Preventing ovarian cancer
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Mar 4, 2008 / 5:00 am
Ovarian cancer is the fifth leading cause of cancer deaths in women. Unfortunately the exact cause is usually unknown. The risk of developing ovarian cancer appears to be affected by several factors including the number of children a woman has, early age at first pregnancy, older ages of final pregnancy and the use of low dose hormonal contraception. These factors have been shown to have a protective effect against ovarian cancer. Furthermore, try to avoid smoking and second-hand smoke. Smoking is the most significant risk factor for cancers that we can reduce. Eat your fruits and veggies! Fruits and vegetables are rich in antioxidants which repair our damaged cells. Green veggies and orange and yellow fruits and veggies are best. The Canadian Cancer Society also recommends exercising 30 minutes a day, 5 days a week to prevent cancer. If you cringe at the word exercise, check out these fun forms of fitness - you won’t even know you’re exercising!
Walk, Walk, Walk - Walking has many health benefits including cancer prevention. If you don’t like the treadmill, walk outdoors. Make it a family event! Exercise is important for children too!
Yoga - Yoga is aimed to unite the spirit, mind and body. If you have never done yoga before why not take a beginner yoga class. It is a great form of exercise that increases your flexibility, increases lean muscle mass and helps detoxify the internal organs.
Dance like no-one is watching! - Dancing is a great form of exercise. You can dance in the privacy of your living room, or go to a club. If you have two left feet, try a dance class! Learn salsa, ballroom dancing or even hip-hop! There are so many types of dance to learn, you can't go wrong.
Swimming - When you swim you work out all muscles of the body and it can be very cardiovascular! Try an aqua-fit class for a great workout.
Hiking - If you like the outdoors you’ll love hiking! Set a goal for yourself like distance or the amount of time you hike during each session. Not only are you challenging yourself, you are getting one of the best ways to get in shape!
Ice Skating - Strap on a pair of skates and hit the ice! If you don’t like the cold, get a pair of Rollerblades and take it outdoors. Make sure you have protective gear like a helmet, knee pads and wrist guards.
Take a fitness class - Enjoy great camaraderie in a social environment. You will experience variety in your workout because there are so many different classes to choose from such as indoor cycling, boot camp, BOSU, pilates, step and sculpt.