5 Simple (and healthy) ways to keep cancer cells at bay

Cancer develops when some of your healthy cells mutate and turn cancerous. Fortunately, you can stop this from happening by following several lifestyle habits, all of which improve your immune function. By keeping your immune system healthy, you decrease the risk of mutation in your healthy cells, thus lowering your chances of developing cancer. Here are five things you can do to strengthen your immune system and keep cancer cells from popping up. (h/t to NaturalHealth365.com)

Exercise regularly

Regularly participating in physical activities, such as walking, running, biking and swimming, can lower your odds of developing cancer. Physical exercise can help you control your weight, reducing sex hormones, insulin in your blood stream and strengthening your immune system. One study from the American Cancer Society and the National Cancer Institute even found that exercising can lower your risk of developing 13 different types of cancer, such as liver and kidney cancers, esophageal adenocarcinoma and cancer of the gastric cardia.

Keep a healthy, positive attitude

Maintaining a strong, emotionally healthy attitude when it comes to cancer can actually help. Bernie Siegel, a writer and former pediatric surgeon, says that emotional growth “toward greater self-acceptance and fulfillment” can support a strong immune system. There is even some research that says that cancer patients who have a “brighter outlook” on their condition are less likely to be re-hospitalized.

Rejuvenate and restore your energy

Many people with cancer commonly experience cancer fatigue, or cancer-related fatigue. It is one of the most common side effects of cancer and of taking the mainstream treatments for cancer. Fighting this fatigue is essential to fighting cancer. There are plenty of self-care options that you can take to deal with fatigue, such as activities that can reduce stress, conserving your energy, meditating and doing deep breathing exercises. Getting out and engaging in nature therapy or ecotherapy can also help. (Related: Ancient Japanese healing art Shinrin-yoku (forest bathing) can work wonders on your blood pressure, new study finds.)

Consume anticancer foods

One of the best interventions to prevent the development of cancer cells is to radically change your diet into one that is specifically geared to prevent cancer. This means focusing on consuming organic vegetables, fruits and herbs and getting rid of unhealthy, heavily processed foods. This “anticancer diet” needs to be filled with superfoods, such as garlic, berries, turmeric, green tea and cruciferous vegetables like broccoli, cabbage and cauliflower.

Round out your diet with supplements as needed

As soon as you’ve developed an adequate anticancer diet, try and figure out what necessary vitamins, minerals and other compounds are missing from your diet. Maybe you aren’t getting enough of a certain vitamin or mineral, or maybe you want to consume more digestive enzymes and probiotics to improve your immune system. One way you can round out your diet is to consume supplements. These supplements can come in many different shapes and sizes, such as pills, powders, tablets, capsules or liquids. Some of the best anticancer supplements you can consume include ground flax seed, selenium, turmeric and vitamins C, D and E.

Keeping cancer cells at bay is difficult work. However, with perseverance and by following the tips listed above, you may be able to improve your chances of beating this deadly disease.

For more ways of lowering your risk of cancer, check out PreventCancer.news.

Sources include:

NaturalHealth365.com

Cancer.ca

Cancer.org

Cancer.gov

Healthline.com 1

PharmacyTimes.com

GoodTherapy.org

EverydayHealth.com

Healthline.com 2