Oct 13, 2009 6:22 pm US/Eastern
Healthy Diet, Exercise May Help Fight Cancer
BOSTON (WBZ) ―
We all know that maintaining a healthy weight is good for you, but it can also help fight breast and other cancers.
Hillary Wright, a nutritionist at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute explains, "It appears being overweight changes the hormonal environment of your body in a way that may encourage the growth of breast cancer cells."
Eating a diet that contains a lot of whole grains, fruits and vegetables, especially the brightly colored varieties such as blueberries, carrots, cantaloupe, can help lower your cancer risk. "Going out of your way to include a lot of fruits and vegetables can go a long way in reducing a lot of health problems," explains Wright.
Experts say drinking green tea may also help ward off breast and other types of cancer. "When you look at populations that drink green tea such as Asia," explains Wright, "they actually do see a lower risk of different types of cancer."
But when it comes to alcohol, you should limit yourself to a drink a day or less. Wright explains, "Any consumption of alcohol can be tied to a somewhat increased risk of breast cancer."
Eat cold water fish, such as salmon and swordfish, and cut down on processed foods and red meat.
The American Cancer institute recommends that we limit red meat to 18 ounces a week because of the connection between red meat and colorectal cancer. And no matter what you eat, experts say exercising regularly can lower your risk of breast cancer by up to 40 percent.
"I can't think of anything else a woman can do with her diet and lifestyle that can get that kind of bang for your buck when it comes to preventing disease," said Wright.
And of course, try to get eight hours of sleep a night and avoid smoking and stress, which may be linked to some cancers and other health problems.
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