and sugary drinks
• Reducing sugar intake
• Reducing alcohol intake
• Eating the rainbow (different colors mean the presence of different vitamins and minerals)
• If eating animal produce, find out where it’s sourced and what are the processes on the farm (how are the animals being fed, where are they kept, etc).

Additionally, even though we’re supposed to get all of our nutrients from food, sometimes we need a bit of an extra support in the form of supplements. Most of us are vitamin D deficient, so a good Vitamin D supplement is always a good idea. Omegas are another important nutrient we rarely take enough of on a weekly basis, as most of us don’t live a fully pescatarian life. Vitamin C and magnesium are some of the most crucial micronutrients for your immune system, muscle recovery, sleep, and even digestion. 

And lastly, there are plenty of plant-based superfoods that can help fight inflammation and prevent cancer. Some of them include chia seeds, maca powder, raw cacao, ashwagandha, chaga mushrooms, and more. 

2. Keep Moving Your Body

Another absolute health staple that’s helping prevent cancer is to fight the sedentary lifestyle most people lead these days. The benefits of exercise for overall health are irrefutable, with even the World Health Organization repeating it in their every update. Whether you enjoy yoga, running, hiking, or taking long walks, simply moving your body is the best way to keep inflammation at bay, work on your mobility, and activate your lymphatic system. 

3. Stop Smoking

Smoking is one of the rare lifestyle habits that have an actual proven link with causing cancer, and is, therefore, the easiest one to take out of the equation. Even though sometimes it takes a while to “deform” a habit, when the proof is so clear, it’s hard to justify not quitting cold turkey. Still, no matter how long it takes you, this is the one thing you can do to start preventing cancer this instant. Do it for your health. 

4. Prioritize Sleep

The importance of sleep is often overlooked, starting from the teenage years. With the “5 am wake up” mentality and “We’ll sleep when we’re dead” phrases, it’s no wonder that many people don’t consider it to be as important for one’s health as exercising or eating healthy. In reality, it might even be more important. Sleep deprivation has been linked to everything from cardiovascular diseases and hormonal imbalances to poor mental health and even cancer. 

Implement a better pre-bed routine with these tips:

• allow your body to rest and unwind by doing some stress-relieving activities like meditation or light stretching
• remove all tech gadgets and Wi-Fi from your bedroom to reduce exposure to EMF radiation, which could have the potential to increase your risk of developing cancer
• Avoid exposure to blue-light emitting screens at least two hours before bedtime
• Turn your bedroom into a perfect sleeping oasis with moderate air temperature and dark blinds
• Invest in a white noise machine if that helps you sleep sounder

Start thinking of your sleep today, and make the necessary changes to improve your overall health, protect your cells from inflammation, and prevent cancer. 

5. Fight Stress

Stress is known as the silent killer for a variety of reasons, but mostly because of its sneaky way of causing inflammation in the body, oftentimes without any real symptoms until you’ve developed severe health issues. Fighting stress is an ongoing action we all have to take in order to not let it harm us in the long run. Whether you start meditating, engage in a variety of mindfulness techniques, or discover relaxing routines that visibly bring your stress down, there is nothing you can lose in trying it out!

These first five tips might sound pretty common and basic, but they’re the ones that are the easiest to start with and keep implementing day in and day out. They are also the ones with the most long-term impact. These next five tips are more specific and might not apply to everyone. Still, they are important to mention as the connection to cancer is stronger than you think. 

6. Live in an Asbestos-Free Home

Asbestos has been linked to cancer in a variety of studies, and although the ones more affected and at risk are workers who deal with asbestos on a daily basis, not knowing your home might be infected with it could also lead to severe consequences. Asbestos was commonly used in many different building materials before the 1980s, so if your home is from before that time period, it might be best to get it checked out by professionals! Since it’s naked to the human eye, it can be really hard to detect on your own. Hire a professional and ensure your home is asbestos-free. 

7. Avoid Synthetic Hormonal Treatments

 Many hormonal treatments nowadays include synthetic hormones, especially when dealing with PCOS or simply by using birth control. Synthetic hormones have been linked to severe hormone imbalance, mental health issues, and even cancer. Instead, consult with your doctor about alternative methods of birth control and hormone replacement therapy. With bio-identical hormones and holistic options, there are much safer ways of treatment today than ever before. 

8. Reduce Estrogen Dominance

Estrogen is one of the most important female reproductive hormones and it’s involved in practically every single function in the body. Keeping its number balanced is crucial for overall health and well-being, starting from a very young age and your first menstrual cycle all the way to menopause. 

Having low estrogen numbers can cause a variety of health conditions, but having estrogen dominance is just as dangerous. In fact, estrogen dominance can increase the risk of many cancers, from breast and cervical to endometrial and ovarian. Knowing your numbers and making sure you’re balancing your hormones is the best you can do for your health and the prevention of cancer and other diseases. 

The best ways to reduce estrogen dominance are:

• Increase your fiber intake or get a supplement (as it can help remove the excess estrogen from your body)
• Increase your intake of cruciferous vegetables or get a green-rich supplement
• Avoid ultra-processed foods
• Reduce your alcohol intake to a bare minimum (if not possible to completely avoid)
• Engage in regular exercise
• Practice stress-reducing activities
• Stay away from xenoestrogens like plastic containers, pesticides, parabens, and other chemicals
• Support liver health with natural supplements to better detox the body

9. Avoid X-ray Exposure

Even though getting an X-ray done is sometimes unavoidable, there are situations where you can opt for a different kind of screening. Some airports use X-rays to screen passengers, and in certain industries, exposure might be greater. If you don’t fall under the category of industry workers, always try to use X-ray as your last resort. If a different kind of test (like an MRI or ultrasound) is available and can yield the same results, talk to your doctor before getting one scheduled. 

10. Heal Your Gut and Follow a Parasite Cleanse

 Healing your gut comes from a combination of eating the right foods, staying away from ultra-processed kinds, and getting a good probiotic to support your microbiome. Still, sometimes even that isn’t enough and a parasite cleanse is needed to do a deeper dive into your microbes and get rid of all the toxins that could potentially be causing you harm. A real parasite cleanse is not something you should take lightly and it needs to be performed with guidance from a professional. There are plenty of natural compounds that can help as well as using probiotics in conjuncture, but without exercising maximum precaution and ultimate care, you might be causing more harm than good. 

Final Thoughts

Cancer is one of the leading causes of death worldwide and it’s important to do whatever we can to prevent it. There’s always things that are out of our control, but by implementing these tips, you can already get ahead right now.