As someone who is training for an endurance event, we know you are already very active and exercise regularly. But did you know exercising - along with a few other important healthy lifestyle choices - can significantly reduce your cancer risk? The key to celebrating more birthdays is to stay well. You can do so by maintaining a healthy weight by eating right and continuing to exercise regularly (even after your race is over), getting recommended cancer screening tests, and avoiding tobacco products. If everyone followed these steps, we could prevent half of all cancer deaths.
Eat Right and Get Active
The American Cancer Society recommends a few steps to help you maintain a healthy weight:
Strive for at least 5 serving per day of vegetables and fruits.
Choose whole grains and limit the amount of red and processed meat you eat.
Limit the amount of alcohol you drink men should have no more than 2 drinks per day; women should have no more than 1 per day.
Adults should get at least 30 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity on 5 or more days per week. Training for endurance event easily helps you achieve this goal!
Maintain a healthy weight throughout life, and if you’re not at an ideal weight, make a plan to get there. The American Cancer Society can help.
Know Your Screenings
Having regular cancer screenings can help you find cancer early, when it is most treatable. Some screening tests can even help you prevent cancer before it starts. Not sure which cancer screenings are right for you? Depending on your age, gender, and cancer risk, your screening recommendations will vary.
Talk to your doctor about what cancer screenings might be right for you. The American Cancer Society can also help you learn which tests are right for you by taking our simple health check at cancer.org/GreatAmericans.
Kick the Habit
Tobacco use remains the single largest preventable cause of disease and premature death in the United States, responsible for nearly 1 in 5 deaths. It increases your risk of 15 types of cancer. In fact, 30 percent of all cancer deaths in America, including 87 percent of lung cancer deaths, are caused by tobacco.
The American Cancer Society can help you or a loved one kick the habit for good and stay well. Visit cancer.org/GreatAmericans for tools to help prepare for quitting, get support after quitting, and deal with cravings through interactive games and tools.
To learn more please visit www.cancer.org or call us toll-free at 1-800-227-2345, anytime, day or night.
