What are some helpful tips for good breast health?
- Watch Your Weight
- Be Mindful Of Your Alcohol Intake
- Stop Smoking
- Breastfeed
- Avoid Hormone Therapy
- Take Your Vitamin D
- Annual Checkups With Your Doctor
October isn’t solely the spooky season – it’s also National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Every October, many people across the globe unite for awareness-raising efforts focused on breast cancer. Did you know that the Philippines has the
highest prevalence of breast cancer among 197 countries? Additionally, according to the Philippine Council for Health Research and Development, one in 13 Filipinas will develop breast cancer in her lifetime. While there may be no sure way to prevent breast cancer, there are
tips for good breast health that you can do to lower your risk.
Today, we’re here to give you exactly that! We’ve rounded up some healthy habits, vitamins for adults, and good breast health tips you can take note of for breast cancer prevention.
Watch Your Weight
Being overweight or obese, especially for women after menopause, increases the risk of breast cancer as having more fat tissue in your body raises estrogen levels. In addition, individuals who are overweight tend to have higher levels of insulin — which is linked to
breast cancer. So, it is important that you maintain and control a healthy weight. Make sure to do any physical activity for at least 150 minutes a week and be mindful of the food that you consume.
Be Mindful Of Your Alcohol Intake
While having a glass of wine on special occasions isn’t all that bad, it is still important to remember that alcohol, especially when consumed in high amounts, can increase the risk of breast cancer. Limit your alcohol intake to no more than one drink per day.
Stop Smoking
Long-term smoking is one of the biggest contributors not only to breast cancer but to other cancers and many other life-threatening diseases as well. It is simply not worth the risk to your health. So as early as today, eliminate smoking. Your body will surely thank you for it in the long run.
Breastfeed
There has been a lot of research throughout the years regarding the benefits of breastfeeding for breast cancer. Mothers who breastfeed their newborns lower their risk of pre- and post-menopausal breast cancer. In a study by the
Collaborative Group on Hormonal Factors in Breast Cancer, it was stated that for every 12 months a woman breastfed, her risk of breast cancer decreased by 4.3% compared to those who didn’t.
Avoid Hormone Therapy
Hormone therapy or hormone replacement therapy is a choice for women to control moderate to severe menopause symptoms such as hot flashes and vaginal dryness. However,
hormone therapy increases the risk of breast cancer, especially when done for more than three to five years as higher levels of estrogen can help breast cancer cells to grow.
If you’re looking into breast cancer prevention, ask your doctor for some other alternatives. You can also take a Black Cohosh supplement to pair with it! Black Cohosh supplements are one of the most popular natural hot flash remedies for women who are looking for alternatives for hormone replacement to treat their menopause symptoms.
Take Your Vitamin D
Vitamin D is mostly known to be the sunshine vitamin and an essential building block for the body. It can also help you decrease your risk for breast cancer because it boosts healthy bones, cell growth, and hormone balance — all of which are important for menopausal women. And as women age, their ability to absorb vitamin D gradually decreases. This is why
vitamin D supplements from Puritan’s Pride is crucial. Taking it every day will maintain great vitamin D levels in your body!
Annual Checkups With Your Doctor
Don’t wait until a telltale sign pops up in your body for you to take action. This is why it is important to have
annual or frequent checkups, such as every 6 to 12 months, for breast exams and other risk assessments.
This approach may not prevent breast cancer, but in the case where findings are discovered, it will be easier to treat when it is found early.
Key Takeaway
October marks the start of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. And as a value-added contributor to health and wellness in the country, we’ve rounded up some tips for good breast health you can do for
breast cancer prevention. While there is no sure way to prevent breast cancer, remember that you are fully in control of your health. Doing all of these will not only lower your risk for breast cancer but for other possible diseases as well.
