Today we celebrate “World Cancer Day”. Organized by the International Union for the Control of Cancer (IUCC) with support from the World Health Organization (WHO), World Cancer Day highlights worldwide public awareness on issues related to cancer. World Cancer Day provides over 15 billion opportunities to see, hear, and read about the impact cancer has on the world. Along with providing educational resources in over 40 languages, World Cancer Day received over 10 thousand press mentions and 3.9 billion social media shout outs in 2016, ultimately putting cancer in the spotlight.
Impressive and inspiring as it may be, the real question alludes to the actual degree of impact such large-scale awareness has, and why exactly it is so fundamentally imperative. Each year, there are 14 million new cancer cases and 8.2 million cancer deaths. It remains the leading cause of death and disability worldwide. If these staggering statistics continue, 21.7 million people will have this disease in 2030, effectively doubling the deaths.
There is continued hope, however. It is estimated that 1/3 of common cancers can be prevented by simply addressing the risk factors. Alcohol use, unhealthy diet and physical inactivity are leading risk factors for cancer. Fortunately, adopting lifestyle changes right now can have drastic and positive life changing impacts on you. World Cancer Day enlightens, inspires, and emboldens people to make these healthy changes.
Lifestyle Changes with Savor Health
World Cancer Day is an opportunity for us at Savor Health to spread knowledge and reflect on the role nutrition and exercise can play in the global fight against cancer. Many risk factors are preventable with healthy food choices. Fad diets, magic pills and supplements that promise instant gratification are all unrealistic, unproven and can be unhealthy. However, consuming a diet rich in minimally processed vegetables, fruits, whole grains, beans, nuts and seeds, can be a lifestyle goal that promotes health and wellbeing. At Savor Health, we value the abundance of research that supports the connection between nutrition and cancer risk. Whether your goal is to prevent cancer or reduce the risk for reoccurrence, achieving a healthy body weight, eating a plant-based diet, limiting alcohol and being more physically active can help accomplish those goals. Read more about the top cancer-fighting foods.
We urge you to be cautious, investigative, and skeptical when “googling” for information on diet and cancer. Savor Health can be a reliable resource and tool for you! Consult with one of Savor Health’s expert Registered Dietitians (RD) who are Certified Specialist’s in Oncology (CSO) for scientific and evidence-based lifestyle recommendations. Nutritional needs change during the different phases of cancer treatment and working with a Savor Health Registered Dietitian can help you make well-informed lifestyle choices to address nutritional issues during and even after treatment in the survivorship stage.
Bottom Line
What can you do?
- Move more! Engage in physical activity for at least 30 minutes every day.
- Unleash the Power of Plants! Include a wide variety of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, daily.
- Limit the Meat! Limit red meat to <18 oz cooked weekly (18 oz is about the size of a deck of cards 6 times per week), and avoid all processed meats.
- Sayonara Sodium! Limit salty foods or adding salt to foods. Replace with cancer fighting flavors like garlic, chili, and ginger.
- Sun Safety! Be protected, even in the winter months. Limit to 15 minutes unprotected at most, each day for health.
- Reduce Alcohol! 1 drink/day for women and 2 drinks/day for men.
Get involved in World Food Day’s campaign efforts all year! Be an advocate for healthy schools, workplaces, and cities. Spread education and awareness for policies that encourage healthy lifestyle choices. Join the conversation and support World Cancer Day by sharing campaign materials, joining the sponsorship program, or hosting a World Cancer Day Event to bring visibility to this decisive topic. Contact info@worldcancerday.org to take part in translating important education materials or sharing your powerful cancer story, with all it’s triumphs and tribulations. We welcome you to join us at Savor Health by participating in this inspiring global effort to fight against cancer. We are all a part of one human family, let’s do all we can to be there for one another through this journey.