How Can Your Diet And Technology Help Prevent Skin Cancer?
The MetaOptima Team | Aug 28, 2017 | Health Tips Apps
There are many things we can all do to prevent skin cancer, and we’ve all heard them before: don’t stay in the sun for too long, wear sunscreen, a hat, sunglasses, etc. But what about small and affordable changes to your daily routine? Things like improving your diet, staying active, and using advanced apps on your phone could change your life. We’ll go into more detail about each of these!
Diet
There are many studies dedicated to explaining the benefits of different types of foods, and how they can be used to keep you and your skin happy and healthy. Believe it or not, there are actually a lot of different foods out there that research suggests could help prevent different types of skin cancer! The key? Antioxidants, antioxidants, antioxidants!
Lycopene (tomatoes)
This discovery is very new, and has caught researchers’ attention. A study 1 found that a tomato-based diet in mice reduced their skin cancer development by 50%! Experts think that this may be due to the carotenoids within tomatoes (which give them their red color) protecting against damage caused by UV rays. The study also suggests that eating tomatoes could reduce your risk of sunburn 2! (That doesn’t mean that it should replace your sunscreen though)
Selenium
Studies have shown that selenium may reduce your risk of developing melanoma as well as increase your likelihood of surviving the disease. Selenium 3 is most commonly found in Brazil nuts, lobster, barley, whole wheat and nuts.
Retinol
One study found that eating foods high in retinol can reduce your risk of developing melanoma by up to 20% 4! Foods rich in retinol include fish, milk, eggs, and dark green vegetables. Retinol is also excellent for promoting a healthy immune system. With lots of options to choose from, this is an easy way to implement good habits into your daily eating habits.
Technology
Having access to your smartphone provides you with nearly unlimited resources that you can use to lead an enjoyable and fruitful life (no pun intended)! For example, there are apps dedicated to helping you make healthy choices while also offering insight into foods that help fight different types of cancer! This takes all of the guesswork out of figuring out what to eat, provides you with great tips, and teaches you how to keep your skin healthy in the process. What a combo!
Other apps like MoleScope 5 offer a an all-in-one solution with information on the signs and symptoms of skin cancer as well as how to perform self-skin checks. Additionally, MoleScope allows you to send images of suspicious moles to a doctor for consultation! Instead of waiting months to see a dermatologist, you have the power to check your moles when YOU want to. If you ever find something suspicious, you can send it for consultation and receive feedback in days. Talk about efficiency!
Overall Health
Another thing you can do in your daily life to prevent skin cancer is to be active! For example, research shows that overweight men carry a 31% increased risk of developing melanoma! Additionally, a preliminary study in mice showed that reducing your calorie intake could help slow melanoma from progressing. Exercising is a fantastic way to stay healthy. When paired with eating right, it makes for a happier, healthier you!
Conclusion
Having any single one of these apps or habits in your arsenal will greatly improve your health while reducing your risk for developing skin cancer. But what about integrating it into your everyday life? What about adopting a few habits over time? That can add up to a big difference very quickly!
Now that you know easy, affordable, and helpful ways that you can stay on top of your health, you’re also empowered with the tools to prevent skin cancer. It just goes to show that even the smallest of changes can make a lifetime of difference!
-The MetaOptima team
All of these tips are important, but what about the bases? Click below to download a free checklist of things you should (or shouldn't) be doing to keep your skin happy and healthy.
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