October is known for many things—fall foliage, pumpkin spice lattes, and Halloween festivities. But it's also an important month for cancer awareness, providing a timely reminder to those especially at risk that prevention is indeed better than cure. This Cancer Awareness Month, we want to share with you some simple lifestyle choices you can adopt for cancer prevention and healthy aging, including some of those championed by Dr. Miller and Rhayne Thomas.
1. Understanding there is a difference in wellness for men and women.
In a great analogy, Dr. Miller describes the female body's natural adaptation to life changes as a "woman train" while the male counterpart is the "man train." These trains encounter various stations—menopause for women and its male counterpart, andropause for men. Yet, it's crucial to remember that these stations aren't stops, they’re not the end of the line, but rather junctures where one can either take the preventive course or the “ignore it, it’s a future me problem” course.
2. Working on your mental health.
Just like physical health, mental health is important in cancer prevention. Stress, for example, can weaken our immune systems, making us more susceptible to health issues. Mindfulness techniques such as meditation can help us reduce stress and, in some cases, improve the body's ability to fight cancer.
3. Treat your body right with natural products of quality ingredients.
It might seem odd to talk about soap in an article about cancer awareness and prevention, but it's a small example of how choosing quality products can make a difference. “When I first used Mirai Clinical’s handmade soap, it provided a gentle lather across my whole body - not an overwhelming amount like commercial soaps that are loaded with harmful chemicals,” Rhayne reported.
While using products that don’t contain harmful chemicals isn’t a direct factor in cancer prevention, it highlights the importance of quality ingredients in everything that touches our bodies. In a way, it's symbolic of the more significant lifestyle choices we can make for better health.
4. Get regular exercise and eat right.
What are the best tools in your cancer prevention toolkit? It's a well-balanced diet and regular exercise. A diet that's rich in antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals can significantly reduce the risk of certain types of cancer. Personally, we love to incorporate persimmons into our meal plans, with their antioxidant content used to neutralize free radicals, they’re also packed with dietary fiber to support healthy digestion.
Exercise not only keeps you fit but also makes it easier for your body to fight off diseases. Just like our skin benefits from natural products like handmade soap, our internal systems thrive when nourished and exercised appropriately.
5. Get regular health screenings.
Screenings such as mammograms, Pap smears, and prostate exams are also important tools – they are your first line of defense! Regular health check-ups enable early detection, making treatment more manageable and often more successful. Just like you wouldn't ignore warning signs on your journey, say when your "woman train" or "man train" enters a new station like menopause or andropause, you shouldn't overlook these essential screenings.
As we honor those who have battled cancer, including those who battled alongside family and friends going through cancer, we want to remember during this Cancer Awareness Month that the journey to cancer prevention and healthy aging is an ongoing process. It's an accumulation of all the small, conscious choices—what we eat, how much we exercise, and even the products we use that drive change. After all, the best way to treat cancer is to prevent it as best we can. So, this October, commit with us to a lifestyle that embraces the art of prevention.