Women's Health in March: Breast Cancer Awareness

March is Women's History Month, and here at Living Health and Wellness and O2 Living we are focusing on women and women's health. October is typically Breast Cancer Awareness month, but we're going to extend this awareness into March.

We all know that October is Breast Cancer Awareness month because "pink is in." It's on ribbons, water bottles, t-shirts, our organic, cold-pressed Living Juice bottles; even the White House is illuminated in pink. It is an amazing and inspiring color, signifying the unity to help eradicate this dreadful disease. We know that one out of every eight women will develop breast cancer in their lifetime and chances are that either you or someone you know has been touched by the disease. The American Cancer Society estimates that approximately 252,710 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer each year and tragically 40,500 will lose their fight. No doubt, these numbers are sobering and worthy of our collective attention. 

The good news is that many women in the community are fighting back. There are many preventative measures you can take to help reduce your risk of breast cancer, such as adopting a healthy lifestyle that includes exercise, a balanced diet and maintaining a healthy weight. According to the American Institute for Cancer Research, a live food diet filled with plenty of vegetables, fruits and legumes can reduce the risk of certain cancers.

Fresh fruits and vegetables (like those found in Living Juice's organic, cold-pressed juices) contain vitamins and minerals that strengthen our immune system and are a good source of phytochemicals, compounds that may protect healthy cells from carcinogens. Researchers have also linked fiber to a reduced risk of cancer. Vegetables such as organic broccoli, corn or leafy greens like kale provide one to five grams of fiber per cup as do fruits such as figs, apples, blackberries, prunes and pears. Eating a wide variety of colorful fruits and vegetables, and supplementing your diet with organic, cold-pressed juices by O2 Living, will help ensure that you are getting the recommended daily servings. 

Keep in mind there is no single miracle food that will protect you against cancer. The foremost way to arm yourself against cancer is to adopt a healthy lifestyle. Be sure to exercise, get plenty of rest, reduce stress, and keep your immune system strong by eating healthy nutrient-rich live foods. At O2 Living, home of Living Health and Wellness, we are building a community for healthy living around these very same principles and are dedicated to a lifestyle, philosophy, and culture of health and wellness. This mission is exemplified in our hemp extract and hormone products, made with health in mind.