2) Talk to your doctor about whether you need a mammogram. These tests can detect pre-cancerous changes in the breast up to two years before they can be felt. It’s generally recommended that women, aged 40 and over, get a mammogram every year or every other year. The good news about mammograms is that, because of the Affordable Health Care Act, women with insurance can get a mammogram for free (without even a co-pay). You also won’t need to meet your deductible first. (This holds true for Medicare as well). 3) Eat a diet rich in fruits and vegetables. The vitamins, minerals, and nutrients in foods like broccoli and blueberries (as well as many other fruits and vegetables) are believed to reduce your risk of many types of cancer, including breast. You should aim for five to nine servings a day (one medium fruit or one half cup is a serving size). 4) Get some exercise. It’s hard to find the time, we know. But we can’t stress how important it is in helping to prevent cancer and other diseases—and to your overall health. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, you need to do at least 30 minutes of activity five or more days a week. This decreases levels of hormones in the body and may reduce a woman’s risk of breast cancer by 30 to 40 percent! You don’t have to join a gym or become a marathoner to get fit; try walking around the block after lunch and dinner; take the stairs every day instead of the elevator; park your car in the furthest spot from a store (and always walk your cart back to the entrance, too). Sure, doing 30 minutes of cardio—in a dance class, a cardio machine, or on your own—is great too… but sometimes, if you approach exercise with baby steps, you’ll be more likely to stick with it.
Posted on: Wed, 25 Sep 2013 18:07:16 +0000
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