The 6 Weird Habits That Could Prevent Cancer — From the Temperature of Your Tea to Bedroom Problems
Eating healthy, exercising enough and not smoking or drinking alcohol are generally the best advice for preventing cancer.
However, other research suggests there may be less conventional methods to stay healthy.
With a record number of Americans set to be diagnosed with cancer this year and cases rising among young people, DailyMail.com has revealed six unexpected habits that could keep you healthy longer.
Masturbating
A large study has found that masturbating may reduce the risk of prostate cancer, the most common form of the disease in American men (stock photo)
Recent research shows that a little self-love can go a long way.
A review published earlier this month reviewed 11 studies examining the effect of masturbation on the risk of prostate cancer, the most common form of the disease in American men.
Nearly 300,000 American men are diagnosed with it each year and 35,000 die from it.
One study included in the review was a 2017 study from Harvard Medical School. Men ages 46 to 81 were asked how many times a month they ejaculated in their 20s, 40s, and in the most recent year.
The team found that men who ejaculated 21 or more times per month were 31 percent less likely to develop prostate cancer than men who ejaculated only four to seven times per month.
Another study found that men who ejaculated at least four times a month through sex or masturbation had the lowest risk of prostate cancer compared to men who did so less often.
It’s still unclear exactly how ejaculating reduces the risk of prostate cancer, but experts think it’s because of the increased blood flow to the prostate, a walnut-sized organ found only in men.
The prostate is located between the base of the penis and the rectum and produces fluid that mixes with sperm so it can travel and survive.
The extra blood flow created by masturbation can provide the oxygen and nutrients needed to remove cancer-causing waste products.
In addition, ejaculation can help flush out harmful carcinogens that can build up in semen.
Combine avocados and tomatoes
Combining avocados and tomatoes helps the body better absorb the disease-fighting antioxidant lycopene
Avocado toast has long been a scapegoat for millennials’ financial woes, but topping it with tomatoes can boost your immune system and reduce your risk of cancer.
Tomatoes contain essential vitamins and minerals such as vitamin C, potassium, vitamin K and folate. These help reduce harmful inflammation, regulate blood pressure and support cell function.
Avocados are rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which have been shown to lower cholesterol levels, reduce inflammation, and improve concentration and focus.
On their own, each food contains compounds that may reduce the risk of several cancers, including colorectal and pancreatic cancer. But combining the two can help the body better absorb the disease-fighting antioxidant lycopene.
Lycopene is a substance that gives tomatoes their bright red color and protects your body from damage caused by free radicals. Free radicals are unstable molecules that build up, damage cells, and cause cancer cells.
It is still unclear whether this leads to certain forms of cancer or not.
However, the rich fatty acids in avocados improve the bioavailability of lycopene—the amount of the substance the body can absorb and benefit from.
A review in The magazine for nutrition Research has shown that combining the two foods reduces the risk of prostate cancer in animals, but more concrete research in humans is needed.
Drink your tea lukewarm
Drinking scalding hot tea may increase the risk of esophageal cancer
Drinking a glass of green tea has a number of benefits, including killing cancer cells with the help of plant compounds called polyphenols.
A 2018 review found that polyphenols in green tea help prevent UVB radiation, a major risk factor for skin cancer.
However, if you drink it piping hot, it can increase your risk of esophageal cancer, which kills 16,000 Americans each year, and has a one in five survival rate.
A Study from 2018 Researchers in China conducted a study of over 450,000 adults. Those who said they drank “scalding hot” tea, smoked tobacco and drank excessively were five times more likely to develop esophageal cancer. Temperature can increase the damage to the esophageal lining caused by smoking and drinking.
Additionally, researchers in Iran A study found that people who drank beverages at or above 60 degrees Celsius and drank more than two large cups of such hot beverages per day had a 90 percent higher risk of esophageal cancer compared to people who drank less tea at lower temperatures.
However, the team said more research is needed to determine the exact reason why the high temperatures are linked to an increased risk of esophageal cancer.
Switching to the day shift
Working night shifts disrupts the body’s natural circadian rhythm, which weakens the immune system (stock photo)
Researchers have long linked night shift work to a range of health problems, from sleep disorders to diabetes and heart disease.
In addition, night work can increase the risk of cancer.
A study published earlier this month In the journal Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention analyzed data from nearly 4 million women to find the link between prolonged night shifts and nearly a dozen types of cancer.
The team found that women who work nights have a 19 percent higher risk of cancer.
When we look at the individual cancers, they are 41 percent more likely to develop skin cancer, 32 percent more likely to be diagnosed with breast cancer, and 18 percent more likely to develop gastrointestinal or colon cancer.
And with every five years of late shift work, the risk of breast cancer increased by 3.3 percent.
Experts believe that circadian rhythm disruptions caused by shift work may be the cause, as this can weaken the immune system.
One study in the journal CancerFor example, less than six hours of sleep per night was associated with a greater risk of colorectal cancer.
Reduce oral sex
Doctors warn that HPV, the world’s most common sexually transmitted infection, is the leading risk factor for throat cancer in men and women (stock photo)
While more sex and masturbation may reduce the risk of prostate cancer, oral sex in particular has been linked to an increase in esophageal cancer.
According to researchers, this is because oral sex increases your chances of contracting the human papillomavirus (HPV). HPV is a group of sexually transmitted viruses and known risk factors for certain types of head and neck cancer.
In 2021, researchers from Johns Hopkins University interviewed more than 163 patients with HPV-related oropharyngeal cancer, a form of the disease that affects the middle part of the throat, and 345 healthy people.
They all completed a detailed questionnaire about sexual behavior and provided blood samples for testing for HPV antibodies.
The team found that people with HPV-related cancer started having oral sex at a younger age and with more partners than healthy patients.
Researchers also estimated that cancer patients were about 80 percent more likely to have ever had oral sex with a partner than cancer patients without cancer.
The study focused only on the extent to which oral sex is a risk factor for cancer. No findings were made about penetrative sex.
Getting the HPV vaccine and limiting the number of sexual partners can help reduce this risk. The CDC recommends that people get the two- or three-shot HPV vaccine series around age 11 or 12.
According to the National Cancer Institute, there will be approximately 71,000 cases of head and neck cancer and 16,100 deaths in the U.S. this year.
Enjoy the sun
Adequate sunlight increases vitamin D, an essential mineral for alleviating harmful inflammation
Exposure to sunlight and ultraviolet radiation is the most important risk factor for developing skin cancer and melanoma.
However, sunbathing, the main source of vitamin D, may reduce the risk of other cancers, such as breast and colon cancer.
Research in the Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology found that 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 found that people with higher vitamin D levels had a lower risk of colon and bladder cancer.
However, the American Cancer Society still recommends wearing sunscreen and staying in the shade on especially sunny days.
The recommended daily intake of vitamin D is approximately 600 international units (IU) per day for adults.
For vitamin D rich foods, salmon or eggs are your best bet. You can increase your vitamin D intake with over-the-counter supplements or vitamins.
