A positive lifestyle improves overall health

The following article is the first in a series of columns by the Canadian Cancer Society that will be running in Windspeaker, providing information on healthy living and cancer prevention from an Aboriginal perspective.

Living a healthy lifestyle is an important way to improve your physical, mental and spiritual well-being. And it's one of the most important things you can do to reduce your risk of cancer, as well as many other chronic diseases.
Aboriginal people have seen a dramatic increase in cancer rates, as well as diabetes rates, in recent years. Diabetes and some cancers, particularly colorectal cancer, share several risk factors-obesity, physical inactivity and some aspects of diet. Smoking commercial tobacco is also an accepted risk factor for colorectal cancer.
"At least 50 per cent of cancers can be prevented through healthy living and policies, such as smoking bans, that protect the public," said Patti Payne, senior advisor of prevention at the Canadian Cancer Society, Ontario Division. "Incorporating traditional Aboriginal philosophies-bravery, love, humility, wisdom, truth and respect-helps to keep the body, mind and spirit in a healthy balance."
To get you started, here are a few ideas to think about:
1) If you smoke commercial tobacco, think about getting help to quit. Smoking causes about 30 per cent of all cancer deaths in Canada. Bravery is demonstrated when using tobacco as the sacred medicine to communicate to the Spirit World and to the Creator.
2) Increase the amount of vegetables and fruit you eat daily by snacking on an apple or banana, making a salad for lunch or adding a vegetable side dish to dinner. While fresh fruits and vegetables are the best choice, frozen, canned and dried vegetables and fruit are just as healthy. Honesty begins with us and is necessary in our diet to restore balance in our lives.
3) Get active by parking further from the door or going for a walk after dinner. Physical activity allows your body to practice this unconditional love as Creation intended.
4) Apply sunscreen year-round. Skin cancer is preventable and, in the winter, more than half of the sun's rays are reflected off the snow, increasing UV levels. Humility in the presence of Grandfather Sun is necessary to protect ourselves against the strength of the Sun.
5) If you haven't seen a doctor or dentist recently, see about making an appointment today. Truth to oneself is speaking to a health professional when there are changes in your normal state of health.
More information is available by calling the Canadian Cancer Society Cancer Information Service, at 1-888-939-3333, or online at www.cancer.ca.