Do you have healthy breasts? Breast health is a relatively new concept. It’s only in the last few decades that we’ve started to truly understand breast cancer and how our lifestyles affect it, and it’s taken some time for regular checking to become the norm, too. Now it seems experts can map out exactly what we need to do to have healthy breasts – and it’s not as drastic as you might think. Check these out!
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1. Get Sweaty…
Yep, exercise will give you healthy breasts. 45 minutes to an hour of exercise, 5 days a week, has a great effect on your body. It also prevents disease by boosting immune function, wards off obesity and lowers insulin levels. Amazing.
2. Keep Your Weight under Control…
Unfortunately, being overweight has been proven to increase your chances of disease, including breast cancer. It’s also thought to reduce your chances of actually surviving the disease, according to the Ralph Lauren Center for Cancer Care and Prevention in New York. Work out what a healthy weight for you would be, and how you can get there. That might involve speaking to your doctor and getting help to exercise, seeing a dietitian, joining a running group…however it works for you. Don’t forget to record your measurements, and treat yourself with non-food rewards to keep you motivated.
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3. Drink Less…
How much alcohol do you really drink? Research has shown that more than 2 alcoholic drinks per day could increase your breast cancer rate by 21%. Try swapping wine for grape juice, instead. It has a similar flavor, and Resveratrol that’s found in the skin of grapes is proven to reduce estrogen levels, which could actually reduce your risk.
4. Know Your Risk…
Speak to your family about diseases and genetic issues. It can be an awkward conversation to start, but it could be worth its weight in gold. Around 15% of breast cancer cases include a family history of the disease. If you have one first-degree relative who had breast cancer, your lifetime risk doubles. If you have two, you have five times the risk. Speak to your family, and your doctor, to stay safe.
5. Eat Well…
Cruciferous vegetables such as kale and broccoli add a new level of protection against diseases such as breast cancer. They are packed with sulforaphane, which is believed to stop cancer cells from multiplying. They are best eaten raw, but steaming them can make a healthy snack.
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6. Get Checked…
In most countries, women should have a clinical breast exam every three years, and annual exams and mammograms when they turn 40. If you have a family history of breast cancer, your screening should increase 10 years before the family member’s age of diagnosis, to ensure any signs of disease are picked up quickly. Digital mammograms are best, where possible, as the contrast can be changed to have a better few of the image. Young women may also be offered an MRI or sonogram as well as the traditional imaging.
7. Get Tested…
One of the newest ways to keep healthy breasts is through genetic testing. This involves looking for the BRCA mutation, which typically causes cancer in young women. Angelina Jolie had genetic testing a few months back, and spoke out about the need for it to become more well known. If you’ve got a family history of breast or ovarian cancer, or are of Eastern European Jewish descent, you may be at higher risk. Speak to a genetic counselor, and your risk rates and any solutions can be discussed.
Having healthy breasts is most of the battle: it means that any changes are picked up quickly, and minimizes the chances of bad news. It also gives you the best chance of recovering from cancer, if you are diagnosed. I’ll definitely be trying to incorporate more of these tips into my daily life! Got any suggestions on how to have healthy breasts? I’d love to hear them.
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