Behavior Change and Health News


Make Healthy Choices to Reduce Cancer Risks

Every October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month in the United States. Research highlights the lifestyle choices that may have an effect on cancer risks. Eating a balanced, healthy diet and being active most days of the week are two steps to take toward a lower risk of breast cancer.

What’s Recommended

Daily lifestyle choices can have an effect on breast cancer risk. Poor diet, lack of physical activity, alcohol use, and smoking can contribute to conditions that cause cancer. Take these steps to reduce risks for cancer along with other chronic diseases such as diabetes and heart disease.

  • Decrease daily fat intake, especially saturated or hydrogenated fat. Eat lean cuts of meat and limit red meat.
  • Increase fiber by eating whole grains, vegetables, and fruits. These foods are good for your heart and can help prevent cancer. Choose whole grains, and limit the amount of processed grains and sugar.
  • Eat fresh fruits and vegetables to get fiber, antioxidants, and micronutrients that may help prevent some cancers. Many nutrients found in fruits and vegetables work together to produce health benefits, so choose foods instead of supplements if possible.
  • Stay active to help prevent many health problems. Accumulate at least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity activity on most days of the week. Being active also helps you maintain a healthy body weight, which reduces excess body fat and lessens cancer risk.
  • Limit alcohol to one drink or less per day of beer, wine, and distilled liquor. This may decrease your risk of breast cancer.
  • Don’t smoke. Smoking doesn’t cause breast cancer, but it can increase the chance of blood clots, heart disease, and other cancers that may spread to the breast.

Make a Real Change

Small actions add up to big changes. Long-term change happens when lifestyle skills are learned and practiced every day. Active Living Partners offers behavior change programs proven to improve health and quality of life. Active Living Every Day and Healthy Eating Every Day teach participants how to overcome their barriers to physical activity and healthy eating.

To become a provider of Active Living Partners courses or purchase participant materials, call 800-747-4457 ext 2319, send an e-mail to michelleo@hkusa.com, or visit the Active Living Partners Web site at www.ActiveLiving.info.

For reliable information about breast cancer, contact the American Cancer Society, sponsor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, at www.cancer.org or call 800-ACS-2345.

Sources

American Cancer Society. 2005. Know the facts about breast cancer. www.cancer.org.

Carpenter, Ruth Ann, and Carrie Finley. 2005. Healthy Eating Every Day. Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics.



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