Articles ¬ The Source ¬ Lifestyle basics for preventing & working with Cancer

I see a lot of people with cancer in my office, all at different stages of dealing with it and all asking the same question, "Why me?". This article is the second of a three part series on cancer; I will cover the lifestyle basics for preventing and working with cancer.

Cancer is formed when a cell in the body doesn't get the signal to stop growing and forms other cells which come together to form a tumor. The body forms single cancerous cells almost every day, but a healthy immune system stops them from growing any further. Naturopathic medicine holds the belief that cancer forms as a result of the body's inability to heal itself, whether from toxic overload from the environment, or lack of needed rest, exercise, or nutrients.

Regular exercise is important to increase general health, improve the efficiency of the immune system, and decrease stress and body fat. Getting rid of excess body fat is especially important for preventing certain types of cancer, as it can store any fat soluble toxins that you have been exposed to. Exercise should be performed at least three times weekly, for 40 minutes at a time.

Excessive amounts of stress can decrease the working efficiency of the immune system, making it important to find methods of effectively dealing with it. For this purpose, activities such as tai chi, meditation, and yoga can be useful, as they help to calm both body and mind.

If possible, food should be stored in glass, cellophane, or metal, but not plastic. Some forms of plastic have been shown to leach the chemicals that they contain into the food they are storing. If you have to use plastic for storage, don't put the foods inside if they're still warm, as the heat can increase the leaching process. If using a microwave, try to avoid the use of plastic containers for heating food.

There is a lot of debate (and mounting proof) surrounding electromagnetic waves and their hand in causing cancer. Electromagnetic waves are produced by many things, including electric blankets, microwaves, cellular phones, televisions, computers, most electrical appliances, and radio and television signals. Until more is known concerning the affect these waves have on the body, you should avoid exposure whenever possible.

Guided imagery or visualization is an excellent skill for helping to focus all possible energy on healing or staying healthy. In guided imagery, a person is typically asked to think of an image that for them represents ill health or a specific dis-ease and another that represents their immune system. One example may be imagining your immune system as a gardener and cancer as the weeds being pulled out of the garden. Depending on your image, it may be important to know exactly where and how the illness effects your body. To take your imagery further, there are several books and tapes available.

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