25 Health Tips to Cut Your Cancer Risk

Don’t store food in plastic

Phthalates are chemicals that are used to make plastics flexible, and although the link to cancer has not been definitively established, certain phthalates are listed as ‘reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen,’ according to the National Institutes of Health. To be on the safe side, Harvard Medical School suggests not microwaving foods in plastic containers (that aren’t marked microwave-safe) and don’t let plastic wrap touch food when microwaving—instead, try covering your food with wax or parchment paper, or a paper towel.

Also, throw out old or scratched plastic containers, and consider replacing them with glass instead. ‘The push toward storage and containing food products in glass is a strategy that I recommend to patients,’ Dr. Francis says. (Phthalates are also used in cosmetics and personal care products, but the doctors we talked to said these are trace amounts that aren’t of concern.)