You know the statistics: millions of women around the world get breast cancer each year. In developed countries, about one woman in eight will have breast cancer and one in thirty-five will die from it.
Prior to 1960 a woman had one chance in thirty of even getting the disease. Why are four times as many women getting the disease today? Some people talk of the genetic link--that having a mother or sister with breast cancer increase your chance of the disease by a factor of three. But genetics were there before 1960; the four-times increase is not due to genetics. It has to do with lifestyle issues.
14 Steps to Avoid Breast Cancer
- Avoid wearing a bra and when you must wear a bra, wear it as loose as possible. The breast tissue is bathed and cleansed by lymph that flows vertically as the breast jiggles. Bras can cut off the flow of lymph. Women who wear their bras 24 hours a day are much more likely to get cancer. For that matter, all your clothing should be loose! Tight jeans, belts, and elastic on panties are all restrictive to some degree. The human body was designed to be naked; our clothing doesn't have to be skimpy or obscene but it shouldn't restrict either.
- Eat a healthy diet. The Standard American Diet (SAD) is a disaster. Processed foods are filled with dangerous chemicals. Eat local, organic foods. If your local grocer doesn't have them, demand them!
- Make sure your daughters are eating well. Some of the dietary damage that eventually leads to cancer is done before girls reach puberty. Girls who start their periods early because they eat commercial meats filled with growth hormones are more likely to get cancer in later life. It isn't cute that a 9-year old girl gets her period; it's a sign of poor parenting choices.
- Have children early in life; waiting until your thirties to have children increases your chances of cancer.
- Breast-feed your children; it's better for them and you.
- Don't use pharmaceutical hormone-replacement therapy. Find a natural alternative as you approach menopause.
- Dont' drink more than an ounce of alcohol per day.
- Stay within 10% of your ideal weight.
- Build up your immune system through proper diet, rest and exercise.
- Take antioxidants--about 5000 ORAC units per day. A half-dozen prunes will give you this much or you can take a supplement.
- Take a good Essential Fatty Acid Supplement. Find one with a range of oils from fish, borage, flax, etc.
- Make sure you're keeping your digestive system healthy by eating yoghurt or taking probiotic supplements.
- Be joyful. As silly as it may sound to some, joy is healing. Find something in your life to be joyful about. If nothing else, get a kitten from an animal shelter.
- Be grateful. Like joy, gratitude produces positive, immune-enhancing chemistry in the brain.
Some Factors That You Can't Change
The list above is enough to drastically reduce your chances of getting breast cancer. There are a few reasons why we are seeing more cases of cancer.
- Age--we are living longer and our body's immune system deteriorates just like everything else.
- Sex--men can get breast cancer but women are at greater risk. Of course men don't wear bras!
- Race--Caucasians get more breast cancer than other races.
Please note: The information in this article is not to be followed as medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please consult with your physician or primary health practitioner for information regarding your own personal health and necessary treatments.
