One of the main factors that prevent us from contracting any ailment or disease is our lifestyle. Incorporating healthy habits into our lifestyle and eating the right kinds of foods is an excellent way to ensure that we are exposed to a minimal risk of contracting diseases, including developing conditions like cancer.

The following changes can be made to our lifestyle and nutrition habits to reduce the risk of different types of cancer.

6 lifestyle and nutrition tips to reduce any risk of cancer

1. Avoid smoking
Smoking is said to be the underlying cause of various cancers and other health conditions. People who do not have the habit of smoking are at a much lower risk of being diagnosed with these diseases as compared to those who smoke regularly, or even occasionally. If you are currently in the habit of smoking, it is recommended to slowly eliminate nicotine from your life.

2. Eat fruits and vegetables
One of the best ways to check if a meal is nutritious is by noting how colorful it is. Adding a lot of fruits and vegetables to your meals helps you derive all the essential macronutrients like proteins, carbohydrates, and fats. It also aids to ensure your intake of essential micronutrients like vitamins and minerals that are not produced in the body and must be absorbed from the food.

3. Eat a lot of fibers
Fiber is an important nutrient that helps keep our digestive system running smoothly and healthily. Fibers also help in reducing the risk of colon cancer in people. Thus, eating more foods like whole grains, legumes, and leafy vegetables can help in reducing the risk of cancer. Before adopting this lifestyle and nutrition tip to reduce the risk of cancer, consult a doctor to be able to make the ideal changes to your meals.

4. Exercise regularly
Taking time out every week to participate in some physical exercise is an essential part of a healthy lifestyle. Typically, working out two or three times a week is adequate to remain healthy and fit. Regular exercise largely reduces the risk of developing cancers in people.

5. Reduce your salt intake
Salt is an essential part of our everyday meals but it must be consumed in limited proportions for overall health. If you consume salt in excess, it increases the risk of developing stomach and esophageal cancer. It also increases water retention in the body and heightens the risk of high blood pressure and hypertension.

6. Use sunscreen regularly
Prolonged and unprotected exposure to the sun increases the risk of developing skin cancer. Using a good amount of sunscreen that contains SPF of over 15, or 30 in hotter places, helps in preventing cancers like squamous cell carcinoma.