Five Tips to Prevent All Types of Cancer

Dr. Jane Guiltinan, clinical professor and practitioner at Bastyr Center for Natural Health, offers her top five tips to prevent all types of cancer:

1. Eat five servings of colorful fruits and vegetables a day.  Seriously. While supplements may be a great addition to your diet, they are no substitute for colorful fruits and vegetables that are loaded with antioxidants and other powerful cancer-fighting nutrients. Eat at least five servings of fruits and vegetables a day (the more colors the better), such as blueberries, broccoli, red cabbage and cauliflower. Local and organic produce are best. The fresher the produce, the more nutrients they have. Organic produce reduces our exposure to pesticides and other chemicals.
2. Maintain your optimal weight and avoid obesity.
3. Be aware of your exposure to toxins. While it’s impossible to determine toxin levels in your daily life, there are simple ways to avoid some common toxic exposure. Avoid drinking water from plastic bottles and don’t microwave food in plastic containers. Cancer-causing chemicals from the plastic can leach into food and water. Always wear sunscreen to help prevent skin cancer.
4. Make appropriate screening tests a priority. Visit with your health care professional to discuss gender- and age-appropriate screening tests.
5. Don’t ignore the warning signs. While there isn’t a cure for all cancer, many types of cancer have successful treatment options. Catching cancer early makes these treatments most effective. If you experience one or more of the following warning signs, see your health care professional:

• Unexplained, significant weight loss
• Excessive fatigue
• New or changing mole or lesion on your skin
• Chronic or persistent cough
• Lump in your breast or other area of the body
• For men, difficulty urinating
• Bloody urine or an unusual, significant change in bowel habits

Learn more about Bastyr Center for Natural Health's preventative health care services or call 206.834.4100 to make an appointment. 

Author: Kate Lindsay, staff writer
Date: November 2007
Sources: Jane Guiltinan, ND; localharvest.org