(14-04-13) Seven lifestyle habits that dramatically lower both cancer and heart disease risk

by John Phillip

(NaturalNews) The incidence and etiology of many forms of cancer and the
development of cardiovascular disease run on a parallel course as they are both
the result of lifestyle habits that are well within our control. It comes as no
big surprise that scientists have created a list of seven healthy practices
that can dramatically lower the risk of developing either one of these
illnesses that account for more than half of all deaths in the U.S. each year.
Many of these identified lifestyle habits fall within the realm of common
sense, yet millions of men, women and children fail to regularly follow more
than one or two habits, placing them at considerable risk for future disease
and early mortality.

A group of researchers from the Northwestern University Feinberg School of
Medicine in Chicago have published the results of a study in the American Heart
Association journal, Circulation that explains how following the American Heart
Association's Life's Simple 7 steps to reduce your risk for heart disease can
also help prevent cancer. Lead study author, Dr. Laura J. Rasmussen-Torvik said
"We were gratified to know adherence to the Life's Simple 7 goals was also
associated with reduced incidence of cancer... this can provide a clear,
consistent message about the most important things people can do to protect
their health and lower their overall risk for chronic diseases."

Lifestyle modifications slash chronic disease risk by lowering inflammation
and improving health biometrics
The team identified the seven critical lifestyle habits that promote a healthy
heart as: being physically active, keeping a healthy weight, eating a healthy
diet, maintaining healthy cholesterol levels, keeping blood pressure down,
regulating blood sugar levels and not smoking. To assess the impact of these
habits on cancer risk, the researchers analyzed the health records of 13,253
men and women who were involved in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities
Study, which tracked the seven risk factors and the participants' health
outcomes since 1987.

The participants were interviewed at the outset of the study to establish how
closely they followed the established heart disease lifestyle risk factors.
After a period of 20 years, researchers reviewed hospital records and cancer
registries and discovered that 2,880 of the participants were diagnosed with
cancer of the lung, colon, rectum, prostate or breast. Scientists found that
the incidence of cancer closely paralleled following fewer lifestyle habits, as
compared to participants that did not develop the illness.

The team determined that people who followed six of the seven health metrics
had a 51 percent lower cancer risk than the participants who did not meet any
of the steps. When smoking was removed as a factor, participants who followed
five to six of the health steps had a 25 percent lower cancer risk. Dr.
Rasmussen-Torvik concluded, "This adds to the strong body of research
suggesting that it is never late to change, and that if you make changes like
quitting smoking and improving your diet, you can reduce your risk for both
cardiovascular disease and cancer." Health-conscious individuals already follow
the identified healthy lifestyle practices, but it certainly makes sense to
ensure that each of these habits is at the core of your daily regimen to
dramatically lower risk of heart disease and cancer.

Sources for this article include:

http://circ.ahajournals.org
http://healthland.time.com
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/257821.php
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/03/130318180402.htm

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