Nutrition and Fitness
Although preventing cancer is not as simple as eating certain foods or doing particular exercises, we do know that:
- Being overweight puts you at greater risk of developing cancer. You can reduce your risk of cancer by staying at a healthy body weight.
- You can maintain a healthy body weight by eating well. This includes eating lots of vegetables, fruit and fibre, and only small amounts of fat and sugar.
- Regular exercise provides protection against cancer. It’s also a great way to maintain a healthy weight.
- Eating lots of red meat and processed meat increases your risk of developing cancer.
Eating well is a matter of balance, variety and moderation. Although counting calories isn’t the answer, it is important not to eat more than your body needs. You can begin by eating a variety of foods each day to get the nutrients you need for good health. Healthy eating can be easy, inexpensive and quick. It’s a habit, and every day it gets a little easier. The important thing is to start now.
Regular physical activity can help prevent cancer and offers many other health benefits. Don’t let the idea of “exercise” put you off. Working out in a gym or playing a sport is great, but physical activity is so much more than this.
Starting small is okay – every little bit helps. Think of ways you can add more movement to your day and gradually add more activity over time. Here are a few tips to get you started:
- Take the stairs.
- Park farther away from the door when you go somewhere.
- Walk to work.
If you have any medical conditions or are not currently physically active, talk to your doctor about what activity is best for you before you get started.
For more information and tips on what you can do, visit:
