Dietary Tips For Cancer Prevention

by: AndreaDow
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Word Count: 459

Thursday, December 13th

Unfortunately, nobody can say that they are unaffected by cancer. Whether you, a loved one, a neighbor or colleague has been affected by cancer, this next blog topic is a must read to help prevent cancer. An alarming 30-35% of all cancers are caused by diet (smoking is still the number one cause of cancer). Thanks to the American Institute for Cancer Research and the World Cancer Research Fund, we have information about the best foods to eat to beat cancer based on five years of reviewing over 7,000 different studies. Walter C. Willet was head of the expert panel that dissected this massive amount of research and here is what his team found according to the Nutrition Action Healthletter.

1. Being overweight does play a role in cancer prevention. Next to quitting smoking, it is the number one thing you can do to decrease your odds of getting cancer. Keep your weight under control and do your best to prevent even 5 pound weight gains. A few extra pounds is not going to cause cancer, but it does indicate that you are tipping the scales in the wrong direction!
2. Lose weight if you are overweight. Remember, even a 5-10% weight loss can be a huge help. In the Nurse's Health Study, women who lost 22 pounds since menopause and never used postmenopausal hormones had a 57% lower risk of breast cancer than those who did not lose any weight. The cancers related to obesity are colon, kidney, pancreatic, postmenopausal breast cancers, adenocarcinoma of the esophagus, and some lymphomas and leukemias.
3. Do not rely on dietary supplements to prevent cancer. Instead, try to meet your nutritional needs through diet alone.
4. Avoid sodas and other sugary drinks that promote weight gain. Also limit calorie-dense foods and eat fast food sparingly.
5. Be physically active everyday of your life! Aim for 30-60 minutes of activity equivalent to brisk walking.
6. Limit alcohol consumption to no more than two drinks a day for men and one drink a day for women.
7. Limit salt consumption to 2,400 mg of sodium per day.
8. Limit intake of red meats to less than 18 oz per week. Avoid processed meats because of the nitrate/nitrites content.
9. Eat foods mostly of plant origin. Aim for 5 servings a day of fruits and vegetables (excluding starchy vegetables like potatoes and sweet potatoes). Limit refined grains like white bread and white rice and chose unprocessed grains and or beans at each meal.
10. Try to breastfeed your infant exclusively for up to 6 months and continue breastfeeding as they start eating solid foods.

Pass this along to friends and family....every little bit helps to save lives!

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