Improve your health with these five steps: Journal

Regular consumption of fish has been linked to reduced risk of colorectal cancers. – shutterstock.com

LOS ANGELES, June 5 – To stay healthy and disease-free, scientists suggest a five-pronged strategy that includes everything from increasing your fish intake to undergoing hypnosis and getting your teeth cleaned for heart health.

The studies appear in the June issue of the American Journal of Medicine.

Fish: One of the easiest ways to lower the risk of colorectal cancer, the third leading cause of cancer deaths in the Western world, is to increase fish consumption, according to a study out of Xi’an, China. After reviewing 41 studies, researchers concluded that eating fresh fish on a regular basis reduces the risk of colorectal cancer by 12 per cent. The protective effects are more prominent, meanwhile, in rectal versus colon cancer, at 21 per cent.

Hypnosis for smokers: Quitting smoking is one of the most surefire ways to drastically cut people’s risk of cancer. And while a host of programmes exist to help smokers snuff out the habit, a study out of Montreal has found that those who underwent hypnotherapy were 4.55 times more likely to stop from smoking, while those who underwent acupuncture were 3.53 times more likely to abstain.

Healthy teeth, healthy heart: According to a study out of Taiwan, regular teeth cleaning can help decrease the risk for cardiovascular events. For the study, researchers examined 10,887 subjects who had undergone tooth scaling, or a deep cleaning, compared to 10,989 participants who had not. In the seven year follow-up, scientists found that those who had undergone a deep clean had a lower incidence of heart attacks, stroke and total cardiovascular events. It’s believed that poor dental hygiene adds to the inflammatory burden on individuals.

Doctor-supervised weight loss: Researchers out of North Carolina suggest asking your doctor for a weight loss plan rather than shelling out money at a private weight loss centre, as primary care clinics were found to be just as effective. After 12 weeks, participants lost an average of 11 per cent body weight.

An aspirin a day: A study out of Canada suggests that in addition to preventing cardiovascular disease, low-dose aspirin can also reduce other diseases like cancer. – AFP

Source the malaysianinsider