Lower Your CANCER Risks Live A Balanced Lifestyle

CANSA continues its 365 Health Challenge and encourages everyone to eat and drink smartly. Research strongly indicates that making smart choices regarding what is taken in and exercising regularly can have a positive effect, not only on a person’s well-being, but also reduces individual cancer risk.
  informed choices to enable leading a balanced lifestyle which helps lower your cancer risk. So green is go for it – aim to eat up to five to seven portions of non-starchy vegetables and fruits in season every day where possible; include wholegrains and minimally processed grains as a source of fibre (30 g daily) and get active and exercise. Orange is a warning to be aware of eating habits that could influence your risk of developing cancer. So avoid foods that are high in kilojoules, sugar and or fat, which eaten very often could cause weight gain. Cut down on processed and ‘fast foods’.  Finally, red is to beware of the increased cancer risk, so limiting red meat to less than three portions a week, eating less foods cured by using a lot of salt, and avoiding alcohol is advised

Dietary and physical activity factors have been shown to affect biological processes and cancers associated with diet are commonly found in the digestive tract (oesophagus, stomach, and bowel). A poor diet has been linked to increased cancer risk, and could lead to problems with weight management or obesity, which has been positively linked to an increased risk of 11 cancers. The National Cancer Registry (2014) shows a steady increase in the number of patients diagnosed with colorectal cancer, one of the top four diagnosed in South Africa excluding skin cancers.
“Drinks sweetened with sugar and alcoholic beverages are high in kilojoules and if too many are consumed may cause weight gain or obesity which increases cancer risk. In 2017 CANSA presented to the Parliamentary Health Portfolio Committee in support of the indirect taxation on sugar sweetened beverages and in 2018, we were pleased to see this health benefit come into effect,” adds Joubert.