Tip 1: Regularity of lifestyle and rest
Living in moderation means having rules. Don’t be a night owl; don’t confuse day and night.
Tip 2: Eliminate fried, high-fat, and high-caloric foods
Avoid fried or barbequed food high in fat and calories cooked at high temperatures, said Chang. Foods cooked at high temperatures are rich in harmful free radicals and they should be avoided as much as possible. Ideally, you should cook food by boiling or steaming it more often.
Tip 3: Eat a variety of high-fiber antioxidant vegetables
Vegetables and fruits are rich in phytochemicals, fiber, and antioxidants, which makes them effective in preventing cancer. Chang recommends the Rainbow Diet.
“For example, choose light green and dark green vegetables, green, red and yellow chili peppers, even dragon fruit [is] white and red. That is, eat more different colors of fruits and vegetables.”
Tip 4: Eat saturated fatty acid oil products
The best cooking oil to use is olive oil or bitter tea oil that has saturated fatty acids.
Tip 5: Clean fruits and vegetables thoroughly
Pesticide residues or unclean substances are cancer-causing factors, so be sure to wash your vegetables and protein carefully before cooking and consumption.
Tip 6: Reduce food intake, since obesity is cancer-causing.
According to medical statistics, 13 types of cancer, including breast cancer, are linked to obesity. “Obesity has become an emerging factor in breast and other cancers. Do not eat too much, this is very important, ” stressed Chang.
Tip No. 7: Avoid plasticizers
Reduce exposure to materials that contain plasticizer, a substance that is added to make material softer and more flexible. For example, avoid using plastic containers for hot food since the heat of the food will leach out chemicals from the plastic.
Chang also advised, “some bad juice [and] drinks look beautiful, but inside is not the real juice.”
Tip 8: Moderate exercise to improve the basic metabolic rate
According to multiple American medical journals, walking at least 7,500 steps a day can improve basal metabolism, burn calories, and reduce excessive fat in the body. Taiwan’s National Health Administration also advocates “walking 10,000 steps a day to maintain good health.”
Chang said walking for 15 minutes activates the cardio-respiratory function and becomes a fat-burning aerobic exercise.
Tip 9: Quality sleep to strengthen immunity
Research confirms that sleep and the immune system affect each other. Scientists believe a person’s metabolic rate is reduced by about 15 percent during sleep. But if you don’t get quality sleep, your body’s metabolism won’t slow down enough to transfer sufficient energy to your immune system. So sleep makes your immune system more effective, and immune cells promote sleep.
Tip 10: Emotion management to reduce harmful stress
Another key point in reducing cancer is regulation of emotions, or learning how to adjust your attitude and obtain emotional relief and mental relaxation. Chang suggested joining a charity or patient group.
“These groups will provide you with the right knowledge and activities to help you relieve your body and mind—such as painting, singing, or doing line dancing.”
Tip 11: Regular screening for early detection and treatment
As a final tip, Chang emphasizes the importance of regular breast screening.
“According to statistics, regular screening can increase the chance of finding breast cancer by 30 percent and reduce the mortality rate by 40 percent. So don’t look for reasons not to get screened just because you have to get a mammogram and it hurts.”
Chang said these 11 health care tips will improve the body’s immune system and enable people to combat the bad or cancerous cells after they’ve been detected.
“In addition to strengthening our immune system through diet, emotional management, and stress relief, it is also important to have a medical team on hand to help you monitor and do the necessary tests,” he said.
