People who drink moderately, exercise, quit smoking and eat five servings of fruit and vegetables each day live on average 14 years longer than people who adopt none of these behaviors, researchers said.
- Be as lean as possible without becoming underweight. A body mass index (BMI) between 21 and 23 is the ideal recommendation.
Be physically active daily for at least 30 minutes.
- Avoid sugary drinks. Limit consumption of energy-dense foods (particularly processed foods high in added sugar and fat, or low in fiber).
Eat more variety of vegetables, fruits, whole grains and beans. Earlier this year, the CDC reported that Americans are not consuming enough vegetables and fruit in their diet.
Limit consumption of red meats (such as beef, pork and lamb) and avoid processed meats.
- Processed meat -- such as bacon -- consumed per day increases the risk of colorectal cancer.
If consumed at all, limit alcoholic drinks to two for men and one for women a day. Alcohol is linked to an increased risk of throat, breast and liver cancers.
Limit consumption of salty foods and food processed with salt/sodium.
Don't use supplements to protect against cancer, opt for a balanced diet.
It's best for mothers to breastfeed exclusively for up to 6 months and then transition to semi-solid foods.
After treatment, cancer survivors should follow the recommendations for cancer prevention.
Researchers also suggest against smoking or chewing tobacco in any form because of the increased risk of cancer and other serious diseases.
