Emeka Nweze
Today is No Bra Day, an annual observance on October 13, meant to encourage breast cancer awareness. Every minute, somewhere in the world, a woman dies from breast cancer and almost everyone knows someone experiencing or has experienced it before.
Innovations are being made and breast cancer treatments keep getting better, but prevention is much better than cure. In order not to find yourself on the treatment table, you must take preventive measures and ensure you live a healthy life.
Below are seven breast cancer prevention tips.
1. Be Physically Active
Exercise is important for maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Women who are physically active for at least 30 minutes a day have a lower risk of breast cancer. Exercise may range from walking, running or any activity that keeps you from being idle.
2. Maintain a healthy diet
Eating healthy can go a long way in preventing breast cancer. Having a diet that is composed of fruits and vegetable is essential for maintaining a healthy life style. Other healthy diets include, food rich on fiber, protein, berries, green tea, etc.
3. Limit alcohol
Less than one drink a day is the appropriate quantity if you aim to stay cancer free. The more you drink, the greater your risk of developing breast cancer.
4. No smoking
This cannot be over emphasized, not just for breast cancer, but for any kind of cancer at all. Smoking increases the risk of heart disease, stroke, and at least 15 cancers.
5. Breastfeeding
Asides from the health benefits for your child, the longer you breastfeed, the lower your chances of getting breast cancer. Breastfeeding for at least a total of one year will do you and your children more good.
6. Keep weight in check
Keeping your weight in check through exercising and a healthy diet is important if you want to live a healthy and disease free life. Being overweight can increase the risk of not just breast cancer, but many other cancers.
7. Know your family history
Knowing whether any member of your family has had breast cancer in the past is important in order to stay proactive and take preventive measures. Knowing your family history will give you an extra motivation to eat right, quit smoking, stay healthy and undergo constant checkups.
