All cancer diagnoses are frightening, but one type of cancer diagnosis is
really striking fear in men and women alike.

The cancer diagnosis striking fear:
Lung Cancer!

But hold on, “I never smoked” you say, well according to researchers,
the number of folks developing lung cancer has doubled in the last
few years.

Why is this happening?
Exposure to second-hand smoke, pollution, exposure to chemicals and other
irritants, (think of air-fresheners, cheaply made candles, home cleaning products,
oven cleaners, etc).

And that’s not all- Many more women are being diagnosed than men.
Why? Women have smaller lungs.

And now the good news:
There are some simple things you can do to keep your lungs
hale and hearty well into your 70’s, 80′ and beyond, and those things
are…

a) Get Outdoors-
We’ve been told to avoid the Sun to lower our risk of skin cancer,
but just 15 to 20 mins. outdoors is all you need to lower your risk
of lung cancer.
Sun exposure helps your skin manufacture vitamin D, a nutrient
that’s essential for proper lung function and quick repair of damaged
tissues.
Not able to get outdoors? Ask your healthcare provider about taking
a vitamin D supplement. (2,000 to 10,000 IUs daily)

b) The Other Supplement-
Vitamin E. Taking mixed tocopherols–a family of vitamin E compounds
found in nature, lowers cancer risks by 35%. Tocopherols encourage
precancerous cells in the lungs to self-destruct.
Talk to your doctor before adding any supplement to your daily regimen.

c) The Green Food-
It’s broccoli, but any food from the cruciferous family (cauliflower,
bok choy, Brussels sprouts, or cabbage) Eating a few servings of
one or more of these veggies each week, lowers lung cancer risk by 40%.
Compounds in these veggies protect the lungs from damaging
toxins, plus encourage your white blood cells to destroy suspicious
growths fast.

d) A is For-
Apples. Another big win for one of America’s favorite fruit.
Eating apples and drinking high quality apple juice also
help keep your lungs in the pink. Apples contain
compounds that build up lung function, especially for
those who may have smoked.

e) Get More Lycopene-
Lycopene, the compound that gives foods like tomatoes
and pink grapefruits their vibrant colors. This plant pigment,
also shields lung tissues from cancer-causing pollutants.
Eating more foods that contain lycopene, lowers lung cancer risk
by 30%.
Get lycopene from watermelon, guavas, pink grapefruit and cooked
tomatoes, (sauces and salsas).

f) Be Like Willie Nelson-
Believe it or not, Mr. Nelson is in his mid 80’s and says part of the reason
he’s lived this long, are healthy lungs.
That’s right, Mr. Nelson says all of that singing has kept his lungs healthy
and healthy lungs do contribute to a longer and healthier life.
So, are you ready to take up singing to improve the quality of your lungs?
Go ahead, and sing in the shower, sing in the car or breathe in, hold
for a few secs. and then breathe out, do this as well as sing a few times a day.

g) Move-
This is supposed to be humorous, but if you live in a city that has a lot
of traffic, then you’re being exposed to a lot of pollutants, and those
pollutants are affecting your lungs.
You may not be able to up and move, so make sure you really follow
the aformentioned tips.

h) Barbecue Please-
Ah, An American staple, barbecuing and grilling.
And if you like your steak, ribs, chicken or salmon char broiled,
you must also like “dirty lungs!”
According to researchers, meats or even vegetables cooked at high temperatures
really expose your lungs to irritating carcinogens and raise your risk of
developing lung cancer by 55%.
And to lower your risk, turn down the temperature of that smoker or grill
and marinate your meat and vegetables.
Soaking meat and veggies in a marinade for 30 minutes (or overnight)
reduces your exposure to harmful carcinogens, thus lowering your
odds of contracting lung cancer.
Not sure what type of marinade to use?
If you’re a beer lover, look for a beer marinade online, or if you prefer a root
beer, look for a recipe online. And lastly, make sure to include some spices
and herbs in your marinade, (ginger, turmeric, garlic powder, rosemary, cloves,
etc) as they too, also protect your lungs from damaging carcinogens.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Sources:
* National Lung Association
* Wan Chen, M.D.
* Journal of Thoracic Disease
* National Cancer Institute


That’s it, and if you want some great recipes to help you avoid illnesses
and diseases, and live a little longer, check out our 2nd site, and download
a recipe or two. Just download the recipes and use them as place mats
or wall-art or bring them to the grocery store with you.
The site- Go to Etsy.com and once there, type grocerymatsrxs in the search bar.
Thank-You!