The Influence of Modern Lifestyles on Cancer Incidence

There are notable differences in our lifestyle in the current age compared to previous generations. The positive side of our fast life is that we have become more independent and ambitious, leading to our achievements across all fields. The negative aspect is we have done detrimental things to ourselves by overriding our bodies' natural needs and mechanisms through the very same positive points which we considered were the reasons for the attributed success.

1. Physical work for instance. *We all know our ancestors used methods in cooking and grinding which in the current age women shudder to use. Like solid stone grinds that our ancestral women used to use. The long-forgotten two important household ‘devices’, the aattukkal and the ammikkal (Tamil) both for grinding (Handmade Stone Mill/Grinder or Mortar and Pestle).

• The children were carried in arms, not prams.

• Washing clothes by hands are replaced by washing machines.

• Washing dishes are replaced by dishwashers.

• Mopping floors by hands are replaced by mechanistic mopping sticks or machines.

• To reach work or study places commuting was by walk or cycle for long distances to and fro.

• Late marriages and fertility treatments have increased now.

• Fast foods were never used by our ancestors.

• Beauty products were natural in the past now it's is not.

Therefore the ancestors did not have this high rate of rising numbers in cancers across different sites. The fast life we live in doesn't allow us to go through the old pattern of life. But is comes as a surprise to us if we did realize why the women in the past generations were stronger with lesser rates of chronic diseases like diabetes, hypertension and even cancer. They lived longer with lesser cardiovascular morbidities and cancers. The question now arises as to whether we are investing in the latest equipment for the kitchen and home forgetting to exercise and thereby indirectly buying illnesses. During Exercise and increased activity, the muscles contract and push lymph through the lymph vessels; encouraging drainage of lymph fluid that moves through the lymphatic system and clears the toxins. This helps to reduce toxins accumulation in our lymphatic system. This is the long-term prevents breast cancer, colon cancer and endometrial cancer. Exercise can also help to reduce muscle/joint stiffness and sustains full range of movement and generally makes one feel better. It’s no secret that exercise is important for overall health and wellness. Exercise in general stimulates the flow of lymph fluid, giving a tremendous boost to the immune system and increasing T cells which fights against tumor cells and infections. It is imperative to gain insight into how intelligent movement helps us live well for longer. We need to take a look into the workings of one of the body’s major networks, the lymphatic system. The circulation of lymphatics is enhanced on regular movements and exercises preventing or reducing incidence of cancers overall and breast cancers in women especially.

2. Science behind potty style. Gone are the days when we squat and poop. Now technically from young to old all are trained in the western closets. If we should analyse the advantages of squatting in the toilets, we see that our posture aids complete defecation without residual faeces in the colon. This prevents constipation, exercises all the gluteal and abdominal muscles, and prevents colorectal cancers. But in the last 30 years Western closets have grossly replaced our markets, our building constructions are not complete without it. So the best method of compensation would be to use a potty stool to prevent the angulation of the rectum through the puborectalis muscle. It becomes mandatory to take this seriously due to the rising colorectal cancer cases.

3. Sweetened drinks and rice. Rising cases of obesity and /or diabetes, have we ever thought of the reason? It is again our lifestyle. Those days rice or wheat was eaten more because men and women did more physical work. Now we are sedentary in our work patterns or almost in all fields the physical work is reduced. So what happens to the excess carbohydrates that we eat they get stored in our bodies without being expended there by causing increased weight gain ensuing, which there is a spectrum of chronic diseases which develops when an individual continues the same inactive lifestyle.

Added to this already prevalent erroneous diet pattern and exercise pattern, what is the need for consumption of sweetened drinks, unhealthy pastries and unhealthy snacks? To make matters worse they would definitely add up to developments of chronic diseases and slowly even cancers. Snacking is not wrong if the right items get into our system.

The characteristic feature of Cancer cells is that it forgets to die unlike normal cells which dies after its lifetime. The cancer cells is avaricious in its glucose consumption. Hence it is logical to understand that diabetic patients (males or females) are more likely to have cancers and recurrences, due to metabolic disturbances and aberrations, if the sugars are not under control.

4. Foods to avoid

Smoked foods, Spicy food, Salty preserved foods, pickled foods are the reasons again for rising incidence of gastrointestinal cancers. The fast lives that we live in now it is crucial to be choosy on the right kinds of food that we take in. Starving or skipping meals especially breakfast is NOT the solution on a busy day, nor does fast foods or junk foods add to our health. Then what is the way to keep pace with the speed of our working pattern? Better to resort to quick healthy smoothies, salads, soups, porridges, fruits, yogurts etc. Which goes a long way along the quick runs and schedules that we have.

5. Fertility The ambitious we, opt to settle our careers not respecting our peek fertile periods. After we are done with higher studies we are busy continuing to be ambitious on the career postponing the first pregnancy after marriage, due to concepts of needing more understanding etc. Eventually the fertility drops thence comes the fertility treatments in obsessive compulsions of several cycles leading to increased incidence of ovarian cancers, breast cancers etc.

Therefore these lifestyle changes can help everyone

• Less calorie intake is better than eating more than required.

• The older pattern of cooking and grinding if not possible we could do equivalent exercises to increase lymphatic flow.

• Even if our kitchens are sophisticated with latest gadgets to simplify our work may we not forget to do exercises for arms especially ladies.

• Older potty pattern with Indian commode models should be encouraged.

• Even if there is Western closets, potty stools can be used. 5 minutes daily in squatting position helps muscle stretching in the buttocks, highs and lower limbs with improved blood and lymphatic circulation.

• Timely life decisions on marriage or child births should be encouraged without unnecessary postponement.

• Drinking adequate water or liquids.

• Physical activity should be encouraged whenever and whichever ways possible.

• Eating 5 servings of vegetables and fruits per day is essential. Non vegetarians must add adequate portions of vegetables to their nonveg diet. Home food must be encouraged. Smoked foods, Spicy food, Salty preserved foods, pickled foods must be avoided.

• Chronic diseases (diabetes, hypertension etc) should be treated on time and kept under control to avoid more dreaded diseases (cancer) and complications (cardiovascular morbidities).

• Stress could be relieved by being transparent and talking or discussing it out with people whom we may have misunderstanding. To keep up mental health is very important to avoid chronic diseases.

• Sleep adequately but sometimes when needed a minimal compromise on sleep in favor of exercise is good for the overall health, longevity and prevention of diseases in an individual.