good lifestyle tips

i ran across an article the other day about lifestyle practices that can help to prevent cancer.  some of these are common sense, but they are in keeping with the theme of finding balance and achieving actual lifestyle change, so i thought i'd share.

an ounce of prevention...some do's and don'ts for helping to avoid and fight cancer (from david servan-schreiber's anticancer)

**your mental state:

• be positive
• resolve stress and past trauma
• accept yourself and your emotions, including the negative ones
• practice meditation, yoga, tai-chi or some other form of relaxation

**your diet:

• these vegetables have great cancer-fighting characteristics: beets, brussel sprouts, cabbage, garlic, kale, leeks, and scallions
• also good: onions, blueberries, raspberries, cherries, red wine, soy
• increase your intake of omega 3's, typically found in fish (herring, trout, sardines, mackerel, halibut) and flax seeds and oil
• avoid sugar, white flour, vegetable oils, white rice, and non-organic animal fat (meat, eggs, milk, cheese)
• filter your tap water

**your activity:

• spend 20-30 minutes a day on a physical activity that you enjoy (tennis, walking, swimming)
• be out in the sun for 20 minutes every day

**and:

• avoid being surrounded by people who smoke
• use cosmetic products without estrogens or placental by-products 
• use cleaning products without synthetic chemicals 
• don't prepare food in a scratched teflon pan
• reduce the influence of cell phones by using a headset consistently

although i was surprised to find no mention of strength training included under "your activity", these are still solid all-around suggestions for improving your health and achieving a balanced lifestyle.