Lung cancer is the second most common cancer affecting men and women around the world. It is also one of the most life-threatening. More than 200,000 new cases of lung cancer are diagnosed every year in the United States alone, and that figure does not appear to show any signs of diminishing. In a way, lung cancer patients are seen as somehow deserving of their disease. Because lung cancer is so closely associated with the use of tobacco it is often viewed as the inevitable result of the individual’s own poor lifestyle choices. But not everyone diagnosed with lung cancer is a smoker, and even the ones who are don’t deserve this life-threatening disease. Survival rates for lung cancer aren’t promising, and the best medicine is still prevention.
Smokers Take Notice
While smoking is not the only cause of lung cancer, it is one of the most common, and it accounts for a large percentage of lung cancer diagnoses. Quitting smoking now can greatly reduce your risk for developing lung cancer. Whether you are a young smoker or have been smoking for years now is the time to quit. Recent studies have indicated that Inositol, a nutrient found in various foods, may help to reverse the damaging effects of tobacco smoking.
Inositol occurs naturally in wide variety of foods, including chickpeas, rice, nuts, beans, wheat germ and most citrus fruits. It is also available as a supplement in both capsule and powdered form. Now, having said all this, Inositol is not an excuse to continue with a bad habit. If you are a smoker, quit now. Another possible source of damage to the lungs comes from the radioactive gas that is emitted from the ground called radon. Everyone should have their house tested for radon levels because radon has been implicated and the second leading cause of lung cancer in non-smokers.
Lung Cancer and Diet and Nutrition
Diet and nutrition are vital to maintaining the body’s total health under all circumstances. A healthy, all natural, diet can help the body ward off any number of diseases, including cancers. Transitioning to a broadly vegetarian diet, with an emphasis on organically grown fruits, vegetables seeds and nuts, can help reduce the risks of developing lung cancer.
It is also important to restrict, or eliminate, the intake of red meats, sugar, salt, and highly processed food stuffs. Adopting a sensible vegetarian based diet also helps to maintain a healthy weight, and recent research has shown a direct connection between instances of cancer and excess body weight. A healthy diet, rich in fruits and vegetables, will help to you to reach and maintain your optimal body weight.
Lung Cancer and Nutritional Supplements
Vitamins and other nutritional supplements can be taken to help support a healthy diet. Recent research has shown that vitamin D helps to prevent cancer by keeping cell growth under control. The studies also indicate that vitamin D is instrumental in promoting cell regeneration, thereby reducing the chances for malignant cells to survive and reproduce. B vitamins have also been shown to help reduce the risk of lung cancer by up to 50%.
A recent European study showed that people with elevated levels of B vitamins in their blood were less likely to develop lung cancer. The study was quick to point out, however, that those vitamins are best obtained through a healthy diet and simple supplements are not enough to ward of the disease.
Coenzyme Q10, a nutritional supplement, has been shown to reduce the risks of cancer because of its high antioxidant level, which ward off the free radicals that can damage cells at the DNA level.
Exercise
In addition to adopting a healthy diet, exercise plays a key role in the prevention of all diseases including lung cancer. Regular exercise, 30 to 60 minutes four times a week, not only helps the body’s immune system ward off disease, it helps to oxygenate the blood stream keeping internal organs and tissues healthy and operating at their peak. Regular exercise also helps to maintain optimal weight and body mass, which have been proven to help reduce the risks of developing cancer as well as many other diseases.
Mental Stress
Stress can trigger cancer by weakening the immune system response. There are two major categories of stress: acute or traumatic and chronic. A possible traumatic stimulant of lung cancer is a sudden emotional shock within two years of the cancer onset. The answer to the stress is found in the words “be still and know that I AM God.” When you still your racing mind and learn to listen to the Truth God is speaking to your heart you will realize that when you seek Him you will find Him when you seek Him with all of your heart.
Quitting smoking and adopting a healthy diet and lifestyle are only part of the cancer prevention equation. It is also important to avoid environmental toxins and pollutants as much as possible. Alcohol consumption should also be curbed, if not totally eliminated. While there can be no guarantees when it comes to preventing any type of cancer, making certain lifestyle changes can greatly reduce an individual’s overall risk for developing the disease. As with any disease, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. These lifestyle changes are easy to adopt, and the results can be a longer and healthier life.
