Smart ways to protect your pancreas

Seeing beloved Jeopardy! host Alex Trebek battle pancreatic cancer reminds us how important it is to keep this organ healthy. The pancreas creates enzymes that break down food and absorb nutrients, plus it releases hormones that steady blood sugar, control appetite and keep your stamina up. To give yours a little TLC…

Relax on the patio

Spending 20 minutes outdoors daily (sans sunscreen) reduces pancreatic cancer risk by as much as 40%, suggests research in Cancer Epidemiology. Explains study co-author Dave Whiteman, PH.D., UV light exposure prompts your skin to release vitamin D-3, a nutrient that encourages pancreatic cells to grow and divide normally. Tip: Taking 2,000 IU of vitamin D-3 daily can provide the same peace of mind. Check with a doctor before supplementing.

Sip a Bloody Mary

Tomatoes are rich in lycopene, a nutrient that halts the growth of precancerous cells in the pancreas. And cooking helps breaks down tomato cells, increasing lycopene absorption by up to 50%. No wonder research in The Journal of Nutrition suggests enjoying a cup of tomato juice, sauce or other cooked tomato products daily cuts pancreatic cancer risk by up to 42%.

Savor stew

Opting for slow-roasted stew or braised ribs over charred dishes lowers pancreatic cancer risk 38%, University of Minnesota scientists say. When meat is blackened, chemicals that boost cancer risk are formed. Adds Heather Ward, M.D., red meat doesn’t raise your risk, so you can get this protection just by cooking at lower temperatures.

Do this before bed

Those 2 minutes you spent brushing and flossing your teeth reduces the risk of pancreatic cancer by 35%, Harvard scientists say. Dental care sweeps away harmful mouth bacteria before they can spread through your bloodstream and damage your pancreas.