By Marie Dufour, RD – It’s not news that obesity increases the risk for breast cancer in women. I was teaching that to women groups more than 25 years ago. The estrogen-producing property of stored fat raises the estrogen level and puts women at risk for estrogen-positive breast cancer.
Over the last 20 years, study after study have demonstrated that obesity is also damaging to the intestinal track and correlates to colon, kidney, and pancreas cancer as well as adenocarcinoma of the esophagus and endometrium. Just 2 years ago, Dr. Walter Willett presented his research in Food, Nutrition, Physical Activity and the Prevention of Cancer: A Global Perspective and predicted that within 10 years obesity would become the leading risk factor for cancer. And we are getting closer to Dr. Willett’s prediction every day, as heralded by the latest European cancer research report. Obesity accounts for 8% of all cancers, and rising.
The recipe for health is so simple: eat well, be active, stay as lean as possible. Why is it so hard to achieve? Confusing, conflicting, and overwhelming information make our heads spin. We hate to be fat and hate to hate ourselves… and feel trapped. We reach for diet pills and miracle cures, when the guidelines are simples. Perhaps taking just one at a time will help.
- Be physically active;
- Keep red meat to less than 18oz per week;
- Eat mostly foods from vegetable origin;
- Avoid sodas, juice and sports drinks if you’re not a hard-core athlete;
- Meet your nutritional needs through diet, avoid supplements;
- If you take fish oils supplement, respect the limit and check for purity of the product;
- If you drink, do so in moderation;
and – of course, don’t smoke.
More than ever, watch what you eat. Join support groups, be informed about healthy nutrition, and pass it on… It’s a Healthy Thing…
By Marie Dufour, RD – It’s not news that obesity increases the risk for breast cancer in women. I was teaching that to women groups more than 25 years ago. The estrogen-producing property of stored fat raises the estrogen level and puts women at risk for estrogen-positive breast cancer.
Over the last 20 years, study after study have demonstrated that obesity is also damaging to the intestinal track and correlates to colon, kidney, and pancreas cancer as well as adenocarcinoma of the esophagus and endometrium. Just 2 years ago, Dr. Walter Willett presented his research in Food, Nutrition, Physical Activity and the Prevention of Cancer: A Global Perspective and predicted that within 10 years obesity would become the leading risk factor for cancer. And we are getting closer to Dr. Willett’s prediction every day, as heralded by the latest European cancer research report. Obesity accounts for 8% of all cancers, and rising.
The recipe for health is so simple: eat well, be active, stay as lean as possible. Why is it so hard to achieve? Confusing, conflicting, and overwhelming information make our heads spin. We hate to be fat and hate to hate ourselves… and feel trapped. We reach for diet pills and miracle cures, when the guidelines are simples. Perhaps taking just one at a time will help.
- Be physically active;
- Keep red meat to less than 18oz per week;
- Eat mostly foods from vegetable origin;
- Avoid sodas, juice and sports drinks if you’re not a hard-core athlete;
- Meet your nutritional needs through diet, avoid supplements;
- If you take fish oils supplement, respect the limit and check for purity of the product;
- If you drink, do so in moderation;
and – of course, don’t smoke.
More than ever, watch what you eat. Join support groups, be informed about healthy nutrition, and pass it on… It’s a Healthy Thing…