Cancer is an abnormal growth of cells, where old, abnormal or damaged cells survive instead of dying, and new cells fail to form. With an estimated 1 658 370 new cancer cases diagnosed in 2015, cancer is one of the top causes of death, with lung cancers coming in fifth place.
However, research has shown that only 5% of cancers are hereditary. This means that some cancers are preventable, and a cause of lifestyle habits and choices that people make.
Here are some tips on how to prevent cancer
- Avoid drinking tap water
Instead, filter your tap water. This reduces the changes of exposure to harmful carcinogens.
- Drink more water
Everyday, your immune system fights off potential cancer-causing substances in the body and flushes them out as waste. By drinking more water, the concentration of such substances is diluted, and also leaves the system more quickly. This helps in preventing cancer, particularly in the bladder.
- Avoid smoking
Smoking increases the chances of lung cancer by almost 25 times. With lung cancer being one of the most preventable forms of cancer death in the world, ensuring that you do not smoke is key in preventing lung cancer.
- Eat clean foods
Where possible, try to consume organic fruits and vegetables that are grown without pesticides or any chemicals. For meat, ensure that animals were not fed any hormones, which are suspected to cause endocrine problems.
Beyond these tips, it is important to ensure a healthy, balanced lifestyle, and exercising regularly is always key in preventing all forms of diseases.
References
http://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/what-is-cancer
http://www.prevention.com/health/health-concerns/everyday-cancer-prevention-tips
http://www.cancer.org/cancer/cancercauses/tobaccocancer/tobacco-related-cancer-fact-sheet