Healthy daily habits make a difference. A balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables, legumes, and whole grains, combined with regular physical activity, maintaining a healthy weight, limiting alcohol, and reducing highly processed foods, is linked to a lower risk of several cancers and supports long-term wellness.
Research underscores that reducing cancer risk through lifestyle habits extends beyond diet and exercise. Maintaining a healthy body weight throughout adulthood, achieved by balancing caloric intake with physical activity, is strongly linked with lower incidence for several cancers, including endometrial, kidney, and esophageal cancers. Regular physical activity, even at moderate levels such as brisk walking, gardening, or cycling, has been associated with significantly lower risk for a broad range of malignancies, including colon, breast, and bladder cancers. Moreover, minimizing sedentary behavior, such as prolonged sitting, contributes to risk reduction, with even modest increases in daily activity helping to lower cancer mortality. Together, these habits not only support cancer prevention but also reduce the likelihood of other chronic diseases like heart disease and diabetes, reinforcing the value of healthy lifestyle patterns for long-term well-being.
Source: Diet, Physical Activity, and Healthy Living — American Cancer Society