5 Healthy Habits to Reduce Your Risk of Cancer

The idea that eating healthy foods, keeping active and staying hydrated are the first steps to fighting any sort of illness is nothing new. However, there are a ton of additional helpful habits that you can incorporate into your daily lifestyle to significantly reduce your risk of developing cancer.

1. Always use a water filter. Depending on your area, the tap water you’re drinking may be filled with tons of suspected carcinogens and harmful chemicals, so investing in a fully-functioning water filtration system is key. A quality faucet-mounted filter, like Pur Vertical or Brita, should do the trick.

2. Marinate your meat. The old wives’ tale that cooking anything “burns away the germs” is only half true. Though the germs may be gone, there might still be cancer-causing heterocyclic amines and aromatic hydrocarbons that are created during the cooking process. To be safe, marinate your meat with antioxidant-rich rosemary and thyme for at least an hour prior to grill-time.

3. Drink caffeine daily. A British study in 2010 showed that those who drank at least 5 cups of coffee a day were less likely to develop brain, oral and throat cancer than their decaf counterparts. Not a coffee lover? Drinking tea can have a similar protective effect, though it’s not as potent.

4. Choose your outfits wisely. Skin cancer is arguably one of the most common forms of cancer. Of course it’s always important to cover up when going out into the sun, but did you know that the color you wear can help keep you safe as well? Research has shown that blue and red fabrics offer the most protection from U.V. rays, while white and yellow ones offer the least.

5. Pick an experienced doctor. Your best bet at beating the odds when it comes to developing or fighting cancer is choosing a doctor that’s well-known and knowledgeable. Studies have shown that choosing a doctor with at least 25 years of experience is key.

Established in 1909, Great South Bay Surgical Associates has been serving the community with the tradition of caring and quality for over 100 years. Every one of our surgeons has countless years of experience in the industry, performing open and minimally invasive general and oncological surgeries with precision.

For more information about our practice and the procedures that we offer, click here or call 631-321-6801.

The Best Cancer-Fighting Superfoods

Though researchers are still searching high and low for a cure and definitive cause for cancer, studies have been able to nail down a few great preventatives that may already be right in your fridge. That’s right! We’re talking about cancer-fighting fruits and vegetables. Experts agree that a daily dose of five-to-nine servings of fruits and veggies do the body good, especially when you incorporate these six foods into your meals:

Broccoli - In comparison to other cruciferous vegetables, like cauliflower, cabbage and kale, broccoli is the leader in sulforaphane content. That means it has the most cancer-kicking power, boosting protective enzymes and working to eliminate harmful chemicals from the body. When it comes to broccoli more is better, so incorporate this green treat any time you can.

Blackberries - A high concentration of phytochemicals called anthocyanins make blackberries a sweet treat and the perfect cancer preventative. These powerful phytochemicals work to slow the growth of tumors and prevent them from becoming malignant. So, snacking on a half-cup of blackberries can really make a difference.

Tomatoes - Sweet, juicy and full of lycopene! Tomatoes and their high concentration of lycopene can help you put a wall up against endometrial cancer, a disease that kills nearly 8,000 people each year. Cooking tomatoes enhances the effect that lycopene has on your body, so get that pasta sauce up on the stove!

Walnuts - Kick breast cancer’s butt with an ounce of walnuts a day. These simple snacks contain phytosterols that work to block the growth of breast cancer cells.

Garlic - ..Not just for vampires! While you’re cooking up some lycopene (aka: tomato sauce) chop up a clove of garlic and add it to the mix. The phytochemicals in garlic act as a deterrent for the formation of nitrosamines in the stomach that can potentially cause colon cancer.

Beans - Black and navy beans have been proven to prevent the development of colon and breast cancer. Consuming a half-cup of legumes a week can help increase your body's levels of butyrate, a fatty acid that works to prevent cancer growth.

Sticking to a healthy diet can help significantly lower your risk of developing cancer, so get to the supermarket and fill up on your favorite cancer-fighting snacks.

At Great South Bay Surgical Associates, we pride ourselves in the multitude of services and procedures that we offer to our patients in Nassau and Suffolk counties. Comprised of eight leading doctors in the surgical field, our team is committed to providing exceptional services by using state of the art technologies while upholding our traditional values of caring and quality.

For more information or to schedule a consultation, click here to view our website or call 631-321-6801 today.