Eating the right foods, getting enough exercise, and avoiding smoking and drinking alcohol are generally considered the best tips for cancer prevention.
But other research shows there may be less conventional ways to stay healthy.
With a record number of Americans set to be diagnosed with cancer this year and the number of young people on the rise, DailyMail.com has revealed six unexpected habits that could keep you healthy for longer.
masturbation
A major review suggests that masturbation may reduce the risk of prostate cancer, the most common form of the disease in American men (file photo).
According to recent research, a little self-love can go a long way.
A review published earlier this month analyzed 11 studies on the effects of masturbation on the risk of prostate cancer, the most common form of the disease among American men.
Approximately 300,000 American men are diagnosed with this condition each year and 35,000 die.
One study included in the review was a 2017 study from Harvard Medical School. Men between the ages of 46 and 81 were asked how many times per month they had ejaculated when they were between the ages of 20 and 40 and in the most recent year.
The team found that men who climaxed 21 or more times a month had a 31 percent lower risk of prostate cancer than men who climaxed only four to seven times a month.
And another combined study found that men who ejaculated through intercourse or masturbation at least four times a month had the lowest risk of prostate cancer compared to those who ejaculated less frequently.
It’s not yet clear how ejaculation may reduce the risk of prostate cancer, but experts believe it may be due to increased blood flow to the prostate, a walnut-sized organ found only in men.
Located between the base of the penis and the anus, the prostate produces fluid that mixes with sperm to help it travel and survive.
The extra blood flow from masturbation can provide vital oxygen and nutrients that help remove waste products associated with cancer.
Additionally, ejaculation can help flush out harmful carcinogens that can build up in semen.
Add the avocado and tomatoes.
Combining avocado and tomatoes can help the body absorb the disease-fighting antioxidant lycopene.
Avocado toast has long been a scapegoat for millennials’ financial woes, but topping it with tomatoes may boost immunity and reduce cancer risk.
Tomatoes contain essential vitamins and minerals such as vitamin C, potassium, vitamin K and folate that help reduce harmful inflammation, help regulate blood pressure and improve cellular function.
Meanwhile, avocados are rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which have been shown to reduce cholesterol and inflammation, as well as increase focus and concentration.
On their own, each food contains compounds that may reduce the risk of several types of cancer, including colorectal and pancreatic cancer, but a combination of the two may help the body absorb the disease-fighting antioxidant lycopene.
Lycopene is the compound that gives tomatoes their bright red color and protects your body from damage caused by free radicals, unstable molecules that build up, damage cells and form cancer cells.
It is not yet clear whether it causes certain types of cancer more than others.
However, avocado’s rich fatty acids improve the bioavailability of lycopene, the amount of the compound the body can absorb and benefit from.
a review in Nutrition journal A combination of the two foods has been shown to reduce the risk of prostate cancer in animals, although more concrete research in humans is needed.
Drink your tea warm
Drinking very hot tea may increase the risk of esophageal cancer
Drinking a glass of green tea has many benefits, including destroying cancer cells with plant compounds called polyphenols.
a 2018 review The polyphenols found in green tea help protect against UVB radiation, which is a major risk factor for skin cancer.
However, drinking it hot can increase the risk of esophageal cancer, which kills 16,000 Americans each year and has a survival rate of only one in five.
A study 2018 Researchers in China found that more than 450,000 adults who said they drank “hot” tea, smoked tobacco and drank heavily had a fivefold increased risk of esophageal cancer, as the heat can increase damage to the lining of the esophagus. Smoking and drinking.
Besides, Iranian researchers Those who drank hot beverages at 140 degrees Fahrenheit (60 degrees Celsius) or higher and drank more than two large cups of hot beverages per day had a 90 percent higher risk of esophageal cancer than those who drank less tea at cooler temperatures.
However, the team said more research is needed to determine the exact reason why high temperatures are associated with an increased risk of esophageal cancer.
Switch to day shift
Working night shifts disrupts the body’s normal circadian rhythm, weakening the immune system (file photo).
Research has long linked night shifts to a range of health problems, from sleep disorders to diabetes and heart disease.
In addition, working at night can increase the risk of cancer.
A The study was published earlier this month. In the journal Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention, data from nearly 4 million women were analyzed to find associations between long night shifts and nearly a dozen forms of cancer.
The team found that women who worked night shifts had a 19 percent higher risk of cancer overall.
Looking at individual cancers, they were 41 percent more likely to develop skin cancer, 32 percent more likely to be diagnosed with breast cancer, and 18 percent more likely to be diagnosed with a gastrointestinal cancer such as stomach or colorectal cancer.
And for every five years of delayed delivery, the risk of breast cancer increases by 3.3 percent.
Experts hypothesize that shift work may disrupt circadian rhythms as it can weaken the immune system.
A study in the journal. cancerFor example, sleeping less than six hours a night increases the risk of colorectal cancer.
Reduce oral sex
Doctors warn that HPV, the most common STD in the world, is the main risk factor for throat cancer in men and women (file photo)
Although having more sex and masturbating may reduce the risk of prostate cancer, oral sex in particular has been linked to an increase in esophageal cancer.
Researchers believe this may be because oral sex increases the chances of contracting human papillomavirus (HPV), a group of sexually transmitted viruses and known risk factors for certain types of head and neck cancer.
In 2021, researchers Universidad Johns Hopkins interviewed more than 163 patients with HPV-associated oropharyngeal cancer, a form of the disease that affects the middle part of the throat, and 345 healthy people.
They all completed a detailed survey about sexual behavior and submitted blood samples to be tested for HPV antibodies.
The team found that people with HPV-related cancers began engaging in oral sex at an earlier age and with more partners than healthy patients.
Researchers also estimate that cancer patients are about 80 percent more likely to engage in oral sex with their partner.
The study only looked at how oral sex was a risk factor for cancer and had no findings related to penetrative sex.
Getting the HPV vaccine and limiting the number of sexual partners you have can help reduce this risk. The CDC recommends that people ages 11 or 12 get the two- or three-shot HPV vaccine series.
According to the National Cancer Institute, there will be about 71,000 cases of head and neck cancer in the United States this year, with 16,100 deaths.
Soaking in the sun
Adequate sunlight increases vitamin D, an essential mineral for reducing harmful inflammation
Exposure to sunlight and ultraviolet radiation is a major risk factor for developing skin cancer and melanoma.
However, sunbathing, an important source of vitamin D, may reduce the risk of other types of cancer, such as breast and colorectal cancer.
Investigation Clinical journal of the American Society of Nephrology Getting at least 1,000 units of vitamin D per day can reduce the risk of colorectal, breast and prostate cancer by 30 to 50 percent.
Vitamin D helps reduce harmful inflammation and regulates the growth of cells, including cancer cells.
In addition, a study 2019 People with higher levels of vitamin D have been shown to have a reduced risk of colorectal and bladder cancer.
However, the American Cancer Society still recommends wearing sunscreen and staying in the shade, especially on sunny days.
The recommended daily intake of vitamin D for adults is approximately 600 international units (IU).
For foods rich in vitamin D, people should consume salmon or eggs and can increase levels with supplements or over-the-counter vitamins.