It’s extremely important to know the risk factors that can increase your odds of developing breast cancer. There are many that you can’t change such as age, gender, ethnicity, and family history. However, there are a lot that you can change and you should. These will likely be associated with your lifestyle and how you treat yourself on a day-to-day basis. Here are three areas in your life that you can begin focusing on today in order to lower your risk.
Your Weight
Maintaining a healthy weight is always a best practice when trying to prevent any type of cancer, and breast cancer is no exception. You want to make sure that you are not trying to lose weight for the sake of being thin, but for sake of getting healthy. If you are working towards preventative measures, then you need to be sure that the focus of your weight loss program is to incorporate more of the right kinds of fruits, vegetables, and proteins.
This is not the time to start a fad diet, but to begin a nutritious diet. And you should stay away from the scale to focus more on what you are eating. If you are following a proper diet, then weight loss will happen naturally. Don’t forget to include exercise. This is a very important component of any prevention plan when your ultimate goal is to get your weight under control.
Your Alcohol and Smoking Intake
When it comes to alcohol, moderation is the key. Having a glass of wine with dinner is very different than having multiple drinks from the time you get home from work, until the time you go to bed. You want to be sure you are consciously taking sips when you chose to drink.
Luckily, most states like Missouri have passed laws that prevent you from having to suffer through second hand smoke in public places. But if you still smoke on a regular basis, it’s time to step back and find a strategy to help you quit. This will not only help prevent breast cancer, but will give more energy and improve your overall health.
Your Stress Levels
Stress can often be the culprit that causes you to act on bad habits such as overeating, drinking too much, and allowing yourself to be lethargic. It’s important to understand your stress, and where it stems from.
Meditation and taking deep breaths throughout the day can help. Exercise is also known to reduce your stress levels. Keeping a daily journal is another strategy that will not only relieve stress, but it will help you gain insight into why you are feeling so much mental pressure.
The Centre For Vibrant Health and Wellness understand the importance of treating the whole person, and not just one aspect. Having the balance of mind, body, and spirit will allow you to get the root of the problem, instead of covering it up temporarily. And dealing with your whole self will be the best preventative measure you can have against breast cancer risk factors.