Lifestyle Medicine Solutions 30 Cancer Doityourself Cancers 3 of 4

Just four lifestyle factors could prevent close to 80 percent of the adult cancers found in Industrialized society today: (1) no smoking, (2) no alcohol, (3) a simpler, more natural plant-based, whole food diet that’s very low in fat and high in fiber, and (4) normal weight. Instead of one American in four dying of cancer, the risk could be reduced to one in 20. Miracle Cure? Imagine the announcement of a pill that would make people immune to cancer. It would be the news story of the decade. People would flock to their doctors for a prescription, and the inventors would be wealthy beyond belief. No such pill exists. But there are a number of things we can do for ourselves to prevent the majority of adult cancers. A good place to start is with our food. We can begin eating a diet considerably lower in fat and cholesterol. Many studies have shown that such a diet reduces the risk of heart disease, diabetes, stroke, and many types of cancer. But making lifestyle changes is not as simple as swallowing a pill. It involves learning new habits and skills. For example, cutting the fat and cholesterol in our diet means preparing more meatless dishes. One sensible way to develop these skills is by designating a day or two each week for plant-based whole food meals. This would give us a chance to experiment with healthful ways of cooking while gradually building up a new repertoire of favorite new recipes. Good Eating Begins with Good Recipes A good cookbook is an investment that will repay you many times over. There’s no better tool when it comes to changing your eating habits.