by Victoria Ward (guest writer)

One in eight That’s how many women are expected to get breast cancer in their lifetime. This statistic may be troubling to some women. When I learned that my grandmother and aunt both had breast cancer, I knew I needed to get proactive towards my breast health. And, after doing hours of research and trying these methods myself, I’m excited to share some of them with you today.

Turmeric

Shown to help prevent cancer, turmeric root is an exceptional herb that everyone should be consuming. Besides being rich in antioxidants and reducing inflammation, turmeric shrunk the size of cancerous tumors in recent studies. If that’s not reason enough to add it to our diet, it also tastes delicious and is one of the main ingredients in curry.

Cannabidiol

Also called CBD, cannabidiol has applications in both the mental and physical aspects of health. The benefits of CBD are far reaching and include preventing Alzheimer’s disease, arthritis, obesity, anxiety, depression, cancer, nausea, and epilepsy. Cannabidiol can also be found in the cannabis sativa plant, which may not be legal in your region, so make sure to check state cannabis laws.

Beets

A favorite vegetable for many people, beets act like a fruit and produce a delicious red juice packed with antioxidants. Beets lower blood pressure and increase nitrous oxide in the blood, which improve endurance and help fight cancer by boosting the immune system. Beets can be eaten raw, boiled, steamed, or my favorite—oven-roasted.

Frequent self-exams

Every woman should check herself regularly for breast cancer. It only takes a few minutes, and it could save your life. A recommend practice is the  lymphatic breast massages every day. It may be ideal to do this first thing in the morning or right before bedtime, so you don’t forget. This is going to be our first line of defense against breast cancer and is something we all can learn and start doing daily.

Mindset

Have you ever heard how everything is just a mindset? Truer words have never been spoken! Your body reacts to your mind … and vice versa. If we stay positive and look forward to living our life every day, our general health and wellness will benefit immensely. Keeping a journal or dream log, practicing mindfulness, reading, gardening, and cooking are all acts of being proactive by relaxing and allowing us to live in the present moment.

Final thoughts

In conclusion I have a few final thoughts for improving our general health. We get to help prevent cancerous tumors from forming anywhere in our body by being proactive. There are elements of chance, genetics, and environmental factors (radiation, pesticides, toxins). But just being aware of how we think and take care of our body can greatly diminish our risk of breast cancer. We can practice getting enough exercise every day. Going on daily walks and avoiding alcohol and cigarettes are a few ways to proactively avoid our risk of breast cancer and improve our overall health.