Unknown.
READ MORE ABOUT:
A new study by the World Cancer Research Fund suggests that the key steps to reducing cancer include not gaining weight as an adult, avoiding sugary drinks and alcohol, and not eating bacon or ham. They looked at 7,000 other studies over five years to find that body fat was much more significant than previously thought.
"If people are interested in reducing their cancer risk, then following the recommendations is the way to do it," said Professor Martin Wiseman. "Cancer is not a fate, it is a matter of risk, and you can adjust those risks by how you behave. It is very important that people feel that they are in control of what they do."
In particular, researchers say people should stop eating processed meats, such as ham, bacon and salami, and limit the consumption of red meat to 500 grams a week-although this still means you could eat, for instance, five hamburgers each week.
Moderation is key; Cancer specialist Professor Karol Sikora said: "The main message I would have is not to worry about it, to enjoy life, if you like a glass of wine have it, and a small amount of meat is not going to harm you." ::BBC; download the report (PDF) here
Difficulty level: ModerateThe Globe and Mail notes that among the cancers convincingly linked to excess body fat, particularly if it is carried around the waist, are colon, kidney, pancreas, uterine, adenocarcinoma of the esophagus, and postmenopausal breast cancer. It summarizes the ten reccommendations:
1. Be as lean as possible within the normal range of body weight.
2. Be physically active as part of everyday life.
3. Limit consumption of energy-dense foods high in fat and sugar but low in fibre. Avoid sugary drinks.
4. Eat mostly foods of plant origin.
5. Limit intake of red meat and avoid processed meat.
6. Limit alcoholic drinks.
7. Limit consumption of salt.
8. Aim to meet nutritional needs through diet alone.
9. Mothers to breastfeed; children to be breastfed.
10. Cancer survivors to follow the recommendations for cancer prevention. ::Globe and Mail
-
- {}
