In June 2020, the American Cancer Society released new guidelines for how, in addition to not smoking, changes in your diet and physical activity can significantly lower your risk for cancer. The guidelines note that at least 18 percent of all cancer cases in the U.S. are related to a combination of these controllable lifestyle factors:

While making a few lifestyle changes seems simple enough, it’s not. It takes consistent work to make changes, and that’s hard. However, if you break up these changes into smaller goals, it makes lowering your cancer risk, and living a healthier life, easier to achieve.

Maintaining a healthy weight is tied directly to eating healthy, nutritious foods and staying active. This is important because being overweight or obese is linked to an increased risk for a number of different cancers including breast, colon and rectal, gynecologic, gastrointestinal, and others.

The connection between weight and cancer risk is actively studied and complex, but researchers think it’s tied to hormones like estrogen and insulin, as well as the immune system, inflammation, and even how you carry fat on your body.

What’s most important is taking steps to eat healthier foods, stay active, and reduce your alcohol intake. Here are some simple things you can do today to start reducing your cancer risk.

Some key factors driving weight gain in the U.S. are sugar-sweetened drinks and the abundant availability of, and desire for, fast or processed foods that are high in fat and sugar. To combat this, we advise our patients to start small and make healthier choices every day:

Along with eating healthy foods, physical activity helps you lower the risks that come with being overweight or obese. The overall goal is to sit less and move more. If you haven’t exercised at all, you should check with your doctor before jumping into a more vigorous exercise program.

The easiest of all activities is walking—just lace up your sneakers and take the first step. Setting small, achievable goals helps—maybe you can set a goal to walk to the end of the block and back, and then add another block on your next walk.

The American Cancer Society recommends that adults get 150 to 300 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise per week, choosing an activity that works for you. This includes:

You also can engage in 75 to 150 minutes of vigorous-intensity activities, including:

There’s a link between alcohol consumption and cancer, as it increases your risk for cancers of the mouth, throat, breast, esophagus, liver, colon and rectum. In addition, it adds empty calories to your diet that can lead to weight gain.

The American Cancer Society recommends NOT drinking alcohol. However, if you do drink alcohol, it’s best to do it in moderation. That means no more than one drink a day for women and two drinks a day for men.

A “drink” is defined as:

Your cancer risk is linked to the amount of alcohol you drink, not the type. Therefore, it’s not advised to drink larger amounts of alcohol on fewer days.

Coupled with these recommendations, cancer screenings increase the chance of detecting certain cancers early, when they might be easier to treat. Learn what screening tests the American Cancer Society recommends, when you should have them, and what’s covered under some types of insurance. 

Your doctor is your best resource for helping you make the lifestyle changes necessary to reduce your cancer risk. With comprehensive precautions in place, it's safe to get the care and screenings you need. 

As Submitted by Virtua

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Camphor, also known as Kapur in Hindi, has long been praised as a curative substance in India. It is of two types- edible camphor and synthetic camphor. It is produced by distilling the wood and bark of the Camphor or Kapur tree. Camphor is used in room fresheners, essential oils, and religious ceremonies as even its fragrance can have a positive impact on our health. Edible camphor has also long been a part of India’s culinary culture. Especially in some South Indian cities and in some sweets made with cottage cheese in Bihar, many heirloom recipes use edible camphor as an ingredient and for all the right reasons. Edible camphor is loaded with wholesome qualities for the body. Here are the many benefits of edible camphor and how to include it in your diet.

Edible camphor has expectorant properties that expel the mucus from the lungs and allow decongested breathing. It is capable of removing the mucus effectively even in the presence of the sita or cold property. It opens the nasal passageway to allow proper airflow. People who are suffering from a bad cough can also find relief by using edible camphor.

Edible camphor has appetising and digestive properties. Therefore, it helps to improve the health of a weak digestive fire, which is one of the prime reasons for indigestion. It can also be helpful in solving issues such as gastroenteritis and diarrhoea. People who regularly suffer from gastric problems can also find relief after consuming edible camphor. However, it is also essential to consume it in moderation.

Poor diet and lifestyle choices are one of the most notable contributors to weight gain. They weaken the digestive system and promotes the accumulation of waste in the body that ultimately leads to weight gain. Edible camphor strengthens the digestive system and removes the accumulated toxins from the body. It also has a scraping property, and it is helpful in reducing the excess fat storage and thus preventing obesity.

Edible camphor is an aphrodisiac and can play a decisive role in boosting one’s libido by igniting the sections of the brain that controls sexual behaviour and desires. Merely inhaling the camphor can also provide these benefits. It is an excellent stimulator of hormones for both men and women.

Limited and controlled consumption of edible camphor can prove to be effective in treating a number of serious health concerns such as muscular contraction, convulsions, nervous disorders and epilepsy. However, people who suffer from these problems should consume camphor only after proper consultation with their doctor.

Dry roast ¼ cup green gram and combine it with ½ cup raw rice. Wash and drain the mixture and add to a hot pan. Then add water to the mix and bring it to a boil. Grate ½ cup jaggery in another pan, add 1 cup water and let it melt until a thick mixture is formed. When the rice is cooked, add the jaggery syrup to it. Mash the mixture with a ladle. Heat 2 tbsp ghee in a pan and add a handful of chopped cashews and whole raisins. Add 2 grams edible camphor and 3 tsp green cardamom powder. Combine with the rice mixture and cook for 2-3 minutes over low flame. Serve hot.

Sieve 1 cup gram flour (besan) in a mixing bowl and add water to make a smooth and thick batter. Add 1 tsp cooking soda to it. Then, heat 1-inch oil for deep frying. Take a perforated scoop (boondi jhada) and pour the batter over it while keeping the ladle over the hot oil. The boondi drops should fall in the oil. Fry until crispy and keep aside. Now, boil 2 cups sugar in 2 ½ cups water to make a ‘chashni’. When it reaches 1 string consistency, add 1 tsp cardamom powder, ¼ tsp cloves, saffron soaked in 2 tbsp hot water and 1 granule of edible camphor. Now add boondi to this syrup and mix well. Add 15 coarsely chopped cashews, 25 raisins to the mix and then roll into small laddoos. Keep at a cool place.

Do not confuse synthetic camphor with edible camphor. Only include edible camphor to your diet after consulting with your healthcare professional. Consuming more than the recommended amount of camphor can cause various digestive problems, including nausea, vomiting and indigestion. Also, do not substitute edible camphor as the only cure for any underlying health condition.

As Submitted by The Times of India

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