Cancer is the second leading cause of death, according to the American Cancer Society. However, did you know reducing your cancer risk could be as easy as preparing dinner? Read more to learn how proper nutrition can reduce your risk of cancer.

Research suggests that people who eat plant-based diets are healthier and less likely to experience cancer due to higher intake of antioxidants, which reduce free radicals in the body.

Need to start eating more healthfully? There's no better time than now to:

• Be a flexitarian. Forgo meat a couple times per week. Replace ground beef with beans when making spaghetti and marinara sauce, or make a veggie pizza at home instead of ordering your favorite meat lovers pizza.
• Add a little color to your diet. When preparing meals, aim for multiple colors, including green, red, yellow and blue fruits or vegetables. The more colors represented, the more vitamins and antioxidants you'll be getting.
• Say goodbye to processed foods. While processed and prepared foods may make a busy day easier, you could be filling up on unnecessary fat and sodium. Planning and preparing meals or snacks from fresh ingredients ahead of time will ensure you get the most out of meals without unhealthy additives. For example, cutting up fresh fruits and vegetables and putting them in plastic bags can make it easier to prepare snacks, a salad or veggie sautés.

This article was provided by www.MyHealthPublisher.com and can be found here.