3 healthy habits to help reduce your cancer risk

At a cellular level, all cancers are similar. But what makes cancer so challenging is that it can develop in many places within your body, each based on different triggers and causes. That is to say that one set of preventive measures cannot effectively battle all cancer forms. In addition, it is important for you to try more than one of the following. Here are three preventive measures that, in recent studies, have truly shown significant benefits.

The more water you drink, the more you dilute toxins in food and other liquids, reducing their damaging effects on your colon and bladder.

• One major study found that just six 2,500-millilitre (8-ounce) glasses of water every day slashed the risk of bladder cancer in half in men; while another found a 45 percent reduced risk of colon cancer in women who drank a lot of water throughout the day.
• To avoid a huge pile of plastic bottles, keep a pitcher of filtered water in your fridge at home and at work, and make sure you empty it at least once, preferably twice, a day.

Several studies find that the sunshine vitamin reduces the risk of numerous cancers. But while you can get vitamin D from supplements and food sources, it takes sunlight to activate the vitamin, which collects in your skin.

• In one study, researchers followed 1,179 postmenopausal women for four years. Half took 1,400 to 1,500 milligrams of calcium alone, and half took the calcium along with 1,100 internatioanl units (IU) of vitamin D. Those getting the calcium/D supplement had a 30 percent lower risk of developing any type of cancer during the four years than those receiving just calcium.
• Other studies found that women with vitamin D levels of more than 800 IU a day from diet or supplements had a 19 percent lower breast cancer risk than those getting less than 400 IU.
• Studies also find that people in sunny climates are far less likely to develop solid tumours like stomach, colorectal, liver, gallbladder, pancreatic, lung, and prostate cancers than those from northern climates.
• Bottom line: The more steady, continuous exposure to the sun (not sunburn!), the less likely you are to develop many cancers. Exceptions include lip and mouth cancers, and non-Hodgkins lymphoma, suggesting that you still need to protect exposed areas with sunscreen.
• One reason for vitamin D's benefits may be its ability to limit cell division and to help insure that when cells do divide, they don't differ significantly from other cells of their type.

No, we're not kidding.

• An eight-year study of 29,342 men ages 46 to 81 found that the more orgasms the men had, the lower their risk of prostate cancer. Specifically, those who had at least 21 orgasms per month slashed their risk of the disease by a third, compared to those who only had four to seven a month.
• The mechanism at work here? The prostate makes semen; the more you ejaculate, the more potentially cancerous cells you're getting rid of (and no, they won't hurt your partner).
• If you don't have a partner, or one who isn't willing, don't worry. The benefit comes from ejaculating, which, as you no doubt know, doesn't require a partner.

Reduce your cancer risk with these smart tips and remember to keep up with regular cancer screenings and contact your doctor with any concerns you may have.