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Colon Cancer: How To Reduce Your Risk?!
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4. Be careful with meat
Many people grill their meat extra hot or order their steak well done because they are concerned about germs, or simply prefer the taste. But did you know that this can increase your risk of colon cancer?
Cooking meat (especially red meat) at very high temperatures can produce carcinogenic compounds called polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and heterocyclic amines (HCAs). Both of these compounds can, over time, can significantly increase your risk of colorectal cancers. You can reduce the risk by avoiding meat-cooking methods that involve direct contact with the heated surface, pre-heating meat in the microwave prior to reduce the required cooking time, and removing charred pieces of meat prior to eating.
You should also be mindful of how much red meat you are eating in general. Research has found that simply eating more than 5 ounces of red per day can increase colon cancer risk by 24 percent.
There is also the issue of what the animal you’re eating was fed during its lifetime. Chose locally-produced grass-fed beef over factory-farmed grain-fed beef whenever possible. Grass-fed beef is leaner and has more omega-3 fatty acids, and there is also the issue that a lot of grain feed for mass produced beef is contaminated with herbicides like glyphosate, which numerous studies have shown to be carcinogenic.
5. Get plenty of exercise
It’s a simple fact that in general, physically active people are healthier and stronger by all metrics. This is especially true with regards to cancer. A study published in the medical journal Medicine & Sports in Sports & Exercise found that adults who got 30-60 minutes of moderate to vigorous exercise per day had a 30-40 percent lower risk of developing colon cancer. If you have excess belly fat you should work on eliminating it, as high levels of midsection fat are linked to higher risks of developing cancer.
Heavy drinking has also been linked to higher risks of cancer. Behaviors that clearly expose one to carcinogens, like smoking, should obviously be eliminated.
READ ALSO: Can This One Drink Reduce Your Risk Of Breast Cancer?
All these diet and lifestyle suggestions are changes you should be making anyway. Making wise decisions with regard to diet and exercise and a reduced risk of all forms of cancer go hand in hand.
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