There are few words that inspire more fear and dread than: CANCER. 

I think it’s safe to say that most people wouldn’t cherish the thought of having to face cancer…and would want to do everything they could to avoid having their number come up in the cancer lottery. 

Problem is that many people are rolling out the red carpet for our number two killer and don’t even know it! 

Here are seven ways that you may be increasing your cancer risk and how you can turn the tables around on that dreaded disease: 

1) You’re a sugar-a-holic 

Eating a lot of sugar invites cancer to come knocking in several ways. 

First, sugar feeds harmful microbes and yeasts in the gut, which lowers your immune function.  Since your immune system protects you against cancer, a dip in its ability to do its job increases your risk of cancer and other diseases. 

Sugar has also been shown to feed cancer cells!  But that’s not all… 

In addition to feeding cancer cells, research published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation has shown that sugar actually CAUSES cancer!  The researchers noted that the presence of increased quantities of glucose and the increased glucose receptors on cell membrane surfaces can trigger cancer formation. 

Quitting sugar is tough, but it can be done.  Note that most of the sugar you consume does not come from your kitchen sugar bowl.  Instead, it’s in candies and pastries of all kinds, as well as sweetened drinks and even condiments like barbecue sauce and ketchup. 

First, limit desserts like cookies or cakes to a special occasion only.  Drink filtered water instead of soda, sports drinks, sweetened waters, or energy drinks.  

Stay away from lattes or fancy coffee drinks.  Brew your own coffee at home and add real cream (NEVER powdered creamer) if desired. (Hint: Get an old-fashioned stove-top percolator—they make the best coffee on the planet!)   

And read labels on food products to detect hidden sugar. 

2) You don’t exercise 

In addition to burning calories (which of course helps you to lose weight), strengthening your heart muscle and lowering your blood pressure, regular exercise also helps your body to eliminate toxins and that is important in the fight against cancer. 

You see, cancer thrives in a toxic, acidic environment.  So, if you are not exercising regularly and sweating out toxins, you instead are harboring toxins in your cells, tissues and organs and inviting cancer to come knocking (plus probably have some nasty BO as well). 

Don’t even let excuses come into your mind!  We’re talking about your life and protection against our top two killers here!   

Pick an activity you like (or will at least tolerate), get your doctor’s OK, and get going. 

3) You eat “stuff” 

Research has shown that children and teens get an astonishing 67 percent of their daily calories from highly processed foods! 

We adults aren’t much better.  We get a staggering 58 percent of our daily intake from these foods. 

By “highly processed” I mean garbage that is completely unlike anything you’d find in Nature and should not even be called “food.”  (I prefer to call it “stuff,” or another “S” word that has four letters…) 

Highly processed foods are characterized by multiple ingredients, chemicals you can’t pronounce, preservatives and additives.  They also typically contain insane amounts of unhealthy fats, refined carbs, salt and sugar. 

Examples include all types of fast food, breakfast cereals, packaged dinners and side dishes, crackers and snack chips, puddings, Jell-O, whipped topping, coffee creamers, margarine, soda, candy, ice cream, pastries, cookies, donuts, refrigerator biscuits, frozen pizza, TV dinners, juice drinks, sports drinks, granola bars, Pop tarts, shortening, jarred frosting, cake and cookie mixes, Cheez Whiz, low-fat, fat-free or sugar-free products, frozen desserts and sauce/gravy mixes. 

Not only do foods like these NOT nourish you, but they are a widespread source of sugar (which causes cancer), they make you toxic (and an ideal home for cancer to flourish) and all of their chemicals and preservatives upset your gut microbiome (which weakens your immune function and thus increases your risk of cancer).    

Your body was designed to eat wholesome REAL foods--fresh fruits and vegetables, dairy, eggs, healthy fats, and meats, poultry and wild-caught fish. That's what your body depends on for nourishment, sound digestion and elimination of wastes. 

So do the majority of your grocery shopping in the outer perimeter of the store—where the real foods are located.  Also, patronize local farmers, regional markets and Community Supported Agriculture programs.   

And when you do want the occasional highly processed food (such as chips or crackers for a party), strive to buy organic to help minimize the harmful ingredients. 

4) You’re stressed out 

Most people don’t realize this, but stress causes harmful changes to your gut microbiome, giving dangerous microbes the “upper hand” and weakening your immune system functioning. 

This can lead to repeated infections and viruses, as well as less protection against diseases like cancer! 

In addition, the stress hormone cortisol causes cravings for sugars and fats…and as I mentioned above, sugar feeds AND causes cancer.  

So, it’s crucial to help curb your stress because your life may literally depend on it! 

