Diet
Healthy eating is a lifestyle choice.
According to the Department of Health and the British Dietetic Association what you eat and drink can have a beneficial or detrimental effect on your health now and in the future.
A 'balanced' diet means a diet that includes a combination of several different food groups. These include:
• Fresh fruit and vegetables
• Grains and pulses
• Meat or meat free alternatives
• Dairy products and fats and oils
Getting the Balance Right
Eat something from all the groups every day except fats, oils and sweet products such as fizzy drinks chocolate, ice cream etc which should be kept to a minimum. It is thought that the aspartame contained in fizzy drinks is also detrimental to health and might be responsible for some brain tumours.
A recommended daily diet should contain the following foods and in the right proportions:
It would seem the risk of some cancers; bowel cancer for example is lower in people who eat enough fruit and vegetables and foods high in fibre. People who are overweight have an increased risk of cancer especially breast cancer.
Diet therapy, an alternative diet, which includes vegan or vegetarian diets aim to rid the body of toxins accumulated by junk foods. These diets include eating raw foods, sugar free, meat free, low salt, high doses of vitamin c, minerals and enzymes.
A word about processed food
Whole-grain breads, cereals, rice and pasta have more fibre, vitamins and minerals than their white processed counter-parts. Processed foods can also be particularly high in salt and sugar.
Today it is reported few people get enough exercise, even though the benefits are clear to see. Back in April 2004 England's chief medical officer urged children to aim for 60 minutes of exercise each day. He said the key to reducing the risk of cancer, heart disease and obesity was physical activity. The benefits are still well documented. These include reducing weight, body fat, reducing stress, cholesterol levels, and blood pressure and even reversing the affects of atherosclerosis and diabetes.
The Department of Health are currently testing new ways of encouraging people to take up more physical activity. Locally run pilot programmes are being tested L.E.A.P or local exercise action pilots are being run across the country. It is claimed 6 out of 10 men and 7 out of 10 women are doing less than the recommended 30 minutes of exercise 5 days a week. And still among children 4 out of 10 boys and 5 out of 10 girls are still not meeting the recommended 1 hour of exercise every day.
Choosing a type of exercise that is fun and achievable is important. This will help you carry on a new year's resolution right into the year. Take the test, how fit are you…… www.malehealth.co.uk
Environmental Toxins
There is a huge influx of chemical agents found in our air, water and soil today. It is believed by many these toxins are causing cell damage. There are 75,000 synthetic chemicals in regular use.
Taking in these chemicals daily, can cause an accumulative affect and many chemical substances which are allowed to build up in our bodies , and many in our body fat can be potentially harmful.
It is reported that each one of us carries at least 250 chemical contaminants, and many of these cannot be broken down by our bodies, they accumulate in our bodily systems, until the optimum operating condition for cells is breached.
Where do these pollutants come from?
Air. Aerosols are one of the main contributories. Deodorants, air fresheners, hairspray, fly and mosquito repellents, de-icer, asbestos, environmental and occupational exposures.
Water. With tons of thousands of chemicals being released into the environment each day, every ocean and continent from the tropics to the once clean Polar Regions is now contaminated by synthetic chemicals. This affects the food we eat and the water we drink every day. The personal care products that we all use every day contain potentially harmful chemicals. Shampoo, soap, body washes etc.There are alternatives, and where possible, it seems, should be used.
Soil. Our soil is full of pesticides. A pesticide is a substance, organism or preparation used to control or destroy a pest. There are agricultural pesticides and non-agricultural pesticides, including products such as insecticides for public hygiene use, rodenticides, surface biocides and wood preservatives. Hazardous pesticides pose a threat to the environment and human health. Many pesticides are now being suspected of causing endocrine disturbances. The endocrine system, or the bodies chemical and hormone messengers can be altered by some pesticides, causing possible birth defects and reproductive failure. There are many 'green' alternatives for the gardener, home user, those in need of pest control and the professional.
To reduce your risk of developing cancer:
• Avoid smoking• Avoid drinking too much
• Eat a balanced diet
• Take regular exercise
• Avoid getting burnt in the sun
• Avoid the use of chemicals
• Be happy - laugh - laughing is said to be a muscle relaxant, reduces stress hormones, enhances the immune system, reduces pain, provides cardiac exercise, and cleanses your blood, all that and it’s free!
