With more than 150 people in this country diagnosed EVERY HOUR with some form of cancer, experts predict more than one half-million Americans will die from it by the end of the year. Instead of dwelling on these statistics, you could put your mind at ease by focusing on cancer prevention strategies. You can start by making some simple, yet critical nutritional and lifestyle changes:

• Modify your daily diet based on your specific metabolic type. This is the best way to start losing weight and learn more about the right kind of foods you should eat. What may be healthy for others is not necessarily healthy for you and vice-versa. Eating according to your type is the proven way to ascertain which foods work best for you. You can find out your nutritional type right now by taking the free online nutritional typing test. You can also learn more about eating properly and understanding your nutritional type through my book, Total Health Program.

• Avoid sugar, since it is the primary fuel for most cancers. Eating too much sugar and too many grains, which are converted to sugar in the body, will cause your blood sugar level to rise. If your blood sugar levels remain elevated, even mildly, over a period of time, your risk of diabetes will increase. If you end up with diabetes, your risk of cancer also increases.

• Have your vitamin D levels tested. With Vitamin D the evidence is very clear-cut: It works quite dramatically for many cancers and the sad fact is that most of us have levels that are far too low. That is why it is essential to understand that in order to know how much vitamin D you should be taking you should get your blood levels checked. One effective and natural way to obtain vitamin D is through fish oil or cod liver oil. By regularly consuming high-quality fish oil, you will receive all the essential benefits of this vitamin.

• Start an exercise program now! There is no shortage of literature documenting the major benefits exercise has in lowering the risk of cancer and improving one's condition once it is diagnosed. Exercising is always key to keeping your body, mind and soul healthy. I suggest reading Paul Chek's book, How to Eat, Move and Be Healthy!, which is a perfect complement to my nutritional plan. Chek's book challenges you to take control of your health and gives you the steps to designing your own individual nutrition and exercise program. You will find the many descriptive "how to" illustrations both easy to follow and implement into your exercise routine.

• Sleep in total darkness. This lowers your risk of cancer because exposure to light during the night can reduce melatonin levels. Melatonin is an antioxidant that helps to suppress harmful free radicals in the body and slow the production of estrogen, which can activate cancer. When your circadian rhythm is disrupted, your body may produce less melatonin and therefore may have less ability to fight cancer. If you need some help getting a good night's sleep, I suggest you review my "Guide to a Good Night's Sleep."

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