There is no cure for cancer, but there are many ways we can reduce our risk of developing some types of the deadly class of diseases.Some of the most powerful ways to reduce your cancer risk include staying active, not smoking, and maintaining a healthy weight, especially around your waistline.Fortunately, many of the behaviors that help keep us trim, like eating plants, are also great cancer-fighters.Cancer is a dangerous and common class of diseases: it's the second-leading cause of death in the US, and you probably know at least a few people who have been diagnosed. More than 15.5 million Americansnearly one in 20have had cancer in the past or currently do, according to the American Cancer Society.Yet nearly half of US cancer cases and deaths are linked to preventable risk factors. Similarly, experts in the UK estimate that 4 in 10 cancer cases there are preventable with lifestyle changes.Cancer fundamentally messes with the way our bodies function, perversely changing the way cells grow and divide inside the body. All cases of cancer are the result of damage or changes in our DNA. Some cancers are geneticthere are certain genes that make it more likely people will develop cancers like breast and colonbut many aren't.So a healthy diet and way of life can go a long way towards reducing your risk. Here is a rundown of some of the simplest and most effective ways that science suggests you can lower your risk of cancer right now.SEE ALSO:32 of the most dangerous things science has strongly linked to cancerThe number one thing you can do to reduce your risk of developing cancer is straightforward and well known: stop smoking, or don't start.Smoking is the biggest cancer-causer around.There's no debate that it causes lung cancer, which is the deadliest cancer in the world. Lung cancer kills more people every year than breast, colon, and prostate cancers combined.In the UK, smoking causes7 of every 10 lung cancer cases. Worldwide, it's is associated with80% of lung cancer diagnoses.The cancer risks associated with smoking don't stop at your lungs. Smoking can also cause cancers of the mouth, nose, sinus, voice box, esophagus, liver, pancreas, stomach, kidney, ovary, bladder, colon, and cervix, as well as some forms of leukemia. There's also some evidence that women who start smoking heavily in their teenage years dramatically increase theirrisk of developing breast cancer.Less is known about the cancer risks associated with vaping, but early studies suggest it is not an ideal replacement for smokers.E-cigarettes haven't been around long enough for scientists to say much conclusively yet about whether they have any associations with cancer risk.But high-voltage e-cigarette vapors can contain formaldehyde gas, a known carcinogen, as well as cancer-causing benzene. Switching over from regular cigarettes to e-cigarettes can reduce a smoker's exposure to toxins and some potentially cancer-causing compounds, but studies in animals suggest that long-term e-cigarette use might still increase cancer risk. After curbing smoking, the second most important thing to do to prevent cancer is maintain a healthy weight.According to the World Cancer Research Fund, being overweight or obese increases your risk of developing 11 different kinds of cancer: colon, throat, pancreatic, liver, kidney, breast (post-menopause), stomach, womb, ovarian, advanced prostate, and gallbladder.One reason for this is that our fat cells release hormones like estrogen that can up your odds of developing certain cancers, like breast and womb cancer.See the rest of the story at Business Insider
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