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4
q
his question has an obvious answer:
Would you like to markedly cut your
cancer risk?
Still, no matter how emphatic
your “yes,” wanting to avoid cancer
and knowing how are two different
things. That’s where the three safe-
guards featured here come in.
While there are no guarantees
that you won’t get cancer, research
suggests that about one-third of
the most common cancers in this
country could be prevented if we all
moved more, ate better and didn’t
let extra pounds accumulate. (It also
helps, of course, not to smoke—the
No. 1 way to prevent cancer.)
As you read, you’ll discover do-
able ways to make all three of these
lifestyle changes a reality.
1
Eat smart.
Your incentive:
Just as a healthy
diet protects you against heart dis-
ease and type 2 diabetes, it can also
help you stay cancer-free.
For example, people who eat
plenty of fruits and vegetables
may reduce their risk of lung, oral,
esophageal and stomach cancers.
Here’s how:
Make produce a
priority by filling half your plate with
it. Fruits and vegetables are packed
with naturally occurring plant chem-
icals that may protect our bodies’
cells from damage that can lead to
cancer. Eat a variety of colorful plant
foods—think of a rainbow—for the
best mix of protective chemicals.
Also make at least half your grains
whole grains, since fiber-rich foods
3
ways
to
reduce
your
risk
T
C A N C E R P R E V E N T I O N