Here are some very effective stress relief measures to try: 

• Prayer 
• Meditation 
• Yoga 
• Massage 
• Adopting a pet 
• Counseling or therapy 
• Deep breathing 
• Acupuncture (this is my go-to!) 

And if it’s your job or a relationship that’s causing your stress, well, it may be time to make a change. 

5) You use artificial sweeteners 

In an effort to curb sugar consumption, many people turn to artificial sweeteners, but all you are doing is trading one poison for another. 

Studies have linked aspartame (aka NutraSweet® and Equal®) to cancer, brain damage and premature delivery in pregnant women, worsening insulin sensitivity, blurred vision, retinal damage and blindness, behavioral disturbances, nerve pain, muscle weakness and memory lapses, to name a few.   

Sucralose (Splenda®) has been shown in research to cause leukemia and other blood cancers, weight gain, digestive issues (including IBS, Crohn’s and leaky gut), and it can create carcinogenic compounds when heated (even though it’s recommended for baking!).   

And get this--according to a paper published in the journal Molecules, artificial sweeteners were shown to be downright murderous to your gut microbiome—where 80 percent of your immune system resides! 

If you want a low-cal sweetener, opt for stevia—it’s not a lab creation and has a well-established track record.   

Also, moderate amounts of organic raw honey, organic cane sugar or organic real maple syrup are far safer than deadly artificial sweeteners. 

6) You’re lacking sleep 

According to the National Center for Sleep Disorders Research at the National Institutes of Health, between 30-40 percent of adults say they occasionally suffer from insomnia, and about 10-15 percent report chronic insomnia.   

The effects of lacking sleep go way beyond yawning and needing toothpicks to keep your eyes open at work in the afternoon! 

Here is how just ONE poor night’s sleep can affect your body: 

• Your mood becomes depressed 
• Your ability to concentrate drops 
• Levels of essential nutrients like zinc and magnesium fall 
• Vitamin C gets used up at an alarming rate (and Vitamin C supports your immune system, which protects you against cancer!) 
• Your immune cells’ functioning goes way down—so you are more vulnerable to cancer and other illnesses 

But many people are seeing dramatic improvements in their sleep with ashwagandha! 

Long used as a staple of Indian Ayurvedic medicine for over 2,500 years, ashwagandha is an example of an adaptogenic herb, or adaptogen. 

Adaptogens are a unique class of healing plants that naturally help balance, restore and protect your body. As such, adaptogens like ashwagandha “tailor” their actions to your body's specific needs, helping it to respond to various stressors, and supporting its healthy functioning. 

And one area where ashwagandha is shining is in improving sleep! 

Studies have demonstrated ashwagandha’s ability to not only help you fall asleep and stay asleep longer, but also to improve your quality of sleep! 

With none of the dangerous side effects of sleep drugs!    

If you’d like to put ashwagandha to the test, look no farther than our very own Ashwa Blend Gummies. 

Ashwa Blend Gummies is a vegan, non-GMO supplement that combines the incredible power of ashwagandha with vitamin D and zinc—two of the best immune-enhancing nutrients in existence—to create an effective formula that supports optimal health, better sleep and prevention of disease. 

7) You’re lacking important nutrients 

Two of the most crucial nutrients in the fight against cancer are Vitamin D and Omega-3 fatty acids. 

Vitamin D plays an important role in your cell activity—helping to regulate cell multiplication and cell death. 

By definition cancer is out-of-control, excessive cell multiplication, along with a slowing down in cell death.  That’s how tumors form and take over surrounding tissues—they multiply like rabbits and don’t die off.   

But Vitamin D’s action to encourage proper cell activity shines through here--studies have found that Vitamin D acts to decrease the growth of cancer cells AND to stimulate the death of those deadly cells! 

To ensure you have proper levels of this cancer-fighting nutrient, supplementation with a top-notch formula like Optimum D-K Formula with FruiteX-B® is the way to go.  Optimum DK Formula provides an immune-supportive 5,000 IUs of Vitamin D3 in each 1-capsule dose, plus its partners Vitamins K1 and K2, and the mineral boron—all nutrients known for supporting immune and cardiovascular health. 

In addition, studies demonstrate that Omega-3 fish oil helps to prevent and eliminate various cancers, including colon, prostate and breast cancers.  

And VitalMega-3 is your ticket to getting a health-supporting daily dose of these crucial fats.  VitalMega-3 provides 1,200 mg of Omega-3s in every daily 2-capsule serving, including the all-important EPA and DHA in the 3:2 ratio recommended by experts.  

Now you are armed with the information you need to fight back against all the subtle ways that cancer can manifest and help keep that dreaded disease far away from you! 

To your health, 

Sherry Brescia