Cancer is second to most common cause of death in the United States after heart disease, so it makes sense that you should do whatever you can to avoid. Sometimes, unlucky genetics results in cancer, but the good news is that more and more types of cancer are turning out to be lifestyle diseases. For example, obesity and diabetes can trigger tumor growth, colon cancer can often be caused by a poor diet, and lung cancer can be caused by smoking. Therefore, experts believe there are a number of precautionary measures that you can engage in if you want to try to prevent cancer.

Put On Enough Sunscreen

Your skin is highly susceptible to cancer because it is exposed to all sorts of carcinogens and it is constantly renewing itself. Therefore, you want to do whatever you can in order to protect your skin. The most common carcinogen that can affect your skin is ultraviolet light. Sunburns, suntans, and freckles are all results of too much sunlight and they can eventually lead to skin cancer. Of course, you still need your sunlight in order to get your vitamin D and other important health benefits. Therefore, wear sunscreen throughout the summer in order to protect your skin from the ultraviolet light. Often reapply, especially if you are going to swimming or if you are sweating. Certain skin supplements can also potentially work to protect your skin from cancer.

Pay More Attention to Your Diet

Obesity can increase your chances of getting cancer, so that means you definitely want to maintain a healthy weight. You should also try to fill up on antioxidants in order to prevent oxidative stress and the DNA damage that it can cause. This DNA damage will cause inflammation and it can also result in mutations that turn into tumors. Foods that are popular for their potential to fight off cancer include green tea, trout, whole grains, beans, pumpkin seeds, and blueberries.

Foods rich in fibers can also help with preventing cancer almost as much as foods rich in antioxidants. Luckily, many foods that contain antioxidants also contain fiber. For example, fruits and berries are good sources of both. If you had to choose one type of antioxidant to prevent cancer, then you would likely want to choose omega 3 fatty acids, which are commonly found in oily fish like salmon and tuna.

Take A Few Tablets of Aspirin

Some experts suggest that taking aspirin might be a good way of avoiding certain types of cancer. You need to talk to your doctor about this tactic first in order to make sure that you are not at risk for excessive bleeding because aspirin in a blood thinner. However, if your doctor gives you the okay, then taking aspirin can do much more than simply help you manage pain. It also can help with inflammation of the colon. This inflammation can lead to colon cancer. By addressing this inflammation by popping a few milligrams of aspirin, you may actually be able to prevent colon cancer. Studies show that 75 to 1,200 milligrams of aspirin per day for one year can reduce your risk of colorectal cancer by about 33%.

Keep Your Food Far Away From Plastic

You may want to put food and drinks in plastic bottles or containers, but plastic contains many carcinogens. Additionally, in the heat, some of the material on the plastic can melt and get into your food. The last thing you want to do is to end up ingesting some of the carcinogens and other unhealthy materials that plastic is made from. To keep cancer away, pack your food in mason jars or stainless steel boxes. Additionally, buy water bottles that are not made from plastic. It is good for the environment and it is also good for your health.

Exercise As Often As You Can

Exercise reduces your risk of getting many types of cancer because health concerns like diabetes can trigger tumor growth. When you have too much insulin in your blood, you actually have a higher chance of getting cancer, so you want to stay away from high blood sugar, diabetes, and obesity. Physical activity is one good way to avoid cancer caused by insulin and diabetes. Additionally, even if exercise does not protect you from cancer, it can protect cancer from being mortal. People who exercise are in better shape to fight cancer when they do get it. You can handle more chemotherapy and your immune system will be stronger if you end up getting infections from the treatment. As result, exercise can reduce your risk by about 30%, but that number does depend on exactly how often you choose to hit the gym.

Address All of Your Mental Health Concerns

Cancer does well if you are stressed or anxious, so you should do whatever you can to take care of your mental health. If you are prone to getting stressed, tried to meditate, relax, and even do some daily yoga. Avoid activities that are more likely to stress you out. Of course, it might be impossible to avoid your stressful work environment, but there are plenty of measures that you can take in order to make sure you spend as much time living a stress free life. Feel free to take breaks whenever you can and put your work email down the second you get home. If you have a serious mental health concern, you should definitely not to a mental healthcare professional. Do not be afraid of seeking counseling or medication including antidepressants.

Although cancer is becoming more and more treatable, there is still a good chance that it can be deadly, so it is definitely a disease that you will want to avoid if you can. Even if it is not deadly, the treatment and recovery can be painful and difficult. Fortunately, many carcinogens are actually avoidable. As long as you treat your body well, you should be able to prevent yourself from getting many forms of cancer.