Making Better Lifestyle Choices
- Khrystyna Naydan
- Oct 3, 2024
- 2 min read
I often find myself professing about the importance of health and making better lifestyle choices to people who have never had the kind of radical health issues that I had in the past with chordoma brain cancer and CM1. Although I technically understand that my case is extreme (1 in 300 million) and that it cannot set the precedent for generally healthy people, I still believe that prevention is the best practice and my intentions come from a place of caring.
As a general rule, we must be aware of harmful chemicals in food, in textiles (clothing), in skincare, makeup and so much more. I personally have a nutritionist and also have been doing courses offered through Wellspring Alberta on living a cancer-free lifestyle. It is through doing a lot of research and listening to lectures that I have built my repertoire of knowledge regarding harmful environmental factors effecting health.
Living a cancer-free lifestyle is about nurturing your body, mind, and overall well-being. Here are some key steps:
1. **Nutrition**: A balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins strengthens your immune system. Antioxidant-rich foods, like berries and leafy greens, can help protect cells from damage.
2. **Exercise**: Regular physical activity reduces inflammation, boosts immunity, and helps maintain a healthy weight, all factors linked to cancer prevention. Exercize also helps to reduce anxiety and depression, as well as to improve mood. It took over two months at the gym, but I was able to stop taking prescription nerve medication (gabapentin) completely sinse I have been exercising.
3. **Routine Screenings**: Early detection through regular medical checkups increases the chances of preventing or catching any potential issues early. I can't say this enough, if you are experiencing symptoms out of the ordinary, those need to be followed up and if doctors are not able to diagnose and treat the symptoms then you have to advocate for yourself until the issue is resolved. Nobody is as invested in your well-being as you should be.
4. **Mental Health**: Managing stress and emotional health is crucial. Practices like mindfulness, meditation, or counseling can reduce chronic stress, which may influence overall health. The gym also helps in this area.
5. **Avoid Carcinogens**: Reducing exposure to environmental toxins are essential in lowering cancer risks. The use of chemicals in textiles is not regulated by the government. Avoid anti-wrinkle clothing and bed sheets as those materials are typically soaked in fermaldehide which is carcinogenic. Also food, especially prosessed food, contains questionable chemicals so it is worthwhile to read food labels and to know the toxisity of certain ingredients. As a point of comparison, the US government bans only 11 chemicals from use in cosmetics. The Canadian government bans around 500 whereas the European Union bans 1328. As such, we are a little better off in Canada but still far away from having strong protection in the cosmetic department. Many chemicals are also poorly researched or not reasearched at all and get through for us and our families to consume.
By combining these elements, you build a healthier lifestyle and strengthen your resilience against cancer. It is better to prevent illness than to treat it post hoc.
Here is a useful document with more details which was provided courtesy of Wellspring Alberta:
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