HEALTHY LIFESTYLE CAN PREVENT CANCER
Over one million people get cancer each year. Cancer is eating away our population. Approximately one out of every five men and one out of every three women will have some type of cancer at some point during their lifetime.
Cancer is a genetic disease. It is a disease of transformed cells. Cancer genes are of two types. Some are oncogenes,which activate cell division and influence embryonic development, and some are tumor suppressor genes, which halt cell division.
Causes
- Exposure to sun & chemicals radiation.
- Genetic factors
- Environmental (toxic pollution)
- Unhealthy life styyle- consumption of tobacco, alcohol & less physical activity.
In many cases, the exact cause of cancer remains a mystery. We know that certain changes in our cells can cause cancer to start, but we don't yet know exactly how this happens. What you eat and drink, how you live, where you work . . . all these factors can affect your risk for cancer.
What you can do to minimize CANCER RISK. ?
Choosing a healthy lifestyle can help you prevent cancer.
Our diet should contain ingredients that improve our immune system and help it protect us from the effects of carcinogenic substances and other harmful compounds. These healthy ingredients are mainly vitamin A, C, E, fiber diet and salts.
VITAMIN A
Vitamin - A facilitates number of chemical reactions that protect us from different forms of cancer.
Carotene, which turns into vitamin A in our body, is contained in carrots, red peppers, parsley, spinach, onion, apricots, tomatoes, pumpkin, and other fruits that are yellowish-red, or orange in color.
VITAMIN C
Vitamin C prevents nitrates from turning into carcinogenic compounds. Vitamin C promotes good absorption of iron in the intestinal tract.
Human body gets vitamin C from potatoes, cabbage, sauerkraut, garlic, onion, citrus fruits and juices, dried fruits, and jams with low sugar content.
VITAMIN E
Vitamin E slows the aging of cells in our body and, at the same time, protects us from harmful products of fat oxidation.
Vitamin E is found in calf liver, egg yolk, wheat, oats, rye, corn, peas, parsley, carrot, onion, and garlic.
FIBER
A high-fiber diet is associated with reduced incidence of both hemorrhoids and colorectal cancer. Fiber works as sort of a “broom†in our intestines, quickly removing toxins, stopping rotting processes, and preventing harmful bacteria from producing carcinogenic substances.
The main sources of fiber are whole-grain flour, breads, buckwheat, oat, and leafy vegetables.
SALTS
Mineral salts containing magnesium, calcium and selenium are important in cancer prevention. Beans, peas, wheat, rye, oats, buckwheat, fruits, and vegetables are rich in magnesium. Calcium is found in large amounts in poppy seeds, beans, carrot, cabbage, and cheese. Peas and beets are the richest in selenium.
Vinod Kuriakose
