June 22, 2004 � Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the United States. Though it often has no known cause, there are many cancers that are strongly linked to lifestyle factors, like obesity and poor eating habits. Here are some lifestyle tips to reduce your risk of cancer.
We overeat, eat the wrong foods, fill up on fat, and today, sixty-five percent of Americans are overweight.
"As obesity rates go up, that could also be linked with the cancer incidence going up," said Mary Eve Brown, R.D., Registered Dietician, The Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center, Baltimore, MD.
Johns Hopkins dietician Mary Eve Brown says up to forty percent of cancer is caused by lifestyle factors like poor eating.
"If you make small changes, you can reduce your cancer risk by 60 percent," said Brown.
To do that, fit in twenty to thirty-five grams of fiber a day. Half a cup of beans and one serving of bran cereal each have five grams. Next, get five to nine servings of veggies every day.
"A serving is a half a cup cooked or a cup raw," said Brown.
Two cups of cooked veggies for dinner and a salad at lunch is enough. And if you crave meat, marinate it. Use acidic lemon or vinegar-based marinades to significantly reduce cancerous chemicals.
"The good thing about a cancer-prevention diet, it's the same for all diseases," said Brown.
Eden Stotsky wishes she had paid attention to her diet sooner. She was diagnosed with colorectal cancer at twenty-six.
"I can't help but to think that the diet I had before had something to do with the reason why I got cancer to begin with," said Eden.
Six years later, eden has changed her eating habits.
"My diet now is very high in fiber, so instead of eating white bread, I would eat wheat bread. Instead of eating white rice, I'll eat brown rice," said Eden.
With a better diet and no cancer in sight, she leads an education program at Johns Hopkins, which keeps her focused on her remission.
Fruit is also a great way to pack fiber into your diet. And here's another tip: grilling over foil -- rather than an open flame -- can also lower the risk of cancerous chemicals when you're grilling meat.