The Think Pink, Live Green aphorism is based upon the initiative for early prevention; essentially the goal is risk reduction. Think Pink, Live Green is a movement to change the way we live life, because life style changes made today can lower a person’s risk tomorrow.
The Think Pink Live Green logo embodies the Yin-Yang symbol. The breast is the pink representing the inside environment of the body and how it is interconnected with the external environment represented by the green leaf.
The Think Pink Live Green Concept is based in science, grounded in medicine, and will be delivered in clear terms with easy-to-follow strategies. Think Pink, Live Green represents the results of a research project, two years in the making by Dr. Marisa Weiss and Dr. Joan Ruderman of Harvard Medical School. This is the first of its kind as an educational programs dedicated to the cause. With breast cancer being the most common cancer in women, and occurrence is expected to double further in the next few decades, breast cancer prevention is urgently needed globally. According to Dr Weiss “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure”. Dr. Weiss and her team claim that if women and girls better understand what increases their risk of breast cancer, they will better be able to decrease their risk by early prevention.
Everything that women and girls eat, drink, breathe in, the supplements and medicines they take, the lotions, soaps and sprays that absorb in the skin, the personal and household products they use, how they handle stress, sleep at night, make reproductive choices, treat themselves, and interact with others are all factors that affect how our outside environment affects the inside environment of our bodies. By putting the Think Pink, Live Green movement into action, we find ourselves educated with effective and practical information on how to enhance our overall lifestyles, breast health awareness, as well as simple tips on things like choosing the healthiest products to use, buying organic at the grocery store, and what cleaning and household products are safe to use.
Dr. Weiss and her research team have identified 31 things we can do to Think Pink, Live Green in our everyday lives:
1. Think Twice – Challenge the ways you’ve always done things.
2. Avoid Taking Extra Hormones
3. Get to a Healthy Weight and Stick to It
4. Get Regular Exercise
5. Limit Alcohol Use
6. Stop Smoking
7. Get Fresh Air
8. Avoid Unnecessary Radiation especially as a girl or young woman
9. Get Enough Vitamin D
10. Eat Your Fruits and Veggies
11. Select Foods and Beverages Carefully
12. Know Your Labels
13. Know Your Packaging
14. Vary Your Diet and Lifestyle
15. Avoid Empty Calories
16. Eat Small Meals
17. Cook Real Food
18. Choose Healthy Cooking Methods
19. Use Safe Cookware, Storage Containers,Serving Items
20. Drink Filtered Tap Water
21. Choose Safe Personal Care Products
22. Use “Green” Household Products
23. Manage Your Emotional Stress
24. Manage Your Physical Strain
25. Sleep Well
26. Consider Earlier Pregnancy
27. Know Your Personal and Family History
28. Take Extra Steps to Reduce High Risk
29. Vote at the Cash Register and the Polls
30. Start Now and Try Your Best
31. Believe In Yourself. Lead By Example
For further ideas and detailed information on how to Think Pink, Live Green check out the website Breastcancer.org. This website is just one of many websites, like Cancer.org, Komen.org, and Nationalbreastcancer.org, that dedicate to educate and inform us all how to prevent and deal with the effects of Breast Cancer.
“We know far from everything-but we know enough to have serious concerns about using various products and making different lifestyle choices identifying emerging environmental factors that can potentially contribute to the risk of breast cancer.” – Dr. Marisa Weiss