Can I Reduce My Risk Of Cancer?
According to the Cancer Council you can lower your risk of cancer by enjoying a healthy diet, being physically active every day and maintaining a healthy body weight. Studies show being overweight, physically inactive and not eating well cause nearly one third of all cancers.
Healthy eating is a first step in reducing your cancer risk. Poor eating habits increase your risk of cancer at many sites in the body. Poor eating habits can also contribute to weight gain, and being overweight or obese increases your risk of cancer. The good news is that a healthy diet, combined with regular physical activity and a healthy body weight can reduce cancer risk.
While there is no one food that can protect against cancer, there are steps you can take to lower your overall risk. A healthy diet may protect against cancers including cancer of the bowel, liver, oesophagus (food pipe), lung and stomach.
Are you really getting enough?
Eat at least two serves of fruit and five serves of vegetables each day.
Tips to eat more fruit and vegetables
- Double your serving of vegetables
- Try a new fruit each week
- Use frozen veggies for convenience
- Include vegies with your lunch
- Add extra veggies to all your recipies
- Have fruit instead of sweets
Eat for health
- Eat a variety of raw and cooked vegetables, fruit and legumes (ie. dried beans, lentils).
- Eat plenty of cereals (including breads, rice, pasta and noodles), preferably wholegrain.
- Eat red meat no more than three to four times a week. On the other days choose fish, poultry, dried or canned beans or lentils.
- Choose foods low in salt.
- Don’t eat too much fat, especially saturated fat. Be aware of hidden fats in snack foods, cakes and takeaway foods.
- Choose low fat yoghurt, cheese and milk.
