How to Reduce Your Risk of Stomach Cancer

The good news is that many factors which increase your risk for stomach cancer can be controlled. For instance, smoking cigarettes can significantly lower that risk.

Eating a nutritious diet and getting regular exercise will not only lower your risk for certain cancers, but it may also protect against other health conditions as well.

Eat a Healthy Diet

Eating healthily not only promotes overall wellbeing, but it can reduce the risk of stomach cancer as it provides your body with essential nutrients.

Maintaining a balanced, varied diet that includes foods from each of the 5 major food groups is essential for good health. Eating something different from each group at each meal and snack throughout the day ensures you get enough nutrients.

Dairy products like milk, cheese, yoghurt and other dairy alternatives provide essential proteins, calcium and vitamins. When selecting these items it’s best to opt for low sugar or low fat options as much as possible.

Limiting red meat, especially processed or charbroiling it, and selecting lean cuts of meat is beneficial for a balanced diet. Additionally, getting plenty of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and nuts into your system is essential for optimal wellbeing.

Steer clear of fried foods and take-away meals that contain high levels of saturated fat and salt, as these can increase your risk for heart disease.

Fruits and vegetables are an excellent way to incorporate fiber, vitamins and minerals into your diet. Plus they contain antioxidants as well as soluble fibre which may help protect against stomach cancer.

Vitamin and mineral supplements such as beta carotene, selenium, and folic acid may be helpful for those who have difficulty absorbing these essential nutrients from their regular diets.

Eating small, frequent meals throughout the day can help you control your appetite and treatment-related side effects such as nausea. Aim to eat 5-6 small meals or “mini” meals about every three hours.

Your healthcare team may suggest making dietary changes to reduce the risk of stomach cancer. These could include increasing fruit and vegetable consumption, replacing processed food with fiber-rich options, and abstaining from alcohol consumption.

Enhancing your physical activity levels is also beneficial, as staying fit can improve strength and flexibility – which may help protect against stomach cancer.

Exercise should be part of your daily regiment. Not only does it reduce stress, strengthen the immune system and lower cholesterol levels, but it’s also proven to have other positive effects like improving memory or increasing energy levels.

Quit Smoking

Quitting smoking may not be an easy feat, but it is one of the most essential steps you can take for your health. Quitting smoking helps protect you against various cancers such as stomach cancer.

Smoking can have serious adverse effects on your heart, lungs and other body systems. It increases the risk of high blood pressure, strokes and heart attacks as well as making breathing difficult, increasing coughing and shortness of breath symptoms; lowers circulation; and damages cilia–tiny hair-like structures in the lungs that assist with inhalation. Smoking also has a detrimental effect on other systems as well.

There are a few steps you can take to help quit smoking, such as consulting your doctor and joining a support group. These will keep you motivated and dedicated towards reaching your goal.

First, eliminate all tobacco products from your home and car. Throw out cigarettes, lighters, ashtrays, and matches.

Second, create a new routine to replace your bad habits. For instance, eat nutritious foods and get regular physical activity in.

Third, share your plan to quit smoking with friends and family. Let them know you want to reduce smoking and ask them not to smoke around you.

Fourth, find non-smokers to share your daily activities with and set aside time for yourself without smokers. Doing this can help prevent relapse by providing you with something other than smoking to do.

Fifth, visit the NHS Smokefree website to receive free assistance and guidance. Additionally, you may contact a local Stop Smoking service in your area for additional support.

Sixth, be aware that the symptoms of nicotine withdrawal will persist for some time after you stop smoking. These include intense cravings for cigarettes, feelings of depression or hunger, headaches, and insomnia – though these should diminish over time.

Quitting smoking is one of the healthiest decisions you can make for yourself, and it’s never too late to start. The sooner you take action, the lower your risk of cancer will remain.

Get Regular Physical Activity

One of the best ways to reduce your risk for stomach cancer is regular physical activity. Not only does it aid weight loss, lower blood pressure and improve cholesterol levels, but it also strengthens bones and muscles while increasing energy levels and elevating moods too.

Being active can take many forms, from taking a long walk each day to hitting the gym. Even 30 minutes of moderate exercise each day can make a significant impact on your wellbeing.

Exercising regularly not only helps you maintain a healthy body weight, but it can also protect you against obesity-related diseases like type 2 diabetes. Furthermore, regular physical activity reduces your risk for heart disease and stroke – two leading causes of death in America – by up to 30%.

The American Cancer Society recommends that adults get at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity each week. This could include brisk walking, swimming, biking, dancing or playing sports and can be done most days of the week; it could even be broken up into shorter sessions of as little as 10 minutes at a time.

Exercise not only reduces your risk of cancer development, but it can also reduce inflammation in the body. Chronic inflammation has been known to cause DNA damage and ultimately lead to cancerous growths.

You can lower your risk of cancer by losing weight and eating a nutritious diet. Eating more fruits and vegetables, limiting processed foods, and cutting back on meats all help you to maintain a healthy weight while decreasing cancer risks.

Before beginning an exercise program, it is important to consult your doctor. If you are currently receiving treatment for cancer, they may advise that you limit your activities to low-intensity exercises.

Due to the potential weakness of those receiving chemotherapy or radiation therapy, exercising should be done with caution. Furthermore, staying hydrated and eating a balanced diet while exercising is especially important as dehydration can hinder recovery time.

Furthermore, you should be aware that there is not enough research to definitively say how much exercise is best for reducing gastric cancer risk. The American Cancer Society suggests combining different forms of physical activity for optimal results; they suggest trying a mixture of aerobic, resistance and stretching exercises.

Get Regular Checkups

Though there is no guaranteed way to prevent stomach cancer, certain lifestyle choices can help lower your risk. One such step is getting regular checkups with a medical professional.

Regular checkups with doctors can help doctors detect early warning signs of diseases you may not be aware of, saving you from hefty medical costs and giving you access to treatments that could expedite recovery time.

A standard or routine health checkup package typically includes a physical exam and tests to check the functionality of your heart, lungs, digestive system, kidneys, liver and immune system. Some packages also include series of cancer screenings such as PSA tests for men and mammography for women.

When it comes to checkups, the frequency of which depends on a number of factors like age and gender. On average, most people should see their doctor for a routine checkup once every year; however, those with family histories of serious diseases or preexisting conditions should have more frequent checkups.

Other risk factors for stomach cancer include having a family history of the disease, being overweight or obese, carrying H. pylori bacteria and smoking cigarettes. People with these risks tend to develop symptoms later than other patients due to these circumstances.

Maintaining a healthy diet and staying physically active can help protect against stomach cancer. Eating various fruits and vegetables, avoiding red meat or salty foods, and drinking plenty of water all play an important role in this prevention strategy.

One way to reduce your risk of stomach cancer is quitting smoking. Smoking increases the likelihood of developing cancerous spots on the abdomen as well as other malignancies, respiratory problems and gastrointestinal issues.

If you smoke, discuss with your doctor ways to quit. Other steps you can take to reduce your risk of stomach cancer include quitting alcohol and eating a nutritious diet that includes plenty of fruits, vegetables and low-fat dairy products.

Regular checkups with your doctor can help you avoid developing stomach cancer and other life-threatening diseases that are difficult to treat. These appointments also give you a chance to discuss symptoms with them and get advice on making lifestyle changes to improve your wellbeing.