Recommendations

About a third of the most common cancers could be prevented through eating
a healthy diet, being physically active and maintaining a healthy weight.

You can make a real difference to your cancer risk by following our 10
Recommendations for Cancer Prevention.

Click on each Recommendation for more details.

Be as lean as possible without becoming underweight

Maintaining a healthy weight is one of the most important things you can do to reduce your risk of cancer. Aim to be at the lower end of the healthy Body Mass Index (BMI) range. Read more

 

Be physically active for at least 30 minutes every day.

Most of us know that regular physical activity can help keep our hearts healthy – and the good news is that it can also reduce our risk of cancer. Read more

 

Limit consumption of energy-dense foods (foods high in fats and/or added sugars and/or low in fibre) and avoid sugary drinks.

Choosing healthy foods and drinks can help us avoid being overweight and reduce our risk of cancer. Read more

Eat more of a variety of vegetables, fruits, wholegrains, and pulses such as beans.

Basing our diets on plant foods (like vegetables, fruits, wholegrains, and pulses such as beans), which contain fibre and other nutrients, can reduce our risk of cancer. Read more

Limit consumption of red meats (such as beef, pork and lamb) and avoid processed meats.

For cancer prevention, WCRF UK recommends limiting consumption of red meat (such as beef, pork and lamb) and avoiding processed meats. Read more

If consumed at all, limit alcoholic drinks to 2 for men and 1 for women a day.

The evidence that all types of alcoholic drinks are a cause of a number of cancers is now stronger than ever before. Read more

 

Limit consumption of salty foods and foods processed with salt (sodium).

Consuming too much salt can be harmful to our health, increasing our risk of stomach cancer as well as high blood pressure. Read more

 

Don’t use supplements to protect against cancer.

To reduce your risk of cancer, choose a balanced diet with a variety of foods rather than taking supplements. Read more

 

Special Population Recommendations

Recommendations 9 and 10 don’t apply to everyone, but if they are relevant to you, it’s best to follow them.

It is best for mothers to breastfeed exclusively for up to 6 months and then add other liquids and foods.

There is convincing evidence that breastfeeding reduces the risk of breast cancer in mothers and probably helps prevent excess weight gain in their children. Read more

After treatment, cancer survivors should follow the recommendations for cancer prevention.

There is some evidence that, particularly with breast cancer, cancer survivors can reduce their risk of it recurring by eating healthily and maintaining a healthy weight. Read more

And, always remember – do not smoke or chew tobacco.