Green Means GO - 10 (Green) Tips To Lower Cancer Risk

Tips from Avoiding Cancer One Day At A Time: Practical Advice for Preventing Cancer.

The green movement - once a diminutive entity moved along by long-haired hippies in tie-dyed shirts - is now an international subject of discussion to those clad in Birkenstocks and Armani suits alike. In fear of what lies beyond our Anthropecene Era, a new language has emerged. We talk about the "price of carbon" and "dinosaur wine." Our shopping options include an ever expanding array of "eco-friendly" products. And, reading food labels has transcended to a new dimension altogether. Once reserved for the "granola crowd," and a descriptive term for a branch of chemistry,"organic" is IN.

There are those who debate global warming and the necessity of change. Heated dialogue about the significance of topics such as fuel and sustainable agriculture will perist. Regardless of whether our efforts - or lack therof are contributing to global warming and destroying our planet, the green movement has brought to the forefront many tips that may lower our risk of cancer. With one in two men and one-third of women expected to develop cancer in their lifetimes, it is time we listen!

Ten "Green Tips" To Lower Cancer Risk:

1. Leave the cars keys at home - when possible.

Not only do fossil fuels harm our environment, they can harm our health. Men who work in filling stations have an elevated risk of breast cancer. Women attendants were not studied. And, burning that fossil fuel lowers our need to get out and walk - something that lowers the risk of cancer.

2. Go organic - at least with some foods.

Many conventionally used pesticides have been shown to cause cancer in animals. Since these linger long after they do their dirty deed, there are environmental implications as well. Thanks to Rachel Carson, the Eagles are returning! But, shopping organic on a budget can leave holeless pockets empty. By purchasing the following foods organically grown, you can eliminate roughly 80 percent of the pesticides on your plate: meat, dairy, strawberries, apples, tomatoes, potatoes, leafy greens, coffee, peaches and nectarines, grapes, celery, and bell peppers.

3. Look for "eco-friendly" furnishings.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ranks indoor air 4th in environmental causes of cancer. Some sources, such as fossil fuel, are difficult to avoid. Other sources, such as chemicals in upholstery, pressed wood products, and carpeting, deserve scrutiny. For "eco-friendly" options, check out The Green Building Resource Guide.

4. Turn off the lights.

Not only does turning off the lights help our environment, it may lower our risk of developing cancer as well. Melatonin, a hormone manufactured by the brain in total darkness, appears to lower the risk of breast and prostate cancers.

5. Bring your lunch to work.

Rather than further burdening landfills choked with containers from lunch purchased on the run, bring your lunch to work in a reusable container. Making choices at home raises the likelihood of adding nutritious fruits and vegetables, and choosing non-processed lunch meats, choices that can reduce your likelihood of developing cancer.

6. Choose green (or at least non-bleached) paper products.

Chlorine treated paper products result in the production of dioxins (a carcinogen) in the atmosphere when burned. On an individual basis, this can be concerning as well. According to the EPA, using bleached coffee filters can result in a lifetime dioxin level that exceeds acceptable levels.

7. Choose green personal care products.

Cosmetics can contain petroleum products and plastics that use fossil fuels and accumulate in the environment. Do you want them on your skin? To make wise choices, visit the web site of The Campaign For Safe Cosmetics.

8. Skip the drycleaner.

Wash your clothes at home, or choose an establishment that uses "wet-cleaning" or liquid CO2 cleaning. Most conventional drycleaners use perchloroethylene (perc), a chemical that has been noted to accumulate in the environment. Perc also poses a significant cancer risk for those who work in the drycleaning business. Whether or not this poses a significant cancer threat to those who have their clothes cleaned, do we really want to put someone at risk of cancer - just to wash our clothes?

9. Avoid green wood.

Thus far we have written about the virtues of green. A green tint in wood suggests it is arsenic treated, and in fact "CCA" treated wood was used for roughly 90 percent of outdoor wooden play structures until it was banned in 2003. The environmental working group has suggested that as many as one in 500 children will develop cancer from their time playing on CCA treated wood structures during their lifetime. If you have one of these structures, seal it yearly, and practice good hand washing. Read the Environmental Working Group web site for more information.

10. Choose green greens!

Golf courses are known for their beautiful greens, but those who manage them have an elevated risk of non-Hodgkins lymphoma, brain, prostate, and lung cancers. Take care of those who preserve your passion. Request your golf course use organic products - especially weed products. If they don't comply, at least remove your shoes when you return home to keep them away from your family, even dogs that live in a household where chemical weed killers are used are twice as likely to die from cancer. How do you know if a product is "green?"

Check out the Environmental Working Groups Evaluation to see if a product is truly green at For information on how to lower your risk of cancer in a multitude of ways, visit our web site or read a comprehensive, yet practical and entertaining approach to cancer-proof you life in the book "Avoiding Cancer One Day At A Time."