This week, the World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF) launches its second report on diet and cancer through simultaneous conferences in London and Washington. Entitled Food, Nutrition, Physical Activity, and the Prevention of Cancer, the report updates the previous publication from the charity. It is the culmination of five years' work by scientists in nine universities from four countries. The findings are no great surprise - alcohol overuse and obesity raise the risk of many cancers. Noteably, obesity increases the risk of cancer of the oesophagus, colorectum, pancreas, breast, endometrium, and kidney. Alcohol increases the risk for cancers of the mouth, pharynx, larynx, oesophagus, colorectum, and breast and also causes cirrhosis, which predisposes to liver cancer. But the role of a diet rich in fruit and vegetables in preventing cancers is still not clear - hardly suprising if you consider the number of variables involved. All the report does is re-iterate the advice to include a minimum of five servings a day of fruit and vegetables in your diet. Not many people manage this - our diets are too rich in other foods for most people to be able to physically fit that much food in. But, an increase in fruit and vegetables would probably have the side effect of reducing obesity - so that in itself would reduce the risk of cancer in a population. As for alcohol - with the holiday season coming up - the increased risk of cancer is one more good reason to indulge responsibly - but for heavens sake enjoy life!
Bridget Farham, https://www.bizcommunity.com