Good Health Habits Cut Cancer Risk

Source: Tufts University
November 14, 2002 (Reviewed: November 13, 2004)

Most consumers realize that practicing good health habits can help keep them well, but sensible eating and exercise habits are still a work in progress for many people. A study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition evaluated how effective the Dietary Guidelines for Americans - a government-sponsored document that offers advice on how to promote health and prevent disease - has been in helping to prevent cancer.

Researchers from the University of Minnesota gave almost 35,000 postmenopausal women a questionnaire about their dietary intake, smoking, physical activity, weight, and height. The women were then given a score that reflected how closely their weight, exercise habits, and food choices complied with the Dietary Guidelines. The researchers followed the participants for 13 years to see if they developed cancer.

Women who scored the highest - i.e. those that followed the Guidelines most closely - were 15% less likely to get cancer than those who scored the lowest. Most of the health benefits seen in this study appeared to be tied to two of the guidelines - the advice to "aim for a healthy weight" and "be physically active every day."

A combination of factors

The American Cancer Society estimates that one-third of cancer-related deaths in the US are related to nutrition and physical activity factors, including obesity. The results of this study suggest that consumers could cut their risk of cancer quite considerably by following the Guidelines, particularly the ones pertaining to weight control and exercise. The American Cancer Society adds to these recommendations, suggesting that consumers also limit their intake of red meats, especially high fat cuts and processed meats.

The Guidelines

The Guidelines were developed to help prevent an array of chronic diseases, so some recommendations may not be relevant for cancer. The US Department of Agriculture and the US Department of Health and Human Services update the Dietary Guidelines for Americans every five years. Here's a summary of the most recent recommendations:

• Aim for a healthy weight
• Be physically active every day
• Follow the Food Guide Pyramid [see link below - editor]
• Eat a variety of grains each day, especially whole grains
• Keep food safe
• Keep your intake of saturated fat and cholesterol low and moderate your intake of fat
• Eat only a moderate amount of sugar
• Use less salt
• If you drink, drink in moderation

Source

• An evaluation of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans in relation to cancer occurrence. L. Harnack, K. Nicodemus, DR. Jacobs,  et al., Am J Clin Nutr, 2002, vol. 76, pp. 889--896

Related Links
Nutrition and Your Health: Dietary Guidelines for Americans
Functional Foods: Who's Eating What, and Why
A Healthful Diet Is Not Necessarily More Expensive
Survey Reveals Gaps in US Eating Habits
To quickly access additional accurate information on this and other nutrition-related topics, visit Tufts University's Nutrition Navigator

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