The six-letter word “CANCER” can be countered by another six-letter word called “PRAYER,” says Amar Bhaskar, former director and chief operating officer of IBM Global Business Services (India). .
Diagnosed with tongue cancer in 2006, Bhaskar said the combination of a positive attitude, resilience, adapting to new changes, reinventing himself, participating in activities and having fun with his family is what helped him. , we believe we can put up a strong front against this deadly disease. . Broadly speaking, cancer is a journey that forces individuals to introspect.
One of the reasons people die from cancer is lack of information. The great American civil rights activist Martin Luther King Jr. once said, “Darkness cannot drive out darkness. Only light can.” In other words, awareness of this disease , is the key to fighting this disease.
World Cancer Day is celebrated on February 4 each year with different themes, commemorating the resilience of survivors, the dedication of healthcare workers and the power of collective action. The 2023 theme “Closing the Care Gap” continues this year.
As individuals, we need to balance our lives intellectually, physically, emotionally, and spiritually. The way we live, what we eat and drink, the environment we exist in, and the toxins we ingest all contribute to the development of cancer. In other words, lifestyle is responsible for 30-50% of cancers.
A healthy life includes eating a balanced diet, staying physically active, avoiding substance abuse, managing stress and positive thinking, getting enough sleep, and having strong personal and social support. It is necessary to receive it.
eat healthier
Eating to feel good is, of course, a fundamental human instinct. In our fast-paced lives, meals often become convenient and ready-to-eat. When we're stressed, we often crave foods high in sugar and fat, which are generally low in fiber and other nutrients.
Globally, obesity has tripled over the past 50 years. Ironically, the increase was dramatic in low-income countries, where malnutrition is common. In these communities, high-calorie foods with low nutritional value are more readily available.
Obesity causes changes in the hormonal environment in the body, making you more susceptible to cancers of the breast, endometrium, cervix, prostate, colorectal, esophagus, pancreas, kidney, and gallbladder.
Being close to nature is essential to a healthy diet. Two-thirds of our meals should be vegetarian. The brighter the color of food, the greater its impact on our health. The phytochemicals, antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, and fiber found in plant products help detoxify the system and block certain cancer pathways. Eating large amounts of these foods during childhood and adolescence is more effective at reducing cancer risk than during adulthood.
Preserved foods with high salt content, grilled barbecue foods, and processed and frozen foods should be kept to a minimum in your diet. In other words, you should think of your diet as your bank account and good food as an investment.
stress management
In today's complex world, stress is a constant. Although stress does not directly lead to cancer, stress promotes cancer growth. The most important element in managing stress is addressing your state of mind, which often gets put on the back burner. What you eat is important, but what you eat is even more important. Comparing, criticizing, and complaining are his three C's that form cancer of the soul.
But in order to have peace of mind, we must learn to accept life's worst situations. This can primarily be achieved by processing your emotions through meditation.
Meditation creates positive thinking, creates self-control, results in healthy sleep patterns, increases pain tolerance, harmonizes body, mind, and soul, gives meaning to life, copes with stress, and helps patients. Reduce pain and improve quality of health. life.
get more sleep
Good sleep is considered to be as essential to our survival as oxygen. Good sleep helps cells heal and regenerate. It is a natural immune booster.
Scientifically, you need seven hours of sleep to protect yourself from heart disease, diabetes, depression, and even cancer. When professionals work odd hours at night, their body clocks are disrupted, making them more susceptible to breast, colon, ovarian, and prostate cancer.
Improve physical activity and immunity
Engaging in 30 minutes of regular physical activity and creative pursuits can help reduce your stress bucket. It is one of the best ways to relieve stress and relieve anxiety. This stimulates the production of feel-good hormones in the brain and stimulates the release of endorphins.
These hormones bring about the cleansing of negative thoughts and emotions. Positive thinking, cheerfulness, mental strength, and joy have all been shown to increase the number of white blood cells in the body. This strengthens your immune system and helps prevent disease and even cancer.
avoid alcohol and tobacco completely
Most cancers are caused by tobacco and alcohol consumption. The age at which you started drinking, the number of years you've taken it, and the amount you use all play a role in early symptoms. It is imperative to refrain from these habits.
It is true that we cannot cure all cancers, but we can cure everyone who suffers from cancer. Because healing is purely spiritual. Therefore, a person should wake up every morning with gratitude and be grateful for the gifts of the new day.
Our smiles should be used to change the world, but we should not allow the world to change our smiles. Just as kites send us a beautiful message to stay connected to our roots while flying high, we need to keep our lifestyles simple and protect ourselves from these terrible diseases. .