Can “maxxing” help prevent cancer?
Healthmaxxing trends are everywhere, but is there any evidence behind them? We get to the facts behind the buzz and highlight the healthy trends that can really make a difference. The post Can “maxxing” help prevent cancer? appeared first on Cancer Research UK - Cancer News .
Maxxing, a new and committed form of self-improvement, has gained significant attention online. Initially popular within gaming communities, it has now spread to various aspects of life, such as looksmaxxing, booksmaxxing, and healthmaxxing. Healthmaxxing, specifically, raises several questions regarding its potential impact on preventing cancer.
Fibremaxxing, a healthmaxxing trend focused on consuming high amounts of dietary fibre, has emerged as one of the more promising choices. With the majority of adults needing to increase their daily fibre intake, aiming for at least 30g per day is more reasonable than the extreme 100g advocated by some influencers. A fibre-rich diet supports regular bowel movements, promotes gut health, and may lower the risk of bowel cancer.
Consuming fibre through whole grains, fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, and pulses is preferable to relying on supplements.
Sleepmaxxing, another healthmaxxing trend, involves optimizing sleep through various habits, products, and bedtime rituals. While it may encourage healthy habits like maintaining consistent sleep schedules and avoiding screens before bed, there can be downsides. Unproven sleep hacks, such as mouth taping, can be dangerous for those with sleep apnoea, and excessive focus on sleep can lead to anxiety that interferes with rest.
Current research on sleep and cancer risk is inconclusive, and more studies are needed to determine any associations.
Proteimaxxing, which revolves around consuming large amounts of protein, is also a healthmaxxing trend. While protein is an essential component of a balanced diet, excessive protein intake can displace other vital nutrients and lead to potential health risks. It's essential to choose lean protein sources, such as fish, pulses, and chicken, over processed and red meats, which are linked to an increased cancer risk.
Strengthmaxxing, a subset of proteimaxxing, focuses on maximizing strength through weightlifting and resistance training. Research supports that improved strength is associated with reduced mortality, better mobility, and lower cancer risk due to its role in maintaining muscle mass and bone health.
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