After cancer, I had a DNA test to predict future health risks

Only a few years ago, Julia Bradbury would have eaten a bowl of sugary cereal or a slice of toast and jam for breakfast. But now things are very different.

“I start my day with a huge plate of vegetables, everything from broccoli, cabbage, French beans, leeks, cauliflower, asparagus, mushrooms or whatever might be in season,” says the former Countryfile star. “I don’t know if I’m going to get much fibre the rest of the day, so I start with this just in case.”

Julia’s breakfast revolution is part of a total overhaul of all aspects of her health after she was diagnosed with cancer in her left breast in 2021 and underwent a mastectomy.

Today, still thankfully cancer-free, she is hugely aware of everything she eats, drinks and even puts on her skin.

“Having cancer made a huge change in my life and I would like to say it changed my life for the better,” reveals the 54-year-old married mum who has three children. I was fortunate in that although my diagnosis was slightly complicated, it was still at an early stage. I’ve taken that as a warning and in that way, yeah, it has been life changing.”

Julia has since undergone lots of tests to discover more about her own body. These included a DNA test – “but not the ones about finding long lost cousins or ancestors,” she jokes.

“This one tells you about your genetic wiring from a health perspective. I found I’m genetically predisposed not to handle toxins very well. And I might be predisposed to developing Type 2 diabetes, so I knew I had to make big changes.”

Julia, renowned as a keen walker on her many TV shows, put all areas of her life under the microscope.

“I cut out using perfume for instance because I didn’t want all these chemicals which perfumes often contain on my skin,” continues Julia. “Many perfumes contain phthalates, which are chemicals that make the scent last longer. But that’s something I’m trying to avoid. Phthalates are known as hormonal disrupters and because I had a hormonal form of cancer, I want exposure to that type of chemical to be as minimal as possible.”

She says she now shuns the familiar big perfume brands she once adored and instead sprays herself with more organic, less chemically-enhanced ones.

“I’ve since smelled a couple of my old favourites and having not used them for years, they actually make me feel sick,” she says.

“I now have to run through duty free with my hands over my nose because I just can’t bear the smell.” She is equally careful over what sun cream she uses. Julia is now fronting a new campaign by skincare brand Green People. It’s encouraging consmers to try its organic sun protection products, especially those who suffer heat rash – also known as ‘prickly heat’. It says some other ‘pore-clogging’ sun creams contain mineral oils and silicones which irritate the skin by not allowing sweat to escape, thus causing this uncomfortable rash. Research carried out for Green People found that 59% of Britons experience heat rash, with 64% of regular sufferers avoiding essential sun protection altogether as a result.

“I know people try to choose the right sunscreen, whether it’s because some might cause them a rash or they simply don’t understand the ingredients in it,” says Julia. “That can be two big reasons why people shy away from using sun cream. We don’t want people to have a reason not to use something that could protect them against skin cancer.”

Julia says one of her own 10-year-old twin daughters has sensitive skin, so she is very cautious when it comes to sun cream – but she adds she has a very well-drilled way of making sure her twins and 15-year-old son all stay safe in the sun, especially when on holiday. “They all line up like a caterpillar and they all rub sun cream on one another’s backs and I do the last one as we make sure they’re all lathered up before they go out,” says Julia who also ensures they stay out of the midday sun and wear hats. “I don’t sunbathe now and if I’m sitting in the sun, I wear something floaty and regularly top up my sun cream. When I was younger, I think I was a little more foolish about sun protection.”

Since her cancer diagnosis, Julia has also largely cut out alcohol again due to its toxic impact on the body.

“I’m reducing my risk of getting other cancers as best I can,” she says. “I was told by Professor Gareth Evans [a consultant clinical geneticist at the University of Manchester] that statistically speaking, if I had six units of alcohol a week, my recurrence of cancer would be about 28%, and so not one that I want to gamble with. I’m a positive person and I don’t want to live in fear, so I’ve empowered myself with knowledge. Instead I want to say ‘you know what, I’m doing everything I can possibly do to reduce my risk of recurrence’.

“It wasn’t even a thing for me not to drink. I would look across the table at my children and say, am I going to get extra time with my children because of this? There’s no competition.”

For Julia, alcohol wasn’t as hard to cut back as sugar which she has also reduced. “Sugar is the big thing and I’m now a bit of a bore when it comes to that,” she laughs. “I used to love donuts and adored dropping a bag of Maltesers or Minstrels into a big tub of popcorn to enjoy. But not now after what I’ve learnt.”

While researching her forthcoming book, Hack Yourself Healthy, she found more about how harmful sugar is to our body’s cells. She says now that if she eats something really sweet, she feels a massive “sugar rush”.

“When I was away last year filming, the crew had loads of rubbishy foods which I avoided,” she recalls. “Then I had just one Percy Pig and it was, ‘Wow!’ I hadn’t eaten anything like this for ages.”

Although Julia has cut out many things, she has also introduced many new ones including saunas, which she admits she’s now hooked on.

“There’s quite robust evidence that saunas are good for us,” she says. “Not only do they get rid of toxins but they promote a thing called heat shock proteins (HSPs). For the same reason that exercise is good for us, the extreme heat is kind of like putting your body through short term stress which you benefit hugely from later when your body is resting and repairing itself afterwards. Having a regular sauna makes me feel great. I definitely now have a sauna once a week but I would like to go two or three times. My dream is to have our own sauna at home.”

* Julia has teamed up with Green People, the environmentally friendly brand for sensitive skin for its ‘Free to Breathe’ campaign. Its broad spectrum UVA/UVB sun collection is alcohol-free and dermatologically tested. For 20% off Green People’s Sun Essentials Set, use JULIA20 when buying from its website greenpeople.co.uk until June 30