When most of us think about preventable diseases, we usually think about coronary heart and artery disease. We also know that when people don’t smoke cigarettes, they are less likely to get lung cancer, emphysema and heart disease. However, most people don’t consider cancer to be a preventable disease. Nevertheless, cancer organizations have been telling us for years that approximately 50% to 66% of cancers are indeed preventable. Two years ago, a landmark study in cancer prevention was released by the World Cancer Research Fund, which brought forth convincing evidence linking body fat to six types of cancer.
This report is a compilation of 7,000 separate studies, beginning with the earliest known records on this type of research (the 1960s). All 21 scientists involved are individuals who are considered to be at the top of their respective fields. There were 5 key findings in the report, including:
Processed meats increase colorectal cancer.
There is a link between red meat and colorectal cancer.
Alcohol is a cause of cancer.
Mothers should breastfeed exclusively for the first 6 months infants in order to prevent breast cancer.
Dietary supplementation will not prevent cancer, and of course
Keep your weight down to a BMI of 23 or less.
Karen Collins, a nutrition advisor at the AICR (American Institute on Cancer Research), considers this report to be very good news. She says, “Watching our weight, working regular physical activity into our daily lives and eating a healthy balance of food could prevent a third of cancers.” Dr. Walter Willet of Harvard Medical School and one of the researchers involved in the study is quoted as saying, “We need to think about cancer as the product of long-term influences, not as something that just happens.”
The report makes 8 definitive recommendations for reducing your risks of getting cancer, along with 2 special recommendations. The first 8 (general) recommendations are:
Be as lean as possible within the normal range of body weight.
Be physically active as part of everyday life.
Limit consumption of energy dense foods and avoid sugary drinks.
Eat mostly plant-based foods.
Limit intake of red meat and avoid processed meat.
Limit alcoholic drinks.
Limit the consumption of salt, moldy grains and legumes.
Aim to meet nutritional needs through diet alone without dietary supplements
The two special recommendations are:
1. Mothers should breastfeed, children should be breastfed.
2. Cancer survivors should follow the recommendations for cancer prevention.
This report provides the most definitive advice to date on cancer preventions. You can view both the summary and the complete 530-page report on the website of the American Institute of Cancer Research http://www.aicr.org/. It pays to take the time to read the summary and to internalize its findings. The advice given will not only increase your odds of not getting cancer, but is helpful for heart disease prevention as well.
The diet and exercise component of this report is also highly significant. Exercise helps to reduce weight and prevent obesity, which is very important. Additionally, physical activity and exercise in and of itself reduce the risk of getting cancer. Aim for 30 minutes of activity and exercise each day and as your fitness improves, increase to 60 minutes. Limit your sedentary activities. And remember that exercising on a daily basis and eating a balanced and calorie-limited diet are ways to contribute to cancer prevention and will “add hours to your day, days to your year and years to your life.”
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Alan Freishtat is an A.C.E. CERTIFIED PERSONAL TRAINER and a LIFESTYLE FITNESS COACH with over 10 years of professional experience. He is the co-director of the Jerusalem-based weight loss center Lose It! together with Linda Holtz M.S. and is available for private consultations, assessments and personalized workout programs. Alan also lectures and gives seminars and workshops. He can be reached at 02-651-8502 or 050-555-7175, or by email at [email protected].
(Alan Freishtat – YWN)
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4 Responses
Thankyou Alan for all the good info. I would suggest classes at mesivtos regarding nutrition and health should begin.
There are more and more studies proving a brain cancer link to cell phone use. They also prove that children up until the low 20’s have their brains developing and therefore absorb much more of the radiation from cell phones and are at a much higher level of risk for brain tumors. additionally they have proven that children using cell phones are at risk of developing learning disabilities and psychological or emotional problems due to the damage caused by cell phone radiation on their developing brains.
The ones suggesting there is no cancer link are the wireless association who make billions selling cell phones. Other than them all the studies point to a cancer link.
The studies also show even carrying or wearing the cell phone in a pocket or on the belt is subjecting people to dangerous radiation all day long. The effects of all this generally comes out in 10-20 years. All schools should ban cell phone usage with no exceptions (for many other hashkofah reasons as well) and make public payphones readily available to the students. Who has the right to take on such responsibility of endangering children by making cell phones available to them? Who will answer for the harm it may be causing them?
Another new wire carried an article regarding vitamin D levels as very influential in many types of cancer and other diseases. Fifteen minutes a day of 40% of the skin generates the required level. Unfortunately, because we live in cold areas, and due to other societal issues (tzniut) this is impossible for most, and deficiencies are rampant in many populations including ours. Contrary to the author, some supplements are important.
I disagree!
1, I and many readers live in the New York area. I would not dream of sending my daughter out without her cellphone. This policy was essentially MANDATED by her very frum principal. The phone should be turned off during school hours, of course.
PS: radiation risk is not active while the phone is off.
2, It is becoming clear to me that these articles serve as advertising for Alan Freishtat. I might agree with most of what he says but please, call it what it is.