Be Informed
6 Healthy Steps to Reduce Your Risk for Breast Cancer
Are you doing everything you can to reduce your likelihood of developing breast cancer? While breast cancer researchers don’t know the exact causes of the disease, you can still be proactive about reducing your risk.
The Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation states that because we don’t currently know the precise cause of breast cancer, we don’t know how to completely eliminate the risk. However, you can make lifestyle choices that may reduce your risk of developing breast cancer.
- Maintain a healthy body weight. Reaching or maintaining a healthy body weight may require a combination of changes in your diet, physical activity, and other behaviors. If you do not know your recommended body weight, it may be helpful to speak to your doctor.
- Get physical. Just 30 minutes of physical activity per day can boost your wellbeing. Wearing gear from the New Balance Lace Up For the Cure Collection is a great way to remind yourself what you’re sweating for.
- Limit your alcohol consumption to one drink or less per day.
- Avoid tobacco smoke. If you’re currently a smoker, do everything you can to quit. Non-smokers should go out of their way to avoid harmful second-hand smoke.
- Watch what you eat. Make sure you’re getting all of your nutrients with a well-rounded diet that’s rich in fruits, veggies, whole grains, and lean meats and dairy. Check out Canada's Food Guide for more information.
- Avoid exposure to carcinogens. Certain types of chemicals such as solvents, pesticides, pharmaceutical drugs, additives in food and in gasoline, and some chemicals used in industry and manufacturing have been studied for their links to breast cancer.
