Time to Test a Theory

As you can see, there appears to be a phantom connection between an unhealthy lifestyle and cancer. We have already discussed how obesity can affect the odds of developing breast cancer, now we’ll throw on our lab coats and explain a detailed experiment that further solidifies this mysterious connection between lifestyle and cancer. More specifically, Colorectal Cancer (CRC).

Recently, our friends from across the pond at the European Prospective Investigation Into Cancer (EPIC) conducted an experiment in an attempt to discover the exact correlation between an unhealthy lifestyle and CRC. This experiment was all-encompassing and lasted almost 8 years. There were approximately 300,000 participants ranging from 35-70 years old from all over Europe. The researchers created a measuring table which they called the Healthy Lifestyle Index (HLI). On the HLI they would score participants on things like smoking, alcohol consumption, body mass index (BMI), and physical activity.  The scores would be tracked by a 0-16 point system. For example, if you never smoked in your life you would acquire 4 points towards your HLI, but if you smoke almost 15 cigarettes a day you will accrue 0 points. The time between the beginning of the experiment and the follow-up questionnaire was almost 6 years. 

One of the big takeaways from this experiment was that there was a significant link between an individual's HLI scores and CRC amongst men. More specifically, a 1 unit increase in HLI score was associated with a 3% lower risk for CRC.

Improvements from an unhealthy lifestyle to a healthy lifestyle contributed to a 23% reduced risk in CRC, whereas the opposite showed a 34% higher risk of developing the disease. Additionally, negative changes to your  BMI from the beginning to the completion of the experiment also trended toward an increase in CRC risks. Here are just a few other notable results that came from this experiment alone:

• A decrease in alcohol consumption was notably associated with a reduction in CRC risks among participants 55 years or younger.
• An increase in physical activity was closely linked to a decrease in CRC risks, especially among younger participants. 
• Weirdly enough, a reduction in smoking was associated with an increase in CRC

This experiment is just further proof that having a healthy lifestyle can help lower one's risk of developing cancer.

The smoking result is a strange outlier; smoking in general is never a good option and should be avoided.

If all these numbers and abbreviations are confusing, just try to remember that if you live healthy and well, there is a better chance your odds of developing cancer won’t swell.

Here Comes The Sun

Sometimes all you need is a little sunshine. Or rather, a little bit of the sunshine vitamin, Calciferol. You probably know Calciferol by its nickname, Vitamin D. This sunny and essential vitamin has a litany of positive health benefits like strengthening bones, boosting moods, and bolstering your immune system. But what if we told you that you could also help reduce your risk of contracting Melanoma?

Recently a new study conducted by the North Save Skin Cancer Program uncovered this miraculous health benefit. The discovery was published in December's issue of Melanoma Research. The article itself went into detail about individuals who take Vitamin D supplements regularly may have a lower risk of developing this deadly form of skin cancer. Not only is this discovery remarkable, it is also relevant seeing as cases of Melanoma have increased 31% since 2012.

Despite being a treasure trove of usefulness, Vitamin D is scarcely found in the foods we eat. Some Vitamin D rich foods include fish, egg yolks, mushrooms, and some cereals. For that reason, we recommend that you don’t rely solely on your diet to receive the required amount of Vitamin D. While it's true your body can produce Vitamin D from sunlight exposure, it takes quite a lot of exposure during the peak hours of the daylight. While this helps your body develop Vitamin D it also puts you at greater risk of developing many forms of skin cancers.

As the study suggests, the best way to ensure you are meeting the proper daily requirement of Vitamin D is through supplements. So head on down to your local vitamin or supplement store and stock up. Ironically enough staying sunny helps protect you from the sun's more harmful rays.

To learn more about Vitamin D and its powers for Melanoma please check out this article.

Matthew Hill Foundation, Inc is excited to announce that we have been awarded the Gold Seal from Candid in 2023!

Candid (previously Guidestar) is a third-party non-profit organization that offers insight into other non-profits. MHF Inc has received this seal because of our organization’s transparency regarding our financials, leadership, goals, and impact on the people and organizations we serve. If you are interested in any of this information, feel free to check out our profile on Candid’s website here. Or ask us! We are always happy to have a conversation about what we’ve done, where our money is going, and what the future holds!