Cancer proof your future

The cancer-lifestyle/nutrition connection seems to be getting more and more attention in mainstream media. The Daily Telegraph has a story with the promising title: Cancer proof your future.

Their points:

1. Eat fruits and vegetables
2. Quit smoking
3. Maintain a healthy weight
4. Don't go to a solarium
5. Know your genetic history
6. Go to the doctor if your bowel movements change or if you see blood in your faeces.
7. Exercise
8. Eat turmeric and cruciferous vegetables
9. Get cancer screenings
10. Eat your greens

Most of these points were not new to me. I was surprised that I actually agreed with almost all of them. I am still unsure about the usefulness of regular cancer screenings for low risk people and I was surprised about the bowel movements point. I cannot imagine not going to the doctor if I found blood in my stools, but I never expected that this would be such a common cancer sign.

The specifics were interesting, though, and worth reading the article for. Who knew that a Swedish study of 61,000 women found those who ate bananas four to six times a week had half the risk of kidney cancer.? A banana! I always considered bananas the potatoes of fruits. Sure, they were healthy, but so high in sugar. I'll eat my bananas with even more pleasure now.

July 25, 2006