Bowel Cancer Awareness Month

Cancer is a major cause of mortality worldwide. Approximately 12 million new cases of cancer were diagnosed and caused more than 7 million deaths worldwide in 2008. A major study by the World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF) found that an estimated 39% of 12 cases of cancer could be prevented by improving lifestyle choices.

Previous studies have suggested that about 43 percent of colon cancer cases and 42 percent of cases of breast cancer in the United Kingdom could be prevented if people ate more healthily and do regular exercise, maintaining a appropriate weight and not smoking. Professor Martin Wiseman, project director of the report also said: "Globally each year, there are millions of cancer cases could have been avoided and that is why we must act now before the situation is even worse .

If so, why not start a healthy lifestyle to reduce your chances of living this life changing disease? Follow these 10 simple tips for cancer prevention:

1. Healthy eating

aec Limit meat consumption of red meat (beef, pork and lamb) and avoid processed meats

aec Eat more of a variety of vegetables, fruits, whole grains and legumes (beans)

aec Reduce saturated fats and sugar. saturated fat - having too much can increase the amount of cholesterol in the blood, which increases the risk of developing heart disease

aec Limit consumption of salty foods and foods processed with salt (sodium)

aec Avoid coffee and tea (except green tea has anti-cancer properties), which have high caffeine

2. Limit alcohol consumption - the consumption of alcohol not only increases the risk of some types of cancer, it contributes to general ill health and obesity in adults. Alcohol consumption should be minimized, since men who consume 2 or more alcoholic drinks daily are at greater risk of cancer, as are women who have 1 or more alcoholic drinks per day.

3. Do not smoke - avoid cigarette smoke at all costs, both first and second-hand smoke increases your risk of many cancers that are related to smoking, and makes you more susceptible to cancers that are not caused by the bad habit.

4 A routine of regular physical activity. Exercise helps to get more oxygen to the cellular level. Cancer cells can not thrive in an oxygenated environment. Physical activity affects cancer risk indirectly through its role in the prevention of overweight and obesity, reducing exposure to estrogen in breast tissue, and cancers affecting the colon, breast and other sites improving energy metabolism. The American Cancer Society recommends at least 30 minutes of moderate exercise (like brisk walking) on 5 or more days a week for adults and at least one hour each day for children and adolescents.

5. For the mother exclusively breastfeed their babies for six months. Research suggests that breastfed babies have less chance of contracting cancer and nursing mothers are lucky to have breast cancer are much less.

6 Be happy, relax and enjoy life. When you worry and pressure you are more likely to suffer from cancer. For those who are still under pressure, their immune systems are less active.

7. Try to be a healthy weight. This is not a good idea to be either underweight or obese. Obesity can cause health problems like heart disease, hypertension or diabetes. Being underweight can also affect your health.

8. Do not use supplements to protect against cancer It's not that supplements are bad - they can be "useful" beyond cancer prevention, but there is no evidence that they protect against cancer, with the exception of vitamin D.

9. Be aware of the effects of the sun. Exposure to sun can cause skin cancer. Many seniors will be.