Connecting Cancer and Physical Activity

It has often been said that a healthy diet and an active lifestyle are two good ways to keep cancer at bay. As new research is published, it seems to be more true than anyone could have realized.Apparently, bad eating habits and inactivity are two surefire ways to increase your risk of cancer. Of the approximately 59,000 cancer deaths in the US, statistics say that about one third of them can be traced to unhealthy eating habits, an inactive lifestyle and obesity.If that is the case, then surely the best way to prevent cancer is to follow these tips.Maintain a healthy weightMaintaining a healthy weight is vital when you are trying to prevent cancers and other chronic diseases. That is because carrying extra weight makes the body produce more estrogen and insulin. Both of these hormones can foster the growth of cancer cells.You can determine if you are at a healthy weight by checking your Body Mass Index. As a general rule, it’s a good idea to keep your BMI under 25. Don’t worry, however, if your number is over 25. There are many different factors that play into being a healthy weight. Someone who strength trains often will be very lean with a BMI higher than 25. Talk with the radiologists Las Vegas relies on if you have questions.If you find your BMI is significantly over 25 and you’d like to fix that, there are a few steps you can take. The first thing to do is watch your portion size. Americans have been trained to eat portions much larger than what our bodies actually need. Since those foods tend to be processed, this results in an intake of too many calories, fats and sugars.Get active!An active lifestyle doesn’t only help you prevent cancer. It also helps you stave off diabetes and heart disease. So, cut down your idle time and get busy!Experts say that 150 minutes of moderate activity is good to help you prevent cancer. You can also do 75 minutes a week of vigorous activity. If you choose the moderate route, that means you will breathing hard during your activity of choice. Vigorous activity means doing anything that utilizes big muscle groups, makes your heart beat faster and makes you sweat.Make good food choicesConsciously making better choices regarding the food you eat ties right back into maintaining a healthy weight. Here are some basic tips to help you make the right food choices to prevent cancer.

• Read your nutrition labels! Hot phrases like “low-fat” on the front of packages are just a sales tactic. That does not actually mean a food is low in calories or good for you.
• Sometimes high-calorie yumminess can’t be avoided. Enjoy in moderation for the best results.
• Choose more foods that aren’t packaged and processed. Fresh vegetables, fruit, peas and beans are all good choices. If it can last forever in your pantry, you may want to leave it in the store.
• Limit sugary drinks. Yes, that even includes fruit juices. Water and unsweetened teas are perfect to hydrate your body and flush away fat.
• Chances are you’ll have to eat on the go. Pay extra close attention to your choices while you’re out because it’s easier to choose poorly.

Lastly, limit your alcohol intake. Heavy drinking can cause you to store more weight and can lead to a number of other health issues. For men, it is a good idea to stick to two or less drinks a day. Women should stick to no more than one to be safe.If you have any questions about your health, you can always visit the best radiologists Las Vegas has. The experts at Steinberg Diagnostic have many options for diagnostic imaging that can help you answer most questions. For more information about Las Vegas radiology locations, contact 702.732.6000.