I think there's not a whole lot of difference between practicing healthy habits for general wellness and practicing healthy habits for the prevention of breast cancer. Just check out the points made in this article about warding off the nasty disease that this year will strike about 178,000 American women.

The suggestions seem pretty familiar, don't they? That's because they're generally good for the body. And so it's simple, really. Just live a clean life, shoot for good health, and you'll have a fairly good shot at warding off all sorts of unwanted illness, like breast cancer.

In a nutshell, here's what tops this article's list of healthy habits:

• Maintain a healthy weight. A 2005 study showed women who gained weight after a breast cancer diagnosis had an increased risk of recurrence. Other studies show overweight women have a greater chance of a first-time breast cancer diagnosis. And countless studies indicate excess weight is bad for the heart, cholesterol, bones, joints, and more. Body Mass Index (BMI), although not a perfect measure, can help you chart your healthy weight.

• Eat a low-fat diet. It too can reduce the risk of recurrence and first-time diagnoses. Keeping fat to 20 percent of daily calories is a good bet, according to diet experts. Keeping fat at a minimum is not important just for breast cancer purposes, though. It's good for all of us, all the time.

• Fruits and veggies do the body good. And I mean all bodies. So try to eat more than five cups a day of these essential health ingredients.

• Consume foods high in omega-3 fatty acids. The highest concentrations are found in fish, such as sardines, salmon, herring, tuna, cod, mackerel, halibut, and shark. Lower concentrations are found in flaxseed, walnuts, Great Northern beans, kidney beans, navy beans, and soybeans. Some dietitians recommend eating a diet rich in fish with high levels of omega-3 fatty acids or eating one or two teaspoons of flaxseed every day. Be sure to research the mercury levels of various fish before consuming. Mercury is indeed a health risk.
  

• Avoid trans fats, red meats, and charred or smoked foods.

• Don't worry -- supplements are not linked to breast cancer. And if your diet is lacking in say, calcium, folate, and vitamin D, supplements might be a key ingredient for a healthier you.