Reducing Your Risk Of Cancer Overview Although genetics is a factor in the development of cancers, this group of diseases cannot be explained by heredity alone. Scientific evidence indicates that behavioral factors such as cigarette smoking, dietary choices, and physical activity modify the risk of cancer at all stages of its development. In fact, of the 500,000 cancer deaths that occur in the United States each year, about one-third are due to dietary factors and another third are due to cigarette smoking. In 1996, the American Cancer Society Advisory Committee on Diet, Nutrition, and Cancer Prevention concluded that dietary practices and physical activity--along with smoking cessation, avoidance of occupational carcinogens, and early detection--are important factors in the prevention of cancer and cancer death. In 1998, the Advisory Group on Diet, Physical Activity, and Cancer agreed with these findings. According to the American Cancer Society, for the large majority of Americans who do not smoke cigarettes, dietary choices and physical activity become the most important modifiable determinants of cancer risk.
American Cancer Society Guidelines on Diet, Nutrition, and Cancer Prevention Choose most of the foods you eat from plant sources. - Eat five or more servings of fruits and vegetables each day.
- Eat other foods from plant sources, such as breads, cereals, grain products, rice, pasta, or beans several times each day.
Limit your intake of high-fat foods, particularly from animal sources. - Choose foods low in fat.
- Limit consumption of meats, especially high-fat meats.
Be physically active: achieve and maintain a healthy weight. - Be at least moderately active for 30 minutes or more on most days of the week.
- Stay within your healthy weight range.
Limit consumption of alcoholic beverages, if you drink at all. |
Please note: the introduction of a healthful diet and exercise practices at any time from childhood to old age can promote health and reduce cancer risk. |
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