Obesity And Cancer

The report from the World Cancer Research Fund is the most comprehensive overview of the role that food, drink, obesity and inactivity play in causing cancer. It concludes that changes in our lifestyle play as big a role as stop smoking in reducing the risk for cancer.

What is most striking about this report is not the suggestion of links between lifestyle and certain cancers, but the overwhelming strength of the relationships. Excess body weight was shown to be one of the main predictors of several types of cancers such as endometrial, esophageal, pancreatic, bowel, post-menopausal breast, and kidney cancers.

Some reasons for this higher risk are known, but others are not. For example, obesity;

Raises blood cholesterol and triglyceride (tri-GLIS'er-id) levels. Lowers HDL "good" cholesterol. HDL cholesterol is linked with lower heart disease and stroke risk, so reducing it tends to raise the risk.

Raises blood pressure levels.

can induce diabetes. In some people, diabetes makes these other risk factors much worse. The danger of heart attack is especially high for these people.

even when there are no adverse effects on the known risk factors, obesity by itself increases risk of heart disease. It also harms more than just the heart and blood vessel system. It's a major cause of gallstones and can worsen degenerative joint disease.

Steps to Treat Cancer:

1.#Be as lean as possible without becoming underweight. Maintain a healthy weight through a balanced diet and regular physical activity to help keep your risk lower.

2.#Be physically active for at least 30 minutes every day. Keep in mind that any type of activity counts.

3.#Avoid sugary drinks. Limit consumption of energy-dense foods (particularly processed foods high in added sugar, low in fiber, or high in fat) Try to eat lower energy-dense foods such as vegetables, fruits and whole grains instead. Opt for water or unsweetened tea or coffee in place of sugary drinks.

4.#Eat more of a variety of vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and legumes.

5.#Limit consumption of red meats (such as beef, pork and lamb) and avoid processed meats. Aim to limit intake of red meat to less than 500g cooked weight (about 700-750g raw weight) a week. Try to avoid processed meats such as bacon, ham, salami, corned beef and some sausages.

6.#If consumed at all, limit alcoholic drinks to 2 for men and 1 for women a day. Any alcohol consumption can increase your risk of cancer, though there is some evidence to suggest that small amounts of alcohol can help protect against heart disease. Therefore, if you choose to drink, do so in moderation.

7.#Limit consumption of salty foods and food processed with salt (sodium). Try to use herbs and spices to flavour your food and remember that processed foods, including bread and breakfast cereals, can contain large amounts of salt.

8.#Don't use supplements to protect against cancer. Research shows that high-dose nutrient supplements can affect our risk of cancer, so it's best to opt for a balanced diet without supplements.