According to All You - 11 ways to cut your cancer risk for life

Ok, ok, so I'm a little behind on my reading. It's been a busy past month seeing doctors, doing tests, and waiting and waiting and waiting - so my magazine collection has been piling up.......Note to self, next time bring mags with you to the appointments so you're not BORED CRAZY! Duh!


So anyway, out of the corner of my eye I caught a glimpse of one of the featured stories on the cover of All You, March's issue: 11 Ways To Cut Your Cancer Risk For Life.
What?? You're seriously saying that if I follow these "doctor-approved" tips (as they put it) that I can keep this disease at bay? HA! Get a clue, if these doctors who approved these tips were sooooooo good, they wouldn't be making tips, they'd be providing cures - right?


1) Add 11 minutes of walking each day. Supposedly those 11 minutes daily reduces the risk of breast cancer by 20%. Of course the more you exercise the more you you'll benefit. I assume of course that those 11 minutes should be of continuous walking, but the article does not say. (Does regular walking around count - or does it need to be speed walking, and what about when you stand and cook or do the dishes? Does that help any?)


2) Don't peel your apples or boil your broccoli. You know the old saying - an apple a day keeps the doctor away, but if you want to reduce your breast cancer risk, eat the peel. According to experts, the peel contains compounds called triterpenoids that can wipe out cancer cells. And to get the greatest cancer-preventing benefit from cruciferous veggies such as broccoli, Brussels sprouts, and cauliflower you should steam or stir fry them instead of boiling. (Actually I thought bananas were like a miracle fruit - good for heart and so much more, so now we gotta eat an apple and a banana a day!)


3) Put on the sunscreen before you drive. The more time you spend behind the wheel, the higher your chances of developing skin cancer on the left side of your arm, hand, head or neck - all areas that are exposed to the sun while driving. (Wish they had told us this when we got our 1st license!)


4) Don't light up - and stay far, far away from secondhand smoke. In the US tobacco use causes about 1/3 of cancer deaths and about 87% of lung cancer deaths. (Ok, wait a minute what about Paris, everyone smokes there?)


5) Take a minute to gab with a girlfriend. Try to squeeze in time with friends, whether it's a quick call or sharing a brisk walk. Women with many close pals have lower blood levels of interleukin-6, a protein linked to cancer. Social support helps buffer the effects of day-to-day stress. When you're under a lot of pressure, your body is less able to fight off and repair cellular changes that can lead to cancer. (Hmm, I was cancer free when I was at my most stressed out point at work. In fact, I was not diagnosed with cancer until I quit my job to be a SAHM)


6) Order Indian. Curcumin, an ingredient generally found in curry powders, appears to be a potent cancer fighter. The powder may inhibit the proliferation of cancer cells in a variety of tumors, including breast, prostate, multiple myeloma and B-cell lymphoma. Sprinkle a tablespoon of curry powder on cauliflower, sweet potatoes, and other veggies before roasting. (Heck with that, how about I just mix it with water and drink it daily with all my vitamins! Oh and if it's THAT good, how come we've never heard this before?)


7) Get your 5 a day of fruits and veggies. Eating at least five daily servings of produce has been linked to lower risks of many cancer. However, it is unknown which of the many vitamins and antioxidants in fruits and veggies are the most protective, so eat a variety. (Yes, we all know how important it is to eat healthy, but in reality does anyone do it?)


8) Drink like a fish. (No, not alcohol silly!) Women who down more than 5 glasses of water a day lower their risk of colon cancer. It's thought that because the water helps to speed waste through your digestive tract, the carinogens are less likely to affect your body.


9) Stay at a healthy weight. Carrying excess body fat increases your risk for colon, kidney, pancreatic, esophageal, endometrial and postmenopausal breast cancer. A healthy body mass index ranges from 18.5 to 24.9. but for the best cancer protection you should try to keep your BMI under 23. (Yes we know, being fat is bad.)


10) Pop a calcium supplement with vitamin D. A study found that higher levels of calcium and vitamin D may cut your risk of developing pre-menopausal breast cancer by about 1/3. (Also an excellent way to ensure you don't develop osteoporosis!)


11) Have your home tested for radon. You can't see or smell radon, a natural by-product of uranium found in soil and rock, which accumulates in about 8 million US homes. It's the number 2 cause of lung cancer, and is responsible for about 21,000 lung cancer deaths each year. Keep your family safe by using a kit to test for radon in your home.