Food and Nutrition

Eating a well-balanced healthy diet can protect you against developing cancer. Diets that are high in processed foods can increase your risk of developing certain cancers including oesophagus, stomach, and bowel cancer.

To reduce your risk of developing cancer, it is recommended to:

·         Eat plenty of vegetables, fruit, and legumes

·         Choose wholegrain breads and cereals that contain high amounts of fibre

·         Limit the consumption of red meat such as beef and lamb (aim for 3-4 times a week)

·         Avoid processed meat such as deli meats and hotdogs

·         Choose low fat dairy products

·         Limit foods that contain saturated fat such as cakes, biscuits, and takeaway foods

·         Avoid highly processed foods that contain large amounts of salt such as potato chips, deli meats and pre packaged sauces.

Eating a poor diet and having an inactive lifestyle can lead to a high body weight, which overall increases your risk of developing cancer. Therefore, you can reduce your risk by eating a healthy diet, exercising daily, and maintaining a healthy body weight.

Should you take vitamin and mineral supplements?

If you eat a diet that includes a lot of variety from each of the five food groups, you are most likely getting all the nutrients your body needs and therefore don’t need to take supplements.

If you have any questions, please contact your doctor for more information.

 This weeks post is written by our very own Annalise who works part time on reception and has a degree in dietetics.

Thanks Annalise!