Simply put, leukemia is what you call cancer of the blood. This happens when there are simply too many blood cells that are underdeveloped in the blood and bone marrow, the soft and spongy tissue situated in the middle of your long bones such as those in the arms and legs.
Leukemia can either be acute or chronic. In most cases, children with leukemia suffer from the acute form of the blood cancer. Chronic leukemia, on the other hand, develops more slowly. The following are some more facts about this condition involving the blood:
- It is said that, approximately, there is a person in the US that is diagnosed with leukemia every 4 minutes. This doesn’t really come as a surprise because leukemia is the 10th most frequently encountered type of cancer regardless of the race or ethnicity.
- There are actually 3 kinds of blood cancer. First, there’s leukemia which is cancer found not only in the blood but also bone marrow. Second, there’s lymphoma which is a kind of blood cancer that affects the lymphatic system. Third, there’s myleoma which is cancer of the plasma cells of the blood.
- Experts say that about 31% more males are suffering from leukemia than females. What’s more, they add that there are more males than females who are diagnosed with the blood condition and actually die from it. In the US, it is said that someone dies of leukemia every 10 minutes.
- Doctors are not really sure why some children suffer from leukemia. It’s true that there are numerous risk factors that may leave kids at high risk of developing the disease. However, in most cases, children diagnosed with leukemia do not have the various risk factors.
- The signs and symptoms of leukemia vary depending on the type. However, there are a few things commonly encountered by individuals suffering from the blood cancer. They include fatigue, frequent infections, anemia, loss of weight, bone pain, night sweats and fever.
Having a healthy diet is one of the best ways to ward off leukemia. The best diet to keep the blood condition out of your life is something that is regarded as good for the overall population. By supplying your body with the right balance of protein, carbohydrates, healthy fats, vitamins and minerals, it’s easier to maintain optimum health and prevent leukemia and many other diseases. These are the foods you should have:
- Fruits and vegetables – Packed with antioxidants, consuming them may help in considerably lowering your risk of suffering from leukemia. Many fruits and vegetables possess anti-inflammatory properties too. As you may have already heard or read somewhere, inflammation is linked by the experts to cancer.
- Whole grains – What’s so great about whole grains is they are packed with fiber that helps flush out toxins in the body which may trigger the formation of cancer cells. When shopping, always read labels to check that the food products you are about to place in your shopping cart contain whole grains.
- Protein-rich foods – It’s important to supply your body with good amounts of protein for strength. Opt for chicken and turkey without the skin to get plenty of proteins and less saturated fat. When going for beef and pork, always choose lean cuts to ward off excess pounds and heart problems.
- Oily fish – Mackerel, salmon, tuna, sardines, halibut, trout and herring are also excellent sources of protein. More importantly, all of them are packed with omega-3 fatty acids. These healthy fats not only help regulate the blood pressure, but also prevent various types of cancer.
- Foods with good bacteria – Sufficient amounts of good bacteria in the gut help strengthen the immune system as well as in the proper absorption of nutrients. Yogurt, kefir, sauerkraut, kimchi, miso are kombucha are all excellent sources of good bacteria.
